As a kid I grew up watching and playing every sport I could possibly play.  The time honored tradition to try out for a little league that never said a kid was not good enough, because the fact that a kid showed up was good enough.

Through playing and watching sports we as kids learned who we wanted to play like. For my time you dreamed of running the bases like Barry Larkin or hitting to the gaps like Tony Gwynn. Some wanted to be able to fly like his Airness Michael Jordan, or shoot like Larry Bird from downtown. Others simply wanted to run over or around a defender like Barry and Sweetness did so many times. We were taught that Bo knows everything and that the best crime fighters were indeed our favorite all-stars on the cartoon Pro Stars.

There were a lot of lessons learned by a kid who played and watched sports. We learned how to win and how to take defeat.  We learned anything can happen when you give it your all and how teamwork is being there to have your teammates back no matter what. These were great lessons we used moving forward in life.  But there was another thing we learned that we never knew we did.  Hate!

“Haters going to hate” is a popular saying nowadays.  Growing up we learned through our parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, and yes even the grandparents. We learned what team and what players we should root for and the ones we should boo. Let me say this now, that this is not a bad thing. It is why sports are so great.

Sports bring us rivalries and dislike and yes even hate.  It’s these emotions mixed with joy, compassion and love that makes it a must in life. But when does it cross the line. When do you just become a hater instead of a fan?

It seems that the hater line has become blurred lately.  Cam Newton had an extremely great year last year. Panthers went 15 – 1 and he dabbed his team all the ways to the super bowl. So why the hate? Some say he’s too cocky and too showy. Hess disrespectful to the other team and acts selfish all the time. Others will argue he brings life to the game, he’s out there just having fun and he’s winning doing it. Tim Tebow  one of the most hated players I’ve seen. Mostly because of all the media coverage the guy got starting when he was a freshman at Florida. People say he’s selfish for not trying another position and only wanting to be a quarterback. Others will argue he never got a fair shake and was ridiculed for his faith. LeBron James probably has more hate than the normal superstar.  From the decision to the flopping everybody has something to say about him. He turned his back on his city and he bought championships instead of earning them. While others will point out he had every right to go and play where he wanted. He was just looking out for what was best for him.

                Most people fall on one side of these arguments. Now does that make them haters? Is having an opinion on a sports conversation make you a bad person? Does it mean you have to find new friends because you guys can’t agree?

                The answer is no!  You should not judge a player on the field with the person they are off the field. For all his cockiness Cam Newton has gave to many charities and has helped a lot of kids in the make a wish foundation.  Tebow has been on missions to third world countries and helped the sick and starving.  Many athletes are out there trying to help the less fortunate. If they were just our neighbors we would celebrate their great deeds.

 

                We as fans need to learn and understand that our dislike or hate for a player should end when they take the uniform off.  And learn to see our heroes and villains off the field the same as were are, Human beings.