'Sports rage' the result of poor sportsmanship

By Katie Nisbet

November 16, 2004 | Barbaric behavior at sporting events is not something to uncommon. In the stands and the streets, fans may resort to violence to express loyalty to a team, anger at a team's performance, or to intimidate opponents. The sports world has witnessed numerous outrageous behaviors at sporting events that have caused lawsuits, injuries, riots, and unfortunately emergency care.

All too often the hype over a game can cause unruly and ill-mannered conduct where fans become too caught up in the rivalry and the fun of the event is lost. It is agreed that fans are important assets to a sporting event. They can increase the morale and contribute to the spirit and unity of the team. Most times support from the crowd and fans boost the performances of the athletes and generally add to the enjoyment of the game. But very often respect is neglected and disrespect engulfs the behaviors of attendees at the chosen event.

Sports rage, a relatively new but growing phenomenon, is on the rise, especially among college campuses. Sportsmanship goes beyond the players and should include coaches, parents, and fans. All should show conduct and attitude considered as befitting participants in sports, especially fair play, courtesy, striving spirit, and grace in losing. Sometimes fans get too involved and forget that it is only a game. Although fan participation is essential in any sporting event, sometimes things can get out of hand and tempers start to rise.

Win or lose, many fans seem to turn to violence. Rivalries between teams are a huge reason why disrespect occurs at games. Rivalries most commonly occur between college campuses. These rivalries are meat to encourage fans to support their team. However promotion of rivalries through media and propaganda turn enjoyable cheers at the games to taunting and even violence.

At a recent USU hockey game against a rival team, Weber State University, fans began shouting offensive language to opposing fans. The shouts escalated to face-to-face confrontations and resulted in two opposing fans being escorted out of the arena.

Amber Wardle, a USU student said, "I was not involved but I was there when the incident occurred. It becomes distracting when college students start yelling obscenities to each other. It turns a fun game into a shouting match."

Kathryn Leonard, a USU student and attendee at the hockey game was taunted even after she had left the game. "Girls from USU came up to me while I was walking to my car and were saying offensive comments. They thought I was from Weber State. I had to convince them that I was from USU so they would quit yelling at me."

Verbal abuse is the most common sports rage at sporting events. Fans shout out explicit language and often scream at players, referees, coaches, and opposing fans. Overzealous fans find it necessary to yell distasteful or rude remarks directed at an official, player, coach and in the case of the USU vs. WSU hockey game, at opposing fans.

"Sometimes fans do get hyped up so much that they start yelling obscene comments," said Nick Zimmerman, avid USU sports fan, "Hopefully it never escalates to others being offended. Fans at USU have a lot to complain about but it should never be an issue of disrespect or fighting."

With beer drinking being a common integral part of sports since the 1970s it seems that these acts are most commonly associated with the consumption of alcohol. To help decrease violence at sporting events many vendors agree to not sell alcohol at sporting events. Furthermore, fans need to always be responsible while drinking. Other solutions have been adopted such as limiting drinking to designated areas, making it harder to buy, and selling low alcohol beer.

In an article in the Boston University's newspaper, the B.U. Bridge, Leonard Zaichkowsky, Ph.D. Sport Psychology School of Education Boston University, said, "The nature of fan misbehavior has clearly gotten worse. We need to educate people in a consistent way about what is permissible behavior. When they get inside the stadium, they think it's a place where they can vent their anger. Then, when one person acts up, another joins and it grows and grows."

Fans are not the only ones who misbehave at sporting events. Players also take part in misconduct at games. Athletes often resort in violence in anticipation of injuring or intimidating opponents.

Kyle Fiat, Towson University lacrosse player, said, "Players resort to yelling and fighting most of the time because they are fed up with the way they are playing. For me I just hope that everyone is playing their best and that the crowds are there to support their team not there to start a fight or taunt the rival athletes or fans."

Preventing sports violence and misconduct has become a growing objective. Experts recommend promoting good sportsmanship by advertising positive sports role models, banning alcohol, and teaching young children what sportsmanship is on and off the field.

It is not uncommon that in most sports officials impose penalties when athletes abuse the norms of competitive play. Some misconduct may result in suspensions, expulsions, or fines.

Colleges all around need to impliment strong enforcemnt to keep aggressive fan behavior aloof. For the safety and out of respect for your peers and neighbors we need to remember that destructive behavior neither helps the individual nor the society.

For additional information and references on violence in sports click here.

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