What is the role of the sports fan?

Are they supposed to be quiet and dignified, like the Patrons at Augusta for the Masters? Or are they supposed to be dark, evil and scary like the Black Hole when the Raiders play? Are they supposed to scream, yell and intimidating like the Cameron Crazies at Duke, or are they supposed to be seldom and respectful like fans at Wimbldon? When Barry Bonds hits 756, are fans supposed to cheer for the record, or cheer the ball has been thrown back? All in all, the question is what is correct and what is incorrect fan behavior? Fans need to know how to properly celebrate and as much as it hurts, properly accept defeat. One of the best rivalries in sports takes place around Thanksgiving every year, when The Ohio State University takes on Michigan. Over 90,000 people fill the Horseshoe, and almost 103,000 fill the Big House. With many fans at a venue each one has a responsibility to behave correctly. After a Buckeye win in 2001, the Ohio State students took to the streets in a full scale riot. They were smashing and flipping cars, looting, throwing various objects at one another, and they won. Archie Griffin, The Ohio State University's associate director of athletics and the only player to win the Heisman twice, was very disappointed with the students from his alma mater. "Some fans just don't know how to celebrate," Griffin said. "Every year there is always some sort of rioting that goes on with the Michigan game." Is negative fan behavior so intertwined with sports that we just accept it and move on? Or does something need to be done by a sports governing body to try an curb this negative behavior? Fans have the right to their opinions and they have the right to enjoy themselves at a game, but they need to know when they have crossed the line? There will always be rivalries, they make for some of the best stories in sports, but have some rivalries gone too far? What message are we sending to children about how you should behave at sporting events?

ATHLETES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OATH

I BELIEVE THE PRACTICE OF SPORT IS A HUMAN RIGHT
I WILL PROMOTE AND DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS ON AND OFF THE FIELD
I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY FORM OF DISCRIMINATION OR SEGREGATION
I WILL SERVE MY COMMUNITY
I WILL BE A ROLE MODEL
I WILL STAND UP FOR EQUALITY
I WILL SPEAK OUT AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
I AM AN ATHLETE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS