Sportsmanship article in SI
 

I'll just throw this out there.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...303/index.html

Sad how abusive "cheering" has become. If any institution actually cared about sportsmanship from its fans, it would actually enforce that lame "sportsmanship statement" that so many of them read before each game. You want to show you're serious about it? Start throwing people out without refunds. But nobody wants to do that at any level.

Money makes the world go around.

It is a real amazement to a lot of people I know who attended the University of Oregon and to me that the school puts up with this totally unacceptable behavior from it's students. Obviously, the school cannot control what happens on cell phones unless caller ID is traced back to a student, but to allow this type of crap during games on campus is totally wrong. The school should be ashamed of itself.

If I was an A.D. at a school that came into Eugene and the students were doing this towards my players, I wouldn't come back. Two reasons - one is that I would be concerned for my player's safety and the other would be that this setting is contrary to the principles and purpose of higher education.

Unfortunately, it's probably going to take a lawsuit to get this to stop.

While I agree with Scrapper that the universities need to do something about this behavior, I just think it's a tad bit ironic that the people who WANT all the attention turn around and cry about the negative backlash. Think of all the big newsconference style letter of intent signings we have to endure, and all the self-posturing and styling done by people like Kevin Love and Eric Gordon, and then they want to cry about negative attention...don't get me wrong, these fans went way over the line when they started throwing stuff at families, and chanting "F--- you, Gordon", but come on, those players wanted attention in the first place, so now they can deal with some of this stuff. Life ain't all a bed of roses.

The confrence can make a stand also. The WAC this year banned the cheer "You Suck" from all schools that belong to the confrence. The confrence said a Technical foul would be assessed to any home team chanting it. But this death threat thing is out of control. I'm with Mark, I may not go back.

Some of these incidents seem criminal to me and should be investigated as such. Throwing a cup of ice water at his mom's head should be assault. That doesn't even consider the death threats, which should be able to involve the FBI. Start putting these a$$holes in jail.

If game security won't handle it, call the police.

The University of Oregon's fans have been a problem for the last 15 years. One of the worst fan bases I have been exposed to in my lifetime.

Maybe Phil Knight should stop subsidizing the school. Yeah - that could happen. :o

Eric Gordon wants 'attention' based on what? He's a gifted basketball player, they tend to get attention fawned on them.

Please site self-posturing and styling examples. I don't see Kevin Love much so I can't comment, but being in the Midwest having seen Gordon play numerous times, he just plays. If that warrants the crap he got at Illinois in your mind, you have a strange set of values imo:confused:

Illini grad?

Not that it means anything, really, but during the tourney the P.A. announcers and the TV announcers kept mispronouncing the name of Love's hometown. It's Lake oss-WEE-go, not Lake oz-WAY-go. Minor point, but a sticky one to it's residents. BTW - L.O. (as the rest of us call it around here) is generally thought of as being the most affluent Portland suburb. Love probably had a cell phone when he was in diapers. :)

There are many universities with huge donors that don't have the same problems as Oregon. In my opinion, the University needs to realize the sportsmanship displayed by their student section is unacceptable. Then just start ejecting troublemakers.

I think one of the great facets about college basketball is the passion of the fans. There is a HUGE difference between supporting one's alma mater and making personal attacks against an individual's race, sexuality, gender, or family.

I skimmed the article before getting my hair cut last week. It is pretty sad that these things go on in college athletics. It sounds as though more people need to be shown the door. I will say I almost don't enjoy going to watch my college teams play (I went to a Big 12 school) becaust the fans are so moronic in what they scream at officials. I think all the way from the pros to elementary athletics we need to hold spectators to a higher standard.

Did I say it warranted the kind of crap he got at that game? Nope, sure didn't...try reading carefully next time.

Just a question - when he finally got around to actually making up his mind which school he would got to, did his family call the media and make sure they were there when he signed his LOI??? Bet they did...bet they wanted the attention...

Like I said, the examples cited in the article are way off-base and shouldn't be allowed to continue (again, read carefully next time). But I don't have a lot of sympathy when players and their families want and demand all kinds of positive attention and then cry when there is negative attention that comes their way.

Illini grad? That's a stupid question...and in case you can't figure out the answer from that comment, it would be no. Never even been to Illinois. Have been to Indiana, and hope I never have to go back.

I don't think rocky's an Illinois grad; he didn't make the height requirement. ;)

But I am, so maybe I'll comment. If he didn't want the attention, why did he have a press conference to announce where he was going to school? How many vet med or engineering students do you see have press conferences to announce which college they will attend? If he just wanted to play basketball without the attention, and stay "close to home", why didn't he go to Southern IN, or Oakland City, both Div. II schools in Indiana. Why did he choose to go to IU? Do think it might be for the national attention? Stylin' and preening on the court aren't the only ways to gather attention. That said, I've been impressed with his attitude on the court - I wish all athletes would follow his example of just playing ball and acting like he's "done it before" when he makes a good play.

