Two wrongs don't make a right.......

But, this does not mean that all wrong things are wrong to the same degree. Let me explain.

I have found the fallout of Max Hall's comments about Utah very interesting. I have seen 3 different reactions to his comments. First, BYU fans that are cheering the comments, obviously stupid. Second, fans, non-fans, and others who think he was wrong to say it, but understand where the animosity comes from. Third, people who refuse to aknowledge the source behind the comments and merely decry him as a classless jerk.

This got me to thinking about the idea of fans and to a larger extent people defending or at least explaining away bad behavior with the response that the opposition does it as well, as if that somehow makes it okay, or at least pulls the other side down to the same level of shame. I will try to illustrate my thought process with a few examples.

First, this one came to mind after I read Camille's comment about sports fans getting as bad as the political arena. I found this comment particularly astute. The animosity that has grown up around the BYU-Utah game is absolutely ridiculous. The anger, vitriolic comments, and actions that would shame people to their core at any other time seem fair game during the 'Holy War' week (a title I absolutely abhor). But, I also think the political analogy particularly helpful to my point as well. Just because two sides of an issue/contest whatever are both stupid, does not mean the are wrong/abhorrent to the same extent. For example. I had never before seen such anger and hatred spewed by a large portion of one group politically as I saw directed at our former President. It was sickening to the extreme, and though I continued to be more and more disillusioned with any politician on the right side of the aisle during the same time period, never did I feel as much disgust as I did for the left (generalizations used for conciseness), though they were both stupid, I was more disgusted with the left. This has now been eclipsed with the blind hatred spewed by those (mostly self-styled conservative republicans) who have taken up the banner of anti-immigration. Though I still disagree with much of what the left does, I am ultimately more disgusted by this faction of the right. They are not equal in stupidity.

Second, soccer fans. As I am sure Mark and Hilda will be quick to tell you, when they had to sit in the midst of Sam's Army during the U.S. v. Costa Rica game, that group of fans is rather disgraceful. I would not feel comfortable taking a child of mine to watch a game if they had to endure the profanity and obscenity spewed by the collection of idiots who have dubbed themselves Sam's Army and follow the U.S. men's national team around the country. That being said, their stupidity does not rise to the level of Mexican national team fans. I have never been more disgusted with a group of sports 'fans' as I am consistently with the Mexican fans. Batteries chucked at opposing players, bags filled with urine and worse dumped or thrown on opposing players/fans at any chance. I have more than once said that FIFA should not allow games in Azteca stadium until Mexico shows that they are willing to rein in their own fans. Sam's Army is a collection of idiots, Mexico's fans are a disgraceful stain on world sport that in my opinion should not be allowed to have a game played before them.

Utah and BYU. Now, I know that many of you will merely chalk this up to my own personal bias, but I think you should actually take a second to think over my points before you do. There are idiot BYU fans and there are idiot Utah fans. I don't think this can be disputed. I have attended many BYU football games (never against Utah, and I never will), I have also attended a BYU home basketball game, Alisa has been to several UofU Basketball games, and a few gymnastics meets, she has also been to a couple football games at the U. I felt disgusted at the BYU fans at the Basketball game, and frankly don't have any desire to go back, I found them immature and insulting. Alisa had nothing but good experiences at both the Basketball games, and gymnastics meets. The only complaint I have ever had at a BYU football game, was when the fans booed BYU's coaching decisions, I find that childish. Alisa was forced to move at one of her games, because of the incredibly large group of drunk and offensive fans in the student section. The question is what type of behavior is acceptable. At Utah football games, being drunk, loud, and profane seems not only to be accepted, but in some ways encouraged. While beer is not sold at the stadium many have been drinking for hours before the game at tailgating parties, and as I was informed by many Utah fans while in Law School, sneaking alcohol into the games was one of the easiest things ever. Whether the individual is a better person or not, a student who was drunk or profane at BYU would not go over well at all. This isn't to comment on the individual 'righteousness' of the fan, but what the culture of the stadium and school foster. Utah does its best to distance itself from all things Mormon and 'Utah-like'. You can list all the Apostles and GA's you want who graduated from Utah, besided the LDSSA, you won't find many on campus that care to remember that. Now, if you truly think that I am merely pulling opinion out of thin air, ask yourself this. Which campus has to completely cover every statue so that they aren't painted red? A BYU student caught drunk and profane at a BYU football game could very easily be kicked out of school, a U student might be escorted from the stadium. There is a different level of what is acceptable. While the idiots in blue are still idiots, and their actions are in no way acceptable, that does not make their actions equal to the idiots in red.

Now, how does this all pertain to Max Hall's comments? Well, to me, it helps me understand them. Are all of the U fans classless idiots, of course not, I have some friends who are season ticket holders, they are good people and would be incensed to see some of the stuff happen to people that U fans do. But, Max Hall's experience with U fans is thus, they verbally abused his family, and dumped beer on them. Then, for years, have used some of the most debased languange in chat rooms, message boards, and editorials including the school sanctioned 'paper' if you want to call the tripe that is the Utah Chronicle a paper, to describe him. Given him an obscene nickname that is freely bandied about by the majority of the vocal U fans. It is clear by the fact that no one does anything to rein in the Chronny that the administration of the U has no desire to foster any different attitude. Several of these things would not be found on the other side. Some of them would be, but not all. I really don't think it can be disputed, though both have their idiots, Ute fans, as a group are worse. It does not surprise me that Max Hall hates the U, their program, their fans, and the school. I understand it. Does that excuse it? No, he was out of line. He should be, and will be reprimanded by the league, and the school.

Anyway, the end result is this, the whole rivalry is getting stupid. And its being pumped up by media, and stupid fans. But the obscenity, the vulgarity, and the vitriol has to lay much more on the Utah side. Just read the articles in each schools newspaper, and the filthy comments that are posted on the U's. That wouldn't fly in BYU's paper.