III Cheer

To the Editors of The Crimson:

As a great hockey season winds down, it may seem crabby indeed to criticize the quality of fan support. As Becky Hartman pointed our(3/21/83), the strength of that support was probably a factor in making the season as great as it was.

But even her congratulatory report contained such words as "obnoxious...infamous...abuse." And, on the other hand, some of the abuse was hard not to enjoy. Personally, I liked. "Hey, Providence, we hear you're No. 1--in Rhode Island."

Nobody wants to clamp the damper of crabbed age on the irreverent enthusiasms of youth, but always there comes a point. Lot's just take the omnibus cheer you mention. "Asshole, asshole, midget, sieve! and apply a little analysis.

We can't skip "asshole, asshole," which seems too childish and "boring" to need further comment. "Midget" is another matter. When you come down to it, what is the difference between ridiculing a player because of his race and ridiculing him because of his size? If there is a difference, it would dictate extra praise for overcoming the handicap.

And then there's the incessant and increasingly boring "sieve." Like "midget," this has long since ceased to bear any resemblance to what the opposing goalie does. It is applied simply because of what he is; namely, the opposing goalie.

In 53 years of playing in or watching benders of Harvard games I have never seen anything as ugly as the fracas that broke our at the not of the Cornall game at Bright. And how did that start R started when a Harvard fan, after a beer bottle had unused there a fell beer can and hit the Cornell goalie. Darres Eliot in the back of the neck and flatbed ties. Then a Cottall player flattened Shayne Kukulowicz with his stick and the fight was on.

Yes, you gleamed it. I am suggesting that there is a connection between the orchestral ridicule, abuse and hostility and the ugliness of that incident. Eliot had just finished stopping the best Harvard team in years for two games and 120 minutes during which he allowed just three goals. He was beaten in the 121st minute. He proved that night that he deserved selection as the ECAC All Star and All-lvy goalie, which be eventually receive.

If ever there was a dramatic contrast between a goalie and a sieve. Eliot provided it that night. And what does he get for it? Flattened by a Harvard fan with a full beer can.

I am bracing myself for the moment that we start cheering when opposing players are injured. Logically, that's next. John C. Coct '35