Booing is (not always) a bad thing
Booing is (not always) a bad thing
Booing is (not always) a bad thing
Stuck in my mind this week is Monday night. I took my family to the Golden State Warrior game to see the jersey retirement ceremony of my favorite childhood player, Chris Mullin. A great halftime recognition turned very uncomfortable when the crowd of over 15,000 fans booed team owner Joe Lacob as soon as he took the microphone. No, my hands were not cupped around my mouth. Rather, I was trying to explain to my wife and sons why the crowd suddenly became hostile.
Right or wrong, the dedicated Warriors’ fans were expressing their frustration about a lack of success. The passion of the fans may have been displayed inappropriately, but there is no question that they desperately want the Warriors to win, even to the point where they stand up and yell.
The passion of the fans at the game was undeniable. Basically, they were pissed, and I think their voice makes a difference. In track and field, unfortunately, I get the feeling that the passionate fan voice falls on deaf ears. This may be the case for several reasons.
First, the voice is not loud enough. Platforms like Run Junkie on Flotrack or Nick Symmonds’ blog on Facebook are awesome and effective, but do they move the needle with governing bodies, agents, sponsors, and meet directors? Frequently in major sports it is suggested that fans can voice their frustrations by not buying tickets. That is the last thing that I want track fans to do! Nothing looks worse than empty bleachers on TV.
Second, the booing on Monday was directly directly at one person: the owner. He is very open about the fact that he sets high goals for the organization. He is clearly in charge. Answering the question “who is in charge?” in track and field is like entering into a vast matrix confused by fragmentation and cynicism. Shoe companies? TV? Universities? USOC? IAAF? USATF? IOC? Usain Bolt? It is only a guess as to who makes the final call, and think it is different depending on the day.
Maybe track and field’s lack of passion comes from poor presentation of the product. Gary Hill of Track and Field News frequently writes about our sport’s inability to be presented well to the fans. At the Warrior game there was an exciting introduction, plenty of information presented on scoreboards and video, and an unforgettable halftime ceremony. This was all built around a team that is not very good. Track and field is the complete opposite. You could go to a great meet and see special performances, and there is little supporting activity for the wonderful achievements of the athletes.
How much of this lack of passion or loud voices comes from poor funding? Road races and track meets struggle to offer prize money to support competitors. Part of what makes ceremonies so special at sporting events is the return of luminaries to the arena they once dominated. This is rarely done in track and field. Appreciation for the past, enjoyment of the present, and an optimistic look toward the future is what makes a sport interesting. Track and field seemed to be missing part of this puzzle.
Finally, the Warrior fans came under criticism for booing. They were upset about the product they paid to watch, and they let the boss know. Right or wrong, the place erupted. Even at our best domestic track meets, there is a lack of this type of energy from the fans. Passionate fans drive sports, and I realized, probably not for the first time, that track and field is missing this piece. The Warrior fans showed emotion, an essential element of sport. Track and field, for the most part, is missing this piece, and it is difficult to pinpoint why this lack of energy continues to hurt something I am passionate about.
Right or wrong, the dedicated Warriors’ fans were expressing their frustration about a lack of success. The passion of the fans may have been displayed inappropriately, but there is no question that they desperately want the Warriors to win, even to the point where they stand up and yell.
The passion of the fans at the game was undeniable. Basically, they were pissed, and I think their voice makes a difference. In track and field, unfortunately, I get the feeling that the passionate fan voice falls on deaf ears. This may be the case for several reasons.
First, the voice is not loud enough. Platforms like Run Junkie on Flotrack or Nick Symmonds’ blog on Facebook are awesome and effective, but do they move the needle with governing bodies, agents, sponsors, and meet directors? Frequently in major sports it is suggested that fans can voice their frustrations by not buying tickets. That is the last thing that I want track fans to do! Nothing looks worse than empty bleachers on TV.
Second, the booing on Monday was directly directly at one person: the owner. He is very open about the fact that he sets high goals for the organization. He is clearly in charge. Answering the question “who is in charge?” in track and field is like entering into a vast matrix confused by fragmentation and cynicism. Shoe companies? TV? Universities? USOC? IAAF? USATF? IOC? Usain Bolt? It is only a guess as to who makes the final call, and think it is different depending on the day.
Maybe track and field’s lack of passion comes from poor presentation of the product. Gary Hill of Track and Field News frequently writes about our sport’s inability to be presented well to the fans. At the Warrior game there was an exciting introduction, plenty of information presented on scoreboards and video, and an unforgettable halftime ceremony. This was all built around a team that is not very good. Track and field is the complete opposite. You could go to a great meet and see special performances, and there is little supporting activity for the wonderful achievements of the athletes.
How much of this lack of passion or loud voices comes from poor funding? Road races and track meets struggle to offer prize money to support competitors. Part of what makes ceremonies so special at sporting events is the return of luminaries to the arena they once dominated. This is rarely done in track and field. Appreciation for the past, enjoyment of the present, and an optimistic look toward the future is what makes a sport interesting. Track and field seemed to be missing part of this puzzle.
Finally, the Warrior fans came under criticism for booing. They were upset about the product they paid to watch, and they let the boss know. Right or wrong, the place erupted. Even at our best domestic track meets, there is a lack of this type of energy from the fans. Passionate fans drive sports, and I realized, probably not for the first time, that track and field is missing this piece. The Warrior fans showed emotion, an essential element of sport. Track and field, for the most part, is missing this piece, and it is difficult to pinpoint why this lack of energy continues to hurt something I am passionate about.