Caleb Burggraaf
Tip of the Burg

Respect. A word that everyone knows and something we all want to have in some way shape or form. But while every one is looking for it, some people find it hard to give it out. As a columnist, radio show host, and critic of sports, there are times when I am one of the worst examples of giving respect to the people who give their all to the sports they love to play.
Many times we forget about the sacrifices that student athletes at our college go through for something that they, may have no major future in after graduation. The members of the football, basketball, and baseball teams aren’t here to get drafted after college.
Most members of the swim team won’t likely compete in national events after college and the soccer, volleyball, and softball players most likely won’t be getting paid for competition on the pro level anytime soon.
Yet these men and women give it their all, week after week, for four or five years of their lives.
As spectators from afar, we find it easy to criticize the teams that represent the maroon and black of Mesa, but what are we really doing when we talk about how bad a team is, or how they have no chance against a tough opponent? We pass it off as being a realist about the situation, or by saying that we are still cheering for them to do well but don’t expect to much.
But is a comment of “you suck” or a sarcastic “good luck” really going to instill confidence in an athlete? This isn’t to say that fans have to sit in the driving rain of a soccer game or the blistering heat of a football game to show support for a team. And it’s not like every team is only going to receive good and positive reviews every time they are told how they performed. There are such things as bad games and all athletes and teams have them. But when commenting on those types of games, there is a difference between a positive criticism and a harsh commentary.
All this to say that the next time you see a player who had a bad game, before opening your mouth to criticize, remember what they had to give up to have the right to play the game you are chastising them for. It’s a delicate line that all fans walk every day.
No one is going to be perfect when it comes to supporting our athletes, but we can all try to respect the effort they give out for something that is more than just a game to them, it’s what they live to play.
cburggra@mesastate.edu