Patriots to Honor Girl Booed by Classless Colts Fans

by tommasse on Jan 15, 2008 10:35 PM EST in New England Patriots News

'Class' Is in Session
Patriots to Honor Girl Booed by Colts Fans

The New England Patriots, an organization that understands and exemplifies class, is going to right a terrible wrong Sunday. More than one, maybe, but one for sure.

14-year-old Anna Grant of Stratham, N.H., a more mature person than the 60,000 people behind her.

Photo courtesy: Manchester Union Leader / Karen Grant

The Patriots will have 14-year-old Anna Grant of Stratham, N.H., on the field at Gillette Stadium for the coin flip before the AFC Championship game between the Patriots and the San Diego Chargers.

"What I decided is that we would honor her here before this game," Patriots owner Kraft said in an interview with the Associated Press. "We will recognize her as the winner on the field. Our fans will know."

Grant received a phone message from Andre Tippett, Patriots executive director of community affairs, former star linebacker and Hall of Fame finalist (more on that later).

As we know, Grant was booed by some of the dumbest, most classless fans outside Oakland on Sunday in Indianapolis when the league presented the winners of its annual Punt, Pass and Kick competition. They booed her simply because she is from New England and "represented" the Patriots.

Photo courtesy: SeacoastOnline.com

"Before I went down there, my friends said, 'You know, you'll probably get booed,'" Grant told the AP. "I was kind of waiting for it."

"It really didn't bother me at all."

Grant's mature response hardly excuses such misbehavior by those who should know better.

Only utter dolts could be so dumb not to separate a high school freshman from a team they don't like simply because that team is far better than theirs. Grant told reporters that people at the stadium told her, "It's not you. It's your jersey." Wow, that's some justification. They were booing the jersey. It's hard to believe any so-called adult could be that irrational.

The display was far worse than Eagles fans booing Santa Claus. Worse than Jets fans cheering the injury of their own quarterback. The act is beyond comprehension, beyond words. It was by far the most classless act by the most classless fans imaginable.

So the Patriots will make amends. The Patriots will show "those people" how civilized people act and treat each other and especially how they treat children.

More on Grant from the Manchester Union Leader

Let's be clear: Not all Colts fans and not everyone in Indianapolis is as despicable as those who booed Grant. I've read comments on several internet forums from Colts fans saying they were embarrassed by the RCA Dome disgrace. It's unfortunate that the guilty and their supporters continue to excuse the inexcusable.

You'd think city "leaders" would offer Grant an apology.

But this is the last we'll speak of the Colts or their loser fans for a while. We have far more important topics to discuss.

This really isn't about them, for all the time I've wasted on them. It's about Grant. Congratulations, Anna, on your accomplishment. And when see her attending the coin toss during Sunday's pregame show ..

Cheer.

Tweet Comment 57 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

cool

Wow that is really cool that the Krafts are doing this. It's just a great thing they are doing. Awesome. Proud to be a Patriots fan.

GO PATS

by mrbandw on Jan 15, 2008 11:26 PM EST reply actions

Gotta LOVE this organization

Thanks for the 'class' update on that disheartening display of inhumanity in Indy. Hearing those boos made me queasy, no matter how she seemed to take it all in stride. She deserved more than that for her accomplishment, and kudos to the Pats for setting this up to make it a day she'll remember forever.

Hey, it'll be a day we'll all remember forever.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jan 16, 2008 12:01 AM EST reply actions

how can

How can ANYONE defend what happened last week. I was physically sickened when I heard this. I don't care WHAT team you route for, this is a 14-year old girl who was routing for their home team.

I saw something on either PTI or Around the horn, I forget which.... but they suggested that the NE fans would act the same if a kid showed up at Gillete with a Yankees Jersey. I would PRAY TO GOD that is not true, and in my heart I can't bring myself to believe NE fans would be that classless.

by Ogor on Jan 16, 2008 12:02 AM EST reply actions

well wait a minute...

a yankee's jersey? c'mon...

any other football jersey might get you some jeering, but a yankee's jersey? in red sox country? I recall Brady getting booed, (or at least some bad press) for wearing a yankee's cap...

but regardless, I remember watching the punt, pass and kick contests when I was a kid, and being very envious of all of the kids who were participating. no matter what jersey they were wearing. I just tended to get annoyed that the winner wasn't wearing a pats jersey. though I remember it was a lot easier to take that kind of abuse from other kids, rather than a large group of adults. there's nothing I can think of that would make you feel more powerless as a kid than being ridiculed by a large group of adults.

