http://disqus.com/by/meggsie6/enThu, 08 Jan 2009 13:33:06 -0000http://www.cnylink.com/cnysports/view_news.php?news_id=1231355989#comment-4991480<p>I was a spectator at Tuesday night's hockey game as both a Baldwinsville Alumnus and a current Auburn High School Teacher. Obviously, I was in the stands with support for both teams, having family and students on the ice.</p><p>I was shocked at what I witnessed after Baldwinsville scored the first goal. A young boy, about 7 or 8 years of age, ran through the Auburn cheering section waving a large Baldwinsville Bees flag. I could not believe the audacity of this child. With the second goal scored by Baldwinsville, his behavior became more agitating toward the Auburn fans and a mother in the crowd kindly asked the little boy not to continue this (as students on the Auburn side were now trying to trip him as he ran by, of course in retaliation of his behavior). The mother was attempting not to start a scene, however was then met by a security guard at the game, calling her "immature" for speaking to the boy and then the guard cleared anyone from the bottom row of the Auburn section with a guard on the other end as well, making a clear path for the young boy to come through for a third time. This time when the boy came through, he went into the mother's face and said "what" to her.</p><p>I got up and left after this. I was infuriated by the entire scene. Not only was this boy's behavior extremely unacceptable, it was being encouraged and supported by adult security staff members of the facility. I understand having pride in your team, but this boy is not learning sportsman-like conduct. He is going to continue to grow up thinking he will be allowed to behave in inappropriate manners such as this at other sporting events and be supported by adults. I was disgusted not only by this boy and the ice arena security, but also I wonder where are the parents of this boy? Are they encouraging him to be this type of spectator? I'd also like to know how the Baldwinsville fans would have responded had the situation been reversed. And would the Ice Arena Staff have supported Auburn students, had they run through the B'ville crowd with a Maroon flag?</p><p>I was ashamed to have boasted so highly of being a Baldwinsville Alumnus to my students and apologized to them later. When I was in high school, "The Swarm" was a group of very loud, boisterous fans, but they were never obnoxiously intrusive to the other team's fans. I think I will be extremely unlikely to return to the Lysander Ice Arena to watch a game, with such a biased staff and the showing of poor sportsmanship by Baldwinsville Fans young and old.</p>meggsie6Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:33:06 -0000