Rams Fans Need to Relax on Booing Steven Jackson
I know we are all a little upset with Mr. Jackson for his comments about Rams fans, his holdout, his other comments about Rams fans and his general sauciness. However, Steven Jackson is single-handedly the most important player the Rams for the next 3-6 years and we should treat him like so. There is no reason to boo him when he is in street clothes, on the sideline, in a preseason game as the Rams fans did in Preseason Week 3.
Rams fans have a mixed history with booing, with some players or coaches we use it often and others never get booed at all. I have no problem with booing a player on the field after a bad performance as people paid good money to see the game and they can do what they want. However, I have the right to judge whether or not they should boo.
Near the end of the 4-12 1998 season, Rams fans at the dome booed Dick Vermeil on the video screen as he was giving a PSA about giving to the less fortunate for the holidays. That’s not exactly Philadelphia type standards, but it is not a very cool move. Vermeil promptly won the Super Bowl the next year and the hard feelings were promptly forgotten.
Other players who have received boos from Rams fans include: Jerome Bettis, who pouted himself into a trade to Pittsburgh where he turned around his career. Tony Banks pouted his way off the team and quickly didn’t distinguish himself with very few chances elsewhere.
Jackson is too talented to take the path of Tony Banks, but hopefully he doesn’t take the path of Jerome Bettis and find his glory elsewhere. Let’s give Jackson the benefit of the doubt and hopefully he can lead the Rams to the promise land.
This post has 2 comments
August 27th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I couldn’t disagree more. We’re SUPPOSED to be Rams fans…supporters…and there’s never any excuse for “fans” booing the guys on our own team. The examples you give prove how horribly embarrassing it can be. Rams “fans” booed one of the best players to wear our uniform and ran him out of town. They booed the coach who brought us our greatest glory AND was one of the classiest guys in our franchise history…and for what? Raising funds for a charity at Christmas? And the “fans” treatment of Tony Banks was the most disgraceful thing I’ve seen in nearly 40 years as a Rams fan. You neglected to mention that these jerks in the stands also ran off a coach that has one of the highest W/L records in NFL history…now coaching at our most hated rival.
You were right, it wasn’t Philadelphia level. It was worse.
And what may be most disturbing is that we can no longer talk about a comparison between these awful excuses for “fans” and the best fans in baseball, because Cards “fans” are nearly as bad, as down the street not only has a century long tradition of class and sportsmanship gone down the drain regarding treatment of other players, but even our own players like Tino Martinez and Juan Encarnacion. Cesar Izturis was being booed by Cardinals “fans” before he’d even played a single game in Cardinals uniform, and the same media jerks who helped these “fans” run off Martz have tried to do the same to one of the greatest managers in Major League history, for the tremendous sin of having longer hair than Whitey Herzog.
But, criticism on sports radio, no matter how stupid and ignorant and classless, is one thing. Booing players is another entirely, and not ever, under any circumstances, something we should hear in a city that USED to be known for classy fans and sportsmanship.
Then again, sadly, I’m sure that very word will get some confused looks. It hardly exists this side of 8 year olds playing little league any longer, a concept that’s either ignored altogether or snickered at.
And perhaps most disturbing of all is that while I am nausiated by fan behavior in St. Louis, here in Columbia at Mizzou games, it’s even worse. Ask a band member from Nebraska sometime, and they’ll tell you that when they die, they don’t have to worry about going to heaven, because they’ve already been through hell…in Columbia, Missouri.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Daddo - I think the only thing we don’t agree about is whether or not we agree. I think we actually agree.
Sports fandom everywhere, and sadly, St. Louis included has become “What have you done for me lately”. Whether it is Izzy, Juan, etc.
Rams fans were spoiled on 2000-2005 and are not reacting well to reality. Cards fans are now facing their reality after ten years of constant dominance. Expecting the world and not getting it results in booing.
I’ve gone off track here, but that’s why I’m asking, nay, pleading for patience amongst the Rams supporters.