though it sounded from the article that the girl knew what she was getting into with the jersey, and may have even enjoyed it somewhat. in many ways, getting a big reaction from an audience is great whether pro or con, providing you are expecting the reaction you're getting. having gotten one or two ovations from a (much smaller) crowd, I'm very envious of the reception she's going to get on sunday...

by circusboy on Jan 16, 2008 5:20 AM EST up reply actions

Yankees

Wasn't there an incident last summer in which a bunch of Yankee fans poured beer on a 14 year old at Yankee Stadium?
This girl has to be one tough cookie. I could see my 14 year old melt into a pool of tears if a bunch of so called adults pulled that BS on her. I'm glad she was able to keep her head up. Kudo's to her!

by cia on Jan 16, 2008 7:53 AM EST up reply actions

hadn't heard about that one

but there is a difference between being an anonymous 14 year old in the stands, where the actions of the others who did this are unforgivable, (although, admit it, somewhere there is a 14 year old you wish you could do something like that to...) and a 14 year old who is knowingly walking out in front of 60,000 people while wearing 'enemy colors.'

in the one case, it is one person in a crowd being assaulted by another (or several) in a crowd. in the other it is a person who is alone in front of the crowd. I've performed in front of crowds of 200-300 people at a time, and you have to be in a particular state of mind to do it. for some it's easy, for some (me) it isn't, but once you're there, it becomes easier. (handy advice for the future, no matter what people say about thinking of your audience in their underwear, the best way I have found to deal with being in front of a crowd is to look at every one of them as a potential target... (in the comedy sense, nothing nasty...))

however, the one thing that I have learned about being in front of a crowd, the greatest sensation is not necessarily acceptance, but that the crowd does what you want them to do, when you want them to do it, especially when the crowd doesn't seem to know they are being manipulated. this is the "having the crowd in the palm of your hand" feeling. nothing like it... and no fan here can tell me that if they had the chance to stand in front of 60,000 opponent's fans, have their full attention, and thumb their nose at them, and to get a real full throated response, they wouldn't jump at the chance...

by circusboy on Jan 19, 2008 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

How is this "thumbing your nose"

when these awards happen every year? Each one of the kids WON their division in the PP&K competition. They represent their favorite team. Explain your logic that because she won her division that she was wearing "enemy colors" and "thumbing her nose". That is ridiculous to even say that. She did what the other 7 winners did to receive her award; she wore the jersey of her team, just as the other 7 did. This competition has been an event every year for, what, 30 years or more? And because she wore a Pats jersey in Indy, she did something wrong? Nothing personal, but you totally missed the point on this.

by Ironman63 on Jan 19, 2008 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

no I'm not, and no I didn't...

nothing personal taken...

yes, I know these awards are handed out every year, and I know that she was wearing that jersey because she represented the new england area (and is presumably a fan,) It sounds from the little interview material that has been presented that she was happy to receive the award, and happy to represent the patriots. she also knew ahead of time what was likely to happen and was actually looking forward to it. (the award and the reaction) if she is as much of a fan as some of us are, I would be shocked if she didn't relish it a bit. as I pointed out, getting the reaction you expect is a great thing in front of an audience. I think I would have been more put out by disinterested or half-hearted applause, which would have been more likely any other year in any other stadium. It's fairly common knowledge that there is a heated rivalry between the pats and colts, and she knew it, even the management of the event knew it and warned her about it. I don't know if they gave her an alternative, but she proudly went out to receive her award wearing a jersey that she knew was unpopular in that crowd. the "enemy colors" as it were. I never suggested she did anything wrong. I am however suggesting that neither did the indy fans. they may have taken it further then perhaps politeness would allow, but both she and they knew that they were booing the jersey not the girl. Nor did I suggest that the act of her winning the award was "thumbing her nose" simply that in accepting the award in that stadium in that jersey, she was given the opportunity to do so, and as she said, she "laughed it off," which is pretty much the same thing.

