PSA: Booing is NOT okay

Submitted by LebronJames on

 

https://twitter.com/grant_newsome/status/906620103525101568

Hearing the Michigan 'faithful' boo today made me sick. Completely disappointed in that display of 'fandom'.

Expressing yourself by rolling your lips in just before forcing out your foul breath is not okay. If you are not willing to cheer and encourage your team on while they are not performing up to expectations, don't buy a ticket or go to the game. Just because you spend money on entertainment does not entitle you to act that way.

If you want someone to succeed, do you boo them to or do you encourage them to push through and persevere? People forget these are impressionable young men who hear that and are affected by it. Yes, they need to be able to play through adversity. Do you really want to be the cause of that? These players want to hear you cheering loud and proud. Do it.

The masses need to know this is not okay. Don't let anyone in your section get away with this without ridicule. This needs to stop now.

 

 

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mich728

September 9th, 2017 at 7:42 PM ^

Athlete's have this weird superiority complex when it comes to fans. W.o the fans players wouldn't even have the opportunity to play in that "big game". Everything they do is possible because of the fans interest in the product. And If what the fans see is lackluster, I have no problem with booing. Whether it be directed toward the refs or the coaches. I feel like young men should be able to differentiate

Joined: 03/24/2011

MGoPoints: -22

jabberwock

September 10th, 2017 at 11:11 AM ^

sometimes its a stupid fan that boos.  

But from what i've seen, it's almost alaways the most passionate supporter that often boos as well.  They are the loudest cheerers too usually.   I'm not automatically saying it's right, but fans like that are going to have less of a filter for both positive and negative reactions.

What I'm saying is, "key jinglers don't boo".

I don't know if athletes on the field can tell (& at this D1 level of play I don't really think it matters) but 99% of the boos are actually groans, general coaching dissatisfaction, ref outrage

The boos are also very situational, the horrible no call, the brain-fart timeout after 3rd run up the middle, etc, etc.   Again, I understand & mostly agree that student athletes shoudn't be booed, but these aren't kids in a neighborhood park, they are willing participants in a billion dollar industry.

I don't boo, but I'm comfortable yelling my displeasure.  If I yell " SPEIGHT WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, WAKE UP!" after his 3rd horrible throw is that somehow so much better?

Joined: 07/04/2008

MGoPoints: 51146

jabberwock

September 10th, 2017 at 10:44 PM ^

Sure, Speight could come boo me If for some reason my jobs primary purpose was to provide entertainment for him, and his $ helped pay to make my job possible.
But that weak argument gets trotted out all the time and doesn't smell any better this time.   There's absolutely no comparison to college sports to any other industry.

To my next question,  What other avenues have been provided for fans (that support this industry) to voice their opinions?  Write a well crafted email to the AD that you thought Harbaugh's clock management was sub par?  lol

I don't boo, but I get why some others feel it's the only way to vent their temporary frustration.

& honestly, thats all it is; temporary frustration with a situation that someone is passionate about yet understands they have zero control over.

Some people get the vapors just discussing this.
They sound like golf-clapping key janglers to me.

Joined: 07/04/2008

MGoPoints: 51146

jrems

September 9th, 2017 at 7:53 PM ^

"...rolling your lips in..."

How do you think people "boo" exactly?

While I appreciate the sentiment behind the post, you're wrong. The First Amendnent says so.

Joined: 11/28/2010

MGoPoints: 122

Serial MGO Lurker

September 9th, 2017 at 11:01 PM ^

This post and the next are worth enduring all the sanctimonious bullshit that came before. 

I am literally picturing every asshat since the 80's who complained about people standing up in the big house clapping like moronic seals in Brady Hoke fashion while I read the don't boo comments.

Joined: 11/30/2014

MGoPoints: 66

mtzlblk

September 10th, 2017 at 6:48 PM ^

Wrong.

 

Absolutely on the side of standing up during games....M is the only stadium in the country that even has that debate. 

Also 100% against booing your own team, NOT because it is going hurt anyone's feelings, but because:

A. I'm there to support the team....you know, be on the same side as them....otherwise known as being "for" the team.....as opposed to "there to support the team..... IF they please me and my tender sensibilities and fragile identity that is too wrapped up in how the team plays...otherwise I will turn on them in the span of 10 minutes because.......because.....I PAID for my ticket (which is the absolute hallmark of the douchiest excuse for anything ever and the clearest indication of douchebaggery possible) I have a license to act out in whatever manner I please."