I did find it interesting that SI chose to focus on this one particular game at Illinois. I was not at that particular game, but have spoken to a couple of people that were there. Those people were surprised at the level of noise and anticipation at that game. Having seen many games over the years in the Assembly Hall, my usual complaint of Illinois fans is they are pretty laid-back and not loud enough. This game was obviously different, given the circumstances surrounding Gordon and his changing his mind. Couple that with the fact that it was Indiana, and I'm not surprised it ratcheted up the intensity. If Gordon would've chosen Wisconsin or Ohio State, I don't think it would've been as intense. I'm also surprised at the mention of the usher not doing anything about a rowdy, cup-throwing fan. I've seen many people escorted out over the years, so I have no doubt they would've done the same here. I wonder if there's more to this story? I would say that that particular game was not representative of all Illinois games. I would even say it is not representative of past IL/IN games.

Death threats? Whoever does that should serve jail time. Obcenities? Easy exit off the premises, no matter what the level. Have standards deteriorated over the past several years? Yep. Should we do something to change it? Absolutely.

Notice there was no mention about the same attitudes towards officials.

Here is where you lost me. I do not know any student that is going to be and engineer that the media follows them around to find out what school they are going to in the summer. I also do not know the average student that goes to any university that is shown on national TV during their HS years doing anything unless they commit a crime; no one even knows who they are. There are kids right now you can read about all over the internet that people know more about them then some student that is not an athlete and no one cares what school they are going to except their family. Not the same issue. I am sorry, but he did not go to Illinois. That does not mean his family should be treated a certain way because fans of Illini do not like the kid.

[][/I]

If he didn't want the attention, why did he have a press conference to announce where he was going to school? How many vet med or engineering students do you see have press conferences to announce which college they will attend? If he just wanted to play basketball without the attention, and stay "close to home", why didn't he go to Southern IN, or Oakland City, both Div. II schools in Indiana. Why did he choose to go to IU? Do think it might be for the national attention?
C'mon....Jon Scheyer's Duke announcement was carried live in Chicago......it was breaking news, All the biggies do that I, know you're going to whine about that one too. Eighteen year old kids don't schedule news conferences, their handlers do.

Gordon was arguably in the top five as far as recruits go and for a top recruit to go to a storied basketball school IN HIS OWN STATE is big news

When people pay big bucks to watch an engineering student shake and bake with his slide rule, you'll have a press conference for them. Bad analogy.

I'm a Chicago guy and an Illinois fan by the way. I don't condemn Illinois fans, that stuff seems to happen everywhere.

Southern Indiana or Oakland city may be where Weber winds up!

I was responding to fullor's comment about Gordon not wanting attention. If he and his family truly did not want attention, they would not have called a news conference to sign the letter of intent. They would not have spoken to spoken to the media at all. If he truly did not want attention, he would've attended a less-visible school. So, in that respect, I agree with rocky - if you want the attention, you have to be able to take the boos with the cheers.

Absolutely he and his family should <B>never</B> be subjected to obcenities and things thrown at them. The people that did that were idiots. Those were not the average Illinois fans that I know. The ones I know just booed. Should Gordon and his family not expect to get booed, given the circumstances and how they played out? Nope; too bad for them they don't get love everywhere they go. But, you're right in that there is a line that should never be crossed.

Sometimes you call a press conference to set the record straight. If he had announced to one paper, the phone might have never stopped ringing for further clarification. Press conferences are designed to give all forms of media one opportunity to ask questions instead of doing the same thing over a period of time. That is why when the police want to answer questions about a case, they hold a press conference. It is a lot easier to deal with the media that way.

I do not care if they were the average fan or not. Your coach set a tone. Instead of just moving on, Weber made it sound like in the media as if the kid betrayed him. If Weber took some leadership and said the right things, you might not have this kind of resentment. Weber has already accepted the commitments from kids that are not even sophomores and what is he going to do if they decide to change their minds? Is he going to act the same way?

Peace

I'm not whining about the news conferences - that's part of the way things work. I'm only saying if you don't really want the attention, then don't have news conferences and handlers. If that's what you want, you have to be able to accept the negative publicity with the the positives.

There are plenty of athletes that sign without the news conferences, in the privacy of their own home or HS coach's office. There are plenty more students that are not athletes that choose their school without a handler. I still think it's a great analogy.