Now tell me truly, as a fan of a particular team, if you were about to receive an award in front of your team's biggest rival's fans, wouldn't you be disappointed if you weren't booed or at least grumbled at? ;-) I think I'm more willing to give the Anna (and the indianapolis fans) the benefit of the doubt on this one.

even without the invite to foxboro or the indy speedway, how many people do you know who will be able to look back on an event like that? "I remember when I was 14, I got booed by 60,000 people in a sold out football stadium!" think of what she'll be able to tell the grandkids someday...

yes, she only did what the other 7 winners did, and what did they get? some polite applause from a crowd that wasn't really interested and really didn't care about them. what did she get? the complete attention of a stadium full of people, and the moment to stand in front of that stadium full of people knowing she represented what I hope she considers the superior team and laugh as they expressed their feelings (of inadequacy perhaps?) towards that team.

the difficulty with awards ceremonies like these is that you are not receiving the award in front you your own fans or friends. I suspect if that same group had their ceremony in a stadium of a team that was not represented by any of the kids receiving an award, there would have been little or no interest. had there been an award winner who was wearing the jersey of the team whose stadium they were in, I suspect the applause would have been louder for that one than the others, purely because of the jersey they wore. but it's not like receiving an award in front of a lot of people who know you or know of you. in that case the feelings of the crowd can be judged as a testament to how they feel about you as a person. but with the PPK awardees in a 'foreign' stadium this isn't the case.

If anything, the telling comment in the linked article is towards the end, where another fans said "I usually am very cautious about where I wear my Patriots stuff around here, but now we're proudly going to wear our Patriots outfits." I suspect they are trying proudly to elicit the same reaction.

lastly it was written in the article that they did clap politely first, then they started booing. and really, I think my feelings towards the word "classless" is fast approaching my feelings about the word "swagger"

by circusboy on Jan 19, 2008 8:47 PM EST up reply actions

OK

I understand where you're coming from now. And I agree with you because of something the late great Dale Earnhardt said several years ago. To paraphrase, he said that it didn't matter if the crowd was cheering or booing, you knew you had made it when everyone in the crowd was voicing their opinion. And I agree that if I had the opportunity to wear a Pats jersey in Indy, I would relish being booed because that would tell me that those fans know that the Pats are a force in the NFL.

And as far as "swagger" goes, it has been perverted into a totally different meaning than it used to have. But that is a topic for another discussion.

by Ironman63 on Jan 19, 2008 10:04 PM EST up reply actions

actually...

it was the subject of a previous one... ;-)

by circusboy on Jan 20, 2008 1:13 AM EST up reply actions

Actually, there are a*%hats everywhere.

See my diary of today.

Patriots and more at Borrowed Suits

by JohnHannahRules on Jan 16, 2008 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

I'm now even MORE depressed...

...that Indy lost to the Chargers. How fitting would it have been for Anna to participate in the coin toss on the 50 yard line surrounded by Patriots and facing Manning and his teammates.

Kudos to Anna for being such a strong kid and to her parents for raising her right. What a moment this will be for her. I'm sure the cheering from Gillette Stadium will be heard in Stratham, NH.

Anna for President!

by MaPatsFan on Jan 16, 2008 8:37 AM EST reply actions

Bills fan here

(Also a dad of 3 girls, aaack!) I just heard this story on ESPN - just wanted to drop by to give kudos to the Pats organization for this move. Pretty cool. Its one thing to "hate" a team, but I'm always repulsed when the hate spills over to the fans (whether its the Bills, Pats, or whatever team). BTW good luck in the Championship (not that your team needs any - bastards! :-)

Peace. Zumone from Syracuse.

by Zumone on Jan 16, 2008 9:00 AM EST reply actions

calm down...

Perhaps I am the only one on this, but here goes...

Booing a girl in a Pats shirt in that situation is stupid, yes. But let's not go crazy here. The girl was prepared for it, was laughing during it and certainly seems to have suffered no pschological damage. And I am glad the Pats will be hooking her up this weekend.

Also, I am a Pats season-ticket holder and I have to be honest, if that ceremony were in Foxboro this past weekend with a Colts jersey-ed girl... it would have happened here and this post would have been titled: 'She should have known better'.... or something like that.

Read the article in the Herald today about the Jacksonville fan who got attacked in the parking lot the other night. I bet he wishes that he got booed.

Relax with the 'classless Colts fans' talk. You know, glass houses and all...

by tmcn33 on Jan 16, 2008 9:06 AM EST reply actions

I hear what you're saying

The fans that booed her are tools and we shouldn't condemn the entire fanbase for the mistake of the idiotic few.