B. From a purely logical point of view, making your own players think, "fuck you fans, eat a dick if that's the best you can do" is hardly conducive to the results you so sorely crave. Point me to anything, anywhere that shows M players hear you booing and think "oooh no, I'm going to try harder now." I have plenty of evidence over the last few years that points to booing being a divisive element between players and fans. So....well done.

Anyone else here feel like this "element" of the fan base is more prevalent now that the team is resurgent, as opposed to when they were down? Did they come in with Dave Brandon and Coke coupons?

I have always been against any characterization of an M fan as Wal-Mart Wolverine, but the one definition of that term I could get behind is that a Wal-Mart Wolverine is any fan that turns on their own team in the span of 10 minutes because they didn't meet some esoteric level of expectation from said fan in terms of their level of play.

Go back to WWF and pro sports where that is the norm and leave M sports to fans that know how to behave like decent human beings. 

Joined: 01/20/2009

MGoPoints: 5049

BoCanHam15

September 9th, 2017 at 8:19 PM ^

To be fair I'll tell you I am an optimist and I love everything Maize and Blue. However, you are so off base it hurts. For one you assumed that everyone booed at the same time and for the same reason. Not true. Secondly, I was there and I booed. Want to know why? Play calling. So, when you send a pig-in-a blanket statement out there remember there's always more than one reason why things happen. Lastly, don't judge and you'll easily refrain from posting anymore hilarious posts, such as this one.

Joined: 07/08/2016

MGoPoints: 16114

BoCanHam15

September 9th, 2017 at 8:50 PM ^

Showing. You read what you wanted too. You are related to the OP. I simply used an analogy to show that you nor I or anyone else can read minds. Imbecile. Booing is an outward expression of displeasure. I can do whatever I like to do and I was also truthfully trying to say that he can't possibly believe that he knows why every person booed, Einsteinium.

Joined: 07/08/2016

MGoPoints: 16114

Quail2theVict0r

September 9th, 2017 at 8:26 PM ^

I understand it can be confusing, but people aren't booing players - at least that's the way I understood it in this case. They're booing coaching decisions that they don't understand or have legitimate complaints about. 

I didn't boo, but I did say "god damn it" in frustration a few times. 

Joined: 12/01/2008

MGoPoints: 16503

Cope

September 9th, 2017 at 8:53 PM ^

But Michigan players have expressed in the past how they specifically felt they were being booed and were frustrated at the lack of loyalty by the fans. I remember that distinctly from some of those disillusioning years of past teams when the fans were expressing anger at the coaches.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 2648

Cope

September 9th, 2017 at 8:42 PM ^

The team is going to have bad games. Pretty sad so many people on this thread think booing Michigan athletes is okay. I'd think booing by a fan base would have a more negative effect on recruits' perceptions than even a bad (22 point) win.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 2648

1817

September 9th, 2017 at 8:51 PM ^

Booing is as American as apple pie.  A generalzed dissatisfaction sound directed at circumstances and not usually actual people unless they're refs or politicians.

Joined: 09/30/2014

MGoPoints: 564

EGD

September 9th, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^

Booing may be "American" but only in the same way that being fat, polluting the environment, or not being able to find China on a map of Asia is also "American." We have higher standards at Michigan. Take your Homer Simpson bullshit to Ford Field.

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35196

Serial MGO Lurker

September 10th, 2017 at 11:57 AM ^

The news may not have made it to your pedestal but there are people making 6 figures on both sides of this. There are people living in trailer parks on both sides. In your bubble you ascribe negative characteristics to anyone who dissagrees with you. Just in this section of thead you have labeled those who disagree as dumb, fat, polluting Homer Simpson's (which I assume encompasses a slew of things in your mind) I'll venture a guess I'll find a ton of that in this thread and your posting history.

For the record I don't BOO players at any level. The people who do are free to do so. You do not "do things better" and you don't have more "pride." Those who disagree with you don't "slum it" and they sure as hell don't need your "pity."

People don't THINK you are a sanctimonious self-important douche bag, you without a doubt ARE a sanctimonious self-important douche bag. The ease with which you stereotype and belittle those who disagree with you reveals your ignorance as well. You and your ilk are FAR more of a problem and an embarressment to this fan base (and country) than people booing at a football game. I'll bet you share ALL you "enlightened" political views with everyone who can't get away from you as well. 

Joined: 11/30/2014

MGoPoints: 66

Wolverine Devotee

September 9th, 2017 at 8:54 PM ^

Only ungrateful, uneducated fools would boo this team.

Any time you dumbasses wanna open your big fat mouth, think of where we were 3 years ago. 

We won 36-14 and Jim Harbaugh is our head coach.

Fuck off if you disagree. 

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528