Don’t blame fans

Roberto (Superman) Gomez was widely quoted in media as blaming the Filipino fans for losing to Darryl Peach by putting so much pressure on him in the finals of the recent $400,000 World Pool Championships at the Araneta Coliseum.

Gomez, a 28-year-old unseeded qualifier making a name for himself in the game, said he felt uncomfortable from the start even as he bolted to a 15-13 lead in the race-to-17 match. Down the stretch, it was obvious Gomez lost his nerve when he bungled an easy shot for the nine-ball on the 30th rack. If he hadn’t missed, Gomez would have knotted the count at 15-all and likely gone on to claim the $100,000 first prize under the winner’s break format. Instead, Peach stole the rack and cleaned up for a fiery finish, leaving Gomez stuck in his chair.

Gomez’ collapse stunned the hometown crowd that expected another Filipino to capture the title after Efren (Bata) Reyes in 1999, Alex Pagulayan in 2004 and Ronnie Alcano last year. He debunked the theory of the hometown advantage, ironically insisting the fans contributed to his fall.

I think it’s unfair for the mass communication and criminology graduate of Western Mindanao College to point an accusing finger at the Filipino fans who came out in droves certainly not to support Peach. He should be thankful that the crowd turned up to cheer for him. 

For Gomez to blame the fans for his failure is a monumental cop-out. If that’s how he takes a loss, Gomez is better off being known as a villain rather than a hero.

What about the other 14 Filipinos who played in the main draw? What about Antonio Lining, the only Filipino casualty in the opening round? Did he lose because of the fans, too? 

What about the Bustamantes, Django and Joven? Was it the hometown crowd that made them lose in the semifinals? Reyes and Alcano were booted out in the round of 64 as were Leonardo Andam, Antonio Gabica, Dennis Orcollo, Ramil Gallego, Lee Van Corteza and Marlon Manalo. Should they also blame the fans?

If the fans could make such a difference, perhaps the Philippines shouldn’t bid to host the World Championships again as the fans appear to give an unfair advantage to the foreigners.

Some quarters took Gomez’ cue to castigate local fans for their unsportsmanlike behavior in booing Peach’s mistakes during the finals. They even apologized to the foreign visitors for the “uncivilized” behavior and were shamed by the uncouth spectators in the gallery.

But shouldn’t the local organizers have anticipated an “uncontrollable” situation when they decided to stage the event at the Araneta Coliseum where rowdy fans congregate for basketball, boxing and cockfighting? If they wanted a quiet atmosphere, the site should’ve been a hotel ballroom or the Cultural Center where seats are limited and unruly fans could be easily yanked out.

If the organizers were more on the ball, they should’ve gone out of their way to remind the fans of the rules on etiquette as spectators – even before the first match. It’s not as if the organizers were first-timers. Surely, they knew how fans behave in a situation where a Filipino is playing a foreigner in the finals.

Besides, there’s a referee whose job is to keep the fans’ emotions in check. If the referee isn’t able to do it, why should it be the fans’ fault particularly as the organizers made it convenient for hecklers to jeer and hiss by inviting them to the Big Dome?

The fans are the lifeblood of sports. Without them, sports wouldn’t and couldn’t survive. 

How cowardly for Gomez to blame the fans for his loss to Peach. An aficionado said he only has himself to blame. “I think he needs a heart transplant,” said the fan, referring to Gomez’ lack of fighting spirit in the clutch. 

Apologizing to foreign visitors for the fans’ behavior smacks of an “attitude” problem. Maybe the apologists think they’re in a higher level of education or class than the hoi polloi. This kind of arrogance has no place in a society where there should be mutual respect for one another.  

Rather than hemming and hawing, Gomez should just lick his wounds quietly. He should learn from his mistakes to become a better player. Rather than blast the fans, he should thank them for their support. As everyone involved in the just concluded World Pool Championships should.