Henry Wilson's letter of
endorsement for the behavior
of the fans at home basketball
games almost frightens me. If
basketball games are to be used
as an outlet for the "high
price" of obeying some rules
and regulations, then pretty
soon we may have to get some
policemen to guard the
opponent's bench.
While sitting behind
Maryland's bench at our final
home game, I was handed a
two-sided card which had
humorous depictions of Lefty
Driesell and Jim O'Brien, who
happens to be a good
basketball player. I am still
wondering who the child was
who drew these pictures.
Admittedly Maryland's
bench-warmers are very bad
sportsmen. Of course they are
led by Rich Porac and Bill
Hahn, who, judging from size
and playing time are probably
second-string junior high
school players employed to
counter hometown fans. No
matter how much poor
sportsmanship the Maryland
players displayed, however, the
crowd easily outdid them,
protesting every call that went
against our team, unfairly
distracting Maryland free
throw shooters, etc. In short,
the crowd creates an
unnecessary tension that the
players and the referees (no
matter how poor they are)
don't need.
What I suggest is that we let
players such as Tom McMillan,
the mama's boy of the referees,
act in their own little peculiar
ways, and use the energy
wasted on goading the other
team to support our own.
Oh yes, about the
"gentleman" who whistles like
a pigeon at certain things that
displease him. Well, I guess
that's another story.
