By Brittany Burke
As a sports fan I understand what it is to live and die by your team. You ache when they lose, celebrate when they win and when you refer to them in conversation it is always “we” because as a fan you feel like you are part of the team.
However, where should one draw the line between being a fan and a fanatic, a supporter of the team and an actual nuisance to the game?
This weekend I was working at the Connecticut Whale game when “Pucky the Whale” was tackled and punched by Kevin O’Connell, 28, who was bet by his friend to take out one of the mascots. After being taken out of the XL Center in handcuffs, you have to ask if bail and the humiliation was really worth getting one swing in on a green whale?
If that fan wasn’t bad enough, I was at the Danbury Whalers hockey game and was annoyed and slightly frightened by all of section 102. The section, comprised mostly of middle age, overweight die hards, looked as if they hadn’t strapped on a pair of skates themselves in at least 20 years. Sadly, that didn’t stop them from being obnoxious.
All game I had to listen to them heckling the other team, being so clever as to yell, “U-G-L-Y, you ain’t got no alibi, you ugly, yea, yea you ugly.” I understand that chastising the other team is a part of the game, especially in hockey, but there is a definite line that can be crossed which takes you from being a smart, critical fan to being an ass.
For instance, the refs make a poor call on an off sides or blatant slash, it’s okay to get upset. Saying that one of the players whose last name is Dickinson, “sucks dick” during visiting team introductions is not. It’s also annoying for a fan to go as far as to heckle the other fans, not of the opposing team but of the same exact one they support.
I am all for giving Cowboys fans or Candiens fans a hard time, but I would never sit next to or across from another Giants or Bruins fan and tell them they suck.
It is good for teams, especially teams on a small scale such as the Danbury Whalers, to have die hard fans, how else would any sports market survive? But, I can’t help but laugh when I see aforementioned middle aged men in hockey sweaters with “Section 102” written on the back name plate instead of a player’s name. Not only do I laugh but you have to wonder, do they have lives?
I was personally uncomfortable and a tad bit embarrassed by them, because they obviously crossed the line into fanaticism. I was also annoyed by O’Connell, who decided to ignore the fact that there were small children around when he decided to push a large mascot on top of them.
Sporting events should be family friendly, and the fans who attend these events should keep that in mind. It’s totally acceptable to root for your team, but do it in a classy manner and remember there are other people around who have to deal with you for three hours.
nevermore_ • Mar 1, 2011 at 10:51 am
The line is drawn before and after each game. Just because your only exposure to them is for the 3 hours that the game is on, doesn't mean you'll find them out on the street heckling people. In fact, many players from opposing teams have actually shown up at post-party locations (home and away) and drank/talked with the Sec. 102 fans. If you think that chanting 'alcoholic' to someone who's carrying 3 beers back to their seat or 'Jesus Christ' to someone who well…looks like Jesus Christ is considered 'heckling other fans of the same team,' then you need to get a sense of humor (not like that wasn't apparent throughout the article).
The content of the chants might not be PG, but it's confined to one section full of season ticket holders, and the likelihood of a family getting sat in the midst of it is pretty slim.
I know because I've sat in Section 102 for every single home game. For the record, I'm a 24 year old, average weight female.
(by the way, the word 'fan' is short for 'fanatic')
Anthony Griek • Mar 1, 2011 at 9:14 am
Brittany,
You are not the first detractor who has tried to knock section 102 with no understanding of the section or its lineage, while preaching from a high horse while trying to force your morals down everyone else's throat. You may want to speak to your journalism teacher because it seems to me she has failed with her lessons at good ole Central. You lose all credibility when you call the fans "overweight", question when the last time they put on a pair of skates was, and ask whether or not they have a life. Maybe one could question what exciting life you have posting blogs about hockey fans, or criticize your flawless looks. Also no one gives a damn what you are "all for" when it comes to ribbing of other fans, no one cares what "definite line" you feel has been crossed, and no one needs to know when and when it isn't ok to "get upset".
Section 102 are a group of fans who go back to section 14 at the New Haven Coliseum and the "Zoo" back at the New Haven Arena. They are loyal die hard fans who have done a lot to promote and extend the popularity of Danbury hockey. Anyone who "gets it" and I am not just talking about the random lines here or there you may or may not of heard, either enjoys the antics (section 102 is the first section to sellout on game night) or sit away from the section and enjoy a family night out.
Two suggestions.
A) Rent Slapshot at Blockbuster
B) Refrain from name calling when you are doing an article knocking people who name call