On Booing Your Home Team

by T Maple on Nov 11, 2007 1:25 PM CST

Didn't see the Raptors game (good thing too, it looks like) but I wanted to raise a point about booing your home team. What's the purpose of this? I've never understood it frankly. During the early to mid 80s they used to boo Dave Corzine mercilessly, and even as a kid I felt bad for him. He tried, he played hard, he just wasn't very talented (really, his biggest sin was he wasn't Artis Gilmore--for which the fans never forgave him until Michael gave them something to cheer about). I can understand booing a team if they're not trying: if they're not getting back on defense, not hustling or working hard. But if they're taking shots and not making them? Boos may motivate a team to fix those other things, but I can't imagine boos improving a shooter's accuracy--in fact there are probably few basketball skills more hampered by that.

Again, I get that the team has disappointed so far, it deserves being called out a little, and fans need to vent frustration. Maybe they really want to boo Skiles for his rotations, or Pax for not finding a trade that will make it all better. But was anyone at the UC last night actually thinking, "If I boo, maybe Kirk [or Luol, Ben, whoever] will actually play better!" Surely that would only make players tighten up more and shoot worse? Or maybe at that point a fan is just too angry to care? Just wondering.

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Last night was unacceptable. Not booing

would be a message that the fans accepted the pathetic performance. If this was a play people would have demanded their money back. Toronto was playing a back-to-back. The Bulls we at home for the 3rd game in a row. To come out in the 3rd quarter and play so pathetic and have fans accept that would be a sign you really do not care about the Bulls. True Bulls fans should have booed last night. Management is lucky they only booed. I cannot believe the fans showed such restraint.

by chgobr on Nov 11, 2007 1:46 PM CST reply actions

i booed

i booed at the game because the team has been a major disapointment thus far. i know it is early and they are slow starters but fans fork over the money to see these guys play. and when they played as poorly as they did last night, then i think fans have a right to boo.

by tomcat on Nov 11, 2007 1:47 PM CST reply actions

Fans

I certainly think the threshold for booing your home team has really lowered recently. I also question how much knowledge of the team the people attending these games possess.

All teams will get blown out eventually and most of the time the fans just get quiet. I think yesterday was a result of frustration due to the heightened expectations for the team and their poor play thus far. And of course, people just want another "superstar" on the Bulls so they keep cheering for Kobe even though there's no trade that both parties would agree to that makes the Bulls any better.

I have season tickets and most of the fans at the UC strike me as apathetic and there mainly to talk business or socialize. I think I have in years past complained about the funereal atmosphere at the stadium - clearly the fans aren't that into the game. At least I think this applies to the 100 level. That said, these same people seem to enjoy booing their team. It may have been directed more towards management in the past (it was never Marcus Fizer's fault that he was drafted so highly), but now seems directed at the current players. It seems a bit too early, despite disappointing early returns, to jump on them like that.

Dalibor and Dragan!
Like Pizza? Me too.

by FAQ on Nov 11, 2007 1:48 PM CST reply actions

I've wondered about the funeral atmosphere too

Even when the Bulls are winning and playing well the crowd still seems quieter (on TV) than it used to be. Those Golden State home games in the playoffs were really fun to watch--I'd love the crowd to get half that excited.

by T Maple on Nov 11, 2007 3:11 PM CST up reply actions

the UC

well, it won't happen. even if the stadium was packed with people ready to yell all day, it can't happen. The stadium is just too big and maybe more importantly, the layout makes it occupy to much air volume. The design that makes all seats unobstructed is what makes it really hard to keep it noisy in there. you have to have a lot of people making a lot of noise and people get tired.

in the old stadium, which was smaller, just the din of people chatting was pretty loud. when the cheering started, it got loud quickly and was easier to maintain. If anyone knows anything about architecture or sound, maybe they can comment on this. I also wonder if having more wood in older stadiums contributes to it. Concrete seems like it would be more vibrate and add to the noise.

