The more physical and violent the sport, the more disrespectful, uncivil, and even savage fans can be.
Have you ever noticed the great disparity in fan behavior across sports? This includes how fans conduct themselves at games and what is considered “acceptable” behavior. Both vary considerably.
Photo courtesy TIB
For example, when a baseball batter is up at the plate, the way fans react is substantially different from how they act when a golfer steps into the tee box preparing to hit a shot. TV announcers act according to the sport.
In golf, fans never seek to disrupt a player from hitting a shot or making a putt. Not so when a basketball player steps to the foul line, especially in a tight game. What often happens next is a concerted effort by partisan fans to distract the shooter. Outcome sought? Miss the shot.
Football is the same way. In fact, it can get distracting to the point that opposing players can’t hear the quarterback’s signal count. It’s not unusual for an official to step in and ask the PA announcer to tell the crowd that persistence will result in a penalty assessed against their team.
Photo courtesy TNT
As problematic as things can get in football, that sport is no match for ice hockey, especially pro hockey, which is characterized by wall-to-wall taunting, personal attacks, and even hats and dead animals being thrown onto the ice.
Contrast those examples to competitive ice skating. Fans never mock, jeer, or seek to cause distress. Indeed, while fans have favorites, they almost always show compassion when a competitor falls or fails to execute a move correctly. Moreover, fans applaud after each performance.
Tennis is the same way. Fans maintain decorum, and players almost never experience fan antagonism. Ironically, specifically on the men’s side of pro tennis, it’s not uncommon for players to act out.
What explains these differences? My take is that the more physical and violent the sport, the more disrespectful, uncivil, and even savage the fan or spectator can be.