And you're right; there are tools everywhere. While my band was playing in Boston during the Red Sox vs. Indians games, a nice group of Indians fans were given the finger and verbally taunted in the club. Luckily it didn't get out-of-hand and they were good sports about it.

At any rate, a great moment for her.

by MaPatsFan on Jan 16, 2008 9:25 AM EST up reply actions

Disgusting display

Here is the link to that Herald story and it's sickening but those low-life scum types are everywhere. Doesn't matter what city they're from or what team they "root" for, they're just out looking for a fight and a parking lot full of of people fit the bill at the time. See other people happy? Gotta put a stop to that! Even if no one was wearing an opponents jersey, they'd manage to manufacture something with somebody to satisfy the urge. Animals.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jan 16, 2008 9:49 AM EST up reply actions

Hond on one second

This blog would never have a post titled "she should have known better", in a circumstance like that. You, should know better than that. This post was not about the Pats fans never doing that, the post was about the Patriots organization trying to act with some dignity. Of course there will always be some idiot fans, that's the law of averages, but that was a lot of fans booing, and no one from Indy even acknowledged it. But, they will still keep pretending that the Colts are the classiest organization in the NFL.

by 6thround on Jan 16, 2008 10:26 AM EST up reply actions

Wait

Wait I thought we were pretending that San Diego was the classiest non-classy organization in the NFL. I'm getting confused.. Har.

by mrbandw on Jan 16, 2008 10:52 AM EST up reply actions

I disagree

This post was not just about the Pats hooking her up. It compares it to other circumstances and has this beauty: 'It was by far the most classless act by the most classless fans imaginable'

I'm just saying, that's a little over the top. The girl, and all of us, will live.

by tmcn33 on Jan 16, 2008 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

bottom line is

We can argue whether or not some Pats fans would be dumb enough to boo a little girl with a yankees cap, but what we can agree on is that it would be wrong.

Kraft is standing up for her and shaming those who booed, and that is awesome.

by Mainiac on Jan 16, 2008 11:03 AM EST reply actions

Well stated

by MaPatsFan on Jan 16, 2008 11:59 AM EST up reply actions

yup

I said in my post and will repeat: it was wrong. But I have seen people of all ages and genders booed (or worse) in Foxboro for wearing other team colors.

I am probably in the minority, but when I was watching the ceremony, I said to my wife 'you watch, if their is a kid representing the Pats they will get booed.' Sure enough. So, I just shook my head and kinda chuckled. It was not the right thing to do... but this post is an embellishment and overreaction... in my opinion. I respect other's thoughts on this.

by tmcn33 on Jan 16, 2008 1:19 PM EST up reply actions

There's no doubt ..

.. that people rooting for other teams at Gillette are going to take some razzing. There are idiots and drunks everywhere. (Example, there were morons at the most recent Jets game throwing ice and snow randomly, not caring who they hit. That's an idiot, and probably a drunk one.)

The difference here is that I have never seen/heard an entire stadium treating a single individual --especially a child who has done nothing but wear a jersey -- that way.

For all the games I've been to in Foxboro, I've never seen Patriots fans (and certainly not hordes of them) harass kids. And the Indy fans didn't boo all the other kids wearing other non-Colts jerseys.

From my experience at Gillette, outside of some gentle razzing (and that's for the adults), visiting fans are very free to enjoy the game like anyone else until they start acting up themselves or unless they run into one complete local loony.

That 14-year-old girl was just standing there. She didn't give the fans the finger or do a Lights Out dance or anything else.

Have something to say? Create a free account and step up to the Pulpit! (Please: No vulgarity. Thanks.)

by tommasse on Jan 16, 2008 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

speaking of snowballs...

During the 2001 divisional playoff game against the Raiders, in the snow game, Christoper Price recounts how CBS announcers Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms were under attack for much of the game by snowballs, with one barely missing Simm's face in the fourth quarter.

Must have been Raiders fans.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jan 16, 2008 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

At leaxst this didn't happen in Philly...

We already have a bad rap for Booing Santa Claus, I would hate to have us go down for booing a little girl.

