Razzing of Opposing Fans

[Huly]

This came up on ES and this is my stand on this situation what is yours?

Situation of ES member:
We ran into an interesting situation up in the owner's suite where one of the STH's brought up his wife/girlfriend who was wearing a Cowboys jersey.

Now, I'm all for razzing fans who wear opposing team gear, especially the Cowboys, but I do make an extra effort not to curse or say anything personal. I keep it clean and focused. That said, Redskins staff asked me to hush. It was a very odd interaction and I thought I'd share it here. I don't feel any opposing team fans should gain reprieve, even (especially?) if in the owner's suite.

Thoughts? I won't stop, by the way If you wear a Cowboys jersey into FedEx. You can expect a friendly, competitive ribbing. It's a part of the game and a big reason why I enjoy football rivalries.



My Stand:

As most of you know Pez and I welcome opposing fans to our tailgate (no matter what team) and we are friends with a lot of opposing fans throughout the NFL because of PFUFA. That said there is a difference between light hearted rivalry fun and some of the things I have seen happen. Our rule at the tailgate is as long as they are respectful they are more than welcome to join. Where I have issues is when I see a family with child or even just a child and there is cursing derogatory comments etc. Even if no child is involved I do not like to see adults act like this either.

Now that said, you might not have said anything derogatory one of two things could have happened. Someone before you could have caused a scene or the security guard was a Dallas fan. Part of football is having (as my mom would say) “Good Clean Fun” ribbing between teams etc. PFUFA motto is Hate the Team Love the Fan as they are just a fan like you or me!

 

[Boone]

There are a lot of Jackass Redskins fans that attend games. It's just a fact. The idea that somehow making fans uncomfortable or intimidating them somehow makes one a better fan or helps the team win is just stupid. The same mentality exists on some sites. We promote membership of other teams fans here and even have status icons they can choose to identify themselves.

Harassing opposing teams fans is just poor manners. Harassing opposing teams fans in the Owners Suite, well, that's moronic.

 

[Fear The Spear]

Amazing how quickly people forget that it's just a game, and treat it like it's bigger than life, and bigger than people

 

[fansince62]

now wait a minute

Huly - remember when the Dallas fans trotted through the tailgate last Saturday? There was good natured boo'ing. I thought it was all in good fun. Skins fans are far and above most when it comes to gracious behavior IMO. The dregs, it has been my experience, live abt an hr up the road in Philly.

Skins management has been well known to be fun killers. I remember one of the few games I attended several years ago in which Snyder had his goons roaming the stands hrs before gametime telling people to take down banners/signs or risk a quick exit from the stadium.

 

[tshile]

I agree with you Huly - you can do some good natured razzing. I've sat with (unfortunately) many opposing team's fans at the stadium, I've sat with New England fans during the Ravens game - it's just the way the crowd is there, loves of random people from other teams.

I've always had fun with those guys and it's always been a good-natured back and forth, with some self-deprecating humor on both sides. I think it's fun, it's part of the game, it's why we root for one team and against the others...

I have a hard time blaming the staff in your case though. There are a lot of jackasses that go to the games and cause problems; there's also a lot of alcohol going around. I can't blame them for trying to stop something before it escalates.

All that said I (and many, many others) definitely got into with a few ravens fans when they cheered and laughed at Griffin when he got hurt.... That's the nastiest situation I've been in at that stadium in a long, long time.

 

[fansince62]

good behavior is good behavior.

who sets the standard?

 

[CounterTrey]

OK a couple thoughts:

1. good natured ribbing should be expected at ANY stadium and any environment. If they can't take a little humorous and good natured ribbing then don't come to the game let alone wear a jersey...and that goes for going to your team's home stadium. Banter is part of the game and an owner who grew up a fan should be more understanding of that than most.

2. I have a hard time with the whole box seat etiquette anyway. You walk in and most people are dressed NICE on a day it seems appropriate to be casual and cut loose. Just weird and very wine and cheese/not football to me. Not cheering loudly or having to mind your manners in a way you wouldn't anywhere else in the stadium is weird at best and stupid at worst to me. It's why I've turned down box seats many times, I'd rather slum it with the crowd so to speak.

