Prince's "It's poor for the fans to boo us" comment (merged with "Prince blasts fans")

[TooLiveBrew]

But why, as a fan of the team, would you want to do anything that could hurt your home-field advantage?

Well, in my post I made specific mention that I don't personally do this. However, I don't think it's realistic to say that the fans' booing today was the final straw that made the players not execute. As far as the home-field advantage notion, we have the best home record in the NL. Our fans were raucous today at several points in the game, 'helping' the Brewers make good plays. As much as the boo-birds 'hurt' the team today, the rowdy cheering 'helped' at least an equal & opposite amount. I can't personally think of it any other way than "tough cookies" to a player who wants to complain about fans booing a putrid choke job like today. However, I think booing former players is really, really stupid, unless they were jerks (like Sheff).

The Brewers' attendance (per game) currently outclasses markets such as: San Diego, Atlanta, Seattle, Arizona (Phoenix), & Chicago (Sox). While I know the ChiSox are struggling, the other teams listed are playing well & in bigger cities. Perhaps booing your own players is stupid (with which I agree), but you can't question the support our fans have displayed in 2007.

 

[imaji]

"Some guy was reading the newspaper through the later part of the game, then starts screaming at Ned when Wise came in with a 5 run lead. "

 

 

See? Reading makes you smarter. I was screaming at the TV in Applebee's when Ned waved the white flag...errr, brought in a guy who probably needs to be in AA ball atm.

[Big Jay of the North]

Booing is as much a part of the game as cheering, fans have a very good reason to be frustrated right now. A player who allows the reaction of the crowd to bother him or affect his play is not properly focused on the task at hand. I love Prince but if he's letting the boos get to him then he's focusing on the wrong thing.

[giffted1]

Booing our own players just makes us that much more like Cubs or Yankees fans. I was at the game yesterday when Coco/Wise blew the lead. I may have said a few choice words to myself (and others around me), but found no reason to humiliate the players I came to see.

[M Skjellyfetti]

It's been going on since sports began, and it'll go on forever, nothing will change that.

 

IMO, that's a terrible attitude to take toward anything. I highly doubt that booing at stadiums is impossible to be stopped. (I also highly doubt that it's been going on since the dawn of sportsdom, but I won't debate semantics too much here).

 

Back to the whole booing debate though, I guess I just don't understand the point. I don't see how booing could possibly accomplish anything at all. I guess it makes the booer feel better, perhaps? That's the only reason I can think of, and quite frankly, it seems pretty weak to me. A) There are much better ways to feel better after something frustrating happens, and B) Our players are generally courteous enough of me to not boo when I screw something up at work, so why not return the favor?

 

I guess that's just my $.02, though. Take it for what it's worth.

[thablingster]

I am on the border with booing. I can see the merits of it in that it makes the booer feel better and that it is a way for the consumer to display their displeasure much in the way people who complain about service at a retail outlet yet keep shopping there do. At the same time, I think it should be saved for situations that merit it (e.g.: not booing when a guy throws two balls), and that by not booing it may help the booee not to put as much pressure on themselves, especially if they don't like boos.

 

I'm not going to lie, I've booed, I probably will boo again. Sometimes I boo instead of cussing infront of little kids. I didn't boo Wise or Coco today because I didn't feel the need to. Both guys just had a rough day.

[logan82]

Then why do all the good players ultimately end up in NY?

Money. They can drastically overpay to put up with a hostile crowd. We can't.

 

EDIT: You may think it is just booing, but it isn't. It is the whole negative atmosphere it creates. Much like cheering creates a positivve atmosphere.

[TheBrewer]

you know what this whole thing is stupid. go to any ball park, the opposing team is losing at Home, the fans boo them, its called sports. its nothing new to the game. I think some fans as noted above are newer to the Brewers and may not know as much as others. maybe one guy sparks a section, and that section sparks another section to start booing. I really don't think its that big of a deal. some of it may have been a little over done such as booing T-Bow in the past but its sports its a game, its fans. your going to have fans that get drunk and youll hear them say outloud "god you suck weeks" etc, consider the source. no offense but prince should just shut it, your always going to have that I dont think its a big deal. its the fans way of showing emotion, rather have them like noted above just sit there silent not say a word, man thats awesome, just like when Jenks strikes out, he throws the bat down in fustration, everyone, each character (fans, management, players, coaches, etc) has ways of coping and responding to emotion, not to be all sappy, but it shows they care whats going on on the field

 

not to mention, when the Crew is going strong, those fans are proabably the best in any ball park, and thats been noted too in the past by players on the team. I think Prince may be letting out a little fustration too, personally I dont think a Vet makes a comment like that, gotta remember these guys are super young 22-25ish most of them, they havnt experienced alot yet, most have 1-2 years playing in the major leagues

[Fatter than Joey]

I can see the merits of it in that it makes the booer feel better and that it is a way for the consumer to display their displeasure much in the way people who complain about service at a retail outlet yet keep shopping there do.

