Boo the Right Thing

The chances of people agreeing with me on the following are as big as Pat Riley firing himself: slight to none. A thing happening throughout the League is something I can’t grasp: booing your own team. I agree what Kobe Bryant said the other day: they should stay home. The three objects of non-affection:

Booing the team / management: I can understand that being a fan of the Knicks is as much fun as seeing reruns of Full House. Your eyes must hurt from all those sloppy plays, knucklehead plays, and big men being non-factors in the game. But tell me this: does it really help to boo for 2,5 hours? Don’t you think that the payers aren’t embarrassed enough? Well, some of them are, some of them don’t care, I suppose. But look at the bright spots in the team: Jamal Crawford seems to Batman in Gotham City, having no fear and pulling off some spectacular plays lately. Nate Robinson is less of a dumbass on the court, and looks like he’s maturing. And let’s not forget about David Lee: every single team in the NBA needs a David Lee. He might not give you 20 point per game, but he gives you 110% per game. Cheer them on. I understand fans get disappointed in management, the way they handle things, but booing them is not the answer. It doesn’t help the players on the court, if that’s what you think. Yes, you paid 60 bucks to get in, but you want to enjoy yourself right? If that is a way of having fun on a night out, you’re a sad person (one exception can be made: booing Bulls management after the broke up the team after the ’98 season. Yes, it was their fault, never forget).

Booing one of your own players: the Kwame treatment Thursday night that led Kobe to the aforementioned quote, was ridiculous. We should all know by now: Kwame Brown will never be a great player. Duh. But he missed a lot of games, and he let’s the small things affect his play. So 18.000 people booing the guy will not bring the best out of him. Yes, he played awful against the Suns, but booing him because of that is not a motivational tool. Especially to guys like him. And look at Mike Dunleavy, The Warriors fan hated that guy. Well, he certainly proved them wrong being with the Pacers right now. Nope, he won’t be a superstar in this League, but he’s playing very decent right now. It’s all about being given the opportunity, and playing in the right system.

Booing a former player: Maybe some exceptions can be made here, but Jazz fans booing Derek Fisher when he came to play with the Lakers this season? Classy move Jazz fans. Did the guy ever did something bad to you? Is it because in Salt Lake City his daughter could be helped too? Even if that is the case, Fisher did not deserve to be booed. What did you think? That he used his daughter’s eye cancer to get out of Utah? Are you nuts? Didn’t that guy flew cross-country coming from the hospital where his daughter was treated, to arrive at halftime during a playoff game, and making the most important shots in that game? Booing him several months later is unacceptable. Same thing with Grant Hill. He played against the Orlando Magic with his Suns, and the fans let him have it. So the guy has practically been inured for six years, wants to finish his career on a high note, is one of the most classiest players in the history of the game, and gets called out for it by so-called fans. They probably feel that he owes them, after he hardly played during his years with the team. Maybe they are partly right, but it’s not like Hill screwed them. It’s not like he didn’t want to play, he tried and tried, but was just very unfortunate. If a contract is up, it’s up. Remember: it’s a business, and it’s not Grant’s fault that he wants to win a championship in the winter of his career. And he’ll probably have a better chance with the Suns than with the Magic right now.

I’m not saying to not boo at all. If opposing players are shooting free throws, you boo them. Of course. When you’re a fan of the Chicago Bulls and you have to play the Washington Wizards, and you know Gilbert Arenas is going for the game-winning shot, you try to distract him (although it won’t work, but okay). A ref making the wrong call? Boo him! But acting like a moron, being disrespectful to the game and supportive to your team, is something that this Dutch guy doesn’t understand. If I had the chance to attend Nets home games, sure, I would be disappointed quite often. But I will always support my favourite team. Either you are a fan, or you’re not.