Sports can bring about the very best in people... it can build confidence, begin the healing process after tragedy, and teach valuable life lessons... however, as we are constantly being reminded, sometimes athletes and fans can take a sports rivalry a little too far.
Last night the 64-team NCAA Basketball tournament began and some fans of the University of Southern Mississippi took their support for their team to an ugly place. Late in the first half, Kansas State point guard Angel Rodriguez went to the line after being fouled. As he stepped to the line, the freshman was showered with a chant from the USM band... "Where's your green card?" Southern Mississippi president Martha Saunders quickly apologized for the incident stating, "We deeply regret the remarks made by a few students at today's game. The word of these individuals do not represent the sentiments of our pep band, athletic department or university." Sometimes, "I'm sorry" doesn't really cut it... especially when the person apologizing is not even the one involved... in any event, Rodriguez and his teammates had the last laugh as they eliminated Southern Mississippi from the tournament.
Jaide Napolitano
3/15/2012 09:58:02 pm
thats horrible, people who play sports and the fans are getting way to agressive latly
zach m per 6
3/18/2012 09:30:22 am
I think that this is just awful. Sometimes people just dont know what is to much for a sports game. Its awful how some people just take thing to far.
Ausin per.2
3/15/2012 11:15:04 pm
This i wrong to do on a college level. Fans should not make comments about someones race when they are playing in such a big tournament at a college level sport. Something needs to be done because the apology isn't enough.
T.M. Per. 1
3/16/2012 01:07:27 am
I don't doubt that almost everyone makes jokes like these at some point or another. Maybe I'm just surrounded by it more because of high school, but it's unprofessional to do this at an event like this, especially when it's used to make a person feel bad.
Dana Period 6
3/16/2012 03:34:56 am
Was this guy an immigrent, is that why he said that? Even if he was that does not give him an excuse to tease him like that. That is just disrespectful. I can not believe that someone would be so rude to some one.
Doug per.1
3/16/2012 04:20:14 am
For a members of a school pep band to chant this at an opponet is just horible. To bring race into a game is wrong. Thi students who started this chant should be punished for this because when you are a member of a clib or team you are representing the school you go and this just makes your school look bad
Jason F 1
3/16/2012 04:45:35 am
For me, i dont see this as a huge deal. In everysport there is trash talking and that is becoming part of the game. i was disrespectful and rude, but i do not see it as a huge deal. Im sure Angel has heard much worse in playing sports. I do not think angel took it very personally and would be shocked if he did. Fans are crazy at sporting events. you can not change that, but you can change your mindset. And angel had the perfect response by winning the game. So i dont think it bothers Angel that much when he is playing another game and those fans dont have another game to cheer for
Allie Per 3
3/16/2012 04:55:05 am
People overuse the word sorry and sometimes it really just isn't enough. And even if the kids had said it, it wouldn't have meant much because it wasn't sincere. People know what they're saying when they say it. Maybe people should think a little more about the words they are saying.
jasonf 1
3/16/2012 05:13:08 am
*it was disrespectful and rude
Gregory Goodinson P6
3/16/2012 05:59:57 am
This is rude! And that is coming from a pretty rude person. That is just wrong... But they may have just meant it to be a joke... but it went a little too far.
Victoria Period 4
3/16/2012 06:27:56 am
That is not right at all. You should NEVER make fun of someone of their race or any reason at all. I feel bad for that guy. And yeah, sorry doesn't always cut it. Southern Mississippi deserved it.
Katelyn R Per 2
3/16/2012 06:36:34 am
It is great to be cheering for your college team to win an important game, but it is very disrespectful and wrong to bring race into a game. These students were definitely caught up in the excitement of the game but the cheer towards this player on the opposite team was very bad. I hope the kids who started this terrible chant get punished.
Dominique period 4
3/16/2012 08:50:54 am
Racism in any form is horrible and wrong. People should think about what they say before they say it.. Sometimes saying sorry isn't as good as never having to say sorry in the first place.
Luke P6
3/16/2012 09:49:41 am
I can't believe someone would actually do this. I actually heard this last night when I was watching the game and it sound like it was only 2 or 3 of the people in the band. I'm glad the whole band didn't join in, but what those 2 or 3 kids did was still wrong. Hopefully, Rodriguez wasn't emotionally or mentally hurt for anymore than those few minutes, and those band members who said the comments get a reasonable punishment.
Shawn Period 3
3/16/2012 11:11:53 am
I don't watch basketball or any sport for that matter, but it's just amazing how ride people can be
Matt Period 6
3/16/2012 11:19:15 am
Yikes, is this what our country is coming to? We have soldiers that kill innocent people and fans that make fun of Mexicans in a racial way? Boy are we a great country. Like, I guess that maybe it was a joke, but if they were calling and Italian person a "Guido" and asking him to go back to Jersey Shore, don't you think that would be wicked rude? well that is basically what they did to this man, and that is just rude to the eighth power. Grow up America.
Vinny Period 1
3/16/2012 11:27:46 am
In all sports things get said by fans and they can not be controlled, but for an NCAA basketball team's band in a televised tournament to start a racist chant isn't okay. I think it is horrible and I am glad he had the last laugh by eliminating them. If it was up to me the member of the band would be held responsible for what they said because they had to know it was wrong. It is okay to have school spirit and root for your school, or against a school, but to drag racist comments into the mix is not tolerable.
