October Ask The Commissioner

[MeanGreen61]

From the official Sun Belt site.

http://sunbeltsportstv.nmnathletics.com/Vi...CRIBER_CONTENT=

OUCH- Waters lays the wood to an Arkansas Stater

H.R.: I am truly sorry for the tragedies to human life and property caused by the recent hurricane damage. Since I was never able to have anyone in the conference office return a call regarding the process for selection of the conference tourney site, I may get a response from this forum. And since that time, I'll also take exception to your recent innuendos during your visit this past weekend to ASU.

How dare you come in here and imply that we have a "fan behavior" problem based on the sour grapes from an SEC school? Have you ever been to one of their games? They sure roll out the welcome wagon for the opposing teams, don't they? And while we're discussing fans of Sun Belt schools, name one college (other than possibly Western Kentucky) that wouldn't love to have the numbers in attendance that we do at ASU? Next time you choose to come visit our area, why don't you arrange a meeting w/some of our local supporters? I can assure you that you will be treated w/far more respect than you implied toward us last weekend. We just would like to have an open discussion w/you.

In the meantime, God bless all of you impacted by the recent events. Our thoughts, prayers, and support will continue.

Commissioner Waters: H.R., since you were not in any of the meetings that I attended last week, I would suggest that you not make leaps on what was said or not said. But since you raised the issue, let’s put it on the table.

You have a sportsmanship issue, like a lot of other schools. That is not based on the observations of an SEC school, it is based on personal observations and the observations of numerous people attending your games (both internally and externally). Is your problem better or worse than other schools? Probably somewhere in the middle. But two wrongs do not make a right. THERE IS NO PLACE ON A CAMPUS OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ANY BEHAVIOR THAT MAKES COMMENTS TO COMPETITORS OR OFFICIALS THAT ARE DEMEANING!

If you cannot sign in to this concept, I suggest you should spend more time at professional contest, where unfortunately this type conduct is encouraged. This is college athletics. It is amateur athletics, and a student-athlete should have the ability to compete in an environment that allows them to best display their ability.

It is unfortunate that some believe their behavior should or can impact the outcome of a contest, if it is done in good taste (I.E.; Duke, Michigan, etc) then have fun. Cheer for your team, cheer against the opposing team, but do not lose your civility toward other people. Just because people have on another color uniform does not make them an enemy. It makes them a competitor.

Play hard, play fairly and enjoy the competition. It is not a matter of life or death, so keep it is perspective. But comments that are mean-spirited directed at an individual are not appropriate and reflect poorly on all involved. It was interesting that during our discussion, one staff member came forward and volunteered that while being recruited to your institution, she was concerned about being branded professionally as being from that institution and did she really want to work in an environment where this type of behavior is allowed?

As for your attendance issue, I don’t want our basketball games to become a very polite golf match. But I recognize that fans also should be able to come to events and not hear the language that is coming out of the stands. Now with all that said, your school is not alone with this problem. But only your school can take the initiative to say ‘we are better than this, we are concerned about our image and we want our image to be in keeping with our institutional image which is one of class and integrity where all people are treated fairly and visitors are our guest.’

We all need a little soul-searching on this one, H.R. I hope you will join me in saying to the few people that are abusing visiting players with demeaning comments that this is not the way we want ASU or any other Sun Belt school to be viewed.

Edited October 6, 2005 by MeanGreen61