I was keenly watching the Tour de France this morning and was engrossed in the excitement of the yellow jersey holder, Chris Froome, being attacked on a mountain climb by the French favourite, Romain Bardet. As Froome tried to bridge the gap up the narrow roads it was obvious on TV that he was being heckled and booed at by the French crowd, who are very, very close to the riders on stages like this. A bit of drama and fan passion, I thought. Excellent. The commentators were not so impressed. "This is not on, the booing. It's not right."
Who are they to deny some passionate French men and women to be wishing for their man to grab a good lead over the not much loved Froome? A bit of booing, really? That gets to you? At least Froome didn't punch anybody this time.
It reminded of a opinion piece in a Tornto newspaper a number of years ago, written by a very prominent journalist at the particular newspaper. She wrote column after column about how shocking it was that the French crowd at the French Open booed Serena Williams, because, what, she's American?
So the French people don't like foreigners coming in and winning their events? No. The French people, like almost any sport supporters over the world, like to see their favourites win at home. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that and if that journalist and today's commentators can't take a bit of negative support, then I say watch some football.
That's what I thought today. If they are shocked by a bit of booing (and really it was a little) they would be having panic attacks if they were ever to go to a football match in England (any part of the country), or Rome for the derby, or Milan when Inter play Milan, or when one of them plays Juventus, or Paris when PSG play Marseille, or Argentina when Boca Juniors play River Plate. I do not in any way condone fan violence, and that's why I wouldn't suggest these two commentators go to Belgrade for Red Star against Partizan, but a bit of passionate taunting of your opponents, fans and players, is not only a huge part of the fun of being a football fan. And a bit of passion is good for you.
Maybe this is where those two guys should be sent on the next assignment: Buenos Aires, Argentina to watch Boca Juniors. And they should take poor, 'can't be booed at' Chris Froome with them. Let's see how they react to what this player had to deal with.
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