Root, Root, Root for the Home Team?

You might think to yourself, “What do two ‘artsy-fartsy’ types from the mid-west & Canada know about sports?” Well, I’ll tell you. E was a cheerleader in high school for Basketball and Soccer (she also played) and became a fan of the Colorado Rockies as many a family night was had during high school years first at Mile High Stadium and then at Coors Field. D played baseball. In fact the year after he quit his team went to the Little League World Series. (Yes, they have sports in Canada, aside from hockey and curling.) We both love us some hockey! We’re fans of sport in general and even like a good little rivalry every now and then among our home teams.
Recently in LA, we as a city experienced, well ugliness isn’t a powerful enough word for it, but I guess that it will have to do. It was and continues to be such a huge story here that E was sure that her parents would have heard it in Denver, but they hadn’t. We’re referring to an incident that happened on opening day at Dodger’s Stadium when the LA Dodgers played the 2010 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants. After the game, a couple of “Dodger fans” went rampaging through the parking lot beating up people wearing Giants gear along the way. One Giants fan got the brunt of it, Bryan Stow. He was beaten and kicked so badly, he is still listed in critical condition and has for a second time been placed in a medically induced coma. In the get away car, a woman and child. By all accounts, Stow didn’t want any part of the fight and was simply trying to get back to his car and leave.
It’s sich a huge story that it’s part of local small-talk typography. We went the other night to cheer on the Canucks in game 3 of the Stanley Cup quarter finals at a local Canadian restaurant. We couldn’t believe our ears when we overheard a guy at the next table saying, “The problem is, you don’t schedule opening day against our rivals! You just don’t! First off, opening day isn’t a family game anyway. Most of the tickets are purchased by companies as incentives for employees….” He trailed off because we stopped listening at that point.
Also, the day after it happened, one Dodger’s fan was featured on a local news cast as saying, “If you show up to Dodger’s Stadium wearing the other teams jersey, you can expect that.”
WHAT?!?!?!? Are you serious?
First, “it wasn’t a family game”? What? We’re supposed to designate these things now? No. Going out to a ball game is a family outing. It’s “as American as apple pie”. Good, clean fun with friendly sportsmanship. And I just have to point out that it is highly unlikely that Mr.Stow’s attackers were “company men” enjoying a company incentive. (See attached sketches. There is currently $150K reward for information leading to their arrest.)
Secondly, “We can expect that kind of thing to happen”? Are they sports teams or are they highly paid gang members with us as fans keeping it “street”?
We find either response totally ludicrous! Because any other response than “This is unacceptable behavior” is an excuse for the behavior to exist in the first place.
There are a few things that we just don’t get in the evolution of being a fan and how you support your team. When E was a cheerleader, cheers were for her team, not against the opposing team. Even against rivals, there was never any booing or negative speech. Never would physical altercations ever enter our minds. Also, in hockey, it was understood that the fight stayed on the ice between two players. Now, most of the cheers that can be heard in stadiums don’t promote the great attributes of ones own team, but rather belittle the other team with such witticisms as “YOU SUCK!” lead by the home teams Jumbotron. (Usually followed by taunting. Or maybe that’s just the cheap seats?)
When did we get so involved in sporting events that they became base, primal contests between the spectators? Why are peoples lives so wrapped up in who wins and loses? To us, sports has always been about watching the amazing skill that it takes to play these games smart and well enough to win. The spectator has very little to do with the whole thing. We watch. We encourage members of our team so that they may find the strength to reach deeper and push themselves harder to win the bought.
This isn’t a problem relegated to Dodger’s Stadium or even to Los Angeles teams (even though LA fans have been named the worst fans because of behavior like this). It’s all over the world. But something needs to be done. No more excuses can be made for this behavior. It is not to be tolerated and allowed to grow into a spoiled child. No amount of police presence will stop until the behavior is discouraged by those standing by and watching.
It is sad to see something that was once such a happy thing turn into such a nightmare for one family. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Stow family. We pray that Bryan heals quickly and you will have him back soon. I’m sure his two little ones and wife miss him terribly.
Please pray for them too and that his attackers will be brought to justice.
E

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