Fan Behavior

Let's go, ready? From the top...

Hello, this is Ian, cosmowanda522, with fan behavior on my mind. Well, it's that time of year again, time for the high school football season to begin, and for the fans of each high school team to get behind their favorite team. Now, one thing that they shouldn't be doing is insulting, gesturing, and cheering against the opposing team. In basketball season, it seems to be more acceptable, especially considering that the opposing fans are closer to each other than at a football stadium. I am from North Ridgeville, Ohio, and the team from my alma mater, the North Ridgeville Rangers, at one time faced dangerous opponents in the "how-did-the-Rangers-get-in-here-in-the-first-place" Pioneer Conference. Several schools were known for their cheering sections with great support for their team, and a nasty attitude toward the opposition. The most dangerous student sections in the league were those of Brunswick High School, and I wouldn't want to mess with them, or those at Medina High School. Outside of Medina County, there are the student sections from Midpark High School, and their neighbors, Berea High. The student section of North Royalton never gave me any issues, and as for Strongsville and Brecksville-Broadview Heights, it kinda depended on their mood.

Now, giving chants of "Sit Down Shut Up", "Watch That Scoreboard", "Why So Quiet", etc. may not be the best behavior at a high school sporting event, it sure seems okay at a basketball game, but at a football game... well, that's where it gets to be too taboo, so to speak. There are several schools' student sections who do that sort of thing during football games, one of them is the student section at Midpark High School. I believe that the "Orange Crush", as they're called, thinks it's always basketball season! But Midpark's certainly not the only school whose student section does that stuff; others do it a lot, and I don't think it's tolerable. In the words of the horse from "Ren & Stimpy", "No, sir. I don't like it." In the words of the guys from Baseball Tonight, "That's nasty!" In the words of Stephanie Tanner, "How rude!" And, of course, in the immortal words of the one and only William Shatner... "I CAN'T GET BEHIND THAT!"

Now, I'm not trying to take anything away from the schools I mentioned, their support for their team is great, and they can do anything they want to the opposition, but I'm just not crazy about dissing the opposition at football games. This applies to football games only. If things keep up, I have a funny feeling that at least one student section will be cleared from their side of the stadium if things keep getting out of hand. And if there's one thing I really, really, really hate more than fans acting rudely at football games, it's fans being ejected from games. So if you want to stay for the whole game, be sure to be on your best behavior. And if you don't feel comfortable about what's going on, "Sit down, shut up!" And if the other team's fans ask you, "Why so quiet?" you will have good reason to be that way.

Well, I hope you enjoy the football season, and if anyone is offended by my rant, please accept my apologies. This is Ian (cosmowanda522) signing off, ready for football season. And hopefully, you won't have to hear me say...

"I CAN'T GET BEHIND THAT!"

NOTE: Was edited December 29, 2008 for political correctness.