By now I’m sure you’ve all heard (and hopefully watched) about the three men who lost the games for their respective teams. The Patriots did not beat the Ravens, the Ravens lost. Same for the 49ers. Teams only lost this weekend, and by default a winner had to exist.
But instead of ripping these guys apart (which everyone has already done), I’ll offer a different opinion. First, however, I do agree that each of these three (Lee Evans, Billy Cundiff, and Kyle Williams) committed huge mistakes on routine plays. If Evans completes his catch, it’s a touchdown and more than likely, Baltimore is in the Superbowl. If Cundiff makes the kick, the game is in overtime with a 50/50 chance of a Superbowl berth. If Williams doesn’t fumble twice, but specifically the second time, the overtime continues.
None of those options happened, and of course both teams lost. But we have to look at each of these players and feel for them. What, other than a shot at a championship, did they cost their teams? Nothing. Nothing is the answer to that question.
So when death threats (via twitter to @KyleWilliams10) from fans (not players, or owners, or anyone with a vested interest) occur because of a mistake, the game has gone too far. It’s sports, nothing more. And while my life generally revolves around sports, it will never incite that type of reaction from me. Never when I was a player, and never while I’m a fan. It disgusts me.
In fact, this is the second time in a season that 49ers fans have crossed that line. If anyone else remembers, the 49ers fans shot Raiders fans after a preseason game between the neighbouring towns. Not sure if that’s an endictment of the city of San Francisco, but an interesting note regardless.
I love sports, I’m a fan of just about every one in existence (soccer still has some work to do to rope me in fully), but anything that crosses that line (which is not a fine line, by the way) between violence and fandom is something I can’t stand behind.
These guys already feel awful enough. If you don’t believe me, read their post-game quotes. There is no doubt they didn’t sleep much Sunday night, and probably every night since. They will be remembered forever for these miscues (ask Bill Buckner if you don’t believe me). But they shouldn’t be hated or become scapegoats for why their teams lost.
NFL games are 60 minutes long (with 15 minute quarters for OT), which means there were 59 minutes for the Ravens and 67 minutes for the 49ers to each win their respective games. Football is often referred to as the ultimate team sport, and it takes a team effort to win and a team effort to lose.
Don’t scapegoat those players, I doubt their teammates did.
Doug Holt
