Should fans boo their team?
October 19, 2009 by Kyle
Filed under Hockey Columns
If Montrealers like doing one thing, it’s cheering on their bleu-blanc-rouge with religious ferver. If there’s one thing that Montrealers like doing more than cheering the Habs, it’s booing them. Or at least it seems.
This morning I was having a conversation with fellow Habs fans Amanda, Ashley and Cathie regarding the “fans” in Montreal and their penchant for quickly souring on their team, and singling out individual players.
For years now, Habs fans have been impatiently waiting for their local heroes to bring the Cup back to Montreal, or at the very least, take a serious run at it. Despite a great regular season in 2007-08, playoff results were underwhelming at best. Since then, and with each passing season, patience wears thinner and thinner in this town. It was easy to expect that Bob Gainey’s facelifted team would struggle out of the gate, with 50% of the roster being new, and with most of the coaching staff being new as well. Then mix in the devastating injury to Andrei Markov, the team’s best player, and to Ryan O’Byrne who was showing signs of reversing his poor play from 2008-09 and you have an even better recipe for a team fit to struggle.
Traditionally labeled as intelligent, sophisticated hockey fans, the people in attendance at Habs games in recent memory do nothing to back up that claim. Habs fans boo their team at the slightest inclination, and usually tend to focus their efforts on one particular player. Famously, Patrice Brisebois was that player for years. Carey Price has been hearing it for a couple years on and off, and now it appears that pre-season predictions will come true that Hal Gill will bear the brunt of Habs fans dissatisfaction.
The question I am bringing to the table today is whether or not the high price of admission gives the unhappy fan the right to boo their team when they don’t perform to “expectations”? Personally I think the answer is “yes”, as it’s next to impossible to reprimand a booing fan. However, in my strong opinion, I think booing your home team, or singling out a particular player on your team makes you an extremely poor fan, rights be damned. Booing your team or any of its players makes you a petulant crybaby. Turning on your team is not an effective way of showing dissatisfaction, nor is it a way to motivate the player(s) to pick up their play. I think it’s a sad state of affairs when players expect that they will be booed by their home town fans. Part of home-ice advantage is having the crowd behind you at all times. I do understand the occasional smattering of boos if the team is mired in a disastrous slump. However, I would expect any base of “intelligent, sophisticated hockey fans” to help be the 6th skater on the ice for the team and generate some good vibes.
Booing your team gives the visiting team an edge, it shows a lack of class and it shows the rest of the players in the league that the home town fans are about as supportive as underwear made from wet toilet paper. What is the attraction with booing your team? Do these people honestly believe that their negativity will bring about change, whether through improved performances, or personnel moves?
I’d like to hear what you have to say on the topic, not just about the Canadiens’ fans of course but about boo birds in general.
kyleroussel (Kyle Roussel) on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 11:32 am
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@alour @amandafortier @Cathie_AK27 Our little discussion prompted this: [link to post] Feel free to expand on your thoughts! : )
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jodystapley (Jody Stapley) on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 11:51 am
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agreed! booing your home team, or…player on your team makes you a…poor fan RT @nhldigest Should fans boo their team? [link to post]
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Amanda on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 11:52 am
I was struck by this question in particular – does paying the high price of admission give the unhappy fan the right to boo the team? With Montreal among the most expensive average ticket prices (and if you don’t believe me, here is a comparison of all the average NHL ticket prices: http://www.fromtherink.com/2009/3/24/809176/keeping-tabs-on-2009-10-ti), you would think that people who are actually paying these steep prices would be the true, dyed in the wool fans who would never boo their team. But the unfortunate reality is that those fans are probably sitting at home, watching the team on their TVs because they can’t afford the relatively steep cost of a night out at the game.
I think that perhaps the people (notice I choose not to call them fans) who are actually in attendance at the game, especially in the lower level seats, are there with corporate tickets or at the very least are not the serious, in-sickness-and-in-health fans.
Despite being a Habs fan since childhood, I have only lived in Montreal for the past 5 years. I love the Habs, I always have, and a rough start to the season will not change that. I will *never* boo them. I am even having a hard time hating Komisarek, although many of my compatriots have turned that corner. In the 5 years I’ve lived in Montreal, I have had the good fortune to attend 8 games at the Bell Centre. I would love to say that I’ve attended more but the economic reality of the situation is that I am one of those true fans, sitting at home or in a bar, cheering on my team through thick and thin.
nuhreeine (Noreen Marie Malazo) on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 11:53 am
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Fans have the right to show their discontentment: http://bit.ly/3Gb8B5 RT @nhldigest Should fans boo their team? [link to post]
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Scott on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 12:02 pm
Leafs’ fans usually wait until a former player returns to boo, I like that the Canadiens’ give it to guys when they’re struggling. I think they could go easier on their goalies, though.
Chris Nadeau on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 12:07 pm
The whole booing your own team has never made any sense to me. Boo the other team all you want, but why would you boo your team. Do you really think they are not trying? Would you like it if we came into your work place and started booing your performance?
In saying that, the players really should be able to block it out, but I am sure when you hear it night after night, it would be tough. And it would make me wonder why I would want to play for you.
