About two weeks ago, you may have come across this video of an angry Washington Capitals fan after his team's loss to Montreal in Game 1 of their first round series:
As we know, it got a lot worse for the Capitals from there (I'm still not ready to talk about it), but what about the fan in that video? Well, according to a reader of the popular Hot Clicks section on SI.com, his tickets were revoked. From a reader e-mail:
"Jimmy, love Hot Clicks, man! In the April 16, in the A.M. edition you had a YouTube video titled "Angry Caps Fan." The guy in the video is a diehard fan who had been a season ticket holder for years and led the goalie taunting cheers. I put it that way because I found out last night prior to Game 7 that he had his tickets revoked and account cancelled because of his actions."
And I know this is a particularly hellish day for the Washington Capitals organization, but (if true) that's completely ridiculous. Since when is it against the rules to tell a cameraman to point his camera elsewhere? The reader e-mail continued to explain that before his tirade, the fan had asked nicely—several times—to be taken off camera. So, again, what did he do wrong here? His team was losing, and he didn't want to be the token shot for "depressed Caps fans."
Besides, this is SPORTS. If you were to punish everyone that goes on a profane rant, the crowd would be cut in half. And you'd be losing arguably your best fans, the ones that care a little too much, so much that they ignore the standard decorum of society. And again, that's okay, because it's sports.
Cursing is unfortunate, but it's certainly not grounds for having your tickets revoked.
Perhaps the Capitals didn't appreciate the image set forth by the display, but again, it's completely ridiculous to think that they can just revoke his season tickets as a result. This is how they treat their diehard fans?
Hopefully not. Hopefully this was an oversight, and it'll be corrected once word of the spreads, and Caps management hears of the mistake. In the meantime, you can join this Facebook group, and help spread the word.
UPDATE: Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post confirms the story's true, but suggests it's "slightly more complicated," and is awaiting for comment from the Capitals. We shall see...
Then Bruce Boudreau should have been fired right after the disallowed goal because, up here in Canada, the first thing TSN showed was Boudreau yelling emphatically “WTF” at the ref. Washington sports and their fan hating double standards (Dan Snyder, anyone).
The Capitals should be embarrassed as a franchise that this is the decision that they have come to. If anyone should be reprimanded or get in trouble the producer of the game should. He is the one who chose to put that shot out on television. The producer knows or should know what is acceptable to show and what is not and if this was inappropriate for tv then they should have had a different camera shot. As a paying fan and one with season tickets they deserve a good quality product in return. If a person goes to a restaurant to get dinner and they don’t like the way there meal was cooked. They send it back and do not have to pay for it, usually. And that is only a $20 meal. This fan was sitting in seats that probably cost $250 and were probably worth a lot more. Spending that kind of money for one ticket to a sporting event is absurd. So if teams want to charge those prices they better be able to deliver on there product. The Capitals have the best player in the NHL and were knocked out in the first round!!! Imagine if the Cleveland Cavaliers and Lebron James were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. There would definitely be some upset fans!
First of all, there’s a difference between a fan acting out of line and a coach acting out of line. Secondly, while the producer should have cut away to somebody else, that doesn’t absolve the fan for his foul-mouthed tirade.
I don’t personally know the individual in question here but I did here him and his fellow “Corner Bar” friends once talk about another fan complaining about his antics and laughing it off. I certainly would not tolerate somebody dropping as many “F” bombs as he clearly did no matter what the situation was.
Finally, he paid on $77 for a ticket with a face value of $126. (This information was easily obtainable on the Washington Capitals webstie: http://capitals.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=60734) But even it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals and he paid $122, it would not excuse that kind of conduct. Nothing does and I give kudos the Caps for doing something about it. I just wish all pro sports teams were willing to do this.
Ted Leonsis Used to Recommend: http://capsnut.blogspot.com/
But if you pay the team, you aren’t allowed to swear.
There are numerous videos from this series alone of the
head coach of the team yelling F-you, F-off, WTF and various
other things while on camera.
This would be a perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black.
First off, your right I should have obtained the exact price of the ticket before I made that comment. I was simply guessing as to what I would think the ticket costs. What I can say with a good amount of confidence is that people were paying in excess of $200 for tickets (maybe not this one fan in particular) but certainly other fans on the street. None the less he still spent a decent amount to get in to the game and for drinks and that nice jersey he is wearing, all money going to the team.
Now I am going out on a limb to assume this but I do not think he came to the game to be caught on tv yelling some obscene things. Its not as if this fan had a premeditated thought to be caught on camera and have his season tickets revoked. If teams are going to revoke season ticket holders tickets every time they get upset and say a bad word then they wont have very many season ticket holders left. Not to mention that season ticket holders are the driving force behind any professional franchise. They can almost be looked at as “investors” of the team or “product” that is put out for there entertainment. And if an investor does not like how the product is turning out you can be sure that their voice will be heard because its there money that is being spent and not being put to good use if the product is failing or not living up to the expectations it was given. A team with the best player is suppose to be more reliable and have a better product then a first round elimination.
