I’m a baseball nut. I go to at least 4 or 5 games a year, and I am always shocked at the behavior of my fellow fans. Some rules if you are going to a game (heck, if you are going anywhere):
Keep your shoes on. I know, this seems self-explanatory. But there is always at least one guy who thinks that a ball game is the perfect place to take off his shoes. Yes, sometimes it’s hot. But are your feet really that much cooler out of your flip flops? And to the man who took his sneakers off (socks still on) at a Nationals game earlier this year – stop. You are in public, not your living room.
If you’re going to yell, know what you are yelling about. Some people don’t like the constant yelling of fans (like the man last night who tried to quiet down the crowd after home runs…if you don’t like the noise, stay home), but I don’t mind. What I do mind is the complete ignorance that gets shouted at sporting events. Don’t yell at a player by calling him the wrong name. Don’t shout for a double play when there are two outs. Don’t start a “Let’s Go Angels!” chant when you are at a Red Sox-Orioles game. Don’t get mad at a called strike three when it was actually a ball and the runner is jogging to first. And certainly don’t argue with those around you about the name of the Red Sox closer when you are not even close. Keep it to cheers until you have a little more information.
Learn to count. I can’t remember the last time when I went to a baseball game without a seat incident. Someone is always in the wrong seats, argues that they should be there because they have tickets for those seats, pulls out their tickets, and finds that they are in the wrong seats/row/section/stadium (just kidding on the last one…I think). If you’re not good at figuring out which is row #12, get some help. Don’t just sit in row #11 and argue with everyone around you about how you paid for those seats and you’re going to sit in them.
If you need more than one seat, buy it.
Look at the kids around you. Not because I want you to watch your language because of the kiddos (though in some cases, that would be nice too). But because 95% of the kids at an average baseball game are better behaved than the adults around them. Watch them. They stay in their seats. They cheer for their team. Many of them cheer for the other team too. They don’t argue with other fans. They happily eat their popcorn, cotton candy, peanuts, ice cream, and pretzel (actual food consumed by the kids in front of me last night), smile, and enjoy the game. If only all my seatmates could be like that.
