crclark2@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

No one complains about fighting in hockey. Sure, it’s violent. Sure, people get hurt. But fans are quick to defend the practice because they see it as an important part of the game. If your team’s star player is being targeted with illegal hits, the enforcer steps in to protect him and let the other team know that dirty play has a price tag attached to it.

Further down the path of sports-related violence is football hooliganism. All over Europe, fans of soccer teams band together and arrange meetings with fans of other soccer teams so they can beat the crap out of each other. Granted, the hospitalizations aren’t ideal, but there are far more heinous breaches of human rights in this world than some semi-organized scrapping between consenting sports fans.

The point is that people do crappy things in the name of sports and justify it as “part of the game.”

Last weekend, at the homecoming game, my misconduct was limited to yelling loud, obnoxious and insulting words at the opposing team and, occasionally, the game’s officials.

A lot of people around me were offended by my expression. All I have to say to them is to deal with it. I refuse to apologize for showing an admittedly absurd amount of school spirit.

It could be said that my vulgarity is unsportsmanlike. In fact, some of the things I shout about the ref’s mother is downright slanderous. But I’m hardly attending as a sportsman. If I were on the sideline I’d probably be ejected by kickoff. I’m a spectator and, as far as I’m concerned, sportsmanship is for the people on the field.

You shouldn’t attend a college football game without expecting some R-rated behavior. Buy the ticket, take the ride, my puritan friend. If it really bothers you that much, ear plugs are pretty cheap. In fact, I think I might buy a bulk package and take them to the next game for all the whiners.

I’m nowhere near loud enough for the players, coaches or officials to hear my insults all the way down on the field. Even if they could, they’re professionals. They know that people in the crowd probably hate them and they’re grown-up enough to shrug it off and focus on the game.

If everyone joined in with the kind of enthusiasm I contribute, the Saturday crowd at Stocker Stadium could do some serious damage to a jumpy quarterback’s nerves.

I’m done defending myself for something I really enjoy. I’d instead like to invite you to get loud with me at the next college sporting event you attend. Who knows, you might accidentally have some fun.