At what point do you engage/remove an obnoxious fan?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

Taunting and racism come to mind. What I can't convey here is the tone he used. It was one that said, to me, hey your team sucks you all have no business being on the same court as our far superior team.

Before every game I've worked that has a PA announcer, an announcement is read that strongly encourages sportsmanship to all present. How can we justify their reading the statement if we're not willing to enforce it?

There's nothing that says fans can't taunt opponents, IMO. As for racism, how?

OOO, IMO. Unless he says something blatantly racist or profane, I'm not touching it. I repeat myself, no need to look for trouble here.

[stiffler3492]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

There's nothing that says fans can't taunt opponents, IMO. As for racism, how?

OOO, IMO. Unless he says something blatantly racist or profane, I'm not touching it. I repeat myself, no need to look for trouble here.

Well, Patel is a common Indian/Middle Eastern last name, and I've heard it used quite a bit in a derogatory sense. So like I said, if I didn't know that her name was, in fact, Patel, I probably would have taken it in a derogatory sense, which has no place in HS basketball. I think we can all agree on that.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

Well, Patel is a common Indian/Middle Eastern last name, and I've heard it used quite a bit in a derogatory sense. So like I said, if I didn't know that her name was, in fact, Patel, I probably would have taken it in a derogatory sense, which has no place in HS basketball. I think we can all agree on that.

Huh?????

[APG]

Originally Posted by fullor30

Huh?????

I'm with fullor...say what?

[stiffler3492]

You guys have never heard Patel used as an insult?

[APG]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

You guys have never heard Patel used as an insult?

How is Patel both a common last name by your own admission and an insult?

[stiffler3492]

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

How is Patel both a common last name by your own admission and an insult?

I take it along the same lines as calling a Mexican guy a beaner or an Italian guy a greaseball.

Racially derogatory terms. The way I've heard "Patel" used, it's almost never in a nice way.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

You guys have never heard Patel used as an insult?

No, but I don't hang out with people who use racial insults on a regular basis. Frankly, I've never heard a racial slur on a basketball court, either.

[Judtech]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

No, but I don't hang out with people who use racial insults on a regular basis. Frankly, I've never heard a racial slur on a basketball court, either.

You must not have played at the same parks I played at growing up. Of course, I am not sure you could categorize them as racial slurs so much as trash talk. I have had more then a few fans removed for racial stuff. If you let that go, you are only ASKING for trouble. I had one school admin who wouldn't remove the fan but just wanted to stand next to them b/c he was worried they may meet harm in the parking lot. My response was that I can stand here and hold the ball all night until he and his friends leave, or you can have the sheriff escort them to their cars. Johnny Law won that round!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

There's nothing that says fans can't taunt opponents, IMO.

I disagree with this. I have probably had only a handful of people removed in 24 years, but if I knew that a fan was taunting a HS player, I wouldn't hesitate to get the AD and have the idiot thrown out.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I disagree with this. I have probably had only a handful of people removed in 24 years, but if I knew that a fan was taunting a HS player, I wouldn't hesitate to get the AD and have the idiot thrown out.

Fair enough, but it would have to be a) extremely obvious and b) a lot more serious that "let's see what you've got."

[stir22]

we have one school in our area where the fan's are so obnoxious that a lot of the guys have blocked the school. so, those of us who haven't end up going there a lot. no matter what we do, nothing seems to help. the AD is sympathetic to our plight and tries, but it seems like the next game the same stuff happens. fans have been ejected for the game/season, but it just goes on and on.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by stir22

we have one school in our area where the fan's are so obnoxious that a lot of the guys have blocked the school. so, those of us who haven't end up going there a lot. no matter what we do, nothing seems to help. the AD is sympathetic to our plight and tries, but it seems like the next game the same stuff happens. fans have been ejected for the game/season, but it just goes on and on.

Suggest to him that he clear the gym for a game sometime; just to get his point across.

[stir22]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Suggest to him that he clear the gym for a game sometime; just to get his point across.

thanks.....i'm out there again next week...he's a great AD, and sick of his own fans. i'll do that.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Suggest to him that he clear the gym for a game sometime; just to get his point across.

Ditto.

Obviously, if it's so bad that officials are choosing not to work there anymore, the tolerance level needs to decrease there. Remove a fan as early as problems begin Instead of choosing one fan, clear a section of the bleachers. Instead of a section, an entire side.

If the "innocent" fans begin to be punished for the actions of the knuckleheads, they will start to hold each other accountable. It sounds like a problem of culture, and big things must happen to change culture.