Editorial: Spectators’ behavior is unsportsmanlike

Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001 | 9:56 a.m.

National Football League officials say they will crack down on rowdy fan behavior, which marred two recent games. On Sunday Cleveland Browns fans threw all sorts of debris, including bottles full of beer, at officials and players following an officiating call that was controversial. Fortunately no one was hurt, but the game was interrupted for 30 minutes. The disgraceful display was followed up on Monday when New Orleans Saints fans threw beer bottles on the field after an officiating call went against their team.

It's about time the league and teams got tough with surly and violent fans. But it didn't help matters that Browns' executives initially refused to criticize their fans' actions. "I don't think this is an example of life and limb being at risk," Browns President Carmen Policy said. "I like the fact that our fans care." After Policy received a considerable amount of condemnation, he made a belated apology the next day, but it couldn't undo the team's message: It's perfectly fine to act like thugs.

The NFL -- and all other sports leagues, for that matter, since hooliganism isn't isolated to just football -- should demand that teams encourage local prosecution of bottle-throwing spectators, including stiff fines, and require that teams permanently ban out-of-control fans from future games. Much has been made about how high-priced professional athletes, and their off-field antics, have hurt sports. But just as disturbing is the fact that nonstop profanity and spectator violence are common at sporting events. If the rowdy behavior isn't corralled, fans who genuinely love the sport will just stop coming to the games -- and that will be the real tragedy.