Chiefs Turn On Sadistic Fans
October 8th, 2012
The Bucs’ next opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, appear to be a team on the brink.
The team has dealt with a drug suspension (stud defensive end Tamba Hali), injuries (wide receiver Dexter McCluster, a former Largo High School teammate of Bucs cornerback Leonard Johnson) and losing.
Ugly losing.
It’s so bad in Kansas City that fans have taken to the air, flying banners over Arrowhead Stadium demanding the ousting of general manager Scott Pioli.
If Chiefs offensive lineman and the Kansas City Star can be believed, yesterday in a struggle with the Baltimore Crows, fans turned on starting quarterback Matt Cassel, actually cheering when he was injured.
This has led Cassel’s teammates to express outrage at their paying customers, lashing out at Chiefs fans, details Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star.
“But when somebody gets hurt … there are long-lasting ramifications to the game we play … I’ve already come to the understanding I probably won’t live as long because I play this game. And that’s OK. That’s the choice I’ve made. That’s the choice all of us made. But when you cheer somebody getting knocked out, I don’t care who it is, and it just so happened to be Matt Cassel, it’s sickening. It’s 100 percent sickening. I’ve been in some rough times on some rough teams. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life to play football than at that moment right there.
“I get emotional about it, because these guys work their butts off. Matt Cassel hasn’t done anything to you people … hasn’t done anything to the media writers who kill him, hasn’t done anything wrong to the people that come out here and cheer him. If he’s not the best quarterback, he’s not the best quarterback, and that’s OK.
“But he’s a person. And he got knocked out in a game, and we got 70,000 people cheering … Boo him all you want. Boo me all you want. Throw me under the bus. Tell me I’m doing a bad job, say I’ve got to protect him more … but if you’re one of those people who were out there cheering, or even smiled, when he got knocked out, I just want everyone to know it’s sickening and disgusting.”
Now there’s two ways to look at this, at least in Joe’s eyes and perhaps, in Bucs’ fans eyes as well.
Either the Chiefs come into the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway a team in total disarray and ripe for a wood-shedding by the Bucs, or the Chiefs come in like a wounded tiger.
Joe’s guessing Bucs coach Greg Schiano is siding with the wounded tiger analogy.
October 8th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
As bad as some on this board say the TB fans are, I have never in 20 years heard anyone cheer an injury regardless of the players team – unless it was a cheer when the player got up under his own power.
October 8th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
yeah i was watching the chiefs game yesterday, I heard the cheers on tv, thought it sucked pretty bad
October 8th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
The Chiefs got a 1st down on that play, by most accounts the fans were cheering the 1st down. They got very quiet after the play ended and it was seen that Cassel was down.
The crowd also roared back up when Cassel got up and walked off on his own power. I’m sure a few people in the stands cheered for him going down, but I seriously doubt it was the majority
Video of the play: http://www.kctv5.com/story/19761458/is-this-the-cheering-chiefs-winston-blamed-fans-for
October 8th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Day:
When Michael Irvin got knocked out (basically ended his career) in Philly the crowd went bananas.
October 8th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Joe and bucs fans alike! I will be flying into Tampa for the chief’s game and saints game from Alberta canada any ideas for a group to experience decent tail gating? Trying to take in the whole experience thanks!
October 8th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
@Jrock, sorry i just don’t think you cheer a first down when your QB is on the ground not moving, the players didn’t think it was very cool either
October 8th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
@Timmer4444
Google “What the Buc”. Best tailgate in town – just bring something to share and a few bucs for those that put it on. You’ll be happy you did.
October 8th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Guess there won’t be much booing going on this Sunday since there won’t be many people in the stadium.
October 8th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
@iowa, point is majority were cheering for a positive play and not their QB being knocked out. Maybe majority didn’t notice Cassel hadn’t gotten up yet, maybe majority had their eye on the ball and ergo the actual play outside of their QB. And like I said, the cheers erupted when he got out.
October 8th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
@Kevin
will do ,thank you for the info and help!
October 8th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
I can feel for the fans though. Just remember to be careful what you wish for. During the Gradkowski era in 2006, I remember waiting for him to get pulled. We then got Tim Rattay. Just awesome football. Nope.
October 8th, 2012 at 7:02 pm
I was at a game where the crowd cheered Gary Huff being removed with an injury.
It was disgusting.
October 9th, 2012 at 12:41 am
As bad as it sounds I don’t think it is totally intentional. Their fans have endured a lot and the player was whining. He mentioned gladiators which is what many fans want. I prefer not to go politically correct and say the players should grow up, cash their big checks and get over it already.
October 9th, 2012 at 10:36 am
philly fans booed Santa and cheered when they thought Michael Irvin had broke his neck . Cassel will be fine
October 9th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Say what you want, but I absolutely 100% agree with everything Winston said. Even mentioned don’t pity me, it’s my choice….This falls on the line of sending a guy a death threats for fumbling, killing rival fans in the parking lot. It is “JUST A GAME!” The men playing are sons, fathers, role models, pawns to corporate greed….take your pick, it’s just wrong.
October 9th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
The NFL isn’t just a game. It is THEE game and it does come at a price to those who play it. They are very handsomely rewarded for it and their risk is less than a soldier or Marine who gets paid far less and doesn’t have the freedom to whine and complain like an athlete.
Blood and guts sells. Gladiators would sell more than MMA, boxing or anything else. No matter what the fans did, I think it unwise to bite the hand that feeds you. Grow up Already and stop whining.
October 9th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
I disagree, doesn’t matter what you are paid, it’s still a game. The only sport you should get cheer when the opposition could be dead is hunting. You wouldn’t hear tha
October 9th, 2012 at 4:36 pm
though, the hunter would show respect to the animal, and enjoy the moment. I think your vision for what is acceptable is moronic. To say he was whining because he stuck up for his team mate is moronic. Pretty much your entire statement there was moronic.
October 9th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
I am a Veteran, 10 years from 2001-2011, currently disabled. I saw people lying on the ground, and the last thing I wanted to do was cheer whether I liked the guy or not, enemy or not. To compare the game of football to being a soldier(Kellen Winslow) is also moronic.
October 9th, 2012 at 5:13 pm
I dont care what you think. That’s my opinion and I never mentioned cheering the dead in battle. Fans will cheer when a big opponent goes down. Not all do but it is human nature. When a boxer or fighter in MMA gets knocked out, fans cheer wildly. I don’t see this being much different. I don’t believe it is the player’s place to scold his own fans. I think his remarks were stupid and over the top. The fans were expressing their feelings and freedom of speech. The only problem I have with fans at games is when they curse loudly and won’t stop when asked, but it doesn’t offend me but many it does.
BTW, stop whining.
October 9th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
I’ve hunted my whole life and I always cheer when I get a kill, especially if its a long shot in windy conditions. I get excited jumping quale with dogs and getting 2 or more at a time. I can also tell you that I’ve eaten everything I have killed. But I follow the laws and takeover than allowed.
Get over yourself.
October 9th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Typo – don’t take more than allowed. Autocorrect
October 10th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Somehowmy rsponse didn’t make it through. Let me lighten it up. Boxing and MMA the goal in the sport is to knock your opponent out or get them to submit. Yes I cheer when I see a big hit in a football game. If the big hit results in an injury, I sit down and show the man respect. It is not only a sign of respect, but a sign of sportsmanship, and civility. I am a very humble person, I do not believe that I need to “get over myself.” Just because someone disagrees with you it does not mean they are whining.
Eric Winston was exercising the same freedom of speech that the fans did when they cheered Cassel’s injury. The difference is that Winston stuck up for a team mate, and the croud committed a classless act.