Annoying Fans - Providence vs Connecticut 1/17/08

Have you ever been at a sports contest and just by your luck there is a obnoxious fan sitting next to you? Of course. It is the bain of existence for those fans who attend contests to cheer on their team at a rational level, respecting others around them. I am not speaking about the fans that stand up for extended periods of time, or those who embarrass themselves by heckling the opposing team with rarely funny spats. No, I am speaking of the fan that says the most inane things about the game and his team that a) speaks volumes about his (lack of) knowledge as a fan, b) speaks at such a volume so that everyone for a complete section of the stands has to listen to him, and who is c) cheering for the team you're cheering for, stealing the enjoyment right from your own cheering because you don't want to be associated within a mile of his annoying rants.


I recognized these thoughts at the Connecticut - Providence men's basketball game on thursday night in Hartford. Section 217 was filled with a contingent of "Friar Fanatics" (student fans of the Friars) cheering and chanting for the surging Providence team. However, sprinkled into the mix were a few older men, who fit into the former category. Led by a nim-witted fool, the foolish comments I heard during the game were irritating and distracting. Every three point shot that was fired by PC - a team that lives and dies by the three - was met with a exasperating "No!...YES!" - when a PC player netted the shot. If I wasn't alone, and if he weren't with three other men, I was going to approach him and ask him if that ceremony was a good luck charm, "the ol' No-Yes move?"

I was relieved to see the Friars finally cap off an away victory in convincing fashion over a potential tournament team, even at the expense of listening to a leader in gametime annoyances sitting a few rows from me. The Friars won the game 77-65 behind a career high from sophomore guard Dwain Williams' 23 points. Old Reliable, Geoff McDermott slipped in a quiet double-double, scoring 12 points, pulling 11 boards and dishing 6 assists. The guy is a rock. Without Big Mac, PC has no offense. Go Friars.