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From: roy@hpmtla.UUCP (roy)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: new yuch vs. TORONTO
Message-ID: <4500054@hpmtla.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 26-Sep-85 10:48:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: hpmtla.4500054
Posted: Thu Sep 26 10:48:00 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 29-Sep-85 08:25:35 EDT
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>
>Actually, the all-time low for fan "class and civility" certainly
>belongs to Canadian fans (specifically, Expo fans).  A few years ago,
>before he was called the "Terminator", Jeff Reardon was having a
>MISERABLE season.  Expo fans booed Reardon unmercifully every time he
>appeared in a game; the chorus would begin the moment his name was
>announced.  This, of course, is acceptable; however, one day the Expo
>wives were playing a charity softball game prior to the main feature.
>When the lineups were announced, the fans began to boo Reardon's wife.
>So loud and persistent were they, Mrs. Reardon left the field in tears
>before the fans would let up.
>
>I'm sure AL fans have similar anecdotes regarding the behavior of
>Toronto fans.  No nationality can claim innocence.  At least here
>(North America), the abuse is verbal...
>
>					David Rubin

Let's not make this a Canada vs. U.S. issue Mr. Rubin. I am an American
that agrees with you that the two aforementioned events are apalling,
but I hold the people involved in the Expos and and Yankees responsible.
An organization markets a team in a manner which appeals to the fan
they want to bring into the ballpark. For example, in Chicago, the
White Sox were always presented as a rough and tumble team, attracting
a strong blue collar following, while the Cubs went after the kids,
little old ladies, and business groups with their clean-cut approach.
Now take the Yankees, a team marketed in recent years with hot-tempers,
delicate egos, and endless controversy(George,Billy,Reggie,etc...).
The fact is, they cater to the rowdy, pushy fan. Not to say that this
is wrong, it is quite successful in accomplishing exactly what the
organization wants - profit and notoriety. I don't know enough about
the Montreal organization to comment on their appeal.

The state department had no business apologizing to Canada for
the incident in New York. It was not a U.S. issue(in my opinion).
It was a private issue in which the Yankee organization, i.e. Mr.
Stienbrenner himself, was responsible for apologizing to the people
of Canada. Since Georgie did not take ant reconciliatory action,
I can only assume that he approved of the incident.

Roy