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clarnzz · 06-08-2004, 04:35 PM

Not sure if I was at a game if I would boo him or not, but watching him is very frustrating!

Only idiots boo Corey Patterson

BY MIKE NADEL
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

CHICAGO - Booing is stupid.

If you are a fan, it is your right. You pay big money for tickets, so you pretty much can do anything that isn't illegal or immoral. Athletic events are marketed as if they are mini-wars, and you are supposed to voice your hatred of The Enemy by booing.

But booing a player on the home team for not getting a hit - the exact hellfire Cubbieland is raining down upon Corey Patterson - is idiotic.

Counterproductive, too.

If a batter is failing in the clutch, he needs to relax at the plate. Getting booed by the very people who are supposed to be supporting him does not help a batter relax.

"You hear it, but you can't let it affect you," said Patterson, who heard it from the crowd four times Wednesday as he went hitless in the Cubs' 5-1 loss to Roger Clemens and the Houston Astros. "I'm here to play and have fun and help my teammates. If (fans) want to boo, that's fine."

No, it isn't.

Cubbie fans should be embarrassed by their recent attitude toward Patterson. He was treated so rudely Tuesday, when he struck out twice with the bases loaded, that one would have thought he had done something truly heinous.

You know, like cut off the fans' cellphone service.

"He's a little lost right now," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said of his young center fielder. "It doesn't help when people are on his butt and booing and stuff. You don't need to be kicked when you're down. Everybody needs some love and support, especially when they're down, especially at home."

And the Cubs claim to have "the best fans in the world"?

Not if the tens of thousands who regularly go to Wrigley Field are accurate representatives of the species.

Sure, they're passionate, but are they supportive? Are they part of the solution or part of the problem?

You know who deserves to get booed? A guy who doesn't run out grounders. A guy who doesn't try to improve. A guy who lets his body go to pot. A guy who treats fans with disdain or the game with disrespect. A guy who refuses to learn how to field his position. A guy who shows up late. A guy who is a jerk in the clubhouse. A guy who cheats. A guy who doesn't give a damn.

Patterson fits none of those descriptions.

He is a nice kid. He never dogs it. He is in great shape, able to play a Gold Glove caliber center field even though he is sandwiched between Moises Alou and Sammy Sosa. He is respectful toward fans, teammates and opponents. He is always on time. He wants to help the Cubs win.

This is the guy "the best fans in the world" are booing?

Baker understands the mob mentality often exhibited by fans - including his 5-year-old son, Darren.

"My wife took him to a Giants game and she said he started booing with the rest of them," Dusty said. "I'm going to keep telling him" not to boo.

Good idea. Because booing home-team players who are trying hard is moronic.

I know this is asking a lot of fans, but they should think before they boo.

Corey Patterson is 24. He has tremendous raw ability, which he displayed in 2003 when he carried the team before suffering a season-ending knee injury in July. Why attack - and, perhaps, wound the psyche of - a polite, hard-working, talented, young man who is expected to be a franchise cornerstone for the next decade?

It's not as if Patterson is the only struggling Cubbie, either. The injuries to important players and the poor play of some healthy players finally is catching up with the Cubs, who are 2-7 since May 25 and have fallen 4 1/2 games out of the National League Central lead.

And it's not as if Patterson was the only batter who couldn't handle Clemens, the 41-year-old wonder who allowed only five hits in seven innings to run his record to 8-0.

What next for "the best fans in the world"?

Will they boo Messiah Mark Prior if he gets shelled Friday in his 2004 debut?

The Cubs seem so fragile right now that they could collapse if Prior fails to live up to the tremendous - and tremendously unfair - burden being heaped upon him. If they do collapse, thereby crushing Cubbieland's World Series dream, will they be booed until the season comes to a merciful end Oct. 3?

For now, at least, most fans at Wrigley seem content to boo Patterson, who insists he can take the heat: "It will make me a better player down the road, maybe make me mentally tougher."

How about that? He's too damned classy even to lash out at his tormentors.

"Best fans in the world"? Frankly, Corey Patterson is too good for them.

