Kirk Herbstreit tweeted a link to an article about a former Oregon Duck player who watched the UCLA game this past Saturday from the stands as a spectator for the first time.
Here's a link to the article:
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2013/1...
The letter in the article is definitely somewhat eye-opening because it comes from the perspective of a player who has been there, done that. Sadly, we all know this kind of behavior exists even amongst some of the best fan bases. Including some of our own.
Hopefully this letter serves as a reminder of how spoiled we can be, and gives those who call themselves "fans" something to think about.
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and seeing posts on here I know we have our own fair share of them
He brings up some good points, but I can't help but think his message would have been more powerful if every other word wasn't (expletive).
To judge an entire fan base off of the actions of a few drunk assholes is kind of ridiculous to me. Every fan base in every sport has bad fans, doesn't mean the entire fan base deserves an article that ends "I will always love the ducks: my coaches, my teammates, my brothers and family. The rest... Go fuck yourselves."
On the one hand I feel bad...but on the flip side it's probably a good thing this dude isn't in the nfl. Especially in a town like Foxborough, Meadowlands or Dallas. Plus, those athletes get a TON of perks and the opportunity to make millions. In addition, there are fans that have defended those same athletes that have done blow, or knock up underage girls and get them abortions, etc.
I can see where he's coming from and some criticism may be deserved here, but I think he's extrapolating too far. One data point does not make a trend. In my own experience in Lane, the people around me varied from week to week. One game, there would be complete idiots like these that make the game unbearable. The next week, I would have the time of my life with complete strangers who are awesome fans. If he goes to multiple games in multiple places in the stadium (i.e. student section, general public, alumni, etc) and observes the same behavior, yes, he may be on to something. But one experience with some jerks should not earn the level of condemnation he is dishing out.
I can imagine the "fans" out there have become spoiled so to speak. They expect a butt-kicking every game, and they get their wish. Now, they are wishing for a perfect game. And, given the years of success, a big win has become just fact, deeming the game as a sideshow. After hours of tailgating, they won't be satisfied unless there is utter perfection or sheer destruction. Wonder why Bama fans don't show up for games? The conclusion is known. Same out in Oregon.
This does NOT excuse their behavior, but I'm also sure he has a sensitive trigger in some of this. Imagine having to bite your tongue for so long, then being released and being able to actually hear what is being thrown out there. His "filter" was probably reduced, and he let them have it.
I disagree with his "Spartacus" statement.
I firmly believe because of the god-given superior athletic ability of most college and NFL players, fans view player as more than human, almost as modern-day Achilles and Hector. Because of that, there's an expectation of superhuman standards, expectations that we would never place on a normal individual. The idea that he sees himself as a "slave" is ridiculous because I'm willing to bet that the majority of us are willing to trade lives with Tom Brady, Ray Lewis, JJ Watt or Adrian Peterson in a heartbeat. Nobody here wants to be Kunta Kinte.
Because we lionize these players and don't know them personally, some fans take solace in disparaging these players when they're imperfect in a vein attempt to counteract their own insecurities. That's why as a fanbase we connect with players like Sam Rogers because he is the personification of the level of drive and commitment we would envision ourselves having if we were blessed with adequate ability.
To further your thought...I'm not sure that he's (or any college player is) being held captive between games either. Yes, there are practices, expectations, classes, meetings. But there are a ton of positives about being part of a team (and winning such that he did at Oregon) and receiving some of the perks that he did. I'm not sure I would draw a parallel between that and being held captive between games like he eludes to.
yeah, he lost me at slave. while i agree with him that many fans dont appreciate the sacrifices and hard work that college athletes put in, lets not get silly. he chose to play football. he chose to accept that full scholly. he could have walked away at any time. he couldnt you say? how else would he have paid for school? well, i guess he could have worked his way through, supported himself and still racked up the student debt. you know, the way most of us who didnt come from money get an education. dude needs to get over himself.
This^
My problem with all this student athlete's are taken advantage of talk- Every non-athletic student has to work their butts off, and most still wind up with debt anyway for their degree. These big-time college athletes get a free education, tutors, free stuff from bowl games, etc, and still complain about not being paid. Boo-hoo, in my opinion.