Dalibor and Dragan!
Like Pizza? Me too.

by FAQ on Nov 11, 2007 5:14 PM CST up reply actions

It's pure frustration.

Season ticket holders pay between $5,000 and $60,000 to see the team play 41 games. That is a relatively substantial investment for most people. On top of the initial monetary payment for tickets, they also invest considerable time, energy, emotion, and additional funds for incidentals like parking and concessions. They make the investment with the expectation that management will assemble a squad capable of winning a championship and that the players will demonstrate dedication, resolve, tenacity, effort, and skill. When the team evidences nothing but apathy, insolence, disarray, and ineptitude through the first six games, people are prone to conclude that their investment was a total waste. They might feel exploited, misled, and abused. That is especially true where many of those season ticket holders stuck with the team through the lean, turbulent post-Jordan era.

I am not suggesting that the club owes some duty to ticket holders beyond the one that is implicit in the sales transaction. To the contrary, I am stating that the Bulls (during the brief first part of the season) have failed to fulfill the terms of that economic bargain: The ticket holder pays money, the club wins games and progresses towards a championship.

Booing is just a way of conveying to the management, the coaches, and the team that the current situation is unacceptable.

I personally don't boo nor do I endorse it, but I understand its provenance.

In any case, the booing is premature. We are seven games into the season, not twent seven.

SUCK IT SABAN!

by 1958ChiTown on Nov 11, 2007 1:51 PM CST reply actions

good points

It's just too bad there isn't a way for fans to express anger w/o affecting the players. Wasn't it Kirk who had a better shooting percentage on the road? Maybe that's a fluke, but I know I'd be more nervous missing shots in front of a booing home team than on the road.

By the by, I do understand the frustration. I attended only one Bulls game last year: was in town when they hosted the Rockets, and I convinced two friends to join me. They weren't Bulls fans & didn't really like basketball, but I begged them to give it, particularly this Bulls team, a chance. The game was a snoozefest: a Yao-less, Van-Gundy crawl the Bulls never seemed into, and of course they lost (don't you hate it when that happens? Of all games too--bet I'll never convince those friends to attend another game). I didn't boo the team, but I did feel they were flat. And I know last night's game was far worse.

by T Maple on Nov 11, 2007 3:09 PM CST reply actions

I hate booing

because it solves nothing. It's not going to make them play better.

Racecar spelled backwards is racecar.

by sue369 on Nov 11, 2007 6:22 PM CST reply actions

Thanks for the post

You actually brought back memories of my stepfather cursing at Dave Corzine on the TV screen time and time again (basically alternating between calling him a female organ and a female dog). Ah the good ol' days of childhood.

by bigballa10 on Nov 11, 2007 6:29 PM CST reply actions

On booing

I have mixed feelings about it because I think it depends on the circumstances. I live in NJ now and find it ridiculous that Yankees fans were booing Derek Jeter when he was just going through a slump after all he's done and continues to do for that franchise. It stands out more in baseball. I think fans have a right to boo, especially last night. I just feel like in certain situations, it doesn't make sense. Along those lines, I would say the Kobe chants are not cool for real fans.

by bigballa10 on Nov 11, 2007 6:39 PM CST reply actions

If you would have been at the game

You would have booed too. My Dad, my brother, and I have an 11 game package. We didn't participate in the booing because we were pretty much dejected by the entire thing, all the while wanting to rip off Skiles' head for throwing the towel in on the game with 10 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Fans have every right to boo when there were very high expectations of this team and we're playing at the level of the Bobcats (who could probably beat us right now.) All of this after flashes of breaking through with the win over Detroit.

I love you Ben, you almost make me forget about...tacos.

by eddiew23 on Nov 11, 2007 6:50 PM CST reply actions

Bulls mgmt must take notice ..

First comes booing and then in later seasons comes unsold season tickets.

by exult463 on Nov 11, 2007 7:05 PM CST reply actions

Fuck that they should be booed!