Just sayin’…Suck it up Habs fans, you are becoming a joke to the game of hockey.
kyleroussel (Kyle Roussel) on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 12:12 pm
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I think I should have added a poll to the debate of booing your home team: [link to post] though the results are looking one-sided…
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Cathie on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 12:20 pm
People who boo their home team or pick on a player 7 games into a season, with a new coach and 1/2 a new roster are , like you said, poor fans. I have been lucky to be averaging about 6 games a season for the last 3 years, and the few games that I did hear boos at, came from the top, the nosebleed seats.
I am a die hard HABS fan, I will always support my team and the players on it.I do have favorites and I also have not-so-favorites, but all in all,, I just want to see a happy team. People who boo, are selfish and either don’t know much about hockey, are ignorant, or let others make decisions for them (like other media).
If you are someone who is likely to boo at the Habs on home ice, do us all a favor, don’t buy tickets. Leave the true fans the chance to buy them.
kuyaz on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 12:32 pm
How about we all put ourselves in the players’ skates. How would it feel to be boo’ed? Really now… the only thing it accomplishes is a big fat negativity mark. Throw your hands up in the air, curse like a trucker, remain silent and let your team’s poor play eat you up inside… whatever, but NEVER ever be a boo’bird towards your team. Show some respect. Save the boooooos for the opponents.
Ryan on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 12:43 pm
And to take it to the next level: Which is worse? Booing fans or apathetic fans? (i.e. 5K empty “corporate” seats in the lower bowl)
ryantheduke on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 1:17 pm
While I am not a boobird (I reserve my Bell Center boos for ex players.. except Kovy, but I’ll get to that in a minute), I also don’t hate them as many do.
In my mind, paying those prices, us fans can voice our opinion in any way. The players understand how frustrating a 5 game losing streak is for the fans and they should use it as a motivator (which they will on Tuesday… RIGHT!?!?).
On the other hand, I don’t agree with booing individual players. I may have given it to Breezer a few times, but I have grown. I learned last year that riding a young player like O’Byrne can just wreck him, so now I try to refrain.
Back to Kovy. I was there on Saturday, and was happy to give him an ovation in the warm-up and the first time he controlled the puck, but after that he was the enemy. I was dumbstruck when over half the stadium gave him a standing ovation when he put our chances of a comeback to sleep. That made me think that >50% of Habs fans are just plain shitheads and it’s something we have to live with.
Heyitskarla (Karla Schriner) on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 1:20 pm
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I’ve been a sth for 12 yrs & I never boo my team, no matter what. RT @nhldigest Should fans boo their team? [link to post]
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Katrina on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 1:26 pm
Booing is generally not constructive. I don’t think the players care as much as we may think (or hope) they do about our vocal displeasure with their performance. Personally, I don’t boo my teams. As an Islanders fan, some may find that difficult to believe. But, at the end of the day when I’m terrible at work, my boss doesn’t boo me, and I just show up the next day and try to learn from the previous day’s mistakes.
goverjkg (Jeremy K. Gover) on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 1:31 pm
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Yes. Yes they should. RT @nhldigest: Should fans boo their team? [link to post] #nhl
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predsgirl (Tricia) on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 1:32 pm
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UH yeah if they’re the Titans! RT: @nhldigest Should fans boo their team? [link to post]
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lorirusso (Lori Russo) on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 1:34 pm
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@KyleRoussel on fans booing their own teams: “Do these people believe that their negativity will bring about change?” [link to post]
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EP on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 1:55 pm
Personally, I don’t think that paying high prices for a ticket gives you the “right” to boo a team. Ultimately it comes down to the person buying the ticket to spend the money. The team didn’t force you to buy it. By going to a game in person – no matter how much you spent – you should realize that there is a distinct possibility that the team will stink it up and lose. It really sucks when it happens. But it happens. You can’t win them all (and yes, some teams lose more than others). Booing isn’t going to change that. It’s not going to make the players do any better and,talking from personal experience here, it annoys the crap out of the other fans who don’t want to boo their own team.
Spencer on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 1:58 pm
I thought booing was reserved for guys in stripes.
It reminds me of a clip from Seinfeld:
JERRY: Hey! What is wrong with you?!
TOBY: Me? Nothing’s wrong with me.
JERRY: Y-You boo me?! You hiss?! You didn’t stop blathering throughout the whole set!
TOBY: Oh, come on! I thought you’re a pro! That’s part of the show.
JERRY: No! Not part of the show! Booing and hissing are not part of the show! You boo puppets! You hiss villains in silent movies!
ericshuff (Eric Shuff) on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 3:00 pm
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@goverjkg I’m with you. Booing is one of the few ways of expressing disappointment in your players. It’s not like they read fan emails.
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Ashley on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 4:27 pm
I can call a spade a spade and admit when my team isn’t doing the best job they’re capable – but as a fan of the Habs since birth, it would never even cross my mind to boo their efforts. It’s disrespectful and accomplishes nothing but irritating the real fans and getting into the heads of the players.
Kyle on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 9:04 pm
EP touched on a valid point that I want to try and expand upon: The boo birds are a minority, but they’re always around and always being talked about in a very negative way. The rest of us fans who would prefer to not boo at all, or boo in the comfort of our own homes do NOT want to be grouped in with the yahoos that choose to make a bad name for all fans of a specific team.
Thanks to all for your comments!
metricjulie » Your Guide To Being A Montreal Canadiens Fan on Sun, 1st Nov 2009 5:06 pm
[...] better and they will thank you for it. Kyle Roussel of NHLdigest.com asks the following question: Should fans boo their team? Booing your team gives the visiting team an edge, it shows a lack of class and it shows the rest of [...]