Fan revolts out of control, one wanted to fight UGA player
Braves fans littered Turner Field with beer bottles after bad call. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
The Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines fan as: 1) an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator; 2): an ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit).
As with anything, definitions can often be broadened. The boundaries of this definition just seemingly shouldn’t stretch to home fans cheering when their quarterback crumbles to the ground with a concussion. Or throwing bottles and garbage on a baseball field, endangering other fans and players, in protest of an umpire’s call. Or egging and toilet-papering a home known to be rented by five college players out of disgust, merely because the team lost a football game. Or effectively challenging one student-athlete to a fight on Twitter.
Yes. One “fan” actually did that last week to Georgia’s Christian Robinson.
“There were all these people saying stuff about me on Twitter, it got personal,” Robinson, a senior linebacker, said about the aftermath of last week’s loss at South Carolina. “I had to start blocking people Sunday. I think I blocked about 30. One guy really started coming at me. I’m like, ‘Why are you talking to me like?’ Then he started giving me an address, saying, ‘Yeah, come meet me,’ and I’m like, ‘Are you serious?’”
So this is what it has come to?
That there is a lunatic fringe in sports fandom is not a revelation. In ancient times, a chariot race at Hippodrome in the year 532 CE, organized to raise support for overthrowing the emperor, ignited a riot that led to the deaths of 10,000 to 30,000 fans. But at least there was the backdrop of political and social issues.
A house rented by Christian Robinson (45), Aaron Murray (11) and three other Georgia players was egged and toilet-papered after a loss. (AP)
Lost perspective has reached moronic proportions. Kansas City Chiefs fans cheered last week when Matt Cassel was concussed because their team stinks, and they wanted Brady Quinn in the game. Chiefs linemen Eric Winston responded appropriately, saying, “We are not gladiators” and called it “sickening. It’s 100 percent sickening. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life to play football.”
Hundreds of Braves fans threw bottles and garbage after an umpire botched an infield fly rule call in the Wild Card playoff game
Fans cheered when Matt Cassel went down with a concussion, and one teammate called it "sickening." (AP)
against St. Louis. The next day, when Chipper Jones was asked why he didn’t respond to a plea by fans for a curtain call following the final game of his career, he said he wasn’t aware they wanted him out there, then joked, “I thought they were still throwing bottles.”
Then there is what happened in Athens. A house rented by five Georgia players was egged and toilet-papered following the Bulldogs’ 35-7 loss at South Carolina. The masses vented on social media, particularly Twitter, some taking personal attacks on players.
As if perspective hadn’t already been lost, the idiocy became magnified when it was learned that the father of quarterback Aaron Murray — one of the home’s tenants, with Robinson — had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and was about to undergo surgery.
“People can hide behind [fake screen names], especially when alcohol is involved,” Robinson said. “I understand people get emotionally involved. But you hope they realize that there are bigger deals in life than Georgia football, especially when you see something like what happened to Aaron’s father.”
The Athens police department will begin making frequent checks of players’ homes during road games. It’s sad that it has come to this, especially on a college campus.
Sports sociologist Jay Coakley, author of “Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies,” believes a number of factors have combined to embolden sports fans more than ever, including: a growing belief that they can affect the outcomes of games with crowd noise, increased ticket prices that grow their sense of involvement; and the growing platforms for their opinions, including message boards, blog commenting and sports talk radio.
“There is a sense of entitlement, but it goes beyond that,” Coakley said from his home in Colorado Springs. “It’s also a sense that you can get away with it. I don’t want to blame it all on talk radio, but those narratives have become pretty extreme. The boundaries for what’s acceptable and what’s not have been pushed, even to the point of egging the home of your own quarterback.”
When asked for a solution, Coakley said it would help if athletes, particularly on college campuses, were less sheltered from the public and allowed to make an off-the-field connection with fans. He added, “It also would be nice if somebody in the stands stood up and said, ‘This is is not acceptable.’ Point people out. Maybe the message would start to get across.”
