I was reading something the other day about sports fans and when they like to boo. The article was talking about booing at a high school sporting event, and that got me thinking. When is it OK to boo? Does it matter what age the players, whether it's amateur or professional? Does it depend on the ticket prices?
It's my theory that fans are much quicker to vent their displeasure today than they have ever been at sporting events. Why do you think that is? I can understand the money aspects of it at the major league level, but major league money only applies at the major league level. Do you feel any hestitation booing players who may be making less than you?
Do you find yourself more willing to boo now than you did say five years ago? Do you boo earlier in contests? What does that say about supporting the team?
This also made me think of the things Greg Puhalski went through in Fort Wayne. He won a championship, something only three other coahes ever did here, and had back-to-back 50-win seasons, somethng no one else ever did here, but it's obvious the fans were unhappy. Last year's team finished second and had a winning season, but so many fans were very unhappy. Were they spoiled?
Are you more willing to boo the coach than the players?
Obviously, I don't boo or cheer in the press box, but I can tell you there have been a few times over the years where I've thought if I had paid money to a specific game and was sitting in the stands, I'd probably have been booing as well. In fact, I've been doing this so long it's hard for me to imagine myself getting worked up enough about a sporting event any more to actually boo. It just doesn't mean anything to me, I don't have the emotional attachment.
I also wonder if booing has lost some impact today because it happens so often? What do you think?
