Neff Zone Column

Print Edition: August 25, 2007

BE A REAL FAN

The start of a new school year means that high school sports are once again in full swing. Student-athletes all over northern Michigan will be trying their utmost to be the best possible representatives of their schools and communities. The best way to support their efforts is to be real fans, not false ones.

About 99.9% of the fans that attend high school events are already "real fans." They cheer for their teams and set a good example of sportsmanship for the players on the field or court and the youngsters in the bleachers.

Unfortunately, though, there always seems to be at least one "false fan" at every event. You know who I’m talking about. The false fan is the person (almost always male) who is on his feet from the opening whistle of every contest protesting at the top of his lungs every call by an official, second guessing every decision by a coach, and casting derogatory remarks at every opposing player.

When you come across a false fan, here’s what you must realize. His odious behavior has absolutely nothing to do with supporting his team. It has everything to do with calling attention to himself, a pathetic attempt to get everyone else to "look at me." Ask yourself this: If false fan was the only person in the stands would he act this way? Of course not. The goal of his performance is to make others pay attention to him, so unless there’s an audience why put on a show?

He’s probably a has-been or never-was. If he did play high school sports it obviously was the highlight of his life and nothing he’s done since has amounted to a hill of beans so he continually needs to remind others that he once was "somebody." But remember this: An empty barrel makes the most noise.

I’m not saying all of us don’t boo a referee’s call once in a while or yell "pass the ball" (or some other pearl of strategic wisdom) on occasion. It’s a natural part of being a fan involved in a game. But real fans cheer FOR their team, not against the opponent. Real fans tip their caps to good play by opposition players. And real fans don’t embarrass themselves, their schools or communities by exchanging low-class barbs with false fans from other schools.

Now, if you’re a false fan reading this you can write off my comments as being one man’s opinion. Just because I’ve played, coached, officiated, broadcast, and watched high school sports over the last fifty years doesn’t make me an expert. If you don’t give credence to my opinion, though, how about the opinions of student-athletes themselves? Get on the Internet and go to www.mhsaa.com/services/smanpage.html and click on the video, "What kids wish their parents knew about sportsmanship." Listen to high school and middle school athletes discuss fan behavior.

All fans might benefit from going to www.mhsaa.com/services/smanbro.pdf to view/download a brochure about sportsmanship from the Michigan High School Athletic Association. About spectators it says:

*Remember that you are at a contest to support and yell for your team and to enjoy the skill and competition; not to intimidate or ridicule the other team and its fans.

*Praise student-athletes in their efforts to improve themselves as students, as athletes, and as people.

*Remember that a ticket to a school athletic event is a privilege to observe the contest, not a license to verbally assault others and be generally obnoxious. Be a positive behavior model at events through your own actions.

*Understand that you are possibly the biggest role model in a child’s life. Carrying on wildly in the stands at games and challenging the authority of coaches and officials does little to model positive behavior in the child’s presence.

*Don’t live your life through your child’s (or other student-athlete’s) athletic achievements. This is their time. This is their place. Let them play.

Jim Neff is a local columnist. Comments to neffzone@gmail.com. Read Neff Zone columns online at www.neffzone.us.