Music, food and sports are the three things that I think truly bring people together. All three transcend language barriers. All three allow people to put aside political beliefs. All three are so uniquely human in their own way. Everyone I know enjoys at least one of these three things, if not more or all. But fan culture has become way too divisive. Sports fans overreact every time their team plays poorly, calling for coaches’ heads and claiming that players didn’t give it their all. Social media hasn’t helped matters, enabling negativity and harassment of players and coaches.
Kansas State head football coach Chris Klieman broke down in his postgame press conference after K-State lost 51-47 against Utah — the 12th ranked team in the country at the time on Nov. 22. It came after many fans of the Wildcats have been extremely critical, more so than usual, about Klieman and others who lead the team.
“I’ve heard I ‘cashed it in,’ I’ve heard ‘players have cashed it in,’ ‘we need to get new leadership here,’ ‘we need to get new players, new coaches.’ I’m tired of it. I have to be honest with you. I’m tired of it. I’ve given my freaking ass life for this place for seven years. I’ve given everything for seven years. I think I deserve some, a little respect,” Klieman said to the press.
Klieman is right. And I feel bad for him. Though this season for K-State hasn’t lived up to fans’ high expectations, the team has still earned their spot in a Bowl Game. The team has only missed bowl season once under Klieman. Klieman also coached K-State to a conference championship just three years ago. Let’s be more respectful to that team and that coaching staff who, despite accusations, never gave up on this season.
A lot of the same BS is happening all over sports. Fans harassing players in-person and online just because of their performance. This is unacceptable and it affects not only the person targeted but also their families.
We need to be more kind. Players are people, not just entertainment. Real fans stick with their team no matter their record. Real fans highlight the positives of their team, not just chime in on the negatives.
I have always been deeply invested in my Wildcats, Green Bay Packers, Manhattan Indians and Kansas City Royals. And I know how hard it can be to watch the team you cheer for week in and week out struggle. That doesn’t change the simple fact and moral principle that all people deserve respect.
Coaches, players, officials and others work tirelessly so that we can watch sports. They deserve much more respect than people have given them.