The Athens eggers have not been caught. Robinson laughed when asked what he would like to see happen to them if they ever were brought to justice.
“I think if they ever get caught, just the public knowing who did that would be worse punishment than anything else,” he said. “They would be complete social outcasts. That would be enough.”
By Jeff Schultz
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432 comments Add your comment
phil
October 12th, 2012
11:33 pm
Georgia fans are EASILY the country’s most delusional…..and I am one!!
Minus the delusions and the inability to accept that Herschel was 30 years ago now and we still can’t let go.
B. Obama
October 12th, 2012
11:44 pm
It’s all George Bush’s fault.
B a r a c k O b a m a
October 12th, 2012
11:45 pm
It’s G e o r g e B u s h’ s fault.
Five & O Falcons
October 12th, 2012
11:46 pm
just win baby
Mitt Romney
October 12th, 2012
11:47 pm
It’s Jimmy Carter’s fault.
antonio romero
October 13th, 2012
12:55 am
this is such a bs article. so a 19 or 20 year old wanted to “fight”? how about my linebacker stay off of twitter, and you—–jeff scultz put effort into a REAL ARTICLE. as a grown man schultz– this is what you are doing?
Jeff (not Schultz)
October 13th, 2012
1:19 am
No. 1 — this is NOT a “bigger issue” now than it has been before… it’s just more PUBLICIZED because we have 800,000 media outlets and blogs and sports talk stations and twitter feeds and facebook pages. There were just as many, if not more, incidents of questionable behavior in the 70s and 80s… we just got less COVERAGE about it.
No. 2 — if you people think egging a house or throwing some half-empty Dasani water bottles on a field after the worst call in Braves history are big deals, think about how much worse it COULD be. People in Philly boo Santa Clause, cheered when Michael Irvin had suffered a serious neck injury and wasn’t moving, and have run players and coaches out of town with their thuggish behavior. Hell, they have a friggin’ JAIL in the bowels of their football stadium! The local reaction by Braves and Dawgs fans was 1. rare, 2. isolated, and 3. relatively harmless in the grand scheme of things.
3. AF Dawg and Stuart above said it best. When fans are making bigger and bigger investments due to skyrocketing prices of tickets, concessions, parking, required ticket donations, etc., and they see mistakes and incompetence and correctable things not being corrected, and when they feel there is absolutely NO recourse as to how to express their frustration, OF COURSE some people are going to choose inappropriate methods and outlets to vent their frustration. Is it right? No, but the point is, we can all see the reasons and thinking behind WHY things like this happen. If people littered the field with bottles in Tuscaloosa because Bama ONLY beat Ole miss 27-14, then yes, we’d say “why would they do that? there’s no reason.” But while we shouldn’t condone bad fan behavior by any group, the media needs to at least acknowledge and understand WHERE these fans were coming from.
No. 4 — if game officials and leagues were held to a higher standard and were accountable for their actions and mistakes (Braves-Cards game, Packers-Seahawks game, etc.), and if fans saw leagues actually take steps to CORRECT mistakes and DISCIPLINE those to make gross errors that change the course of games and call into question the integrity of the league and the sport, then people might not react as poorly. But when fans feel their teams have NO recourse and will be permanently affected by ridiculously poor officiating and rulings, you can see the reason for their emotional outbursts.
