So should this bother me as a parent?
 

I called a GV and BV game at my daughter's HS last night. I usually don't call there since she attends (she no longer plays basketball there, only volleyball) but the R got sick at the last minute and since I was close I got the call.

Anyway, during the visiting team player intros, the student section held up newspaper in front of their faces and yelled GARBAGE as each visiting team player was introduced. As a parent of a student there (my daughter was not in attendance last night) I was embarrassed as I think it is very tacky. I didn't say anything as an official but when I got home I asked my daughter about it and she said they did it every game and thought it was funny. I told her I had better never hear her doing it as I think it shows poor class and very poor sportsmanship. Of course to a teenager I am just an old fuddy who has no sense of humor.

Am I just getting too old or does this bother anyone else?

I don't see it as anything to be bothered by, but I know some are.

There are other ways to intimidate one's opponents.

This method is immature, imho. But I'm not a teenager.

A better idea: the students recite their opponent's poor-performing stats from a recent game.

Yea in the big scheme of things I agree it isn't a big deal but as a guy who is suppose to ensure good sportsmanship on the court I guess it bothers me some - granted it isn't on the court but I think you understand what I mean. Probably not enough to say anything to anyone (other than my daughter) though

The newspaper thing has been around for decades, though I've never heard it coupled with the word, "Garbage." I wouldn't get into a twist over it, but that's just me.

Working a BV game between two rival private schools a few miles apart. Visitors started a talented freshman who made a very good move and a layup, and his visiting fans started chanting "He's a freshman" over and over.

The next time that visiting freshman handles the ball, he dribbles off his foot and ball goes OOB. Home crowd chants "He's a freshman" over and over.....

Was it USA Today? Because, it could be taken two ways if it was.

No, it was probably our local paper and given that fact, they may very well have been talking about it. I know that is my opinion of our local paper :p

Love it. I'm all for clever and clean crowd chants. When I was at Indiana, Kentucky came to our house. One of our guards had a huge game. He happened to have an older brother on the Kentucky squad. We chanted "Jordan's Better" all game long

Not original...but it feels good when a rival is involved.

if this truly bothers you....+1 for describing yourself as an "old fuddy duddy"...you certainly got that one right!

It may bother you as a parent but it never should as an official. Let the home school AD worry about stuff like that.

It doesn't bother me as an official as I have heard worse. I guess I would like "our" fans to act a little more respectable than the average fan.

Maybe but that is not your role that night. If you are so upset say something to the AD or administration. But I honestly do not know why you would. There is a lot worse they could do as I had a game where the chants were about someone's mother or rather personal between student sections. I was looking for the administration to say something, but no one did. Trust me, it could be a lot worse.

Peace

I am not going to say anything to anyone since I was there as an official, it might be taken as an official talking about it and not a parent. I agree worse has been said - it is just when it is in your home you hope for better than what happens other places.

Even as a parent, I don't find it that bad to be honest with you. IMO, it beats the hell out of a student section that doesn't show or doesn't care.