The "boo"ing of star players

[elocomotive]

I've been thinking about this some recently. Big superstars like Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Sean Avery seem to hear "boo"s every time they touch the puck in an opposing arena. Okay, maybe Sean Avery is only a "star."

So my questions are these - Is this a new phenomenon? Is it good or bad for hockey? Do you think this bothers the players or motivates them?

I ask because I know growing up that we would sometimes "boo" former players from our team or the big player on a rival. So, when Crosby visits Philly, yeah, he should expect some "boo"s. Or if a guy is returning to your arena and left in an unfavorable way, then a "boo" or two is likely to occur.

But why "boo" just because it's a certain player? If Alex Ovechkin is playing in Dallas (no rivarly, not fighting for playoff spots, rarely play each other), why would he get booed?

It seems to me this is relatively new. As for me, I don't "boo" players and try to be a positive fan (save the occassional expletive yelled in the direction of a guy like Steve Downie). I just don't remember people booing guys like Lemieux or Gretzky back in the day just because they were the games highest-profile and most prolific players.

Curious for perspectives on this. Thanks.

 

[mattola]

motivates them. its part of the game. if the fans dont like them they can boo. I think most are sheep however and once a few start it alot of people get into it without really knowing what they are truly booing. who? yes. what for ? I dont think so. I would boo guys like pronger for the sake hes such a dink on the ice to my team but not Alex or Sidney. I cant boo them... well maybe Alex on Russia

 

[SLY]

I like it, both as a fan and as a player. It is good for the game because it shows passion for the home team as well as makes it harder to play in that venue. And as a player, it would feed my ego, not so sure about others.

I HATE when a home team is booed by its fans... unless they TRULY deserve it. And I REALLY HATE when people yell for players to SHOOT on a PP when there is no open lane.

 

[Ho_Brah]

psychological warfare my friend...

remember playing baseball as a young kid, standing at the plate, hearing the opposing team saying "eh batter batter, swing batter".

people will do anything to throw someones game off.

 

[dash]

Bobby Orr was booed everytime he touched the puck at Maple Leaf Gardens. Hence, my loathing of the Maple Leafs began from an early age.

 

[KillerVee]

I never, EVER boo my own team. Even if they are playing like total shit.

BUT! I will boo Chris Pronger anytime he touches the puck at HP Pavilion cause everyone else is doing it and it's fun to participate in a group activity!

Booing Chris Pronger When He Has the Puck | Facebook

 

[mattola]

psychological warfare my friend...


people will do anything to throw someones game off.

yeah this Flames fan went too far me thinks.....

 

[mbhhofr]

So my questions are these - Is this a new phenomenon? Is it good or bad for hockey? Do you think this bothers the players or motivates them?

It's not new. Fans pay their money, let them boo whoever they want to. It probably motivates the player. It sure doesn't bother them, unless it's by their home fans.

Being an official, I was booed by everyone. It never influenced me one way or the other. Some of the comments made me laugh.

 

[dash]

Hey ref, are you pregnant because you've missed two periods?!?

 

[sportfan09]

boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[TiLoBrown]

I HATE when a home team is booed by its fans... unless they TRULY deserve it. And I REALLY HATE when people yell for players to SHOOT on a PP when there is no open lane.

Yea, this one I really cant stand

 

[mbhhofr]

Hey ref, are you pregnant because you've missed two periods?!?

There's a funny story to that remark. My partner and I were flying to Grand Forks for a two game series between Notre Dame and UND. The pilot couldn't land because of surface winds and we continued on to Minot. We called the commissioner of the league and told him of our problem. He had substitute officials stand by. We left Minot and the pilot said that we still could land in Grand Forks because of the wind and continued back to the Twin Cities. We caught the next flight out for Grand Forks and got in after the game had started. They had a police car waiting for us and with red light flashing, they got us to the rink at the end of the second period and we took over and refereed the third period. The next night when I was taking a face off, one of the North Dakota fans hung over the glass and hollered at me, "Hey ref, are you pregnant? You missed two periods." I started laughing and had to back away from taking the faceoff.

 

[dash]

There's a funny story to that remark. My partner and I were flying to Grand Forks for a two game series between Notre Dame and UND. The pilot couldn't land because of surface winds and we continued on to Minot. We called the commissioner of the league and told him of our problem. He had substitute officials stand by. We left Minot and the pilot said that we still could land in Grand Forks because of the wind and continued back to the Twin Cities. We caught the next flight out for Grand Forks and got in after the game had started. They had a police car waiting for us and with red light flashing, they got us to the rink at the end of the second period and we took over and refereed the third period. The next night when I was taking a face off, one of the North Dakota fans hung over the glass and hollered at me, "Hey ref, are you pregnant? You missed two periods." I started laughing and had to back away from taking the faceoff.

That's gold! (and definitely worthy of a rep).

 

[jstewismybastardson]

motivates them. its part of the game. if the fans dont like them they can boo. I think most are sheep however and once a few start it alot of people get into it without really knowing what they are truly booing. who? yes. what for ? I dont think so. I would boo guys like pronger for the sake hes such a dink on the ice to my team but not Alex or Sidney. I cant boo them... well maybe Alex on Russia

rep for the bold ... and this can happen anywhere

different but similar to last night when the Bruins fans started chanting "U S A ... U S A".

While I know there is a history of habs fans booing anthems in montreal, the fuckin habs have more americans on their roster than the Bruins do

its all stupid but they are the paying public

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Fans have a right to boo if they want. I've never booed my team but I've certainly yelled at them when they play like crap. Which is quite often.

The way I see it if fans can't give opposing players a hard time what's the point of going to any games. Besides I think it actually motivate the player depending on how mentally tough he is.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Hey ref, are you pregnant because you've missed two periods?!?

Get off your knees ref... You're blowin' the game.

 

[forty_three]

I was at a game at the Cap Center and the Oilers were in town. I had seats close to the tunnel to the locker room and as Messier was coming off at the end of the first some guy yelled "HEY MESSIER, YOU SUCK!"

Mess looked up, grinned and yelled back "THEN WHY AM I DOWN HERE AND YOU'RE UP THERE?"

Guy tried booing the rest of the game, but every time he boo'ed, everyone around him cheered to drown him out.

Boo'ing is so lame though. Now chanting WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP every time Larry Murphy touched the puck? That had panache.

 

[davnlaguna]

When Reggie Jackson (former baseball player for those too young to remenber) was asked about being booed everywhere he went he replied, "Fans don't boo nobodies"

As far as the "shoot the puck" my wife knows I hate people dong that, but she can't help herself.

I remember in the early 70s going to a Bruins/Kings game to an almost empty house. Kings were up with less than 2 minutes left. Bruins get a powerplay and start looking for the perfect shot. My Boston loving mom shouts "Shoot the god damn puck. All 1000 fans and both benches turn around and look at us. (ok maybe I just felt they did)

 

[dash]

For one game back in 1979, former San Francisco Giants shortshop Johnny LeMaster had 'Boo' printed on his jersey.

 

[dash]

I'm not a great lover - I once caught a peeping tom booing me.

- Rodney Dangerfield