Dear Booers
Dear Booers,
As I write this, I know I am not writing to a reasonable bunch of individuals. I am not writing to people with any concept of rational thinking or any understanding of sportsmanship. I am not writing to those who feel remorse for their poor actions – if they can even acknowledge their bad behaviour in the first place.
I am writing to the entitled “fan” – as they like to call themselves – those that think because they have paid for a ticket they are entitled to ridicule, abuse or boo a professional sportsperson if they perform in a way not up to their standards.
I’m talking to you, Booer.
When Nadal was booed while receiving treatment at the Australian Open Grand Final I was appalled. Appalled. Not only is he a great athlete, an accomplished sportsman and current no. 1 in the world – he is a humble and gracious champion. He hasn’t gotten to where he is in tennis – a solo sport – because of deceptive physio sessions and for him to be booed off the court is nothing short of disgraceful.
But I am not here to sell you Rafael Nadal. I am here to talk to you about your booing, punks.
With my husband being a sportsman, I’ve seen a bit of booing in my time. Heaps. Booing, abuse, threats, you name it. Its part of the parcel of competitive sport I guess but it doesn’t make it any less atrocious.
One thing I have never understood is fans booing their own team and own players mid-game.
What, is this supposed to be productive? Do you think by booing your team or players they are going to score 3 goals out of… encouragement?
Er, no.
I recently witnessed a young player in a football team receiving a round of applause for being substituted – and it wasn’t in a good way. Such was the vitriol coming out of your booing compatriots I am almost certain his confidence had plummeted off the charts.
It was awful.
Booers, I ask you to think twice before you boo. With Nadal as an example, give the boo-ee at least respect enough to find out the facts before you boo. Don’t boo your team – if you want them to win, encourage them – be the extra man on the field. Don’t boo your own players – they need you to cheer for them – they need you to pick them up. They already have the fans of the opposition booing them – do they need you to do it as well?
Regards,
A Concerned Member of the Anti-Booing Committee of Australian Sports