This doesn't apply to all the other hardworking walk-ons, athletes in other non-money making sports, etc. Kudos to them for putting in the hard work and effort both on and off the field. The big time stars could learn a lot from them.
I'd be ok with a stipend for them, because being a college athlete is basically a full-time job, so they can't work someplace to get some spending money like a normal student can. I wouldn't have been able to buy groceries if I hadn't had a part-time job. But yeah, generally agree with you.
How many students who work through college and pay for their education themselves also have spending money and don't come out with debt? Because I'm pretty sure that's next to no one. You can either take loans and have some "spending money" or put that spending money directly toward reducing the loans/debt you'll have later.
I know that the term Slave is a little strong, but I don't think he was trying to say he actually had it as hard as the people who had to work on plantations back in the day. I think he simply meant that as far as the fans were concerned, that's how valuable they were. Valuable to get something out of them, entertainment, or a task of winning games if you will, but not valuable to the average fan as people. I know this isn't always true, but it is for some. One person near me is very much #TeamLeal, and has been since last season. He has come to terms with the idea that Beamer is gonna play Thomas no matter what, so he has literally said "I hope somebody hurts him or something, so that he won't play". He said it in a fit of rage, but come on dude. Really? Comments like those clearly indicate that for some fans, the players are only as valuable as their football achievements, not their lives as humans. I believe the former Duck is talking about these fans.
Yeah the slave characterization turned me off too. I'm sure we've all heard someone use that term before, too, so at this point I just read the word 'slave' and translate it automatically into 'we're being used by someone else'. Makes it easier to swallow.
My favorite thing about the "put Leal in" crew (especially in the student section) is that half of them don't even know how to pronounce his name. One last week also yelled a complaint about being in the shotgun on third and 7, only for us to be lining up in the pistol...
It's pronounced, "Leal"
Sounds like "leal"
i know its pronounced 'leal' but i still say it as 'leal' in my head
Wait it's 'leal'? I thought it was 'leal'?
No, it's definitely "Leal"
Really? I swore I read that it's "Leal."
I yell about us being in the shotgun a lot. But that's mainly because it's on 3rd and 1.
It was a good letter all the way until the end. You are not slaves, you get a full scholarship to college. While you're there you also get to play a sport that most of us wish we could still play. Don't make stupid comparisons. When people start to use curse words while trying to make a legitimate argument it makes them sound uneducated and I tend to tune them out.
I see some of that at the games but, most are very respectful and supportive.
Usually, the ones I hear that from, are even less knowledgeable on football than I am as a relative neophyte.
Sometimes fans from other teams that are near me are abusive and aggressive, at our home games. I think it's a bit of a defense mechanism though, they're surrounded by Hokie fans. I usually diffuse that a bit by noting when one of their guys makes an especially good play periodically. It usually gets some pretty funny looks at first. I find that soon, everybody gets chill and I comment that we're all there just to watch a good game and have fun.
Being nice to people, it works.
As far as game atmosphere is the subject.
I found out Saturday, while tailgating, that the cadets watching the parking areas, do not get a break or chow.
We fed and watered the ones close to us. He really appreciated it.
Pass that word around and make a plate for your local cadet at your next tailgate.
I've done that before as well, but I tend to make ridiculous amounts of food and feed anyone that wanders by.
I hope this guy figures out that UO gave him a (at least mostly, if not totally) free college degree. Kinda puts that whole "slavery" thing in perspective, in my mind. But I can understand his disappointment in the fan base, after encountering some less than intelligent, likely over-beveraged fans.
I know how he feels. I've been attending VT games for 40+ years, and I can't remember one game where I didn't sit around at least one of those kind....usually several. A constant uninformed commentary on players, play calling, coaching, and officiating...almost always wrong. I will never understand how some people can be so adamant and so passionate in their ignorance. And as an official, I can tell you it exists at all levels. It begins with little league parents and becomes a perpetual process with each succeeding generation as they learn the conditioned response from their parents. A growing pandemic of loser mentality. It is sickening sometimes and really can detract from the this sport we love so much.
it's not all fans, but it's more than it should be. a lot less in cville and a lot more in morganhole, for different reasons.