Mixed sports thread

[dsschicago]

I keep reading about how the Stanley Cup keeps getting dropped on the ground and run over by a car and various other calamities. It seems appropos that a hockey trophy would get battered and bruised, and it makes me like it even more.

[Pope Pertwee IX]

I’m a Villa fan, being from Birmingham UK.
My team have been playing 3 pre season friendlies in the USA recently.
First against Philadelphia Union, then Chicago Fire. Their last game was against the Portland Timbers. Tom Hanks jetted in to watch the game, as he is also a Villa fan.
It’s good to see someone of that stature supporting a team that is not blessed with mega bucks. That enables a club to buy success, which makes the English Premier League too predictable, in my opinion.

Tom Hanks with Paul Lambert, Aston Villa manager.

[page]

I didn't want to make this a separate thread and I think it is present in multiple sports, so that's why I post here.

You might have heard what has happened in our country last week. In the week when Johan Cruijff turned 65 we had an event happening, that is beyond description and comprehension. A line judge died of his injuries after he got beaten and kicked by some soccer players after a game. He was one of the referees at a soccer game between 2 amateur soccer teams with children in the age of 16. He also was the father of one of the players there and had his tasks as a volunteer to be part of his son’s club and the game he loved.
Apparently he thought he was okay enough at first and went home after this but had to be taken into hospital later and died the next day. Our whole country is in shock over this. Most of the perpetrators were not older than 16/17. 8 people have been arrested so far.

This past weekend, it happened the weekend before that, all amateur soccer matches in our entire country were cancelled and teams, parents, children and coaches got together at their clubs to talk about this. All professional teams did play their matches with a black belt around their arms and at the start of every match there was a minute of silence for this man who died. There were some professional coaches who believed the professional matches should have been cancelled too. During the minute of silence every member of the audience had a pamphlet which they showed with the following words: Without respect, no soccer. Audience and professionals together as one, that was impressive.
Of course there is talk about what to do next, where to go from here. Can we do anything to stop this violence at the soccer field? Personally I don't think it has anything to do with just soccer or sports for that matter. Society has changed and it seems there is so little respect left period.

When I still was a teacher I escorted the kids in my class to the school soccer matches. Even then, I heard people shout the most awful comments along the field, to make sure their kid would win following their awful directions. I think since it only has become worse, just because we see it in everyday life happening. It is everywhere. In 'war' all means justify the end? It seems that way some times.

These last years I haven't enjoyed watching soccer as much as I used to, even though I generally just watched the National team and that used to be a lot friendlier than any of the club games.
A friend of mine said he was ashamed that this happened and I feel that way too. Is this really what our country has become? A country where people used to be tolerant, it seems to be lost. There is fear and anger towards others, due to ignorance and impatience or whatever. I don’t know.

The only thing I can think of to help is to start with myself. Treat people in the way I want to be treated. Adults need to show children what respect is and that what you’ll give you’ll receive. This may sound naïve but no, it’s not. If I can’t believe there is still some good left and we can't still build on that, all is lost period. I don’t want that. Without respect, there is simply nothing..
Thank you for your time reading.
Sincerely, page

[Ianant]

That is a terrible, terrible thing that happened, Page. Sorry to hear. I avoid kids here in public spaces, like on the bus or on a subway train, like the plague.

They are, or many of them are an utterly despicable and unmannerly bunch, and I despite having to be near them for any period of time due the the dreadful manner in which they behave and carry themselves.

They have no respect for themselves or much respect period. Yes, these are your kids of today and yes it is only getting worse. Our morals or sense of right from wrong is on the decline and precious few care any more or much about these things.

This is all over the world. In the neck of the woods where I am from, they are the ones who commit the most heinous crimes you can image. Yup, it is the youths and adolescents.

[page]

I do not fully agree with you there, Ian. It is not just a 'kids' thing and not all of them are like that, I know plenty exceptions. I believe we are all responsible for what happens in the world, we do have a voice to object and confirm. Although I do believe we are all responsible for our own actions, I think parents and educators need to play a positive role in this and not all of the kids get to see that, do they? So it is really a society problem. And when you see professional players play, well that is something that doesn't show a good example all the time, plenty of nasty things happen and players seem to get away with it easy.

[Ianant]

Originally Posted by page

I do not fully agree with you there, Ian. It is not just a 'kids' thing and not all of them are like that, I know plenty exceptions. I believe we are all responsible for what happens in the world, we do have a voice to object and confirm. Although I do believe we are all responsible for our own actions, I think parents and educators need to play a positive role in this and not all of the kids get to see that, do they? So it is really a society problem. And when you see professional players play, well that is something that doesn't show a good example all the time, plenty of nasty things happen and players seem to get away with it easy.

I don't disagree with anything you said here or in your post above this one, Page. It's a general decline all the way around. That's a given.