3. as bad of form as it might seem to razz the Cowboy fan a bit I think it's INCREDIBLY bad form and poor taste (hell downright rude) to wear a rival team's jersey to a game in the freakin owner's box. WTH is up with that. The guy deserved to be ragged on just on that basis alone. The Arizona baseball team went as far as buying jerseys and stuff for fans of the CUBS IIRC who showed up to their premium behind plate opening day seats in cubs gear. Mark Cuban and I believe the former Sixers owner would make waves over the same issues. There are a lot of jackass Redskins fans who don't know how to act in public no doubt, but this Cowboy fan seems like the bigger jackass to me.

 

[Neophyte]

I deal with this a lot. It is part of the price I pay, willingly, for being a Redskins fan living in the Dallas area. I expect it. To a certain degree I revel in it. Any fan of an opposing team who wears their team's gear into an opponents home stadium should expect it too.

Understand, I am not saying it is okay to be ugly. It isn't. But some good natured ribbing is par for the course if you root for an opposing team while on a different teams home turf. Deal with it or stop wearing your gear.

 

[fansince62]

OK a couple thoughts:

1. good natured ribbing should be expected at ANY stadium and any environment. If they can't take a little humorous and good natured ribbing then don't come to the game let alone wear a jersey...and that goes for going to your team's home stadium. Banter is part of the game and an owner who grew up a fan should be more understanding of that than most.

2. I have a hard time with the whole box seat etiquette anyway. You walk in and most people are dressed NICE on a day it seems appropriate to be casual and cut loose. Just weird and very wine and cheese/not football to me. Not cheering loudly or having to mind your manners in a way you wouldn't anywhere else in the stadium is weird at best and stupid at worst to me. It's why I've turned down box seats many times, I'd rather slum it with the crowd so to speak.

3. as bad of form as it might seem to razz the Cowboy fan a bit I think it's INCREDIBLY bad form and poor taste (hell downright rude) to wear a rival team's jersey to a game in the freakin owner's box. WTH is up with that. The guy deserved to be ragged on just on that basis alone. The Arizona baseball team went as far as buying jerseys and stuff for fans of the CUBS IIRC who showed up to their premium behind plate opening day seats in cubs gear. Mark Cuban and I believe the former Sixers owner would make waves over the same issues. There are a lot of jackass Redskins fans who don't know how to act in public no doubt, but this Cowboy fan seems like the bigger jackass to me.

I kinda fall in with you.

Agree with w/Huly when it comes to being vulgar (especially w/kids around).

Agree with Mike that friendly banter is part of the fun.

What I find distasteful/unacceptable is the sort of overt/implied violence that characterize a whole lotta Iggles fans.

 

[Snydershrugged]

To me its all about the true intent. Its pretty obvious when an opposing fan has an agenda in their ribbing as opposed to the good natured fun type.

As in most things, the bad type typically seems interested in attention grabbing. see it and treat it for what it is.

 

[Huly]

If I go to to Dallas I expect to be booed and go back and forth! When I fly into Columbia SC I intentionally wear my Clemson gear and I am ready for the fun. It is all in fun but where do you cross the line?

 

[Snydershrugged]

If I go to to Dallas I expect to be booed and go back and forth! When I fly into Columbia SC I intentionally wear my Clemson gear and I am ready for the fun. It is all in fun but where do you cross the line?

I think you just did a nice job drawing the line! Fun is the line, when it turns non-fun for anyone, then it needs to end (IMHO)

 

[Huly]

I think you just did a nice job drawing the line! Fun is the line, when it turns non-fun for anyone, then it needs to end (IMHO)

Good Point!

 

[CounterTrey]

You took the words out of my mouth ss...the second the fun leaves the equation for either person it starts to go too far. And fansince62 I hear ya...I have a "F@#$ Dallas!" Shirt that is written exactly like that, and I tend to wear it under another shirt if at all at Dallas games. I usually just flash it to buddies who are cowboys fans (sadly I have way too many of em ), and even then I feel like it's a bit much. I have two young boys who I still haven't brought to a game...it'd be nice if it were truly family friendly.

 

[fansince62]

its a case by case basis...show some respect and you dont have to worry about any "line". which is also why I dont EVER make fun of Tom Landry.

sage advice.