Where on game tickets does it say you're allowed to engage in criminal behavior? I just got my Yankees tickets for this season, and I can't find it anywhere! Wait...what's that? It doesn't say that anywhere?! Interesting!
Yet twice in two days, in two different countries, we had fans attacking players in the middle of the game. First in England, a Birmingham City fan named Paul Mitchell ran out onto the field and punched Aston Villa's Jack Grealish in the side of the head. Had that happened on the street, Mitchell would've been arrested and charged with assault. Then last night in Utah, Jazz fan Shane Keisel and his girlfriend got into a verbal altercation with the Thunder's Russell Westbrook. How did it start? Because Keisel made racist comments directed at Westbrook.
Both teams were quick in their response. Mitchell was banned from attending any (and I'll use the British term here) "football match" in the UK (which, I'm assuming doesn't just mean England) and fined 350 pounds. He was also sentenced to 14 weeks in jail. After reviewing the incident (which wasn't the first time Utah fans made racial taunts towards Westbrook), the Jazz permanently banned Keisel from the arena.
Mitchell at least showed some remorse. Whether it was authentic or just a legal ploy, he at least apologized for his actions. Keisel? Not so much. He didn't just try to justify it, he tried to deny saying anything inappropriate. This despite the fact that there was clear video evidence to the contrary and the fact that he'd been warned by the Jazz before.
Sadly, these are just the two most recent incidents of despicable fan behavior. There was a soccer game in England several years ago where a fan threw a firework on the field and hit the goalie with it. A FREAKING FIREWORK!! How was he even able to bring it into the stadium?! And, how can anyone ever forget the fan that was able to get close enough to stab Monica Seles in the back, costing her two years in the prime of her career?
There's nothing wrong with booing or heckling a guy. That's a part of the game, and it's usually all in good fun. Which is usually the way it gets taken. Sidney Crosby is one of the most hated players in sports, so he's a frequent target of opposing fans. And how does Crosby take it? By giving a Rangers fan that was riding him the whole game a signed stick afterwards!
But there's a definite line between what's acceptable and what isn't. And criminal behavior crosses that line. Most fans understand that. Then you have these jokers who make headlines for being morons. That's what happens when you mix stupid people and alcohol! Fortunately, the idiots are a very small percentage of the fans who attend a sporting event.
Another problem is that fans, frankly, are too close to the field of play. They pay thousands of dollars for courtside seats so that they can be right in the action. The NBA even has seats between the bench and the scorer's table, so players literally have to go by a row of fans just to check into the game! Why owners thought that was a good idea is beyond me!
Likewise, do you know how hard it is for a fan to get onto the field at a European soccer game? There aren't even barriers around the field! All they need to do is jump over the digital signage on the sidelines and they're on the field. And what's security gonna be able to do? (At least those jackasses who run onto the field at American games have to clear some sort of wall before security tackles them.)
The Westbrook incident also brought to light the double standard regarding player-fan interaction. For the most part, the players are held to a higher standard than the fans. I get that to an extent. But there needs to be repercussions for fans whose behavior goes over the line. The players might be professional athletes, but they're also real people. And, just like you and me, they can only take so much before they snap. It's not like this is a Ron Artest vs. Pistons fans situation, either.
Was Westbrook wrong for engaging Kesiel? Yes. That's why he was fined. But Westbrook is also getting the full support of Jazz players, who agree that fans need to be held accountable for their behavior.
Buying a ticket means you get to experience the thrill of the game up close and personal. It doesn't entitle you to do or say whatever you want. Most fans understand that. Then there are idiots like Paul Mitchell and Shane Keisel. There's no place for "fans" like them in any professional arena anywhere. Hopefully that message has gotten across.
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