Torres Tackles: Crazy fans

Fans are nuts.

I know it’s a bit overused but we sometimes need a reminder that fan is short for fanatic. By definition a fanatic is a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal.

I’ve encountered that craziness in games I’ve covered during my time at the Inquirer. There are some good times, like when Waelder takes on Moulton and the Wildcat fans are cheering on their players so loud the gym roars or when Shiner St. Paul hosts their rivals Hallettsville Sacred Heart and the same thing happens. But then there are bad times when a parent yells at a player calling them worthless, forgetting that the athlete is a child, a high school student. 

In high school sports, I’d concede that fans might have some effect on the players on the court or field. Cheering or jeering may cause anxiety or excitement, depending on the situation. But in the pros that effect is a little to zero.

So when fans chime in and complain, especially about other teams, it makes me laugh because ultimately it’s just noise and they want to be heard. Just like a story that came out just last weekend when the Seattle Seahawks traveled to Charlotte to take on the Carolina Panthers in an NFC Divisional Round matchup. The game ended with the Panthers winning, but one of the key moments that was talked about after the fact is something that happened off the field.

Panthers’ starting quarterback Cam Newton made his traditional trot around the stadium giving high fives to fans until one person in particular decided to wave a Seahawks’ “12th man” flag. Newton with a big smile on his face grabbed it, balled it up and tossed it.

Of course, that hurt someone’s feelings.

A Seahawks fan wrote an open letter to Newton and posted it on her local news’ Facebook page.

“I am a Seahawk fan, I bleed blue and green,” it reads. “Although I will be the first to tell you that today, we did not bring our A game, and were beat fair and square. There is one thing though, one thing that needs to be said. My news feed is filled with you Mr. Newton, and not in a good way. A video of you pulling a 12th flag down and throwing it to the ground like garbage. You see the one that people don’t realize is, Seahawks fans aren’t just fans.”

Let me stop right there for a quick pause. Yes, lady writing this open letter. You are literally just a fan.

By the way, the 12th man concept? That doesn’t originate in Seattle. Just ask a bunch of Aggies up at College Station. So a Seahawks fan is upset of the treatment of a 12th-man flag, the same flag that Seattle stole from Texas A&M? They have a licensing deal now but that wasn’t until after all the lawsuits from Aggieland.

Anyways, the letter continues.

“The 12th man is a community, a family, that regardless of winning stand behind our team and our community. So you see Cam, disrespecting the 12th man flag isn’t just disrespecting our team, it is disrespecting the fans that back our team. A community that feeds and clothes the homeless, a community that raises funds for families in hard times, a community that helps a 3-year-old girl battling cancer, a community that has more grace and respect than you could imagine.”

Quick side note, as awesome as this is, this phenomenon doesn’t happen in just Seattle. As a matter of fact I suggest you read up on the Panthers and their “Keep Pounding” slogan. The Keep Pounding Fund supports cancer research efforts and as I’m reading it says they’ve raised more than $1.4 million.

Let’s continue.

“You see cam (sic), while you are practicing for your next game, our QB will be at Seattle Children’s hospital raising the flag that you shamefully threw to the ground, and he will be placing them on the hospital walls of little 12’s.”

Your quarterback will be at the hospital because, well, his season is over. He really has nothing else to do. Meanwhile the Panthers are prepping for an NFC Championship game, hence why Newton will be busy practicing. I feel like had Seattle not given up a 31-0 lead in the first half then maybe your quarterback wouldn’t have that free time to visit the “little 12’s.” But I digress…

“So Cam, the next time you think of disrespecting our flag, I hope you remember that even though you may have won this game, it is the Seahawks and the 12th man, who are the real winners.”

Scoreboard reads 31-24 in favor of Carolina, ma’am. If that’s not real winning, I don’t know what is.

“Win or lose we come with class, respect, a love for the game, a willingness to help others, love for God, and love for those surrounding us. So Mr. Classless Cam Newton, good luck and may God teach you what real winning looks like.”

Real winning like that time the Seahawks threw a slant from the one instead of running it, thereby giving up an interception and losing the Super Bowl? Remember that? Or is it still too soon?