Inappropriate Fan Signs

[Mark Padgett]

I am not making this up. The best spectator sign I ever saw was many years ago when I was watching a UCLA-USC basketball game on TV. A student in the UCLA section had a sign that said, "FLUSH USED TROJANS".

[ballgame99]

Along these lines, I heard the student section yelling "GINGER" at an opposing player when he was on the free throw line. I told the home administrator about it and the guys asked me "is he readheaded?", to which I answered yes, and the guys then said "well then he's a ginger" and walked off. Ok then. I was under the impression that was a derogatory term?

[constable]

If I'm going to address a sign in the the stands it would have to be so incredibly egregious ( homophobic, racist etc) and recent enough that game management hasn't seen it

Baseball has a great philosophy for dealing with nonsense in the stands. Let the people who deal with the stands, deal with it. Your job is to deal with the field.
It seems like people are too busy paying attention to whats going on in the stands they might be missing an important part of the game that they do have jurisdiction over.

[Nevadaref]

But it was okay to advocate at the 1968 Olympics with such a slogan as that was considered a political statement on human rights. ?!?!

When will our society realize that ALL such messages are inherently racial and unacceptable.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

But it was okay to advocate at the 1968 Olympics with such a slogan as that was considered a political statement on human rights. ?!?!

When will our society realize that ALL such messages are inherently racial and unacceptable.

I'm not sure what you're referring to in the first part.

I agree with the 2nd part.

Frankly, in ballgame99's case, I'd follow up with a message to the state and let them deal with it.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Adam

I'm not sure what you're referring to in the first part.

Google it. Isn't isn't an obscure reference.

[BillyMac]

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Google it. Isn't isn't an obscure reference.

I knew the reference, but hadn't looked at the original story yet (my fault) to make the connection.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

But it was okay to advocate at the 1968 Olympics with such a slogan as that was considered a political statement on human rights. ?!?!

When will our society realize that ALL such messages are inherently racial and unacceptable.

Another WTF moment from the Silver State.

Have you ever been banned from living in a state? When I was an infant my parents and I were banned from 17 states by the military. Maybe bullcrap like that led to that Olympic moment. Not that you are one to realize there are life experiences outside of what your brain can conceptualize.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Another WTF moment from the Silver State.

Have you ever been banned from living in a state? When I was an infant my parents and I were banned from 17 states by the military. Maybe bullcrap like that led to that Olympic moment. Not that you are one to realize there are life experiences outside of what your brain can conceptualize.

That was wrong then and it would be wrong now. Personally, I don't have any stories to match yours. Hopefully that is because our society has progressed during my lifetime. I can tell you that my mother was prevented from certain things while in the US Air Force simply because of being female. That seems somewhat similar to what you unfortunately had to experience.

My belief is that having signs that express racial sentiments is unacceptable. Period. I don't care what group they are advocating or denouncing.

I sincerely hope that you wouldn't claim that it would be okay for students to hold signs reading "Black" & "Power" because of past wrongs in this country?

I don't see any such slogans as helpful or positive for our current society or it's future. Of course, I also don't believe that we should have Black History Month or a Congressional Black Caucus. Just the same we shouldn't have Latino, Caucasian, or Asian based ones either. Those only serve to segregate, divide, and classify people based upon race. That is what we should be striving to cease doing. Why can't we just have a History month?

People don't seem to look at our racial issues in a reverse manner and see that some situations intended to promote or help minorities actually come across as offensive and non-inclusive. For example, consider the TV channel named "Black Entertainment Television." What would your feeling be towards one named White Entertainment Television or Asian Entertainment Television? Would you find it offensive? Would you have any desire to watch it? Would you feel excluded by the name or the programming agenda?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

That was wrong then and it would be wrong now. Personally, I don't have any stories to match yours. Hopefully that is because our society has progressed during my lifetime. I can tell you that my mother was prevented from certain things while in the US Air Force simply because of being female. That seems somewhat similar to what you unfortunately had to experience...

In 1968 Blacks were institutionally and legally treated as less than human in many parts of this nation. Were Blacks only supposed to engage in warm and cuddly forms of protests? Do you have any idea what types humiliation Carlos and Lewis suffered in their lives that led to that display at the Olympics? You are comparing their experiences and message to those kids from this article? Seriously?

And your mother being prevented from doing a few things is different than 17 states telling the Air Force that my father's interracial marriage and biracial child were legally unwelcome from being stationed within their borders. What form of protest is acceptable to you under those conditions?

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by ballgame99

Along these lines, I heard the student section yelling "GINGER" at an opposing player when he was on the free throw line.

When I was in HS (right after Noah and the flood) we used to yell the following at opponents when they were shooting FTs:

"See that basket, see that ball, come on stupid, hit the wall."

[Coach Bill]

Originally Posted by ballgame99

Along these lines, I heard the student section yelling "GINGER" at an opposing player when he was on the free throw line. I told the home administrator about it and the guys asked me "is he redheaded?", to which I answered yes, and the guys then said "well then he's a ginger" and walked off. Ok then. I was under the impression that was a derogatory term?

You're right it is. Especially, in that context. Not racist, but a slur for sure.

[just another ref]

2-8-1 Note: When team supporter become unruly or interfere with the orderly progress of the game, the officials shall stop the game until the host management resolves the situation..........



Frankly, I can't imagine anything on a sign which would interfere with the orderly progress of the game.

[BDevil15]

So if you are going to judge "Ginger" as a derogatory term and do something about it where does your all encompassing social judgment end? If a green school fans call the Yellow school "bananas" and means it in a rude way couldn't you consider that derogatory as well? Just do your job and let administrators do theirs.

If the distraction affects the game in some way then ask someone who is there for that purpose.