I read somewhere many years ago about the perks of being a sports fan. Among them was being able to yell at multi-millionaires, scold them, taunt them, and lambaste them in front of everyone and getting away with it.
Try heckling a millionaire who will be walking around the shopping malls and you’ll probably end up getting beat up by his bodyguards or sued.
In the case of professional athletes, who earn millions playing their sport, getting heckled is part of the salary that they receive.
Unfortunately last Friday night in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), a fan got more than what he expected – he also got beat up by an irate player.
Wynne (pronounced wee-nee) Arboleda of Burger King probably could not anymore take the taunting and the comments from the fan that he vented his ire on the guy.
If it were not professional sport, things would have been much different, but the PBA is supposed to be the ultimate league in the country. Every sandlot player all over the Philippines (and now even those with Pinoy blood abroad) wants to make it to the PBA.
Arboleda is now paying a lot for snapping. He loses at least P2.73 million in salaries and will be sitting out the rest of the 2009-2010 season of the league. He can’t even be at the venue.
The punishment meted may seem harsh, but Arboleda is still a lucky guy, he could have gotten a lifetime ban for that.
As to the fans, you can’t really blame them for misbehaving by taunting the players of the opposing team as it is part of what they paid for to be there.
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In fairness to the athletes, there have also been many cases of misbehaving fans.
The worst probably was when a distraught German fan stabbed Monica Seles inside the tennis court.
There are streakers, who enjoy showing off (most of the time they show off something not worth watching) during games.
There are fans that riot after their teams win or lose.
There are the notorious football hooligans, which would keep the security forces of South Africa very busy when the country holds the World Cup next year.
Locally, I’ve seen several fans (including parents of young athletes) lose their cool and misbehave.
Engaging in sports supposedly teaches a lot of good, but then when emotions run high, there is always that possibility of somebody losing his cool.
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MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to last Monday’s celebrants – Eric R. Ybarita, Leizel Rances, and Dr. Reginita ‘Regie’ Uy.
Belated greetings also go to Adeline Sumalpong, Ernest Tan Ting and my Tao sis Rethel Horwitz-Bowen, who all turned a year older yesterday.
Today’s greetings go to Ardelle Merton-Gollon, Atty. Joselito ‘Boyet’ Pedaria, Lysle Eligino-Kintanar, Mislaini Umabong, and Paul Pioquinto.
More power to all of you! (FREEMAN NEWS)