Geeze, how old are you?! Does anyone in school now know what a slide rule is? Perhaps a press conference is needed to remind people what one looks like? :D

[I]but come on, those players wanted attention in the first place, so now they can deal with some of this stuff. Life ain't all a bed of roses.[/I]

Did I say it warranted the kind of crap he got at that game? Nope, sure didn't...try reading carefully next time.

Hmmmm.............make up your mind, seems like you feel like they deserve it.


when he finally got around to actually making up his mind which school he would got to, did his family call the media and make sure they were there when he signed his LOI??? Bet they did...bet they wanted the attention...

I don't bet and I don't guess...........not good for an official;)


Now suddenly it's not Eric Gordon, it's his family wanted the attention(which may very well be) but the discussion is about Eric.

As I posted before all the top 5 or so recruits in the country have some sort of press conference.

It's news

What the heck, here we are arguing about him a year later......

I'm having a news conference in August to announce my schedule for 2008/2009.

Really??? Nevada is in the WAC and I haven't heard that. What you have written is likely true, but my point is that it is NOT well-publicized to those who attend the games.

The WAC does have a conference sportsmanship code under which NV coach Mark Fox was disciplined (well not really) for his postgame behavior with official Bill Gracey last season.

The difference is no one would come and no one would care. I have not read about your schedule anywhere in any publication. Bhuck Elics get more pub about his schedule than you, me or anyone else working HS ball. ;)

Peace

After reading this, does anyone think that Love will return to UCLA for next season? Despite the current denials of early entry into the draft, I'm convinced that he is leaving. Not putting up with this or having his family deal with this may well be a large factor in the decision.

Ok, an abacus then?..........that's how much I know about engineering.

Sure, plenty of athletes just sign but the top 3-5 are in rare air, seperated from the herd, distanced from the pack. Additionally they all have 'handlers'.

Right or wrong there are only so many that have a vertical leap of 40' and are gifted athletically, those few the sport crazed public are interested in, not vet students. But I think you know that.

If you want the attention and want to deal with the media, sure.

If you don't want the attention, you don't deal with the media at all.

You cannot have it both ways.

But, that's exactly what happened. Gordon set the tone. He announced his intention (in the media, if I'm not mistaken), then reneged later. That's certainly not "against the law"; he had a right to do that. But he shouldn't expect everyone would be happy with that decision. Weber based his plans on that commitment, then had to change the plans because Gordon changed his mind. Should Weber lie to the media about that?

We'll just have to disagree on this one. I wonder though - would you disagree as strongly if Gordon had originally committed to Michigan? ;)

Wanting attention or not wanting attention has nothing to do with people throwing stuff at your family before, during or after the game. I do not care if they held 100 press conferences every time they went to the bathroom or decided to get something to eat. Not a reason to act unsportsmanlike. Show some class.

I sure would feel differently. And not only would I feel differently, it has happen. There was a kid that was to go to Michigan and the minute the coach was fired, he went to Kentucky. If they ever played I would not hold up signs or throw things to demean the kid in any way. The #1 QB in the nation went to Ohio State instead of Michigan. Of course I will cheer against him, but I would not call him names or mistreat his family. I believe that when these kids sign on the dotted line, what they say means nothing. I guess if someone says they are going to buy a house and choose not to sign the papers on the contract, you think those people should be mistreated too. There is more to life than winning or losing a game.

Peace

You know, there have been times when reading your posts where I have thought "this person just doesn't get it."

Now I know for sure that you don't get it.

Umm...did you miss the part where I whole-heartedly agreed with this? :confused:

We agree. That's what most Illinois fans were doing with Gordon at that game.

We agree again. That's what a few idiots were doing, not the vast majority of the fans.

Cool, we still agree.

Define, "mistreated". Oral contracts are, in general, just as binding as written contracts. They are, of course, harder to enforce because they are harder to prove. But, if I hold a press conference saying I'll sign the contract to buy the house, you can probably be sure I'll be "mistreated" by the sellers' attorney.

But you will probably boo more against a player who first says he will go to Michigan and then changes that later - right? Especially if that player makes a big show out of it and has a big media circus surrounding the whole changing and signing thing, than if the kid just quietly signed with Ohio State or Purdue or whoever...

And that's my point. When these "big name" athletes and their families do all this media-grabbing, they have to expect that there will be the negative sides to that also.

Just to be clear, since we seem to have some people on this thread who didn't do so well in their reading comprehension classes, the idiots who were talked about in the article should be dealt with. But the booing and catcalls should be expected by the people who put themselves out there.

Great post!
http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...es/roflmao.gif

I had a math teacher in HS that had a slide rule tie bar. We didn't use the word "geek" back then (we mostly still spoke Latin ;) ) but if we did, he'd have been one with a capital G! :eek:

I know that guy! He also had a pocket protector for his pens, right?