FINALLY, No. 5 — Georgia and Atlanta fans CAN’T WIN. If we cheer politely and are happy with a fair amount of success and act all Leave-It-To-Beaver at games, we hear that we’re not “passionate enough” and that we “don’t care as much” about winning and we’re not as “committed” as Bama fans, Eagles fans, New York fans, Gator fans, Celtic fans, Cubs fans, etc. But the FIRST TIME local fans (i’m sorry, a FEW SELECT local fans) go off the deep end and do something stupid, suddenly we’re on the front pages of the paper as “Oh my god look at these nut cases, all out of control over a GAME.” WE CAN’T WIN! If Georgia fans like me say 10-2 is pretty dang good and you can just keep recruiting good athletes and be in the hunt every year, we get told we don’t have the fire and commitment and dedication of other schools. If Brave/Falcon/Hawk fans celebrate when those teams win and flock to the games BUT don’t pay $100 a ticket for losing products, we’re told we’re not as committed and dedicated and don’t have the passion of Northeast fans or Chicago fans. So which is it? Tell me, Jeff Schultz and the national media, what would you have us do? I am sick and tired of seeing my teams and city and fans run down by media (national and local) because we are not just like such-and-such a fan base. Sorry we can’t please all of you, but that’s the way it is. So we’ll keep cheering and supporting our teams, and yes, occasionally, in a city of 6 million people, a few idiots will do stupid stuff… but a bad day in Atlanta or supporting Georgia beats ANY day having to live in Chicago or Philly or New York. I’m proud of my teams and proud of my players, and we need to be thankful in our region for what we DO have — great weather, a phenomenal capital city, stunningly gorgeous women, a host of outdoor activities we can do almost year round, and a lot of pretty good WINNING teams. We could live in Seattle or Cleveland or New Jersey… think about THAT and count your blessings.
Gringo
October 13th, 2012
2:26 am
+1 on the troll article. +3 on following it up with a troll comment.
Thanks, JS
October 13th, 2012
2:35 am
Long time ticket holder…us and our lunatic fans are the same as ‘Bama guy poisoning trees, morons throwing rocks through Curry’s window when he was in Tuskaloser, etc…idiots are everywhere and the
folks who would egg a college players house, or throw a projectile onto a field of play, are prime examples.
Barrack Yomama
October 13th, 2012
2:36 am
Bush and Reagan did it!!!Waahhahhhaa
Wow
October 13th, 2012
2:47 am
wow, it sucks not being able to wear my red and black Georgia cap. Maybe we can get those guys to take the G off their helmets and replace it with another letter!
I still love the dawgs, but i am off the kool aid though. We are nothing more that a stepping stone for over teams into the national spot light.
2008 Alabama, after beating us a year later they were national champs.
2011 Boise state
2012 south Carolina.
kingdaddy
October 13th, 2012
3:06 am
Truth
you missed the point of my post but that’s no big deal. If you’re a Dawg fan, don’t attack other Dawg fans. Just shows ignorance. My only problem with women is getting them to leave when I’m done. Married 3 times, divorced 3 times. No big deal…
kingdaddy
October 13th, 2012
3:14 am
Wow
put your cap back on, the season isn’t over yet. If you give up, you will miss all the drama, lol…
Tanker Pilot
October 13th, 2012
3:54 am
I understand some players don’t deserve to be treated bad like that but if they played to win and showed some pride they wouldn’t get bad stuff happening to them. Its just a egg and not like someone actually bombed there house. Robinson should have fought the guy and beat his tail instead of tattletelling him on the newspaper. guys need to man up and grow some.
I AM THE EGGMAN
October 13th, 2012
4:12 am
They are the eggmen, I am the walrus koo koo ka choo…
Joseph
October 13th, 2012
4:49 am
Well said GUY Bailey. While we dont want umpires to be intimidated coming to Atlanta, they should have second thoughts before making bad calls that have the potential to end seasons. If people dont want us to be upset, please dont ask us for a lot of money and then be upset when the rules you design are not followed….
WhatWouldJeusDo
October 13th, 2012
4:50 am
Jesus would crap his pants
Stinger2
October 13th, 2012
5:09 am
The article is right on. No reason or no poor excuse for fans to act as pointed out.
I believe a great contributing factor is alcohol.
