I Have Your Back, Sarah Madson (Part 2)

Yesterday I pointed out the three obvious points about the situation with Sarah Madson’s alleged comments about the fans of Philadelphia.  Today I would like to make two more points that deal with fans and the way they interact with the game they support.

1. Many fans operate out of a hypocritical mindset where they can say anything they want about a player, but get all worked up if the words are returned.
Do you know how many fan message boards exist out there where fans give full vent to what they think about athletes? Do you know the kind of crude, obnoxious comments fans feel like they can yell at players during a game that they would never even think of uttering to a person in a “normal” situation? Do you know the way people will tear apart the wife of an athlete for how she looks, dresses or acts? There seems to be no problem with fans spouting off about athletes in any way they desire (often on the internet as well, which my brother-in-law refers to as “internet balls” because these people would never dare utter these words to the athlete’s face). They can tear down the way they play, the way they act outside of the game, their family members, etc. But the second a player or a player’s family member shoots back at the fans there is all of the sudden some code of conduct that has been broken. I agree that player’s and their family member’s should be respectful of the community that they are playing for. But it should be a two way street. The fans must also be respectful and recognize the sacrifices and pressure that are involved in professional athletics.  Most people will reply that they are more than compensated for their sacrifices with their salary, which I do agree that a salary is a wonderful compensation.  But money does not fix hurts.  Being disrespectful with your words is not being a fan, it is treating an athlete as less than a human being.

I am not saying that all fans are athlete bashers. They aren’t. Some will recognize the struggles and appreciate the game and its players. Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more common (probably due to the internet) to do more bashing than supporting.

2. Being the fan of the team does not give you rights to treat athletes differently than you would other people.
Although I do believe an athlete is at his/her best when playing for the good of the community, that does not equate the community “owning” that athlete. And unfortunately, I think a lot of fans operate out of this mindset. They think that because they buy season tickets or attend a game, they some how now are owed something by the athlete.  The only thing they are “owed” is for that athlete to fulfill their contract to play and practice the amount of time they are required.  There might even be some community events included in the contract.

But an athlete is not fan property.  He/she is still an individual and should be treated with the same respect any other individual would be treated with. It seems like people lose all sense of reason when dealing with famous people. You would not go and give your number to a married man in front of his wife in any other setting, but some people think that is ok when it comes to an athlete. You might interrupt someone’s dinner in order to say “hello”, so being interrupted when you are out and about is bound to happen. But there are times when an athlete should draw the line and fans need to be ok with that. I know that for Joe, the fans have plenty of access to him after the game and at other various times, that if we are out doing something special for the kids or for ourselves, there are times when he says no to autographs. For the most part, he recognizes that being an athlete means he can make an impact on people’s lives and be a blessing by being available, but there are times when there is nothing wrong with saying “no”. But many times fans get the ownership attitude that says “because you play for the team I support, you should be available and willing to do whatever I desire whenever I desire it.”

I think sports in general would be a lot more enjoyable to everyone if fans thought through their role a little bit more. Athletes have to do it because it encompasses every part of their life. But fans often will just use sporting events as their time of escape and lose all sense of logic. I think that athletes and family members feeling the way Sara Madson may (or may not) feel would be fewer and far between if fans would show mutual respect they themselves would like shown. Because Sarah Madson’s comments definitely reveal that athletes and their families have some legitimate beef.