There's an interesting dynamic that goes on in sports: We condemn the cheaters and criminals ... unless they're on our team. We blame the athlete for retaliating when, in fact, the fan is the clear instigator.
In the most recent example of this hypocrisy, Milwaukee Brewers fans welcomed back Ryan Braun with a standing ovation. The same Ryan Braun who adamantly denied ever having taken steroids, and tried to get everyone associated with the incident fired. He questioned the morals and dignity of the tester, and could've ruined his life forever. But as long as Braun's helping your team win, it's okay, right?
This isn't a baseball-specific issue, but rather spans the realm of all sports. Ray Rice allegedly beat his girlfriend, but I can guarantee you that if he were to come back to the field, the crowd would erupt when he rushes for his first touchdown. Ray Lewis, with a sketchy past to say the least, became a legend in Baltimore. Fans will look the other way when they want to, but will also point the finger when it's convenient for their favorite teams.
The issue lies not in the acceptance of players after the incidents, but the fact that fans try to take a moral high ground. South Eastern Conference fans accuse other schools of cheating, but the truth is that the underground market runs rampant throughout all of college athletics. Fans' patronage will always boil down to one thing: What's in it for me?
This, in part, has led to the creation of an environment where the player is blamed regardless of the situation. For instance, last week, while going for a pop fly, the Cardinals' first baseman Matt Adams lightly shoved a fan in the chest after the fan interfered with - albeit while in the stands, so legally - Adams' pursuit of the ball. As Adams ran back to the field, the fan boldly started puffing his chest and extending his middle finger to Adams, exerting his toughness as he waited until the player had his back turned and couldn't defend himself.
And yet, this action is permissible. We laugh it off as "part of the game." We expect players of all levels, some as young as 18 competing in the raucous environments of Duke or Kentucky, to keep a level head when fans are shouting racial slurs at them, giving them death threats or insulting their family. Frankly, it's disgusting.
In the event that a player responds in any fashion, whether it be a verbal or physical exchange, or even just a look, we condemn and criticize them for his or her lack of judgment and mental strength. The double standards are real, and it's only getting worse.
With the creation of social media sites and 24/7 media coverage, we live in a "now" society where fans have more access than ever to their favorite - or least favorite - athletes. They can berate them on Twitter, see their personal lives through organizations like TMZ and find out anything about their past with a simple Google search. The separation of personal and private lives that athletes of the past enjoyed is now just a distant memory.
In the grand scheme of things, I know that this isn't going to change. Fans will continue to cheer on "their" players regardless of the situation. They will continue to try to get in the head of athletes, then blame the athletes when there's an issue. All I can hope to do is point out the hypocrisy so that the next time fans try to become the moral police or point fingers, they'll think twice, knowing that if it was their player, the reaction wouldn't be the same. But until this happens to the fans - you're sacked!
Jordan Bean is a sophomore majoring in economics. He can be reached at Jordan.Bean@tufts.edu.