06-08-2004, 04:35 PM	#9
clarnzz All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Following everyone off a cliff. Posts: 1,522	Not sure if I was at a game if I would boo him or not, but watching him is very frustrating! Only idiots boo Corey Patterson BY MIKE NADEL COPLEY NEWS SERVICE CHICAGO - Booing is stupid. If you are a fan, it is your right. You pay big money for tickets, so you pretty much can do anything that isn't illegal or immoral. Athletic events are marketed as if they are mini-wars, and you are supposed to voice your hatred of The Enemy by booing. But booing a player on the home team for not getting a hit - the exact hellfire Cubbieland is raining down upon Corey Patterson - is idiotic. Counterproductive, too. If a batter is failing in the clutch, he needs to relax at the plate. Getting booed by the very people who are supposed to be supporting him does not help a batter relax. "You hear it, but you can't let it affect you," said Patterson, who heard it from the crowd four times Wednesday as he went hitless in the Cubs' 5-1 loss to Roger Clemens and the Houston Astros. "I'm here to play and have fun and help my teammates. If (fans) want to boo, that's fine." No, it isn't. Cubbie fans should be embarrassed by their recent attitude toward Patterson. He was treated so rudely Tuesday, when he struck out twice with the bases loaded, that one would have thought he had done something truly heinous. You know, like cut off the fans' cellphone service. "He's a little lost right now," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said of his young center fielder. "It doesn't help when people are on his butt and booing and stuff. You don't need to be kicked when you're down. Everybody needs some love and support, especially when they're down, especially at home." And the Cubs claim to have "the best fans in the world"? Not if the tens of thousands who regularly go to Wrigley Field are accurate representatives of the species. Sure, they're passionate, but are they supportive? Are they part of the solution or part of the problem? You know who deserves to get booed? A guy who doesn't run out grounders. A guy who doesn't try to improve. A guy who lets his body go to pot. A guy who treats fans with disdain or the game with disrespect. A guy who refuses to learn how to field his position. A guy who shows up late. A guy who is a jerk in the clubhouse. A guy who cheats. A guy who doesn't give a damn. Patterson fits none of those descriptions. He is a nice kid. He never dogs it. He is in great shape, able to play a Gold Glove caliber center field even though he is sandwiched between Moises Alou and Sammy Sosa. He is respectful toward fans, teammates and opponents. He is always on time. He wants to help the Cubs win. This is the guy "the best fans in the world" are booing? Baker understands the mob mentality often exhibited by fans - including his 5-year-old son, Darren. "My wife took him to a Giants game and she said he started booing with the rest of them," Dusty said. "I'm going to keep telling him" not to boo. Good idea. Because booing home-team players who are trying hard is moronic. I know this is asking a lot of fans, but they should think before they boo. Corey Patterson is 24. He has tremendous raw ability, which he displayed in 2003 when he carried the team before suffering a season-ending knee injury in July. Why attack - and, perhaps, wound the psyche of - a polite, hard-working, talented, young man who is expected to be a franchise cornerstone for the next decade? It's not as if Patterson is the only struggling Cubbie, either. The injuries to important players and the poor play of some healthy players finally is catching up with the Cubs, who are 2-7 since May 25 and have fallen 4 1/2 games out of the National League Central lead. And it's not as if Patterson was the only batter who couldn't handle Clemens, the 41-year-old wonder who allowed only five hits in seven innings to run his record to 8-0. What next for "the best fans in the world"? Will they boo Messiah Mark Prior if he gets shelled Friday in his 2004 debut? The Cubs seem so fragile right now that they could collapse if Prior fails to live up to the tremendous - and tremendously unfair - burden being heaped upon him. If they do collapse, thereby crushing Cubbieland's World Series dream, will they be booed until the season comes to a merciful end Oct. 3? For now, at least, most fans at Wrigley seem content to boo Patterson, who insists he can take the heat: "It will make me a better player down the road, maybe make me mentally tougher." How about that? He's too damned classy even to lash out at his tormentors. "Best fans in the world"? Frankly, Corey Patterson is too good for them.