Sports and Good Behavior
by K.L. Marsala

I love sports. I love to play them, watch them on television, but most of all I love to go to the stadiums or arenas and be a part of the intense excitement of what is known as "real time."

There is something to be said about the roar of the crowd, the witnessing of an outstanding shot, the smell of hot roasted peanuts, an icy cold soda, the crazed and frenzied fans and being right there in thick of great sports moments. But how great are they?

We are all aware of the immature battle that took place between a few players and the fans (Pacers/Pistons), but what does this say about us culturally? No, America hasn't reached the ridiculous proportions of our friends in Europe and South America, but that's no excuse for the lack of self control that seems to permeating our country, nor our growing acceptance of poor behavior.

Today, angry fans riot in the parking lots- even when they've won their championship games. Our lack of self control stretches far beyond the basketball courts and football fields of professional sports.

We've seen destructive antics at our college and high school levels as well. We've even witnessed violent behavior at elementary school games. We are stepping way over the line of what is reasonable. Are we developing a generation of young people who believe that the only way to express one self is through destructive behavior? What are we all so mad about anyway?

Will we have to increase security every where we go? Certainly the NBA has already increased the number of security guards. Why have the players and the fans become so out of control that the NBA will have to pay for more security guards and police officers?

What are we teaching our young children we bring to the games we love? Is this it?- I don't like the fact you took my ball so therefore I am going to smack you on the head... Or is it?- I don't like the shot that player made, so I am going to call him a stupid sh**t head and throw my cup of water at him. Grow up people, or stay at home! I love taking my kids to the game for the excitement, the smells, the thrills of being there, not for your beastly behavior and tantrums.

Where is our self control?

Are you ready, because of the idiocies of uncontrolled buffoons, to have to pay higher ticket prices for protection? I'm not. I'll keep my kids, money, support, and life at home. It's not how I want to enjoy my sports and share them with my kids, but I am not willing anymore to pay to be protected from the imbeciles who cannot control him or herself.

Players and fans -- grow up! Artest, Jackson and O'Neal if you really were a part of this brawl- shame on you. You need your mommas to give you a talking to on controlling your behavior and stop whining that you think Stern wasn't fair. The problem is too many people have been too “fair” to this type of behavior for too long!

Vernon Maxwell of the Houston Rockets punched a fan and received only a 10 games suspension and a 20,000 dollar fine. Latrell Sprewell of the Golden State Warriors only received a suspension of 68 games for choking his coach P.J. Carlesimo during practice. Kermit Washington of the Lakers only received a 26 game suspension for breaking the jaw of Rudy Tomjanovich during a game. Dennis Rodman was only suspended for 11 games for kicking a courtside cameraman in the groin as well as six games for head butting a referee. Just because they are big name entertainers doesn't leave any room in the hall of "special people" to behave like idiots who cannot control their actions. It is time to smack these spoiled brats right where it hurts. You do the crime, you do the time- player or fan- dot, period, end of sentence.

Fans too need to be prosecuted and held accountable just as much as the players. They all share equally in this type of deplorable behavior.

I’ll close with this- thank you to those fans that do control themselves and enjoy the game for what it is, a game. Thank you to the players who play with style, integrity and class for the love of the game.

K L. Marsala is a commentator on social, cultural and political ideologies. She is co-publisher of Sarah's Seed Journal and has published one book, with number two waiting in the wings.

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