September Russel
Copy editor
Basketball season is here again. We should all be very excited; I know I am. However, I am ready to see some changes in the way this season plays out in terms of attendance.
To begin, I want to see ‘Cats fans show more support for women’s basketball. There wasn’t nearly enough support for the women’s team last year. It wouldn’t be until the final quarter of its games when people began to fill the Ted Wilson Gymnasium, and those were the men’s team’s fans who wanted to stake their claim on good seats. That is unacceptable.
I don’t want to see that the majority of the fans are over-lappers, early arrivals even. What is it about women’s games that cause such bias? Let me make it clear that I am in full support of Wildcat basketball, as a whole. I’m not suggesting you support one team more than the other, I am just pointing out the inequity of attendance from last season.
It is one thing to attend a game, but is an entirely different thing to participate in one. Support extends beyond just showing up, especially when your face is glued to your cell phone or you’re incessantly texting or prancing to and fro among the crowd. Sit down. Tell me, what is the point of coming out to the game if you refrain from actually showing your support. Let me guess; you came to look cute? Stop that.
The men and women’s teams had scrimmages last weekend, and it does not please me to report that I was the loudest in the crowd at both games. That’s sad. What is more depressing than a cheerless crowd? The crowd that casts looks of disgust toward those who actually cheer beyond an occasional handclap, such as I, as if it’s an absurd action to yell, and get riled up at a sports venue.
Who are you to glance over at me like I’m some weirdo? Do not look at me that way; I won’t be quiet. I may even get louder and more obnoxious if our eyes catch. I do not go to
basketball games to appease others. I support my team, and I like to watch basketball. If that is a problem for you, avert your gaze. Staring is rude anyway.
I have been watching my big sister play basketball for years and have had plenty of time to perfect my bleacher stomping. My voice is distinct, and it carries so everyone better brace
themselves.
Our sports program is composed of student athletes who are all dedicated and deserve our encouragement. I bet you’d yell at a football game. No, I am positive you would. Are we stuck on using our inside voices? It’s a gym, I think it would be OK if you were to roar out a simple “Go ‘Cats” or two.
Maintaining high energy levels in the crowd helps our teams. It’s much harder to play positively when the crowd is unenthusiastic and unengaged. Just ask the players. I did.
In a volleyball article I wrote some weeks past, I was interviewing Tara Hill, and she said the crowd’s energy has an effect on the team. One of my colleagues included, in an article for this issue, quotes from an athlete who mentioned crowd participation. So get it together. Don’t try to pretend as if you don’t want that win.
