Unruly Crowd Conduct Cannot Be Tolerated as Sad Episode at Mississippi State Demonstrates
When a 6-5 team plays the top team in its conference who stands at 10-1 in the conference is 25-1 overall and rated atop the national standings can play 40 minutes of tough basketball forcing overtime, the story should be about the basketball game. One would have hoped that would have been the case when Mississippi State played Kentucky, perhaps the best team in the country last night. Instead, the focus is on the fans’ behavior, conduct so hateful, it demands a prompt and firm response.
Among other things, the crowd seemed to be ignited because of three clutch calls which favored Kentucky possibly spoiling the Bulldogs’ attempts to pull the upset. Among other things, rowdy jerks in the crowd pelted official Mike Kitts with a full bottle of water. Cups of ice water reigned upon the court in the final seconds of the game as the crowd’s conduct turned totally unruly. Among other acts of hooliganism, they managed to pirate Wildcats’ center DeMarcus Cousins’ cell phone number sending him constant, unrelenting harassing calls and text messages some which where vicious racial attacks.
Details of this incident will become clearer in the days ahead. Hopefully, there is enough video tape and responsible audience members who will come forward to identify the offenders and that they will be dealt with harshly. If the person who tossed the bottle that hit the official, for instance, he should be charged with assault and disorderly conduct and tossed in jail. Those fans who can’t behave at games should have their privilege to attend games revoked. If the inflammatory phone calls and text messages could be traced back to their origins, the people who possess those phones should also be sanctioned. If students wind up expelled from school, so be it.
College basketball fans are a spirited bunch and often push the limits in their lively conduct supporting their teams. Duke fans are obnoxious, dopey, and irritating, but that’s what teams learn to deal with when playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium. However, there is a clear line behind wild enthusiasm and a crowd out of control. Not too long ago, the University of Maryland had trouble with fans screaming “Fuck Duke” to an extent that went much further than just a hand full of idiotic bozos. The Mississippi State episode comes on the heals of an out of control crowd at West Virginia in the Big East.
What needs to be clearly understood and enforced vigorously is a clear code of conduct that fans accept for the privilege of watching their team play. These include:
1- Fans shall not engage in obscene or profane chants or taunts.
2- Personal taunts, racist or sexually suggestive verbal assaults are absolutely forbidden.
3- Throwing anything will be treated as criminal behavior.
4- Fans must stay off the playing surface, stay away from the benches, and not engage in any behavior that physically interferes with players entering or leaving the sports venue or engaged in play.
5- Clearly intoxicated fans will not be permitted into the playing area. Breathalyzer or field sobriety tests may be administered on demand.
6- Fans acting in a disrespectful manner during the presentation of colors or playing of the National Anthem will be removed.
7-Appropriate dress codes should be established whereby no obscene or sexually revealing attire will be permitted.
These rules and others deemed necessary must be enacted by all conferences who will work with school administrations and local law officials to determine proper consequences including arrest and prosecution where appropriate for inappropriate conduct.
Among other things, the crowd seemed to be ignited because of three clutch calls which favored Kentucky possibly spoiling the Bulldogs’ attempts to pull the upset. Among other things, rowdy jerks in the crowd pelted official Mike Kitts with a full bottle of water. Cups of ice water reigned upon the court in the final seconds of the game as the crowd’s conduct turned totally unruly. Among other acts of hooliganism, they managed to pirate Wildcats’ center DeMarcus Cousins’ cell phone number sending him constant, unrelenting harassing calls and text messages some which where vicious racial attacks.
Details of this incident will become clearer in the days ahead. Hopefully, there is enough video tape and responsible audience members who will come forward to identify the offenders and that they will be dealt with harshly. If the person who tossed the bottle that hit the official, for instance, he should be charged with assault and disorderly conduct and tossed in jail. Those fans who can’t behave at games should have their privilege to attend games revoked. If the inflammatory phone calls and text messages could be traced back to their origins, the people who possess those phones should also be sanctioned. If students wind up expelled from school, so be it.
College basketball fans are a spirited bunch and often push the limits in their lively conduct supporting their teams. Duke fans are obnoxious, dopey, and irritating, but that’s what teams learn to deal with when playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium. However, there is a clear line behind wild enthusiasm and a crowd out of control. Not too long ago, the University of Maryland had trouble with fans screaming “Fuck Duke” to an extent that went much further than just a hand full of idiotic bozos. The Mississippi State episode comes on the heals of an out of control crowd at West Virginia in the Big East.
What needs to be clearly understood and enforced vigorously is a clear code of conduct that fans accept for the privilege of watching their team play. These include:
1- Fans shall not engage in obscene or profane chants or taunts.
2- Personal taunts, racist or sexually suggestive verbal assaults are absolutely forbidden.
3- Throwing anything will be treated as criminal behavior.
4- Fans must stay off the playing surface, stay away from the benches, and not engage in any behavior that physically interferes with players entering or leaving the sports venue or engaged in play.
5- Clearly intoxicated fans will not be permitted into the playing area. Breathalyzer or field sobriety tests may be administered on demand.
6- Fans acting in a disrespectful manner during the presentation of colors or playing of the National Anthem will be removed.
7-Appropriate dress codes should be established whereby no obscene or sexually revealing attire will be permitted.
These rules and others deemed necessary must be enacted by all conferences who will work with school administrations and local law officials to determine proper consequences including arrest and prosecution where appropriate for inappropriate conduct.
If you're reading this thinking, "Awh, man you're trying to take all the fun out of going to a game," you're an idiot and should stay home or stick to "professional" wrestling.
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