The idea that if you pay the money for a seat you can say what you want could not be more misguided. Should athletes have thick skin and expect some verbal barbs from the crowd? Without a doubt. But there is a line and it has been crossed. We saw that with the Jeff Orr-Marcus Smart incident in Lubbock.
While the athletes on the floor should have thick skin and show restraint, they are human beings. A human can only be subjected to so much and if the words directed at them turn racist, sexist or extremely vulgar then what are we to expect from them? Things have gotten ugly in the last month in college basketball. Smart pushed Orr, New Mexico State brawled with Utah Valley students and a UCSB fan angrily confronted Hawaii's Gib Arnold last night on the court.
It's a troubling trend that has arisen and it's one that must stop. Now. Fans are spectators and they are meant to be in the seats. Should a fan choose to come on the court then they must understand that they could be punched (see Utah Valley-NMSU) or arrested. It takes only one idiot and only one second for something tragic to happen.
There is no need to ask, "How bad can it get?" We have already seen that at the Palace at Auburn Hills when the Pacers and Pistons found themselves in arguably the ugliest scene to date between players and fans. There does not need to be a rerun of that night, but fans must learn their boundaries. Stay off the court and show some class and respect.
Fans create noise, distractions and a difficult environment for opponents, but that's where it should stop. This is a game we are talking about. There is no need for racist comments and there is no need to ever step foot on the court.
Let the game play out and enjoy it from your seat. After all, that's what you paid for right?
