This has GOT to be a joke; if not, this is soooooooo
Seattle!! Safeco is next!!! And just when I thought
the M's fans were finally getting a backboone at the
games this year. This town is beyond the pale. Rose

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/305898_booban03.html

Saturday, March 3, 2007

High school sports fans may be banned from booing

By CASEY MCNERTHNEY
P-I REPORTER

The organization that oversees high school sports in
Washington is considering rules for fans that could
ban booing and offensive chants.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association
has not made an official ruling, but has discussed
guidelines to crack down on negative conduct, a
spokesman said.

The sportsmanship guidelines are meant to address the
dwindling number of people who want to be coaches and
officials. WIAA officials also say the guidelines
remind fans to cheer for their team, and not against
the other.

Some of the state's top coaches believes the plan is
too extreme.

"They're kidding, right?" asked Rainier Beach High
School coach Mike Bethea, who played as a student at
Franklin High School. "I can see stopping someone if
they're saying derogatory remarks, but not letting
people boo? Come on."

Bethea, who has led the Vikings to three Class 3A
state championships, said it wouldn't be fair to
penalize a team with a technical foul if fans do not
know the guidelines.

"I think what's happening here is they're taking it a
little out of context," he said. "Booing is part of
the game. That's what gets people hyped up and changes
the momentum of a game. If they won't let people boo
at a basketball game, what's next?"

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