Monday May 03, 2010

The Latest Polarizing Event

The Latest Polarizing Event
I got to the second baseball game late yesterday but I got there in time for the thing that has people talking about this morning.

In case you were not there and have not heard, there was a confrontation between a fan and Jack Leggett late in yesterday’s second game. Clemson had another freak play where they threw the ball into baseball runners and the sun got in the eyes of the third baseman which allowed another unearned run.

After the play a fan yelled something about this being a poorly coached team. Leggett reacted to the fan and a confrontation ensued. Other fans reacted to the fan who made the original comment and to be honest, it got fairly ugly. After the game some family members had it out with the fan and the fan was politely “escorted” to the exit.

Several of my friends and people I sit with every game had an interesting conversation after the game and those conversations have continued this morning on sports talk show radio and on the message boards this morning.

I think we will see this being a polarizing issue throughout the rest of the day or until the next story arises.

I seldom dodge issues but I understand both camps.

I understand the fan’s viewpoint. In fact, I hear people in the stands mention their concern over the program. This team has not played well and I totally understand any fan’s frustration with this recent results. It needs to be pointed out that the fan did not use profanity.

Clemson baseball fans are passionate and that can be good and bad. When things are well and 5.000 fans show up it can be a home field advantage but it is hard to turn that passion off when things go bad.

I have said many times that if you want to collect all of the accolades when things go well then you must accept criticism when things don’t go as planned.

Most will tell you that players and coaches should not react to negative comments by fans. It only brings attention to the fan and it shows that you actually hear the negatives and can be accused of having rabbit ears. So players, coaches and officials should not react to negative comments.

Fans all over the country criticized Roy Williams when he reacted to a fan in the North Carolina-Presbyterian game from this past season. If Roy Williams was wrong then Jack was as well.

In defense of Leggett though, I have seen him coach hundreds of games and at Western Carolina and Clemson and have never seen him react to any criticism.

Also in defense of Jack, he was defending his program and his team. One thing I love about Jack is his loyalty. He understands the value of loyalty and standing up for his people. I love leaders that fight for his people. Jack is a rarity today because he stands up for what he believes in and fights for those he loves.

The main reason I can understand each side is because I have been on both sides in the past.

I have been the fan that has been frustrated. In my past I have been frustrated with a player, coach or official. I don’t think I have ever yelled at one of my players but have expressed disagreement with a coach or an official. So I can’t fault the fan without being hypocritical.

Also I have been in Jack’s shoes. With my newsletter, magazine, website, radio show or blog I get criticism which most times have been fair. I know it is not right to react but on a few occasions I have knowingly done the wrong thing and responded. So it would be hypocritical of me to criticize Jack because I have reacted more often than he has.

Criticism is fair game, especially when it is done in the proper fashion. I think it is excusable for coaches, players or officials to react if a fan uses profanity or makes comments about an inappropriate comment. I think is OK for a writer or talk show host to defend themselves if there are misstated.

This morning the fan called in to Dan Scott’s radio show and apologized for his role in the incident. I applaud him for being a man and calling in and give him credit for being a passionate fan.

Jack was a guest on Dan’s show later and said he and his players and staff are passionate about their program and work hard for the program. He said they take a lot of pride in the program. He said the fan’s comments just hit him at the wrong time and he reacted and defended the program. Jack said it just hit a raw nerve.

Frustration leads most of us to say or do things we are not proud of. Husbands and wives have been guilty of this. So have sons and daughters. I have said regrettable things and don’t know anyone who can’t make that concession.

So, today the debate will continue. Some will take up for the fan and others will side with Jack. We won’t come to a consensus. Something else will arise tomorrow or later in the week and once again we will disagree. It may be the use of the color purple in the uniforms. It may be the size of the paw on the helmets or the starting times of home football games. But we all know something will happen today or later this week to polarize us again.

Until that time arises, we will just have to settle for cornering with Jack or the fan in the latest controversy. Oh yeah, Clemson won the game 7-6 breaking the twelve game losing streak in games decided by two runs or less. I guess that fact might have been lost in all of this more important stuff.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, John Bowers, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, Steve Cato, the Nicolopulos family, Cason Palmer, Scott Jackson, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle familty, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Richard Crawford, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, Steve Williams Jr, Steve Williams III.