Another Op-Ed Piece About Why We're Terrible People

[Biggie]

I went to my last professional football game this month. My son and I braved frigid, remote FedEx Field to see our beloved Chicago Bears, the fallen Super Bowl champions, humiliated 24-16 by the struggling Washington Redskins. It wasn't the depth of our despair that will keep us away from football stadiums for good but the depravity of the fans.Dick Meyer (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/21/AR2007122101886.html?hpid=opinionsbox1)

What is this, the third year in a row that the Post has published a piece about why Redskins fans stink? First it was the George Solomon "bush league" one in '05, then that mom complaining in '06, and now this.

[give_portis_the_rock]

Super bowl champions? Don't he mean NFC champions?

[CarMike]

Someone send the prick a copy of this picture. Maybe then he'll shut the hell up about just how bad Redskin fans are.

While you send him a copy of the picture, we should send his butt back to Chicago as well.

[wewantdallas]

First the guy says, " knew right after kickoff that it was a mistake to bring my son ," then he talks about how he took the son to two games in other NFL stadiums that were worse. Uh....so why did you think this, a NIGHT game, would be any different?

At least the guy goes on to say that this is a problem with every fanbase, which I agree with. Drunken fools ruin public events for basically everyone, whether it's a concert or a game or whatever. Parents need to view taking a kid to a game the same way as taking a kid to an R-rated movie. They're going to see and hear stuff that they may or may not be used to, but hopefully they'll have an intelligent parent who can explain it to them and use those idiots as examples of what not to grow up into.

[Smiley]

The guy has a point. I see it Giants stadium as well as Fedex Field. The language is horrible around women and children. Some people drink too much at these games. The stadium staff really needs ot start cutting people off. It's absurd.

[redskin_rich]

Attending a professional football game is no longer an activity for a family.When was it ever? Not since I have been attending games when I was a kid in the '70s.

[MONK_in_HOF]

It happens in every stadium. There is always going to be a portion of fans who can't control their rage and/or tongue while drinking. I guess there may even be a smaller majority who don't need alcohol to act that way. I usually drink my fair share when I am at the games, but I am never belligerent. Football games have been like this as long as I can remember.

[Redskinmayhem]

honestly guys, I'm not saying he's right but there's always drama at ANY pro sporting event. it sucks but it's the truth. out of 90k people at FedEx, there's going to be more than a few that can't control themselves. The thing is though, in the few games I've been to (at FedEx and 1 at RFK), it's always been fans from the oposing team causing trouble.

[BandWagon]

First the guy says, " knew right after kickoff that it was a mistake to bring my son ," then he talks about how he took the son to two games in other NFL stadiums that were worse. Uh....so why did you think this, a NIGHT game, would be any different?

At least the guy goes on to say that this is a problem with every fanbase, which I agree with. Drunken fools ruin public events for basically everyone, whether it's a concert or a game or whatever. Parents need to view taking a kid to a game the same way as taking a kid to an R-rated movie. They're going to see and hear stuff that they may or may not be used to, but hopefully they'll have an intelligent parent who can explain it to them and use those idiots as examples of what not to grow up into.

My position on this topic is very well documented and I agree, it's a shame.

[smoak]

To single out the Redskins is nonsense. As much as I despise the "wine and cheese" crowd, at least I can take my daughter. My section isn't that bad and I try to nicely ask people to watch language if kids are around.


But... Maybe he needs to toughen up his son a bit. 13 and he blushes at attention from women? I'm not allowed to post how I would have reacted to that had I been in his shoes @13. And if it was a soccer match in Italy, all three girls would be on their second child according to Spicy... :D

When the Redskins scored their first touchdown, four young women -- I'm guessing they were in high school -- turned around and did a little stripper's dance that made my son blush as I cringed. Even putting aside their ages, it was too cold to bare flesh.

[skinsfan36]

how about he just shuts up and learns that you dont take kids to night games

[PyroGenic]

When the Redskins scored their first touchdown, four young women -- I'm guessing they were in high school -- turned around and did a little stripper's dance that made my son blush as I cringed. Even putting aside their ages, it was too cold to bare flesh.

ummm.... cringe would be the last thing I'd do, unless of course they looked like hungry hungry hippos.

[BostonSkins]

If you look through the history of sports going back as far as you want, idiot drunken fans have been a nuisance. Either deal with it, or stay home. This is not a new development.