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 13th, 2012
6:47 am
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2 wins in 18 games vs teams who made top 25 current 5-year Period
_______________________________________________________
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3 wins in 17 games vs teams who made top 10 entire Mark Richt era.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
villedog
October 13th, 2012
6:48 am
I hope BOO BOO has another quarter back in the wings that he can make a pocket passer out of. A pocket passer is not your best college QA in case you haven’t noticed. CMR
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 13th, 2012
6:56 am
_________________________________________
kingdaddy October 13th, 2012 3:06 am
“If you’re a Dawg fan, don’t attack other Dawg fans.”
__________________________________________
That is all you do while the rest of us are sick of losing to every top team.
Esquire
October 13th, 2012
7:01 am
Braves fan
October 12th, 2012
3:05 pm
Braves got hosed by umps…maybe league will get better umps as a result…no fun to drive an hour and watch incompetent umps determine victor after 3-4 more hours…and drive home for another hour….6 hours wasted..so game delay was the only fun that day
**************************************************
You don’t think the league was in on it…………….???
Esquire
October 13th, 2012
7:02 am
Good bye Washington Nationals……………wait til next year!!!!!
@eidsonb
October 13th, 2012
7:07 am
I would bet the Mortgage that the person who did the rolling and egging had nothing to do with the University at all. But I bet they can bark….
Cj
October 13th, 2012
8:04 am
why is Robinson crying about somebody attacking him and his team on Facebook or twitter. I remember that he and a bunch of his teammates thought it was funny when Crowell was being attacked on twitter and Facebook. Now it’s not funny when they are the target.
TechLB
October 13th, 2012
8:19 am
Jeff,
Great article and overdue. I always appreciate your perspective even when I disagree. To me this is really a symptom of the overall decline of sportsmanship in sports – in pursuit of winning at any cost and the insane money at stake. It seems like no one in football cares about respecting the game or their opponents, each game is a stage to raise ones marketability.
Where is the sense of honor, of representing your school? Why do we allow all the trash talking and grand standing? Why does everyone act like it’s their first tackle, touchdown, pass defense ever? Just a few years ago there was a clear line in behavior between college and pros. Not any more, college kids emulate the worst behavior of the pros – and we stand by and watch. The coaches are not “leaders of young men” but CEO’s of multi-million dollar businesses – with free labor at the college level. When the players act this way, the fans emulate that behavior and it cascades to all levels of the sport. And we allow it.
Would any of the great college coaches of the past make it today without getting sued or losing all their recruits to a less disciplined program? Doubtful.
I realize things change but this is one area we need to make a stand. Of course, from a society that glorifies shame and stupidity, i.e, Kim Kardashian, Housewives of wherever, ad nauseam, I doubt we’ll see any action at any level – unless someone cuts off the cash flow. I will not be holding my breath.
TechLB
October 13th, 2012
8:22 am
@Kingdaddy – You post seems to say it’s OK to attack other fans, surely that’s not what you mean?
√π
October 13th, 2012
8:24 am
I would bet the Mortgage that the person who did the rolling and egging had nothing to do with the University at all.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
You just lost your house. Now you’ll have to rent a mobile home like most of the other dwag fans.
Joey
October 13th, 2012
8:25 am
A think a bottle smacked Hanky Panky in the head.
Enough with the Jon Gruden crap. UGA ain’t making coaching changes anytime soon, and when they do, I would hope it won’t be a guy who got fired from his last coaching job.
Sanjeev
October 13th, 2012
9:06 am
Look for the Braves to overreact and not allow people with bottles of coke or beer and all mustard and ketchup will only be available in packets. All drinks will be poured into cups.
Woofy One
October 13th, 2012
9:11 am
If you are not on the field as a player you should limit your involvement to cheering. Threatening the players or throwing objects is off limits. That is neanderthal behavior.
Prince
October 13th, 2012
9:14 am
The writer of this column and media have lost perspective as well. These aren’t golf games. Who cares about trash throwing or egging a house? How many houses have been egged outside football?
For the outrageous prices of tickets I can see fans feeling the right to show protest on some of these things like the bad braves call.