I ment them in person and their cocky brats who think their shit don't stink. Just because they wear a Bulls uni doesn't mean you have to be loving with them. Honesty when I ment them I thought to myself wow it's so much different in person. They are just hires from colleges around the country like any job. They just wana make money. They really don't care like we do. They think were fucked up and make fun of the fans I could hear what they were saying the whole time. It really sets in when you meet them that they are just mercenaries. Either way they get paided and when they say we gotta do this or we gotta do that it's just talk. I just had this feeling after I met them that they really don't give two shits. Suckin down Starbucks and whispering shit to each other. Then they have the people around them who tell them what to do and protect them. They said we couldn't ask Ben Wallace any questions. I guess thats the cold truth about pro sports.

lalalalalalalalalala we once had a basketball team!A basketball team.

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on Nov 11, 2007 7:57 PM CST reply actions

Last night they deserved to be booed, but...

I disagree with your other comment that "they're just a bunch of brats." Iknow most of them, I'm not going to say how, but the players are not what you describe. They're actually very down to earth as far as athletes go. They're very respectful and acknowlege you. To be honest, if I was a player, I wouldn't want to go to some sorry ass mall in Shaumberg and do a signing either. But I guess they do it because dumb-asses like you want a fucking autograph.

Is it me or does Lebron walk like a duck?!

by GranvilleWaiters on Nov 11, 2007 10:41 PM CST up reply actions

I won't boo, but I can understand the desire.

Teams lose all the time but when it doesn't even look like they are putting up an effort it is really disappointing for fan. And when you forked over a lot of money to watch a basketball game you at least expect them to put up an effort. Especially at a home game. The Bulls have a reputation of fighting tooth and nail even when they lose, but lately the losing has been like they've given up or don't even care. The fans followed the Bulls even during the losses in their early years because they were working hard and putting in noticeable effort to the end.

I've got tickets in December and I hope they get their act together by then. I won't boo, but I don't really want my first Bulls game of the season to be with a booing crowd.

by cranscape on Nov 11, 2007 8:48 PM CST reply actions

booing

booing comes from someone who never was in the position of the person they are booing & not to mention the fact that they aren't real fans to begin with just ticket holders, fairweather you know whats. when something or someone you care about doesn't do well you would think how can this be fixed or evan can it. you don't just act like a caveman.

by the truth on Nov 11, 2007 8:48 PM CST reply actions

I never understood booing your own team....

... until this Raptors game. I rarely get the opportunity to attend games. This year I got the opportunity and decided to pay for pretty good seats. So what did I pay for? 24 min of airballs and bricks from our so-called core and another 24 min. of Aaron Gray and Victor Khryapa. That, with a bonus brick clinic presented by Thabo Sefolosha and Chris Duhon. The only highlights for me were Nocioni's play and a Tyrus dunk. Everyone else was balls.

It got so bad, the whole stadium started doing the wave in desperation to find some sort of entertainment. And that was before the Kobe chants.

Yeah, I never thought I'd see the day, but at 40 sec. left in the 4th, I let out a loud booo for my team. They didn't come to play. I was truly disapointed. I'm a die hard fan, but die-hard does not equal homer. If the Bulls organization can take money from 20,000 fans and put a crap product on the floor, than I reserve my right to show my displeasure in the means I have available.

I still support the team of course, but they let me down big on this night. I don't care if it hurts the players' feelings. They're not doing their jobs.

by Hiryu on Nov 12, 2007 11:54 AM CST reply actions

Any good Sports Town

will let you know how you're playing. It is how we are here in Chicago. It is the same with every sports team in this city. New York is the same way, Philly, etc... If you don't perform, you will hear about it (One way or another).

If it bothers them that bad, start winning. You will not get boo'd if you are diving for lose balls, attacking the rim, and playing swarming defense. Which anyone can do. IT IS A CHOICE EACH PLAYER MAKES! That is just being aggressive.

But if you're timid and walking through the motions...BBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

The Baby Bulls are back....

by Knowledge32 on Nov 15, 2007 9:59 AM CST reply actions