Go Eagles.

by Eaglesfan on Jan 16, 2008 2:04 PM EST reply actions

booooooooooooooooooo...Indy...boooooooooo

I'm thinking the ovation she gets in Foxborough will be louder than anything EVER heard in the Indy Dome - including all the "PIPED-IN" crowd noise, used against opposing teams as a way of CHEATING

by stop Newport RI corruption on Jan 16, 2008 3:35 PM EST reply actions

would Pats fans do the same???

wasn't there a similar situation in Foxborough a few years ago, when a Punt, Pass & Kick winner was honored while wearing a hated JETS jersey?

I don't recall hearing a single boo from the crowd..............

by stop Newport RI corruption on Jan 16, 2008 3:40 PM EST reply actions

Give me a break

I'm not a Pats fan, nor am I a Colts fan, but you people are too much. This from a fanbase that chants "Yankees Suck" at every opportunity they get. This is definitely a case of the pot calling the kettle black. If a kid was wearing a Colts jersey at Gillette for this, the EXACT same thing would have happend, and it should have. Fans cheer against laundry, regardless of who's in, it's just how it goes. Get over yourselves, no wonder everyone outside of New England hates you all.

by Trogdor on Jan 16, 2008 4:41 PM EST reply actions

Patriots fans chant that?

You seem confused. The Patriots play football. Furthermore, you have no proof of your allegation that the same thing would happen in Gillette. Sounds like you're carrying some kind of guilt with you.

Wait, I just read that again. "It should have"? Um, I don't know from whence you hail or for whom you root, but that's not "how it goes." If we're hated for being civil, that's just fine with us.

Have something to say? Create a free account and step up to the Pulpit! (Please: No vulgarity. Thanks.)

by tommasse on Jan 16, 2008 10:38 PM EST up reply actions

he was right on one point...

if you remember the 2001 patriots victory parade. at one point the players on the dias, (knowing where they were) did start a chant of "Yankees Suck!"

and yes, I thought it was hilarious, as, I'm sure, did more than a few yankees fans. (we hadn't beaten them yet...) in the context, in boston during a new england sports celebration, it was perfectly fine.

no, it didn't happen in gillette. the second point is truly silly though, the comment "well you'd do it!" and similar is the first defense of someone who doesn't think very hard about what they do. (and is seriously hoping that they're right because they don't want to be caught out alone.)

a well known author has written that the IQ of a mob is the IQ of the dumbest member of the mob divided by the number of people in the mob. any large group of people has the capacity to do something moronic, it depends on which way they are led. as I wrote in an earlier comment, controlling a crowd is a wonderful feeling, some people do it for the wrong reasons. it's generally pretty futile to get into an argument on whether or not a crowd will act one way or another at any given time, it just takes one idiot to be followed by a few more idiots, and suddenly you have the whole crowd... (I could say something political here, but I think I'll leave it alone...)

by circusboy on Jan 19, 2008 5:36 PM EST up reply actions

GOOD

no offense to her, but she deserved to be booed. im not colts or pats fan, but that was low. I mean come on you dont go into another persons stadium when that team isnt playing and represent that jersey. Regardless who it is, you dont do that. Especially with the colts and patriots after all thats happened between them. Classless acts lead to more classless acts.

by drtyd32 on Jan 16, 2008 6:30 PM EST reply actions

She's 14

Take a good long look at Anna's smiling picture again...take a nice deep breath...re-read what you just posted.

Which one of you is low and classless?

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jan 16, 2008 8:25 PM EST up reply actions

We have a winner

What about the other kids wearing other teams' jerseys? Should they all have been booed? And if so, why would the league have brought them there and provided the jerseys?

That is easily the most ridiculous thing I've ever read on these pages and one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read anywhere.

Have something to say? Create a free account and step up to the Pulpit! (Please: No vulgarity. Thanks.)

by tommasse on Jan 16, 2008 10:45 PM EST up reply actions

Right on

by standingpat on Jan 17, 2008 2:31 AM EST up reply actions

ummm

I believe punt, pass and kick rules dictate that you wear the jersey of your home team...

at least they used to, way back when they actually televised the contest. the nfl is very big on maintaining uniform appearance rules. very important for marketing.

I think if the colts fans had just cheered for a kid wearing a colts jersey and were silent, (or at least less raucous) for the wearers of other jerseys, or even consistently booed the wearers of all other jerseys this might not have been so big. the fact that 60,000 colts fans are that passionate specifically about the pats says a lot... personally I think it's pretty funny.

as far as how to act in another stadium wearing the wrong colors, I blame the disappearance of school house rock... anyone remember the "interjections" song?

by circusboy on Jan 19, 2008 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

conjunction junction what's your function?

