When my wife and I were first married we had season tickets at the Coliseum. We were in our 20s and the crowds seemed to be in their 40s and very respectful. Yes there were fans from the opposing teams and yes they were clearly excited and demonstrative when their team did something good. But there never seemed to be an "in your face" about their excitement. In the last two preseason games I've seen Dallas and KC fans turn around and point at Ram fans and exclaim your team sucks and will always suck and it's an in your face aggressive confrontation. And yes I've seen the Ram fans do the same. Additionally these "fans" seem to be in their 20s and 30s and are a much younger crowd than when Barb and I were going to the Coliseum. Even going to the bathroom now you bump into someone and you get the "hey man don't ..and the "stare".
So what has happened in these 50 years? Is it so "cool" to be aggressive? Is it television? The movies? Do young people drink more alcohol than when I was their age? The other night I was sitting in a very expensive part of the Coliseum-thanks to a great Herd member here- and every time the Chiefs did something good he would turn around and get in the face of this family of Ram fans right behind him. So I stood up and this guy came after me. He was in his early 30s and I'm in my 70s. Whats going on?? Is football REALLY that important to some? On the metro there were young Ram fans shoving KC fans inside the train. I met a really nice family from yucaipa on the train and he said he would not bring his family back again.
Last year at Dodger stadium I was given tickets in the right field bleachers for a game against the Giants and I saw at a minimum three fights right in front of me. Is there more alcohol being served than back in the 50s and 60s?
I saw just about every game at the Coliseum in the 50s and 60s and even up to the move to Anaheim and I NEVER saw that many people in their 20s and 30s and that type of aggression between the fans. Is it just something "cool" to be? Or are younger people just angrier than when I was their age? And is that because of their music, tv, social media, what? How did they learn the more aggressive they are the "cooler" they are?
At the game Saturday night there was a KC fan-man and woman--in their 50s who were kind enough to allow my wife to sit in one of their seat because she had purchased a cheap seat and I was sitting on the 50yd line. No problem-they were extremely respectful. On my left were KC fans in their 20s and could not wait to be in my face whenever the Chiefs did something to root for. Like "how long you been a Ram fan-your an idiot ha ha" ! I guess that' cool. Get in the face of a 70 something guy. Again, when I was in my 20s I NEVER saw that at the Coliseum or even at Anaheim. Something has gone on.
Of course there were the Raider games but I don't want to get into that because that was a certain phenomenon that bordered on territorial racism. And that came long after the 50s and 60s.
Any psychologists here that can offer an expert opinion.? I'm no shrink-but I do have an opinion: I think young males (20s-30s-) genuinely believe that the more aggressive they are the more sex they will have. Anyway, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 08/22/2016 10:14PM by waterfield.
