Other team's fans

ORMom ..

So sorry you had to experience that. I am sure most of us ... at least those who have had college players ... have had to ceal with it as well. Young players may have difficulty tuning it out ... heck, I can't tune it out when my youngin' is on the mound.

I think the worst are the ones who make fun of a player's name ... I always want to turn and tell them that the kid didn't name himself !!! My husband, who has never ever approached an obnoxious fan, and has "shoosh'd" me on more than one occasion, has change his feelings on that and told me yesterday that if he is in the stands and someone is trashing a player for something they can't control (height and/or name), he is going to go up to them and have a chat. Most of the 'idiots' who do the smack talking have probably never stepped foot on an athletic field in their lives.

The only time I say something is if my kid is on the mound (tho the fans wouldn't know it) or one of his teammates is getting trashed, I will turn to them and just gently say "That's someone's son you are talking about." That does quiet some of them but not always.

Unfortunately, it is tough to sit through, especially if 'your team' can't answer with the bat or runs. Sorry you had to go through that.

Here is a good site to help if you feel the need to politely heckle the opposing team and/or umpires:

Heckle Depot for Baseball

ORMom, you must have been at Texas A&M. Son played there last year and the student section was crazy. They get very personal. Actually my son pitches and thought they were kind of comical (he was a freshman). My son also had trouble last year seeing signs at night but much better this year. Pitched at night often through high school and never had a problem. Hang in there. Sit away from the hecklers because you will never stop them. This year I have been trying to not get to excited on good outings or down in bad outings and seems to have helped. I also sit in front row and watch son pitch. Never done that before. I have learned so much in College.

Another memory ... UC Santas Barbara ... non-paying hecklers with beer standing on ladders behind the right field fence ... they would pour over the opposing team's media guide and heckle players with specifics about their favorite books, movies, etc. It was annoying at first but kind of comical when our players were actually chuckling at the heckles.

I was annoyed this week-end when we went to see my son's future team play nearby. The opposing team has a parent that gets very vocal, heckling the pitcher. Not very classy for an adult in my opinion. We've seen this same parent scream at the umpire's calls. The good news is son's future team won 2 out of 3. I can take heckling more from students but not from adults. Guess I'd better get used to it though.