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DEL.ICIO.USHigh school final four won’t abide foul fans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“The GHSA and its member schools have made a commitment to promote good sportsmanship. …Profanity, degrading remarks, and intimidating actions directed at officials or competitors will not be tolerated, and are grounds for removal.”
—Executive Director Ralph Swearngin
Rude, boorish, obnoxious, profane and anyway otherwise maniacal basketball fans beware: The Georgia High School Association is prepared to back up its pregame announcement with action. So if you want to witness this week’s state championships, put a zipper on your trashy mouths and cut the infantile antics.
I really hate to preach. But after another week of rude, boorish, obnoxious profane and anyway otherwise maniacal basketball fans polluting the ears and eyes of everyone else, I’ve had enough. These clowns ruin what should be an experience suitable for family enjoyment.
It’s just a game, people.
Surely, state tournament time brings charged and overhyped emotions. Especially for those involved — players and students — for whom lifetime memories are made. And for the most part, your children behave within the bounds of decency. Not so for supposed grown-ups.
“Almost 100 percent of the time, when it’s kids [being enthusiastic] it doesn’t get personal,” Swearngin said Tuesday. “But the most vocal and profane are the adults.”
We’re talking about somebody’s mamas, daddies, grandparents, aunts, uncles and/or assorted other grown friends and relations. You know, role models. Last week at Mount Zion High in Jonesboro, where AA games were played, each evening the spirited contests were marred by rude, boorish, obnoxious profane and anyway otherwise maniacal basketball fans.
At first, adult fans of the private schools seemed the worst culprits. However, that impression changed when public schools competed. By the end of the day, it became apparent fools come in all manner of socioeconomic standing.
Now, for the good news: All of you of proper manners and bearing don’t have to be imposed upon. The GHSA can, and will, have the bums thrown out.
“If the officials feel like someone is starting to intrude on the game — anytime it gets personal, profane or vulgar,” Swearngin says, “they can stop the game and have event management correct the problem. We are aware of a couple of problems last week. “A fan was escorted out at one venue, and several tournament directors issued warnings to groups of fans for being out of line.”
Ideally, with the final fours at the Macon Coliseum and Gwinnett Arena, the larger venues will provide some comfort. Otherwise, Swearngin says, “There is recourse if you are being subjected to an experience you are not enjoying.” Complain to event security — or uniformed police — if someone is using abusive or inappropriate language, or even if they are blocking your view and won’t sit down.
“Hopefully, we’ll have good competition and none of these problems,” Swearngin says.
If not, here’s another option: Camera phones. These days, almost all kids pack them. So put them to good use. Next time your mamas, daddies, grandparents, aunts, uncles and/or assorted other grown friends and relations show out at a game and act like a horse’s rear-end — snap a picture.
That should spice up the next family reunion.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: J.C. Clemons
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By todd
March 1, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this
I understand that wheeler won the state championship last year and they should get some respect for defending there crown. However, there is a team from savannah who they will face in the final four that has legit chance to beat them. They give the metro atlanta teams a little to much credit. In the end, it always either Beach or Savannah high school that come to state tourney to fight for the crown.
By WHS
March 1, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this
Wheeler is going to send Beach home.No question about it!Wheeler will have no problem beating Beach and even Norcross. I would advise Beach fans to stay in Savannah and not waist their time coming up here to watch Wheeler dunk all over them.
By whs fan
March 1, 2006 03:22 PM | Link to this
Wheeler has the talent and will take it all the way. Lipscomb knows how to motivated these boys to win state. Someone made a comment that the GHSA was being paid off. All I can say is Wheeler High School, academically is one of the best and the Basketball program is no.1 in the state. They don’t have to do anything underhanded. These boys want to play for the best coach and attend one of the finest High Schools in Ga. Enough said, GO WHEELER WILDCATS!! BEAT BEACH AND NORCROSS!! STATE CHAMPS!!
By Allen
March 1, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this
Ture enough that Wheeler is a magnet school with good accademics and that surely is a reason some want to attend and Lipscomb is a top notch coach for certain and they are not by any means the only high school who have a lot of transfer athletes. All that being said there is still something not quite right and certainly not natural about having a new crop of high school athletes every year and at the very least it makes for an artificial competative environment. What ever happened to taking the students who live in your district and working with them over their student careers to be champions and deriving the satisfaction from that success. South Cobb hung with Wheeler for three quarters, but could not stand up to Wheelers bench for 4 quarters. Wheeler’s second 5 is just as good as the first 5 and the third 5 is almost as good and likely better than most first 5 players on other teams. I am not for SC or Wheeler, just think that on some level all this is hurting High School athletics and am sorry to see that happen. Something very special about winning at the HS level when you develop your own talent, prepare to compete and coach the x’s and o’s to make it happen.
By Allen
March 1, 2006 04:45 PM | Link to this
Forgot to mention that Cobb County has many magnet schools with top notch accedemics and world class athletes are not clamoring to attend all those schools like they seem to be at Wheeler. Bottom line is the State HS athletic association needs to find an answer to all these athletes transferring to play for a particular coach - it is hurting high school athletics for everyone!
By MJay
March 1, 2006 07:01 PM | Link to this
Everyone seems to think that all the State Championship teams at Wheeler are made of transplants. Guess what, they’re not! Last years team, specifically the starting five- David Gonzalvez, Chris Hanna, BJ Corley and James Florence (except Shauraud Curry who moved in as a sophomore), all attended East Cobb Middle School and played together on teams since the 7th grade. No one took this team seriously and because of that, they destroyed teams, including Norcross in the Championship Finals. The next notable State Championship team was that of 2000-2001. Starters Shoko Crowley, Shannon Payne, Muhammad Abdur-Rahim and Irv Hillman all attended East Cobb Middle School and had played together as children. Quennell Green and Rod Hill were the notable exceptions. What people can’t deny is chemistry. These kids were like brothers. No one understands that Wheeler kids play basketball together year round and are players on some of the best AAU teams in the country. They play at each other’s house, they play at the CAC, Run and Shoot and open gym at Wheeler where they are challenged by WHS Alumni and Division I players who attended Wheeler. I also didn’t want to leave out the fact that the majority of these players are either in the Magnet(Math and Science)Program or have a 3.0 or higher gpa and above average SAT’s. So, it sounds to me that it’s brains, athletic talent, and hardwork.