Sports fans are crazy. It seems like now more than ever, dedicated sports nuts are pushing the boundary of insanity, regarding their loyalty to their teams. 10 years ago, I never would have expected to see top news stories about fan violence, but it seems to be a common thing these days. Being an MSU student and a regular football game attendee, I've had my fair share of incidents as far as crazy fans go. I've been harrassed by rivals and admittedly been a loony one myself. At the University of Michigan vs. Michigan State game last year, I almost got in a fist fight with a girl because she said Michigan students are smarter. On the same day, I got water thrown on me for wearing a Michigan State shirt. Why do we all care so much? When it comes down to it, its just a game. Fans seem to take a jab against their team more personally than being told they're ugly or fat. Fan violence is on the rise, andit really makes one think why it has to go that far.


Intense rivalries are a normal thing for college students. The mixture of alcohol from tailgating all day and the strong love for a team by immature college kids, is bound to generate some fighting. But there have been numerous reports in the news of fan violence breaking out at professional games by grown adults. Adults intensely fighting over sports? What has this world come to? Our peers, the people we look to to set example for us are acting like children. It has even gone so far that people have died at the hands of fan violence. This past August, two men were shot and another was seriously beaten following a 49er's and Raiders game in California. Another incident reported was of a drunk man purposedly vomiting on a young girl and her father at a Philadelphia Philly's game because the father requested him to stop cursing. One incident in particular gained notoriety this past year when a San Francisco Giant's fan was beaten outside of Dodgers Stadium and was put in critical condition. These are just a few of many cases of fan violence.

Incidents like these are making everyone forget about why we all came out to watch sports in the first place. Sports used to be something that brought everyone together, a common interest. Something for families to do together, a safe place to get away from every day troubles. When I was growing up, I recall fond memories of going to Cincinnati Reds games with my family every summer. Sporting events shouldn't be places of safety concern or hazard. When I go to sporting events and find myself to be on the other teams turf, I get a feeling of instant worry in me. I get paranoid about what wrath I am about to encounter from other fans and I get nervous about proudly exemplifying my team spirit. Fan violence makes it unappealing to even go to sporting events. No one wants to go to a game and worry about the crazy people on the other team.

The sporting world and its fans have reached a new low. Rivalries have always been intense but nothing like what we see today. I'll be going to the Ohio State vs. Michigan Game this upcoming weekend. I will be wearing white to avoid any harassment. We just have to cross our fingers that something will change this unfortunate trend.


Dodgers/Giants Fan Violence

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