DanoT wrote:sj-roc wrote:dupsdell1 wrote:Just heard Andrew Harris Saying on 1040 that to all the fans that left his quote is " they gave up on us" , Way to go Andrew that is exactly how it is to many fickle fans in this city they are known to leave early. should be ashamed of yourselves. ( I had to work all night so do not come back on me saying were was I . )
I didn't like seeing him
tweet about that. He shouldn't have even brought up the matter at all. But if he insisted on talking about it, he should have taken the high road and instead thanked the fans who stuck around and helped cheer the team on to victory. Moreover complaining about fans leaving early shows poor focus: it's not his job to monitor what's going on in the stands; he should just keep his head in the game.
Telling those fans to, and I quote from his tweet, "Give your head a shake!" — really? How does a tweet like that encourage the ticket-buying public to pony up for the next game?
Harris' comments read like a twenty something jacked up on a superb comeback victory and comments from 50+ year old veteran coach Tedford where something to the effect of, thanks to those who stayed and made noise and hope the folks that left, next time stay until the end. Tedford had the wisdom to take the high road even though he might have felt like Harris.
Harris, as a team leader, plays with passion, emotion and urgency and it is not necessarily something that gets turned off the minute a game is over so I am willing to give him a mulligan.
I am going to give Harris a mulligan too. He puts his everything into every game: body, mind and soul, especially body. He is as passionate as they come. And every player and coach at some time notices the crowd. Feel like given up on? Sure. Wise to say it, from a P.R. point of view? No, of course not. In the heat of battle, or just after? Stuff gets said.
Back in 2011, I believe it was, Harris complained about something in the offence. We turned it around on our way to the Grey Cup. There are times, albeit few indeed, where a player speaks out, and it works to the benefit of the team.
I think Harris even spoke to Tedford during the game, with respect apparently, and with his usual forthright passion.
Harris, in my opinion, is the farthest thing from "trouble" on a team as it gets. His passion has to come out.
I personally think if Harris were to be gagged, so to speak, he would not have the necessary fire that he needs to carry the rock, with 12 angry men trying to crush him.
Just IMO ... and I know that for 95% of athletes, they need to keep heated comments to themselves. QBs can get away with comments that others could not. Some prominent athletes virtually run their team. (Magic Johnson back in the day. Joe Kapp with the Lions, etc.) It is a subject with many layers to it.
I recall Phil Esposito complaining about Vancouver fans booing Team Canada, when we lost the game in Vancouver big time to the USSR in the first challenge series. I did not like to hear it, but Phil was fully entitled to his view. His fire and passion were a huge part of our comeback in that series. Those fans that booed might have had some feelings of humility or regret, or perhaps not, when we defeated the USSR. Those athletes represented Canada, giving their all, on their own time, with great sacrifice. That series, by the way, in my opinion, contributed greatly to overall Canadian pride, in all things Canadian.
As a fan, I want Andrew Harris operating at full tilt. That is just me. And what he said is actually true. The vast majority of those fans leaving did give up on the team. Someone said it. Harris said it.
I noticed Tedford removed his headset and gave Andrew his full attention as Andrew stood, with respect, facing him, pretty much at attention, expressing his strongly held view, during the game, when we trailed.
How to handle it, from Tedford's point of view? I trust Tedford in this. A quiet word to the passionate athlete. Respect the patrons. They pay their money. If they want to walk out, let them.
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.
Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.
Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.