Also most sports franchises deal with negative feedback and bad press at sometime or another and they can deal with it. So why cant they deal with someone who is giving them their money criticizing them?
This is Hockey not a fucking square dance, you do not like the language a fan uses do not listen, stay home. Next time a player swears and its caught on camera, I will give them your name and let you pontificate on proper manners.
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7 comments
Comments
According to the guy I know with the Caps
that cheer he started is AWFUL. So…you know…
Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician - The Syracuse blog that cares.
by Sean Keeley on Apr 29, 2010 12:53 PM EDT reply actions
If cursing while a camera is pointed at you gets you banned
Then Bruce Boudreau should have been fired right after the disallowed goal because, up here in Canada, the first thing TSN showed was Boudreau yelling emphatically “WTF” at the ref. Washington sports and their fan hating double standards (Dan Snyder, anyone).
by riversformvp on Apr 29, 2010 2:34 PM EDT reply actions
TV Station
The Capitals should be embarrassed as a franchise that this is the decision that they have come to. If anyone should be reprimanded or get in trouble the producer of the game should. He is the one who chose to put that shot out on television. The producer knows or should know what is acceptable to show and what is not and if this was inappropriate for tv then they should have had a different camera shot. As a paying fan and one with season tickets they deserve a good quality product in return. If a person goes to a restaurant to get dinner and they don’t like the way there meal was cooked. They send it back and do not have to pay for it, usually. And that is only a $20 meal. This fan was sitting in seats that probably cost $250 and were probably worth a lot more. Spending that kind of money for one ticket to a sporting event is absurd. So if teams want to charge those prices they better be able to deliver on there product. The Capitals have the best player in the NHL and were knocked out in the first round!!! Imagine if the Cleveland Cavaliers and Lebron James were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. There would definitely be some upset fans!
Eric Sachs
Bulls Radio 88.5 HD2 Tampa
by Eric Sachs on Apr 29, 2010 3:40 PM EDT reply actions
First of all, there’s a difference between a fan acting out of line and a coach acting out of line. Secondly, while the producer should have cut away to somebody else, that doesn’t absolve the fan for his foul-mouthed tirade.
I don’t personally know the individual in question here but I did here him and his fellow “Corner Bar” friends once talk about another fan complaining about his antics and laughing it off. I certainly would not tolerate somebody dropping as many “F” bombs as he clearly did no matter what the situation was.
Finally, he paid on $77 for a ticket with a face value of $126. (This information was easily obtainable on the Washington Capitals webstie: http://capitals.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=60734) But even it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals and he paid $122, it would not excuse that kind of conduct. Nothing does and I give kudos the Caps for doing something about it. I just wish all pro sports teams were willing to do this.
Ted Leonsis Used to Recommend: http://capsnut.blogspot.com/
Everybody Wang Chung......
Please load brain before shooting off mouth.™
by Caps Nut on Apr 29, 2010 4:05 PM EDT reply actions
So basically if the team pays you, its OK
But if you pay the team, you aren’t allowed to swear.
There are numerous videos from this series alone of the
head coach of the team yelling F-you, F-off, WTF and various
other things while on camera.
This would be a perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black.
by riversformvp on Apr 29, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
No excuse
First off, your right I should have obtained the exact price of the ticket before I made that comment. I was simply guessing as to what I would think the ticket costs. What I can say with a good amount of confidence is that people were paying in excess of $200 for tickets (maybe not this one fan in particular) but certainly other fans on the street. None the less he still spent a decent amount to get in to the game and for drinks and that nice jersey he is wearing, all money going to the team.
Now I am going out on a limb to assume this but I do not think he came to the game to be caught on tv yelling some obscene things. Its not as if this fan had a premeditated thought to be caught on camera and have his season tickets revoked. If teams are going to revoke season ticket holders tickets every time they get upset and say a bad word then they wont have very many season ticket holders left. Not to mention that season ticket holders are the driving force behind any professional franchise. They can almost be looked at as “investors” of the team or “product” that is put out for there entertainment. And if an investor does not like how the product is turning out you can be sure that their voice will be heard because its there money that is being spent and not being put to good use if the product is failing or not living up to the expectations it was given. A team with the best player is suppose to be more reliable and have a better product then a first round elimination.
Also most sports franchises deal with negative feedback and bad press at sometime or another and they can deal with it. So why cant they deal with someone who is giving them their money criticizing them?
Eric Sachs
Bulls Radio 88.5 HD2 Tampa
by Eric Sachs on Apr 29, 2010 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions
This is Hockey not a fucking square dance, you do not like the language a fan uses do not listen, stay home. Next time a player swears and its caught on camera, I will give them your name and let you pontificate on proper manners.
by max creek on Apr 30, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
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