For the record I am going to boo them because they are going to Ohio State. And who cares about Purdue, we beat them all the time anyway. ;)

And I do not agree about the term "media grabbing." The media is in their face anyway. I go to games during the summer with some of the "bigger names" and it is amazing who is in their face from the Dad to the siblings. And now that high school games are on national TV, the media is even more in their face. Kevin Love played a game in California and there was so much hype around the game, fire codes were violated and the game was delayed for about 45 minutes. I do not think he brought that on himself, the media made a connection and anything the kid did was under a microscope.

Peace

You're also assuming along with RR that he and his family called the press conference. Indiana is one crazy basketball state and any time anyone of the magnitude of an Eric Gordon announces that he's going to Mecca of basketball schools in the state, it's big news. I'll bet a shiny new quarter that the media outlets called for the press conference, after all it's what they do. I'm sure they were also drooling over the fact that he opted out of his oral agreement with the Illini, again a big story on a national level. Let's not forget that Indiana lost Greg Oden, another homey a year before to Ohio State, so they were estatic that he was staying put.

I agree, you can boo him all you want for reneging on Illinois, I'm sure he expected that, but not the other stuff.

I can only respond to what you post. If you didn't mean what you wrote, I can understand that.

Going back to general sportsmanship decorum by fans, I definitely think it's getting worse. Why are parents screaming "MISS IT!!!" in a junior high girls game with the score 20-5? I stopped sitting in the student section at my college for basketball games because I just got so tired of all my classmates screaming at the players & officials. IMO, there's nothing more garbage than chanting "Bulls***! Bulls***!" after a call, or calling someone on the other team some pretty awful names. Get behind your team, and for more competitive levels (i.e. above junior high!) provide a tough atmosphere for the other team, but stop with the personal attacks.

"but come on, those players wanted attention in the first place, so now they can deal with some of this stuff. Life ain't all a bed of roses"

Sounds like they get what they deserve?

Try and twist this one.........

Sorry. Togas didn't have pockets. Besides, they were quill pens. ;)

Show me where he wrote that he thought they deserved the "other stuff."

He doesn't need to, you already have. Here's his whole quote, Ms. Dowd. I've taken the liberty of highlighting the relevant portions.

Your welcome.

What does wanting attention have to do with sportsmanship? Someone needs to make the connection. I do not give a damn if someone stood on top of the scorers table and jumped up and down 100 times, what the heck does that have to do with telling them to F-off or throwing stuff at their family?

And the fact that people keep talking about what press conference these players had just boggles the mind. Just because you are not coming out and saying it is OK, does not mean you are not implying it.

Peace

"but come on, those players wanted attention in the first place, so now they can deal with some of this stuff. Life ain't all a bed of roses"

Forgot to post in red for effect.

This is the passage I was referring to.

"but come on, those players wanted attention in the first place, so now they can deal with some of this stuff. Life ain't all a bed of roses"


It implies to me that that's the accepted consequence for seeking attention.

Also ironic about bed of roses as Illinois and Indiana both lost out on Derrick Rose.



.

Still doing your best to misquote him. If you're not reading his entire post. BTW, I changed the applicable part of your partial quote to black. "Some of this stuff," in the context of what he wrote, obviously doesn't include the death threats and physical assaults on the families.

How can I misqoute him? it's all in red and black?

You're not his consiglieri are you? :)

OK, we'll go back to kindygarten for you Mr. Full...the things in the article were unacceptable. I do, however, find it ironic that certain people want attention, but then are upset when the attention they get is sometimes not the kind of attention they want it to be. Again, not referring to the kinds of attention that were talked about in the article in the OP, because - as I have said numerous times - that kind of attention is unacceptable. But the attention they receive will not always be nice and cheerful. But the attention should not cross the lines which make it unacceptable because that would be unacceptable and should be dealt with (as I also said before). But sometimes these "stars" think the attention should always be the kind of attention they want it to be, and that won't always happen. So as long as the attention doesn't become unacceptable - like the attention in the original article - then they just have to learn to deal with it. And that should be acceptable.

Now not even you are stupid enough to be confused anymore. At least I think you're not. But then again, you will probably prove me wrong.

Because you pulled parts of his quote out of context. Out of context, it seemed as if he was saying what you said he did. In context, however, it was clear that he didn't.

Rocky's not in the mafia, so I doubt he needs a consiglieri. Nor, in this case anyway, is he guilty. And if you were being misquoted as poorly as he is, I'd do the same for you, coach.

Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark!!:D

What??! He's not!!?

I want all that protection money back then!!

You're so gullible.