Posted Thursday, January 17, 2008 by
Ryan Stephens
Back to the Colts. However, this time we are going to focus on a different part of the game. For those of you watching the Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers game on Sunday, did you happen to catch the brief recognition of the winners of the punt, pass, and kick competition during halftime? For those of you who were at the game, I’m sure you remember the incident quite vividly. As I would put it…it was a prideful moment for not only my team but my city as well. Let me recap the situation for those of you who missed it:
Every year there is a national competition for children and teenagers to see who is the most dominant in the categories of punting, passing, and kicking a football. The challenge is for both boys and girls. So, at the halftime of this year’s AFC playoff game at the RCA Dome, the welcoming city of Indianapolis decided to recognize those winners of the competition and congratulate them. There is one important piece of information that was vital to the situation. Each winner of the competition, divided by age groups, chose to wear their beloved team’s jersey while they were being recognized. So, as the competitors were being introduced, the camera focused on each winner, recognizing them individually. Each person received a warm applause by the crowd, supporting them and congratulating them for their accomplishments. However, when the camera focused on one particular girl, fourteen year old Anny Grant of New Hampshire, the crowd did not recognize her in a similar fashion. Instead of congratulatory applause, she received a most defining “BOO,” and might I add, for good reason. She came in to our house, the RCA Dome, the home of the Indianapolis Colts, and chose to wear a New England Patriots jersey. Anyone who follows the NFL, and these children obviously do, would know that the New England Patriots are the most despised team in the NFL. Not only that, but she just so happened to flaunt her pride in an atmosphere where the word “Patriots” can get a man in a hurt of trouble.
Now the issue has been raised as to what or whom the fans were booing. It is obvious that the fans were not booing young Anny Grant and mocking her accomplishments as an athlete. Instead, they were remembering their recent defeat only a few months prior as well as gloating over their domination from the previous season’s AFC Championship. An individual ridiculously ignorant to the competitive nature of sports commented on this matter by replying to an article in TheStarPress.com. “Devery” wrote, “It doesn't matter what they were booing - it was tasteless and classless. Thank God she is more mature than the fans booing her. She was sponsored by the Pats and was wearing their jersey. Again, it was shameful behavior and I am so glad she was as mature as she was and dealt with the situation beautifully. She must have a wonderful support system. Most kids her age wouldn't have been able to deal with that kind of negatively. She is truly an impressive kid.” Come on!! What an absurd response.
First of all, Anny even told reporters that, “It didn’t bother me at all…I knew what it was for. I just laughed along with it; thought it was funny,” (www.wthr.com). So, the sympathy card that everyone seems to be throwing at this girl needs to stop. Young and innocent Anny Grant knew exactly what kind of environment she was entering and therefore deserves every kind of response she received. I do not care how young you are, nobody, and I mean NOBODY, wears a New England Patriots jersey into the Indianapolis Colts’ house and gets away with it. “Anny, I’m sorry you were the recipient of the boos. But, you got what you deserved.” Anyone that displays that kind of absurd loyalty to a team and coach that defaces the name of the game should be showered with boos every time they touch their jersey.
Second, what is with this showering of gifts upon this girl?! The Patriots I can understand. If they sponsored the girl, they should find it necessary to coddle and corrupt this young misguided teen, continuing to possess her mind making her think their team is respectable. But what is Indianapolis doing? We have since offered her tickets to come back to Indianapolis to sit in VIP seating at our beloved Indianapolis 500! I see two wrongs with this situation. First, the young girl is invited back. And second, she is showered with gifts. How absurd! Our fans’ actions at the RCA Dome were no way shameful. In fact, our governor Mitch Daniels should have been the first to congratulate the Colts fans and the first to give young Anny a boot back to her homeland. Well, that may be a little harsh. But, I will say, the girl got what she deserved. This statement is not up for debate. Case closed.
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