Hooking up words, phrases and clauses.

Now that silly tune will be swirling around in my head for the rest of the night. Thanks.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jan 19, 2008 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

sorry, didn't mean to do that...

I was remembering the bit in the interjections song where the football player runs the wrong way and scores... all the crowd is screaming "awww!" "Darn!" and so on, and one little guy pops up in the back and yells "Hurray! I'm for the other team!" and then slowly sinks out of sight when everyone else in the stands turns to glare at him... I thought it was appropriate...

Interjections!
followed by an exclamation point,
or by comma when the feelings not as strong...

so when you're happy...
etc...
(bought the DVD last year... greatest educational videos ever made.)

by circusboy on Jan 20, 2008 1:18 AM EST up reply actions

well...

It hasn't disappeared, at least in Texas. A good friend's daughter was a star in this just last October, and we went to see it. Talk about getting a song stuck in your head for MONTHS... conjunction junction is the debil!

by Ogor on Jan 20, 2008 12:42 AM EST up reply actions

Sigh...

Everyone whose team is packing up their lockers seems to be "trolling" this site now that nothing else is going on in their own blogs. Please, continue posting stuff we've heard a thousand times.

by MaPatsFan on Jan 16, 2008 7:53 PM EST reply actions

Influx of New Yorkers

Must be a coincidence that they can't/don't read the Community Guidelines.

Have something to say? Create a free account and step up to the Pulpit! (Please: No vulgarity. Thanks.)

by tommasse on Jan 16, 2008 10:49 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe the football gods

took offense to this and then saw fit to balance the scales the same day, eh?

by Ironman63 on Jan 17, 2008 1:46 AM EST reply actions

good point

by cia on Jan 17, 2008 7:22 AM EST up reply actions

She'll also be WTHR's guest at the Indy 500...

WTHR is playing host to her at the Indy 500:

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=7691027&nav=9Tai

'WTHR also wanted to set things right so that Anna and her family have a good impression of Hoosier hospitality, so we're giving her an Indianapolis 500 prize package including VIP tickets to the race, 500 Festival Parade, a chance to go around the oval as well as some shirts and hats. Anna's reaction? "Wow! Thank you so much!"'

Also, if you read the comments after this article in the Indy Star:

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080116/SPORTS/80116009
you'll see that the vast majority of Colts fans and/or Indy residents were quite displeased with the reaction.

Kudos to this young lady for handling this whole situation with the appropriate levels of class and humor.

Now all she needs to do is come out for the coin flip wearing a Peyton Manning jersey or at least a Colts hat to really bring this whole thing full circle.

by BostonPatriotsFan on Jan 17, 2008 9:51 AM EST reply actions

Now that would be funny

If she did the coin flip in a Colts jersey, that would be hilarious. I'm glad to see that some Colts fans are willing to call out the bad apples in their bunch. I haven't heard a thing from the Colts organization though.

by 6thround on Jan 17, 2008 12:48 PM EST up reply actions

Give me a break

..."is going to right a terrible wrong Sunday."
..."The display was far worse than Eagles fans booing Santa Claus. Worse than Jets fans cheering the injury of their own quarterback. The act is beyond comprehension, beyond words. It was by far the most classless act by the most classless fans imaginable."

Are you kidding you me?? You are making it sound like they threw stuff at her and jumped her in the parking lot!!!! This is ridiculous.. get a life people!! The girl is 15, not 6! She has told multiple media outlets she was expecting to get booed and was warned by friends and family, and thought it was funny. People are only making a big deal because it happened in Indy. Seriously, get a life and give it a rest!

by soxfan29 on Jan 17, 2008 2:02 PM EST reply actions

GROW UP AND GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE!!

Get off your high horse! I don't care who you are and where you come from.
Are you telling me that none of you pats fans have ever booed an opponent, ever wished an injury on an opposing player that was about to beat your brains in? You can't be that rediculous that you're going to claim to be the "Almighty One".

As if the pats do no wrong huh? How about the disgrace off having to show off in dancing in the middle of the field after a victory over San Diego...on THEIR FIELD? You think that was classy? Don't talk about "class" like you have some! What about the video incident? Really classy to the game!