However, fans that have had a few pops are often some of the loudest.

[colkurtz]

Good thing he never went to an Eagles game in Philly - now there are some really nasty fans!

The difference between going to a game at Fedex vs. the Vet is like the difference between going to church and a drunken rugby match.

[chrisbcbu]

An opposing fan wants to be treated all warm and fuzzy? yea right. Does this guy realize this is the NFL. This stuff happens at every stadium. Happened to me when i went to NO and Tampa. Why would you expect to be treated nice going into an opposing stadium?

[Hr fan]

Consider the source. I am not saying that there aren't abuses, but a guy that writes a book titled "Why We Hate Us" couldn't find a ray of sunshine on a cloudless day in August!

[greatest2]

if you can't take the heat stay out of the kitchen



if you don't like it at one stadium and then another, and then another, maybe its time you start seeing it for what it is


sports evolve like everything else in life, get with the times

[WarEagle]

The author of that essay was way out of line. He might have expected a happy minor league baseball experience or something. Fenway Park has a family section where beer isn't allowed. Don't know if that's practical for FedEx.

[Agrawog]

I read this article in the paper and i was deeply saddened by his report of the fans in both D.C. and Chicago.

But I am even more surprised and shocked by the response to his article by the members of this board. They have ranged from a defensive "why single us" to "grow a thicker skin". I find both those responses to be moronic and short -sighted.

First - the man took Redskin fans to task because that is the stadium he attended. Clearly he thought the Bears fans were no better so please stop whining about unfair criticism of the Redskins and our fans.

Second - to the get a tougher skin crowd i find that thinking to be ass-backwards. The solution to this problem is not for good people to adjust to the drunken morons but rather the reverse. Maybe it seems like an impossible mission to IMPROVE manners and behavior but it sure seems like something we should try.

I don't know what the solutions are. I can think of some draconian tactics to keep drunk people from attending the games (breathalyzers at the gate, no beer sales) but that will only solve part of the problem. The real issue here is two-fold. One - people have no shame. they dont' feel anything is below them or any behavior too crude or disgusting. Second - no one calls them on it because (rightly) they don't want to escalate the situation.

I have been to many Skins games in the 80's and i did NOT see this kind of behavior. This IS a recent phenomenon no matter what people say. The difference may be in the loss of long-time season ticket holders or the dilution of the fan pool with more tickets. Maybe it is the ever increasing use of alcohol or the frustration fans feel at paying the prices for parking, tickets, and food. Maybe it is the ever coarsening of behavior in America. Maybe it is everyone feeling entitled to their fun above any and all damage done to anyone around them.

In any event I don't care where Fedex places on the list for boorish fan behavior - it is all disgusting and sad. Our response should be one of rebuke to those fans and support for those who decry that behavior NOT advising innocent people to ignore the morons in the stands.

[smoak]

The author of that essay was way out of line. He might have expected a happy minor league baseball experience or something. Fenway Park has a family section where beer isn't allowed. Don't know if that's practical for FedEx.

Many fans are rocked before getting into the stadium.

[redskin_rich]

I read this article in the paper and i was deeply saddened by his report of the fans in both D.C. and Chicago.

But I am even more surprised and shocked by the response to his article by the members of this board. They have ranged from a defensive "why single us" to "grow a thicker skin". I find both those responses to be moronic and short -sighted.

First - the man took Redskin fans to task because that is the stadium he attended. Clearly he thought the Bears fans were no better so please stop whining about unfair criticism of the Redskins and our fans.

Second - to the get a tougher skin crowd i find that thinking to be ass-backwards. The solution to this problem is not for good people to adjust to the drunken morons but rather the reverse. Maybe it seems like an impossible mission to IMPROVE manners and behavior but it sure seems like something we should try.

I don't know what the solutions are. I can think of some draconian tactics to keep drunk people from attending the games (breathalyzers at the gate, no beer sales) but that will only solve part of the problem. The real issue here is two-fold. One - people have no shame. they dont' feel anything is below them or any behavior too crude or disgusting. Second - no one calls them on it because (rightly) they don't want to escalate the situation.

I have been to many Skins games in the 80's and i did NOT see this kind of behavior. This IS a recent phenomenon no matter what people say. The difference may be in the loss of long-time season ticket holders or the dilution of the fan pool with more tickets. Maybe it is the ever increasing use of alcohol or the frustration fans feel at paying the prices for parking, tickets, and food. Maybe it is the ever coarsening of behavior in America. Maybe it is everyone feeling entitled to their fun above any and all damage done to anyone around them.

