Sportsmanship article in SI

[Scrapper1]

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.

[tjones1]

Money makes the world go around.

[Mark Padgett]

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.

[rockyroad]

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.

[co2ice]

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.

[Adam]

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.

[Tio]

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.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Tio

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.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

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.

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

Illini grad?

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by fullor30

I don't see Kevin Love much so I can't comment,

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.

[Tio]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

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

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.

[doubleringer]

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.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by fullor30

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

Illini grad?

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.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by fullor30

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

Illini grad?

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.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

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.

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.