 

Booing does not send this sort of message. I would never boo the Brewers, but if people want to do it, fine, but don't think for a second it does anything but diminish the Brewers homefield advantage. Booing cannot be tangibly measured, and as far as a message goes, booing is not worth the air it travels on. Things like receipts, attendance, viewership shares, are things that the Brewers front office will actually use to measure consumer satisfaction, and if you really want to send a worthwhile message to the Brewer front office, I would recommend you do so in a way that they cannot tangibly ascertain it.

 

I have never understood Brewer fans booing guys like Wes Helms, players that had marginal talent, that the Brewers kicked to the curb -- what does that really acomplish?

[lukevan]

Well, in my post I made specific mention that I don't personally do this.

 

Yeah I didn't mean to insinuate that you do, I know your position and that you were just arguing the other side.

 

However, I don't think it's realistic to say that the fans' booing today was the final straw that made the players not execute.

 

Certainly not, but that really wasn't my point. I was speaking more in generalities, and the Brewers have had probably the best home crowd of anybody in the league. I'm not even speaking just about Brewer fans, just booing fans in general. But put yourself in Matt Wise's shoes. You're already struggling and now the fans are letting you know that you're struggling, putting even more pressure on you than you have put on yourself. I'm not saying he's weeping into a towel because fans are booing, just that it can't help if he's struggling.

 

I realize fans aren't going to stop booing anytime soon. I just wish we lived in a different world I guess. The fact that fans have always booed doesn't make it okay with me.

[giffted1]

Certainly not, but that really wasn't my point. I was speaking more in generalities, and the Brewers have had probably the best home crowd of anybody in the league. I'm not even speaking just about Brewer fans, just booing fans in general. But put yourself in Matt Wise's shoes. You're already struggling and now the fans are letting you know that you're struggling, putting even more pressure on you than you have put on yourself. I'm not saying he's weeping into a towel because fans are booing, just that it can't help if he's struggling.

Great Point. Matt Wise has been in a funk lately and booing certainly won't help him. Turnbow had some major problems last year. I'm pretty sure booing him didn't help. It seems that some fans have this crazy assumption that players turn into robots during the game. Thinking the booing won't or shouldn't get to players is being ignorant of human psychology.

[billyhallfan]

I only boo for lack of effort, I go to about 30 games a year, and I would go to 30 games a year if they won 100, or if they lost 100. It is sad that Milwaukee has to be represented in that way and I am personally ashamed by it. I don't even boo for a pitcher throwing the ball over to first, it is part of the game, anyone that boos because the Brewers give up a run, or make an error, than my perception is, they don't know the game. Another thing, I am getting sick and tired of people saying that i could hit him, or i could pitch better than him, or my grandma, whatever, it is all wrong, and I am really unimpressed with the knowledge of the fans, and ushers lately. I never thought that once the Brewers win, I would be so dissapointed in the stadium experience.

[theavrock]

I couldn't agree more. I thought that once the Crew started winning the stadium would be a whole better experience and it is as long as good things happen. If something goes wrong the boos come out like clockwork. I was actually aitting at the game with my friend and correctly predicted when booing would occur. When some yahoo threw the home run ball onto the field and the boos rained down I could have sworn I was at Wrigley. Classless.

[HebrewHammer]

If people want to boo because the team blew a 5 run lead in one inning and lost the game, I think they have a case.

 

I don't do it myself but I don't believe I have the right to tell others what to do at a game.

 

At least people boo and make some noise and care. Have you been to an NBA game where everyone just sits around and contributes nothing to an exciting atmosphere? If the team does bad they get boo'd. If they do good they get cheered.

 

I guarantee you if they make the playoffs and get knocked out at home, the team will get a standing ovation for the year they had.

