Dumb Mobs
You know, I don’t want to irk two of the handful of people who read this thing, but I just can’t cheer on the Fenway crowd for booing the Phillies’ Brett Myers last Saturday. And it’s not just because I have to disagree with Dan Shaughnessy on everything.
Booing a formerly-beloved center fielder, giving a standing ovation to a well-beloved part-time outfielder, these are things that are within the confines of the game. When the crowd acts like a jury of 35,000, making a decision with scant (though emotionally charged) evidence, on what will probably be a real criminal case, it feels wrong; it’s the kind of mass impulse that leads to the kind of awful things mobs can do. Even though the guy really does sound like a shit, even though what he is reported to have done is awful, and even though the only remorse he still seems to have shown is of the “I’m sorry you found out about it” variety.
I can’t get on the fans too hard. If I’d have been at Fenway, I probably would have joined in. But I can’t take the extra step and say it’s good or that I’m happy about it.
Really, if there’s anyone at fault here (besides Myers himself), it’s the Phillies management for starting him the next day. I mean, even if he had done something trivial, say got arrested for shoplifting some executive toys from Nieman Marcus, I don’t think it’s out of line for them to pull the guy out of the lineup the next day.
On a similar note, there was a good interview with Jaron Lanier in the Globe’s Ideas section last Sunday on the load of crap that is the whole “Wisdom of Crowds
June 28th, 2006 at 7:09 am
Hrm, well, what I mean to cheer is not really so much a mob acting as judge and jury all at the same time as more evidence that public opinion on this sort of incident is continuing its long slow shift from “boys will boys” to “that shit ain’t cool.”
If you wanna irk me, you’ll have to try harder.
June 28th, 2006 at 8:09 am
You know, that is a very good point.
And, I have to concede, Shaughnessy did sort of make it, albeit less succinctly than you did.
He also had a good quote from Gabe Kapler:
June 28th, 2006 at 8:33 am
Chiming in . . . I agree, the Phillies’ management absolutely should have made Myers sit out the game. With all the pearl-clutching over steroid use and how major league players need to set an example for the kids who look up to them, I thought that starting Myers sent a message that abusive behavior (even alleged) is acceptable. And call me immature, but even though I’m historically an anti-booer during sporting events, I’d have been booing my head off from the bleachers when he stepped out on the field.
All in all, though, I’d rather focus on the players like Ortiz who make me happy. And if I were wealthy, I’d be bidding play Scrabble with Papelbon and his wife!
June 28th, 2006 at 8:33 am
Er, “bidding TO play” — definitely need more than 2 oz. of coffee.
June 28th, 2006 at 1:26 pm
I’m just glad to get links to my site. I think Summervillain (who might have the best online handle ever) said what I was trying to say much more articulately and succinctly.