Bringing Civility Back to Sports

What has gotten into people? Last week a 42-year-old San Francisco Giants fan had to be put into a medically induced coma after he was beaten from behind by two Los Angeles Dodgers fans in the parking lot of Dodgers Stadium. The Dodgers had just beaten the Giants, and apparently these two thugs felt—in the presence of a 10-year-old child!—the need to celebrate by attacking an opposing fan. The man hit his head on the concrete, lost consciousness, and is now fighting for his life. Some game, huh?

Hurling taunts and verbally abusing the other teams’ fans seems to be the norm at many sporting events these days. In England, the “away” team’s fans are separated from others by a protective barrier of security guards. I’m all for competition, but somewhere along the line we’ve gone from being avid supporters to rabid fans baying for blood. It’s ugly and unacceptable.

If you are celebrating your favorite team, whether in a bar or at the stadium, resist the urge to bad-mouth the other team, name-call, or rub a victory in other people’s faces. If your team loses, don’t take it out on others. Shouting down another fan or beating them up isn’t going to magically improve your team’s record. It’s going to end with someone in the hospital and someone in jail. Curbing your alcohol intake during sporting events can also help keep the calm. We’re more likely to get riled up when we’ve had too much to drink. Also, use common sense. If you support one team, you probably shouldn’t sit near a pack of wild fans for the opposing team. Why fuel the fire?

Let’s bring back a little civility to sports!

World Cup Sports Etiquette

Between the NBA Finals and the World Cup, the next few weeks are destined to be all about sports, sports and more sports. But before we head to the sports bar and plop ourselves down in front of the nearest big-screen TV, it might be handy to do a quick refresher on our sports etiquette. God forbid we get any red cards for our bad behavior!

Know Your Crowd. If you’re going to watch the game in a public setting, opt for a place that caters to supporters of your team. For instance, if you’re rooting for France, don’t go to a Mexican bar and get in people’s faces. Sure, they might crack a few jokes and offer you a beer, but they also might take offense. Most big cities have bars or restaurants that cater to each team, so do some research and find one that’s right for you.

Watch Your Language. Nobody expects you to speak like Dame Judi Dench while you cheer your team on, but that doesn’t give you a free pass to spew expletives whenever your team misses a shot. Avoid name-calling as keep an eye out for kids who might be within earshot of your R-rated talk.

Be a Good Guest. Whether you’re watching the game at a friend’s house or at a sports bar, do your part to show your appreciation. For the former situation, you can offer to bring snacks or beverages, and you be sure to help out and clean up afterwards. If you’re at a bar, tip your server generously and get a few rounds in—it’s a great way to make friends. Just remember to have a designated driver on call!

Don’t Get Distracted at Work. During the last World Cup, a friend of mine worked with a guy who was such a rabid soccer fan that he took two-hour-long lunches to watch the midday matches and even watched streaming footage from his work computer. Needless to say, the boss was not happy. Cue the DVR up so you can watch the matches when you’re not on company time.

Be a Good Sport. Win or lose, how you react says a lot about your character. Don’t rub a win in the loser’s face, and don’t spend the rest of the evening moaning about unfair calls. Take a cue from the World Cup players—I’ve noticed several players help their opponents up and hug each other post-game. If they can get past it, surely you can?