As for the guy wanting to fight an athlete? There’s a percentage of morons in every large crowd.
As a retire professional athlete, I believe athletes need to realize – yes – they are our time’s gladiators. We put more emphasis on life in modern times but you are performing for the delight of the fans.
5150 UOAD
October 13th, 2012
9:15 am
I’ve peed on the Hedges in Sanford Stadium. Hehehe.
Go Jackets
October 13th, 2012
9:15 am
As a NATIVE Atlantan, I am proud of the way the Braves fans behaved. Here’s why. We have ben kicked, crapped on, and laughed at by the media and the nation since the days of jimmy Carter and Howard Cosell (named us Losersville). If the fans were throwing batteries, as in Denver and Cleveland, I would have some concerns, but the bottles were the vendor PLASTIC and the cans were ALUMINUM.
Never heard of an emergency room call where man killed by flying plastic bottle.
Maybe the umps/refs will think twice now beore making bad calls now……our hometown coaches do enough of that for us.
mgdawg
October 13th, 2012
9:17 am
Here is the problem, or one of the problems. Players and coaches want passionate fans, they want the fans to be loud and obnoxious when the other teams offense is on the field. They want that homefield advantage, then when the game is over they want the fans to flip a switch and become sane again. It just isn’t that easy for a lot of people. Look at the places that are known for having the loudest stadiums, you hear about things happening there after the games all the time. While in no way do I condone any of these actions, I do understand how it can happen.
As far as the concussion thing I wasn’t at the game, I wasn’t watching the game, but I have heard that the cheers actually came when brady quinn was jogging on to the field. Hopefully that was true.
Godawgs75
October 13th, 2012
9:17 am
Hey Chi Town, I am from Chicago and this happens all the time at our games. This happens everywhere so why are we making a big deal of it? Fans drink and get mad. So are we not allowed to be upset at poor performence? Or is this just more of the wussification of America? I gues booing is bad as well. A house was rolled, Oh No!!!! That was really hurtfult, really crybaby’s kids homes are rolled in highschool for less all the time they are not crying about it. People kill each other over soccer in other countries, and you are complaining about booing or cheering if someone gets hurt? GET OVER IT, if they dont like oit dont play the sport. I guess I won’t cheer the next time someone knocks someone out in boxing or the UFC. No wonder the UFC is so big right now, you can actually cheer when there is blood, or say boo to someone you don’t like.
trottsky
October 13th, 2012
9:18 am
I like your comment that IT’S JUST A BALL GAME……..a little like saying YOU’RE JUST A SPORTS REPORTER…….
Escaped from Email Purgatory
October 13th, 2012
9:18 am
Irrational fan behavior of the negative variety is the other of the sword. Emotions run high. Fan is short for fanatic.
You don’t hear players complaining when the adoring throng stands in line for hours just for the privilege of touching the hem of their garment as they walk from the bus to the locker room.
It’s a lunatic fringe and a decided minority that conducts themselves in the manner rightfully condemned in this blog.
Brining the Murray family’s personal trial into this conversation is inappropriate if you ask me.
But we’re in hard times and angry times as a society. That’s reflected in our recent behavior.
Nativebird
October 13th, 2012
9:21 am
Yep, youre right Jeff, its the “fans” fault. Let’s identify the .0003% of the vast ocean of fun-loving, respectful,well-adjusted mature and honest fan base of sports that FUND ALL OF IT, the players, owners, colleges, AND SPORTS WRITERS (there’d be none without it), and push this sick idoltry of the paid entertainer and their enabler’s (sporting press) to an even more moronic level in society. Yep Jeff you’re right, things would be just great out there if werent for all those darn FANS!
Babs
October 13th, 2012
9:22 am
Since Atlanta was awarded the College Football Hall of Fame, now the city can experience “redneckville”! Can you imagine fans from all over the SEC in town? I resided in ATL for 32 years and am more than glad to be out of there. RTP, NC is not only more civil, you can actually get somewhere in a short period of time. Home never looked so good!
