Whose game is it, anyways?

Yesterday I heard a radio conversation about parents at their children's sports events. The discussion was started with a parent who had a broken nose that was the result of another parent hitting him outside after the game. Not sure how it all happened but it certainly sounds like it shouldn't have happened.

Be it hockey, basketball, tennis, soccer or whatever the sport, don't you find that sometimes parents go overboard in their reactions. It's just a game.

In the past, my kids have made comments about the way some parents get over-enthusiatic at a game. Loud enthusiastic cheering and applauding from the stands is great, but when it turns to verbal abuse that is unacceptable.

From the sidelines parents are seen yelling at the officials/referees/umpires, their team. the other team, other parents and coaches. The demonstration of sportsmanship has gone out the window as has civility. What are we teaching our kids by these sorts of behaviours?

Will it be that children in sports are left alone to play with no audience like it is happening in some cities of Europe where wide-spread rioting has occurred. The kids would probably like it. At least they would not be embarrassed by a loud obnoxious parent.