[homer]

I personally think booing is dumb but I do recall Reggie White getting all over Packer fans back in his first year about booing a young team.....they went on to win something like 7 of 8 so it might be a reverse psychology thing. Although that is a big stretch.

[bigredrobbo]

Booing definitely has it's place in MLB. After a loss like this one, Brewers fan had every right to boo, if for no other reason, just to let the players know that this type of play is not acceptable.

That's right, because without the fans booing, competitive athletes would never know the difference between winning and losing...

[mark brouhard is number on]

i'm fine with people booing the other team or a certain opposing player, but i can never understand booing your own team. i'd be mad too if i was prince. many times the people that boo are the drunken losers who don't know much about the game to begin with.

there is really no reason to boo your team. i'll be the first to say that the games like yesterdays can be extremely frustrating and i know a more than one f-bomb was yelled by me over it, but you have to realize they weren't trying to lose the game. no matter how mad a fan was about losing that game last night, i can guarantee the players were 100 times more mad about it.

 

 

 

and for those whose response to all this is always. I pay good money for the tickets and pay for there salaries, i'll boo when i want. stop it, makes you sound like a little kid.

[HOF4canrake]

I go to about 30-40 games a year and live and die baseball (especially the crew). I rarely boo for any reason, but do cheer loudly.

There is nothing wrong, at all, with booing for appropriate reasons. If a pitcher gives up a HR to Pujols or A-Rod, there is no reason to boo, even if it wins the game, because those are great players stepping up. Chances are, the Brewers' pitcher did nothing wrong. When a major league pitcher comes out of the bullpen and throws 10 straight balls (regardless of his mental state), fans have every right to express their frustration.

Yes, a player knows that is not acceptable and doesn't need the fans to remind him, but players also know HRs are good...he doesn't need cheers to remind him. I agree the fans at Miller Park this season have been out of line on a number of occassions, and the reality behind that is most likely the amount of casual fans that are coming out because of the team's success.

No matter what, I always watch and root as hard as I can for the Brewers to win. However, true fans do not blindly cheer for everything regardless of outcome or circumstance. If the booing bothers Prince (and I love Prince Fielder), he needs to get a thicker skin. Or, better yet, use it as motivation.

[bluemoundlotallstar]

I think when you start booing a closer, you are doing nothing but making it harder for them to bounce back and finish it off the next day. Never understood why people booed Turnbow last year, even after he gave up the closer role, when inherited runners would score. Certainly do not understand why you would boo our league leading closing pitcher when he has came out and said his problem in Texas was that he was pitching to NOT get booed and it really played with his head. I hate the idea of booing pitchers and former Brewers when they come back to town.

[JJHardy7]

Man I never thought booing would create this much discussion. I think it's a fan's right to boo, but I also think there might be some bandwagon fans who may boo sooner rather than later. I don't remember too many instances where booing actually changes the way a player plays. It's part of the territory and like it's been said before fans are getting worried. Maybe players actually hear it more now that there's near sell outs more often...

[jason21nl]

mark brouhard is number one wrote

 

 

and for those whose response to all this is always. I pay good money for the tickets and pay for there salaries, i'll boo when i want. stop it, makes you sound like a little kid.

 

well, they did pay for the ticket, and they can boo all they want. You might not like it, but thats the way it is.

[giffted1]

Just because you have a right to do something doesn't mean its right to do it.

 

I have every right to boo my mailman when he delivers my electric bill, but I'd still look like a moron if I did that.

[HOF4canrake]

We're talking about the specific situation of a sporting event. Comparing it to booing your mailman has no relevance here.

[LS Brewer]

HOF4canrake: I think you missed the previous poster's point. Anyway, I was very disappointed on Saturday when there were boos for Dave Bush. It wasn't like he was trying to be ineffective and he was certainly doing the best with what he had. On the other hand, I had less of a problem with the booing of Hardy and Graffanino in the eighth when they dropped the ball. That was a pretty bad mental mistake that was easily avoidable. I did not boo and would never boo the team I root for unless someone did something flagrant (like flipping off your own fans.) Booing your own team lacks class in general.

[giffted1]

We're talking about the specific situation of a sporting event. Comparing it to booing your mailman has no relevance here.

My point was that the "it's our right to do it" argument is bogus. There are endless examples of things that you have a right to do, but shouldn't do.