James J McManus
October 13th, 2012
9:22 am
Fans getting worse? Mr Schultz. In the 1934 world series, Ducky Joe Medwick of the Cardinal’s Gashouse Gang, a tough guy ballplayer, slid into third and injured the Detroit Tiger’s infielder. When left field fans shouted their displeasure, Ducky offered them a face. Fans tossed bottles and cans. Left field umpire halted the game. The carnage continued. Baseball commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis had a front row seat. Judge Landis tired of the display and no response from the team managers. He tossed Ducky. Intentional beaning was a near-habit in those good old days. Recall the “battle of Atlanta” some years ago when an exchange of bean balls drew players and fans
onto the field. Players were tossed. Fans were arrested and jailed. Why all this fervor? In a major
sense it is the owners who see money in the fights and do nothing to discourage them. And the sports writers and broadcasters who love to whip fans into a froth throughout playing seasons. Then guys like Mr Schultz can wax puritanical. It’s okay, apparently, to pay sky high ticket prices (which guarantees a lawful “lease” on your seat) but you must bear in mind that sports writers/broadcasters laugh their way as they recount the battles on the field. Stick with the stats, Schultz.
harold
October 13th, 2012
9:27 am
THE UGA FANS ARE AS REDNECK AS ANY IN THE SOUTH.
Keith
October 13th, 2012
9:32 am
Jeff,
I wonder what’s worse. Turner Field Fans’ reaction to a miserable call…
Or MLB outright lying about it when asked if the ump got the call right. Torre completely avoided the question and then came back to say something like I wasn’t avoiding the questions, it’s the right call. That’s very typical lying behavior.
Which is worse?
Keith
October 13th, 2012
9:33 am
My point was….
Is the behavior worse than lying about what spurred the behavior?
I guess the behavior is worse…but lying about the source is just as bad in my mind.
DawgNole
October 13th, 2012
9:35 am
Beast from the East
October 12th, 2012
10:05 pm
“The rightful order of things?! C’mon now, Beast, it’s been less than a year since WE restored order, and here you are wanting to mess it up again already”
Guess it depends on which side of the fence you’re sitting on. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last couple of decades in our series. Couldn’t say that the first half of my life.
All kidding aside, lots of football still to be played and we will certainly have more surprises in store. I’m just enjoying watching a much improved version of the Gators. The last 2 years weren’t much fun. They’re not world beaters, but there’s a lot of fight in that team Muschamp is building.
_______________________
Oh, we (Dawgs/Noles) are watching you, too–with slowly mounting apprehension and dread. With last week’s losses, both of us already have been shoved into the spoiler role–for now. But there’s a long road ahead yet, and surprises are almost definitely in store.
DawgNole
October 13th, 2012
9:41 am
SSIgator
October 12th, 2012
10:14 pm
DawgNole -
Sorry about your quad-loss-perfecta last weekend. Braves, GA Tech, UGA, FSWho. Oh well, at least your Falcons won, but the season is young.
______________________
It was rough indeed, SSIgator. Like you said, only the Falcons salvaged a little dignity for us. Just have to see how the others bounce back.
Class Action
October 13th, 2012
9:51 am
Talk radio????? Give me a friggin’ break. The “Where’s Waldo” excuse for mob behavior.
gt4ever
October 13th, 2012
9:52 am
A complete embarrassment! I was there when ND came to town and played GT. The team had to circle around the ND players as protection… It was probably the most embarrassing time in GT football.. Some fans are complete idiots!
gt4ever
October 13th, 2012
9:54 am
Well, it could be that GT’s football play this year will be a bit more embarrassing…
Tech Engineer
October 13th, 2012
9:54 am
There’s no place for bad fan behavior at sporting events. It’s only a game. 90% of UGA fans are great, but the other 10% are the reason I quit going to games in Athens.They are the ones treating the players badly when they lose.