Whether it’s as a player, fan, coach or media member, one thing is common, we all love it.
But there’s a fine line of fandom that many straddle, which was crossed twice this weekend and in embarrassing fashion.
First, fans at Turner Field on Friday night hurled garbage onto the field following a controversial infield fly in the eighth inning. Trailing 6-3 with runners on first and second, Andrelton Simmons hit a shallow fly ball to left field, which St. Louis shortstop Pete Kozma settled under before the ball dropped in for what would have been a single to load the bases. Left field umpire Sam Holbrook called an infield fly, meaning Simmons was automatically out and the runners could advance at their own risk.
While the call was late and wrong, the fans’ reaction in Atlanta was unwarranted. Thousands of Braves supporters began to chuck beer bottles and other debris onto the field, causing all of the players and umpires to have to retreat to their dugouts and caused a lengthy delay before the game could resume.
The Braves protested the game immediately, a request which was denied, and eventually lost 6-3, ending their season and the career of one of the greatest players to ever don a Braves uniform in Chipper Jones.
Rather than calling for Jones to come out to the field again, fans instead decided to throw more garbage and debris onto the field, then chant for Chipper to say one last goodbye. Needless to say it is a shame that unruly fans and a questionable call marred the final game for a future first ballot Hall of Famer.
While the Braves debacle was bad, Sunday’s fan reaction during the Chiefs-Ravens game may have been even worse.
Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel suffered a head injury in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 9-6 loss to Baltimore and while Cassel lay motionless on the ground, fans at Arrowhead Stadium cheered the fact he was injured.
“It’s 100 percent sickening,” Chiefs tackle Eric Winston said. “I’ve never, ever — and I’ve been in some rough times on some rough teams — I’ve never been more embarrassed in my life to play football than at that moment right there. … Matt Cassel hasn’t done anything to you people.
“We are not gladiators and this is not the Roman Colosseum. This is a game.”
Winston is 100-percent right to critique the fans. Regardless of how poor Cassel has played this season, he is still playing an incredibly violent game at the highest level where many players suffer debilitating injuries that plague them for much of their lives after they hang up the cleats.
There’s no denying that sports fans are among the most passionate people on the planet, but there are certain moments that we all need to sit back and remember that at the end of the day they are just games, the athletes who play and officials who work these contests are people too.
With AP
asulla-heffinger@nypost.com