In any event I don't care where Fedex places on the list for boorish fan behavior - it is all disgusting and sad. Our response should be one of rebuke to those fans and support for those who decry that behavior NOT advising innocent people to ignore the morons in the stands.

You are simply wrong. I've been attending lots of different sporting events since the 70's and football in particular has always had a rougher crowd. Memorial Stadium in B-More was particularly bad and sometimes even for baseball games.

I will admit that since I've been attending FedEx (and I've been to all but like 10 games ever played there) the drunken, boorish behavior has gotten more widespread. I generally chalk that up to the size of the place and easier availability of tickets.

But again, I have long known that a pro football game wasn't the best place to take children.

[techskinsfan]

im sorry but its a football game...beer n burgers n yelling are what come with it...if u dont like it dont go

for the most part many people are well behaved...there is always the one opposing fan in our section that everyone yells at...but for the most part if they are good natured everyone else stays good natured...as long as stuff doesnt become personal its always cool...maybe our section is just a good group but at the 6 games ive been to this year there hasnt been one incident and ive never heard anyone complaining

[BandWagon]

You are simply wrong. I've been attending lots of different sporting events since the 70's and football in particular has always had a rougher crowd. Memorial Stadium in B-More was particularly bad and sometimes even for baseball games.

I will admit that since I've been attending FedEx (and I've been to all but like 10 games ever played there) the drunken, boorish behavior has gotten more widespread. I generally chalk that up to the size of the place and easier availability of tickets.

But again, I have long known that a pro football game wasn't the best place to take children.

I knew things were headed in the wrong direction when hard alcohol made it's appearance inside the stadium. It's just one part of a trend of things that I'm not personally happy with. And as for Agrawog points...they're well made. Just because "it's the way it is" doesn't mean it's right, we should get used to it, or not try to change things for the positive. I'm pretty disturbed by some of the posts on this topic in various threads over the past year or so.

[redskin_rich]

I knew things were headed in the wrong direction when hard alcohol made it's appearance inside the stadium. It's just one part of a trend of things that I'm not personally happy with. And as for Agrawog points...they're well made. Just because "it's the way it is" doesn't mean it's right, we should get used to it, or not try to change things for the positive. I'm pretty disturbed by some of the posts on this topic in various threads over the past year or so.Well, you could bring in your own hard alcohol pretty easily at RFK and you could tailgate longer. I still can say that I witnessed some things at RFK in the 70's that were worse than what I have seen at FedEx.

Don't take me wrong and you and I have discussed this before, I'm not condoning it whatsoever. The increase of this behavior is yet another reason why I doubt I'll continue to attend every game in the future. All I'm saying is that I never really considered an NFL game as a family event, for a couple reasons. One, there are always the drunks, bad language and fights. Two, I don't want to miss parts of the game, while dealing with family, whether it's taking someone to the bathroom, getting food, whatever.

[Jon Jansen is money]

Consider the source. I am not saying that there aren't abuses, but a guy that writes a book titled "Why We Hate Us" couldn't find a ray of sunshine on a cloudless day in August!

I also saw that. I'd take what he says with a grain of salt.

I've been to many skins games over the past couple of years and sat in both the upper and lower levels. The only game that I wouldn't have brought a child to was the night game vs. philly with the pepper spray going onto the field.

Every other time there might be some bad language when there is a bad play but nothing worth writing an angry letter about. Maybe i've just gotten lucky?

[smoak]

I knew things were headed in the wrong direction when hard alcohol made it's appearance inside the stadium. It's just one part of a trend of things that I'm not personally happy with. And as for Agrawog points...they're well made. Just because "it's the way it is" doesn't mean it's right, we should get used to it, or not try to change things for the positive. I'm pretty disturbed by some of the posts on this topic in various threads over the past year or so.

I don't disagree, but blaming hard alcohol is like blaming guns for shooting people. I like to have a drink or two before going into the stadium, but I've never once thrown a punch. I say leave the alcohol and boot the fans who can't control themselves. The problem is that they don't want to eject season ticket holders... I would say "too bad" and throw 'em out.

Sadly security is more concerned with getting me to stop cheering than they are with profanity and fights.

[Skinsfan1311]

Sadly security is more concerned with getting me to stop cheering than they are with profanity and fights.