Jin Period 4
3/16/2012 11:35:20 am
It's terrible that something like this exists. Does it really matter where someone is from or what ethnicity they are? This is sports, so, c'mon I do not see why this has to be brought in. The people who chanted it were immature! Sports are to have a good time, not to say mean things to others. I think that it turned out pretty good though--with, Rodriguez winning and showing them that he wouldn't be brought down their words. The kids should grow up...
Mike p.6
3/16/2012 12:21:13 pm
I think this is just a chant that shouldn't be said. I play sports, root for a lot of sports teams, but bringing someone's race into it or something that does not involve the game what-so-ever, is just disrespectful and rude. Let the game do the talking.
Katie Period 6
3/16/2012 12:45:45 pm
I agree with Michael i also watch a lot of sports teams and root for different teams. Everyone has their own way of showing their affection, some excessivly and others moderatley. Although whichever type of fan of you are it is never acceptable for racisim to occur. There is a famous saying, "If you do not have anything nice to say do not say anything at all," and in this case that is what should have happened. When i am watching 2 rival sports teams i always have my favorite and always have things to say about the other team but ill have to keep it in for the sake of thing, plus when you get me going.... i NEVER stop.
Shane per. 1
3/17/2012 02:51:32 am
cheering for your team is one thing but racism is just wrong. They need to think how they would feel/react if their opponent said something like this to one of their players.
Corey Period 2
3/17/2012 07:58:27 am
This is rediculous! I can't believe people can be so rude, especially what people did this time. Don't people such as these individuals think before they talk? How could you even think about saying something like that? I would be very disappointed in my school if someone I went to school with or someone in a school I ran did such a thing.
Tyler Period 6
3/17/2012 08:31:37 am
I'm pretty sure those guys who did it are just goof balls who don't realize that what they're saying is very disrespectful. They deserve what's coming to them.
brenna p.3
3/17/2012 11:45:47 am
thats aweful, sports are supposed to be competitive but when people act like that it really just takes out the all the fun and hurts other people
Katariina Period 3
3/18/2012 07:32:20 am
It's true that ''I'm sorry'' doesn't always cut it. It really is horrible that someone said that. I'm really glad that Rodriguez's team eliminated Southern Missisippi from the tournament! Even though the players in Southern Missisippi's team didn't do anything wrong, it was their fans who said something that no one should have said.
Matt per 4
3/18/2012 07:50:10 am
This isn't funny. But that was wrong of the students to chant that and very racist and apologizing definitely wasn't enough.
alexandra per 1
3/18/2012 10:34:26 am
i cant believe someone would do that. its one thing to cheer your team on but its another to take it to that kinda level, people really need to think before they speak and a sorry defiantly doesnt cut it in this type of situation
Gabbie Per.1
3/18/2012 10:27:01 pm
I think this is just horrible. It's just a basketball game. Racial comments like thay are horrible. Apologizing just isnt enough
Amibeth Period 1
3/20/2012 08:37:29 am
Being an athlete, I know I definitely get caught up in the game and talk crap to the other team. Even as a fan if the game gets really intense it's fun to bust the other team's chops (aka the Toll Gate game). But I don't think I'd say anything racist. I don't think it's a HUGE deal but it's not right either.
Branden per 1
3/20/2012 12:26:16 pm
I think it's wrong and that race should never be brought into sports. I think it goes to show what lengths people will go to just over a simple game. I think people should know what lines should and shouldn't be crossed in those situations.
Sara Period 1 & 2
3/21/2012 11:08:01 am
I think it's messed up how a few people could say something and the whole congregation gets blamed. I think the band should have apologized themselves, it probably would've felt more sincere because something racist like that must hurt. I'm glad they won though, they definitely got the last laugh.
Beth Brito period 1
3/23/2012 01:45:39 am
this makes me sick. i mean i'm both black and white and racism has always bothered me. i honestly don't understand why race matters, i mea it's just the color of a persons skin. on the inside we are all the same.
Taryn period 4
3/29/2012 09:59:07 pm
I dont understand why anyone would say that. I didnt think the remark that was made was funny but the fact that they were disqualified was funny to me. Because you cant just go out there and make comments like that and get away with it.
Zachary D per 1
3/31/2012 01:42:27 am
I think any one who is racist at all is a scumbag. Regardless of what a few people belonging to that race has done. Yes there is a huge number of illegal immigrants in the US, but that doesn't mean that every Hispanic person is an illegal immigrant.
Adam Per 3
4/1/2012 08:57:38 pm
This is awful that a group of students would actually say that, but i am happy they eliminated Mississippi from the tournement. Thats a suitable act of revenge.
Zachary Mellin per 1
4/4/2012 10:10:25 am
All it takes is a couple bad seeds to take down an entire group. To me, I have no doubt that a couple kids thought this was funny and convinced everyone else to join them in the jeer... the karma is just so delicious though.
Kyle Period 4
4/4/2012 11:08:10 am
This is not right at all, I don't why people have to be like that. Just because we are different colors doesn't mean we should be treated differently. I don't like racism one bit, I don't think it's right. We are all the same no matter what race we are. Race is just a word, and we are all man, we are together. “Where is your greencard” is just not good at all. That's once again not right. How would they like for someone to do that to them. I'm glad that Rodriguez didn’t that lightly, they deserved what came to them.
Emma period6
4/4/2012 11:28:52 am
I think this is awful. Imean, of course fans get rowdy and obnoxious, but that does not mean they should take it to that level. Yes, he might have wanted to cheer for his team, but he did not have to bring down the other. If the band had not said that, the other team may have still been in the competition. Comments are closed.
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