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From: schneider@2littl.DEC
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: New York vs. Toronto (Hopefully for the last time)
Message-ID: <624@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 1-Oct-85 13:02:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.624
Posted: Tue Oct  1 13:02:50 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 3-Oct-85 04:46:27 EDT
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I truly am tired of not discussing baseball in this forum, but I took
offense when people started coming down so hard on Yankee fans in
particular and NY fans in general.  I maintain that they were
generally venting anti-NY feelings.  I doubt anyone would claim that
the fans who did boo the Canadian anthem actually harbored anti-Canadian
feelings, but rather were voicing their displeasure at the Blue Jays
being in front of the Yankees.

I was off the net for a few days and since now that I'm back I see a
sizable quantity of mail directed at my comments, I feel compelled to
respond.  Hereafter if anyone would like to continue the discussion
I will reluctantly pursue it off the net.  (Note my new address.)
The following represents all responses of everybody whose mail I read
today.  My original remarks are preceded by ">>".
 
>>The Boston Globe described the same incident as a classy act of
>>management reminding the fans of what Canada has done.  Yes, the Yankee
>>fans booed, but they were booing the opposition in a pennant race, which
>>I find entirely understandable.  

>Only a Yankee fan can find it understandable.  Sportsman spirit is not booing
>your opponent; it is applauding your team.  A real sportsman would try to win
>himself; not pray that his opponent loses.
 
>>The fan's WERE booing the Jays as is entirely within their rights.  At the
>>time, the Canadian anthem served to represent the Jays.  This seems quite
>>clear.  

>Sorry, Dan , I was taught not to boo EVER as it is unsportsmanlike, and
>to boo a nation's anthem is just worse than normal.

The above two comments put forth the proposition that it is not sportsman-
like to boo (under any condition?) and there is no place for it in a baseball
park lest all the hometeams' fans (or city's inhabitants) be branded
"unsportsmanlike".  To their credit the respective authors do not willfully
misinterpret the fans actions as disliking the country of Canada.  Yet
I think their viewpoint is tenuous as booing is quite prevelant in ALL
ballparks.  It has long been acknowledged that once the fan pays his money
to attend the event he is well within his right to voice pleasure or
displeasure.  I have never booed during a national anthem, but I have 
booed during a game and I'm reasonably sure others have also.  The
definition of sportsmanship above is quite a narrow one.

-------

>>I am not a resident of New York but I am a Yankee fan and I take a great deal
>>of exception to the notion that the New York fans have a lack of class.  
>>Such a bigotted interpretation of an obviously misunderstood act seems
>>QUITE unreasonable to me.  
 
>Maybe it does, but I don't think by condoning the incident you've helped
>the perception of a N.Y. fan.  In fact you probably have strengthened the 
>feeling you're trying to argue against.

I never condoned the booing but expressed my resentment at those whose
biased interpretations were fuel in their anti-NY fire.  I'll take
my own chances with public opinion.

------

>>Perhaps, but I think more then a few netters hopped on the anti-New York
>>bandwagon instead.  Perhaps they are just jealous of the most cultured 
>>fans in America.
 
>Funny, you talk of "bigotted interpretations" and then turn right around and
>make a bigotted remark.  If you are certain that *some* N.Y. fans can do
>no wrong, then I would say you're the most prejudiced of all.
>I sure wish I were "cultured". -:)

This is where I struck the chord which produced the most responses.  New
Yorkers are rightfully proud that they inhabit the cultural center of
the United States if not the world; my reference to this has obviously
occured too close to the controversy.  Except for the above comment
which is way off base I left myself exposed for the following.
 
>Sour milk is also "cultured"...
 
>I will never forget the final game of the world series (I think it was
>1977) when the Yankees won the game in New York. What I will never
>forget is the sight of Reggie Jackson running off the field in obvious
>fear of his life. I guess the New York culture was just too much for
>him.
 
>psss One mans culture is another mans cess pool.

As a final comment I feel somewhat vindicated that I never read
a comment that went like this:  "I'm from Canada and am insulted
that NY fans would boo my country." or some such.  The direct
participants in the episode knew what was going on (a pennant
race).

		Daniel Schneider
		{decvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-2littl!schneider
	                                 ^^^^^^^^^^
	Note new address ----------------||||||||||

PS. I will make every effort that any other articles I submit will not
wander so far off the subject of baseball.