Lets get something straight!...Fans love their teams and hate bitter rivals. That's a fact whether you're 5 or whether you're 95! And if you wear something that represents the team the other doesn't like, yes, you are going to get some reaction to that!

I'm not an Indy fan or a pats fan for the matter, but just get off your high horse already like you're so much better! You sad people are making this much bigger than it really is. Will she get a standing ovation at the pats game? Yes...because in pats land they want to do anything to get back at anyone to cover up those "classless" acts that you've commited yourself! pats fans, GROW UP!

by guest on Jan 17, 2008 2:47 PM EST reply actions

Correct me if I'm wrong

You think it's rational, adult behavior to boo a 14-year-old girl, yes? Not because she did anything but stand there in a team jersey? Is that correct?

You believe that because a Patriots player danced over a year ago that it makes sense to boo a 14-yea-old girl? That's your argument?

And you want us to "grow up"?

That a pretty interesting demand.

Tell me: What did a 14-year-old girl do to deserve being booed by 60,000 adults?

Tell me also what other behavior would have been acceptable? Calling her names (I'm sure there was more than just boos)? Threatening her? Dumping beer on her? Throwing batteries, bottles, other debris, at here?

Have something to say? Create a free account and step up to the Pulpit! (Please: No vulgarity. Thanks.)

by tommasse on Jan 17, 2008 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

This "guest" won't have

the guts to respond and defend their moronic statements.

by scsatr on Jan 17, 2008 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

Is it just me...

...or does it seem to everyone else that the people who think it's good to boo a 14-year-old girl are all making a point of indicating that "I'm not an Indy fan or a pats fan"?

Methinks the boneheads doth protest too much.

by RSNexile on Jan 17, 2008 3:30 PM EST reply actions

I agree 100%.

by scsatr on Jan 17, 2008 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

I am a Pats fan...

and I still can't seem to figure out what the big deal is. The media, fans, and pretty much everyone else are taking the whole ordeal much too seriously. I'm pretty sure she was laughing the entire time she was being booed, and was even quoted as saying it didn't bother her very much! As far as I can tell the incident is being blown out of proportion simply because of our fanbase's hatred towards the Colts, and any excuse to amplify that will gladly be seized.
I think the real problem is the Ohio girl stealing the Hawaiian girl's "hang loose" and the Chad Kelly kid. There's no way he's 13.
Scandal.

by shooterninja on Jan 18, 2008 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

Patriots fan from Indiana?

What's wrong is that Anna did nothing to deserve her treatment, and Anna saying it didn't bother her doesn't make it any less wrong.

Have something to say? Create a free account and step up to the Pulpit! (Please: No vulgarity. Thanks.)

by tommasse on Jan 18, 2008 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

Just because she's mature enough...

...to handle the incident with aplomb and grace doesn't excuse the classless behavior of the fans who booed her.

by RSNexile on Jan 18, 2008 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

you don't get it!

I wasn't talking to you about it giving them the right to boo the girl. I said that you can't talk about having "class". You people make it seem as though you are the team that "exemplifies" the league.

As I said before, look within the organization, perhaps filming opponents signal calling!

Again, I stated that she received a reaction from opposing fans because she wore a jersey which represented a team that is a bitter rival in Indianapolis. So you would show curtisy to someone that came into your field with a colts jersey? Probably not!

by guest on Jan 20, 2008 10:42 PM EST reply actions

No, YOU don't get it.

It is not against the rules to film the opponents signal calling. The camera from the press box and the end zone both show the signal callers. What you and everyone else has bought into because of what you have been spoonfed from the national media is completely wrong. The fine was for a cameraman on the sidelines filming the signals. The position of the camera is what was against the rules. If you are going to come here and talk smack, at least have a brain to start with.

by Ironman63 on Jan 21, 2008 1:22 AM EST up reply actions

Tell it like it is!!!!!!!!

by standingpat on Jan 21, 2008 3:09 AM EST up reply actions

bring it on!

The cameras from the press box and end zone show the angle of the game! I'm willing to bet that you've never played a game in your life! And especially at this kind of level...hell even at the Division 1A level, otherwise you would've known that. They don't include signal calling! I know what it's like to play at the pro football level! I've got the brains and plenty more. You couldn't last one second in my world!

by guest on Jan 21, 2008 11:51 PM EST reply actions