The Ravens narrowly escaped Arrowhead Stadium with a 9-6 victory on Sunday albeit an ugly one at that. “A win is a win” motto certainly applied on a chilly Sunday in Kansas City.
The head injury to Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel late in the game was an eye-opening moment for me and for many fans who were watching. At what point does a fan cross the line? As Matt Cassel lay on the turf cheers and chants throughout the stadium could be heard. That’s right people applauding injury!
And no not opposing teams fans THEIR OWN!
Chiefs’ offensive tackle Eric Winston blasted fans after the game.
“We are athletes, okay? We are athletes. We are not gladiators. This is not the Roman Coliseum, People pay their hard-earned money when they come in here and I believe they can boo, they can cheer and they can do whatever they want, I believe that. We are lucky to play this game. People, it’s hard economic times, and they still pay the money to do this.
“But when somebody gets hurt, there are long lasting ramifications to the game we play. I’ve already kinda come to the understanding that I won’t live as long because I play this game and that’s okay, that’s a choice I’ve made and a choice all of us have made. But when you cheer, 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 more embarrassed in my life to play football than in that moment right there.”
The incident reminded me of the 2005 Ravens home opener against the Colts when then quarterback Kyle Boller was injured and the fans cheered loud!
I can completely understand the frustration fans have when their teams do not do well. Up until this season any Orioles fan over the last 15 years can attest to that. But to cheer at the misfortune of someone makes me shake my head. We are all guilty of wishing ill on opposing teams and even cheering their injuries. I for one could not have been happier when Haloti Ngata busted Big Bens nose, but at least it was against the Steelers geesh.
We are all fanatics, we have the desire for our teams to do the best and accept nothing less. For some of us football is a job, for others it is a passion and for others it is a way to escape the ins and out of everyday life.
As a Ravens fan I am happy to say we are fortunate that our organization would not let it get to the point it has become in Kansas City.
We will remain fanatics for our team no matter who they are and I truly get that.
But at what cost?
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