QFT.

My seats are on the sunny side of the stadium, and it get's smoakin':) hot early in the year, so I'll wear one of my white jerseys. I have a cheap "Dallas Sucks" white T-shirt, that I wear underneath.

It was so friggin' hot, that I took off my jersey and, (mercifully for the fellow fans in my section), left on the "Dallas Sucks" shirt. I ran down the steps to hit the head, and an usher warned me that I had to "take off, or cover up the shirt, or risk ejection." :confused:

I thought he was joking. I asked him if he was serious. He said, "Yessir, you must take off, or cover up that shirt, or risk being ejected from the game."

Unbelievable......

[lidocaine]

I read this article in the paper and i was deeply saddened by his report of the fans in both D.C. and Chicago.

But I am even more surprised and shocked by the response to his article by the members of this board. They have ranged from a defensive "why single us" to "grow a thicker skin". I find both those responses to be moronic and short -sighted.

First - the man took Redskin fans to task because that is the stadium he attended. Clearly he thought the Bears fans were no better so please stop whining about unfair criticism of the Redskins and our fans.

Second - to the get a tougher skin crowd i find that thinking to be ass-backwards. The solution to this problem is not for good people to adjust to the drunken morons but rather the reverse. Maybe it seems like an impossible mission to IMPROVE manners and behavior but it sure seems like something we should try.

I don't know what the solutions are. I can think of some draconian tactics to keep drunk people from attending the games (breathalyzers at the gate, no beer sales) but that will only solve part of the problem. The real issue here is two-fold. One - people have no shame. they dont' feel anything is below them or any behavior too crude or disgusting. Second - no one calls them on it because (rightly) they don't want to escalate the situation.

I have been to many Skins games in the 80's and i did NOT see this kind of behavior. This IS a recent phenomenon no matter what people say. The difference may be in the loss of long-time season ticket holders or the dilution of the fan pool with more tickets. Maybe it is the ever increasing use of alcohol or the frustration fans feel at paying the prices for parking, tickets, and food. Maybe it is the ever coarsening of behavior in America. Maybe it is everyone feeling entitled to their fun above any and all damage done to anyone around them.

In any event I don't care where Fedex places on the list for boorish fan behavior - it is all disgusting and sad. Our response should be one of rebuke to those fans and support for those who decry that behavior NOT advising innocent people to ignore the morons in the stands.



You realize you're watching a game where grown men hit each other, and what comes out of their mouth is probably worse than anything in the stands?So the boy saw some girls celebrating their team's touchdown. Big deal, they were probably wearing more than the cheerleaders. So an opposing fan got taunted for wearing an opposing team's jersey, oh the humanity! As soon as they break a law, you have a right to complain, until then leave them alone and let them have their fun.

To your point about people feeling entitled to their fun above all else, you're looking an awful lot like a pot yelling at a bunch of kettles. If games aren't enjoyable for you, don't go to them. If football is too big a display of testosterone, watch tennis. When the majority feels the same way you do, things will change, and I for one hope they never do.

[SkinsfaninNJ]

You are simply wrong. I've been attending lots of different sporting events since the 70's and football in particular has always had a rougher crowd. Memorial Stadium in B-More was particularly bad and sometimes even for baseball games.

I will admit that since I've been attending FedEx (and I've been to all but like 10 games ever played there) the drunken, boorish behavior has gotten more widespread. I generally chalk that up to the size of the place and easier availability of tickets.

But again, I have long known that a pro football game wasn't the best place to take children.

I agree with Agrawog to a certain extent. There is a certain type of behavior that is acceptable at professional sporting events (drunk or sober) that is not tolerated anywhere else. Blame extends beyond being drunk. If I go to Target here in Giants country wearing my Cooley jersey today, chances are great that no one will say a word to me, but if I go to Giants stadium fans (even sober fans) will comment all day long.

I've read where people have posted that they don't want visiting fans feeling comfortable in our stadium. That is a bit absurd. I am a of a hot head when it comes to the Skins so I don't want any opposing fans glouting around me, but I have no desire to ruin anyone's afternoon. I'll let my team do the talking on the field.

The best and most logical solution is for all people to show the same level of respect to each other at a professional sporting event that they would show anywhere else.

Of course we're not going to change how 90,000 people act, so people have to get a thicker skin or stay home.

Ok, that was my kumbaya moment for the day.