When UCLA played at Oregon last month, star freshman center and Oregon native Kevin Love was taunted by the fans, and he responded with a big game. That is old news.But a new account by Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated of the abuse Love and his family took before and during the game is chilling. According to Wahl, Love canceled his cell phone because Oregon fans who got his number left death threats on his voice mail. And during the game, Oregon fans hurled insults at Love's family, including calling his mom, grandmother and 13-year-old sister "whores."
Love's father, former Oregon and NBA player Stan Love, suggests that it's time for colleges to act against rowdy fans:
"The NCAA and league commissioners and athletic directors need to put a stop to it," Love says. "I'm all for creative, loud and funny fans. But don't target one guy, don't threaten him on the phone, don't tell him you're going to break his legs or get him after the game. And don't force the parents to get security guards. Think about it: You're at a university, and you have to get security to go in and watch a kid play?"I would take it one step further than that: Anyone who made a death threat against Love, or who throws objects at players and their families, as Wahl says is commonplace, should be criminally prosecuted. The fan behavior Wahl documents is a disgrace.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 8)
1. oh boo-hoo! grow up, take the insults, and move on. when is the last time in American sports that a player was attacked/killed/etc by a fan after he told him he would do so...
Posted at 4:17PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Justin
2. As a former Duck athlete, I'm embarassed. The validity of the threat matters little. If you've ever had your life or family threatened, you might understand that. We can buy a big new arena, but apparently can't buy class.
Posted at 5:42PM on Feb 27th 2008 by IMoW
3. This is why some people need a year away from sports. Being positive about your own team is what being a fan is, not threatening people and their families. Its only a game and death threats are serious.
Posted at 9:36PM on Feb 27th 2008 by tobrien28
4. hey justin - if you are such a big man lets see your cell phone number and maybe your moms, wifes, sisters, daughters -- we'll see how you like a barrage of filthy hate threats ... that is not part of a basketball game fool ...
Posted at 10:05PM on Feb 27th 2008 by ru
5. As a current student at UO I can say that our fans do get a little rough, but it is nothing that we don't get in return. I was at that game, and sat in the student section, and never once did I hear anything about his mother, grandmother or sisters. Someone does need to see the other side of the story and talk to his brother who was taunting the fans and egging them on. Love, you are a great basketball player but when it come to the fans you can handle them and you need to check your brother and your dad (who did a rude loud interview mid-game on the sideline) before you start blaming other people. You're in college now, if you can't handle the heat, get off the court!
Posted at 10:06PM on Feb 27th 2008 by KelsG22
6. DON ' T WASTE TIME AND MONEY TO PROSECUTE THEM ---
JUST EXECUTE THEM .
Posted at 10:13PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Carl Tapp
7. Justin, you asked when the last time was a player was attacked or killed as threatened. I have no idea what the answer to that is (being too lazy for research at this hour), but all it takes is one. That will be one too many.
Posted at 10:14PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Lynn
8. justin it's people like you that are ruining america, if you allow the threats to continue then YES it will esculate, look at the rising number of athletes being shot and killed, YES justin SHOT AND KILLED......that is unacceptable behavoir by any so called American....we need to quit acting like a bunch of dumb asses, grow up and respect others...plain and simple HOW the hell is that so hard to do these days? Yes I am old school, and I pray my child does not bring children into this society, we have embarrassed our country plain and simple!!! EMBARRASSED!!!
Posted at 10:16PM on Feb 27th 2008 by GoGiants
9. To the idiot who made the comment boo hoo take it, you have got to be kidding, when your family is threatened and called names that crosses the line. I do believe that some players do deserve a bit of taunting, but when it gets to a level described by that player and you approve, you prove that you are part of the crowd that should be excluded from such sporting events.
Posted at 10:18PM on Feb 27th 2008 by nimshamunrah1
10. if he would have gone to UNC, like he should have. he wouldn't be bothered with this. his lost though.
UNC 2008 NCAA MENS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS!
MARK IT DOWN!
Posted at 10:21PM on Feb 27th 2008 by williamtarheels
11. I think it is a complete disgrace to the team that has fans like this. Making threats and lewd comments about people's families is just distasteful and uncalled for. Whatever happened to sportsman-like conduct? We hold our players to a higher standard, we as spectators should be able to have some respect and handle ourselves with dignity. Ask yourself, would you like to be treated the way you are treating these players, the answer should be no in this case. For those people that commented above, mainly Justin, you should really grow up, it's a game, to think that it's called for to use threats and insults is just out of hand. It's one thing to play around and have a good time, using humourous taunts, but making threats is another level. Those people making the threats should be held accountable, they have no right to do so.
Posted at 10:21PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Nick
12. How is Justin going to say that when was the last time an athlete was killed, maybe you haven't heard about shawn taylor. The fact is this behavior from a fan is intolerable. this goes much farther than just simple taunting, these are death threats. If someone was to threaten your life wouldn't you want action taken against them?
Posted at 10:22PM on Feb 27th 2008 by maj1723
13. If you put those punks in a locked room with Kevin, they'll learn to shut up.
Posted at 10:24PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Heath
14. Where talking about college right? The same place where, two mass murdering shootings took place! The same place where, the fans rush the court, when their teams win an upset, or a championship! I'm just sayin prosecuting taunting fans, is not far fetched!!!
Posted at 10:25PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Big Burst
15. For the love of Zeus, don't get the NCAA involved in matters like this. Everything they touch turns to sh!t.
Posted at 10:26PM on Feb 27th 2008 by insomniac
16. It is truly disgusting to here fans verbal abuse of players, coaches, opposing fans, etc... Rivals go way to far with the treatment and some action should be taken to curb the situation. The NCAA announces before each contest the treatment and sportsmanship manners and, it is totally ignored! NCAA and school officials need to enforce problems with severe penalties to curb this problem. It is already out of hand.
Posted at 10:30PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Mike
17. I didnt realize Oregon had a b-ball team. Do they give up a 100 a game like ducks football?
Posted at 10:30PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Chunk
18. hey justin you need help!
Posted at 10:30PM on Feb 27th 2008 by joe
19. I think its pathetic and shameful that fans are allowed to stay at a sporting event hurling insults like little twits. Sports events like this have young kids attending and i think more action should be taken against ruining the sports experience for everyone. Get some balls people and grow up. Throw the touble makers OUT
Posted at 10:31PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Lily
20. It is outragous how those OU fans behaved. If found they should be banned from attending further games for a long while. No student players should be subjected to that sort of uncalled for behavior, nor should their families. Just because they ended up not going to your school or in state is no excuse to behave like that. They should also be liable for terroreist threats and any other criminal fines or jail time that fits their crimes. I really feel for that family and the families of his team mates. This has attitude has no place in college or high school sports...or for that matter professional sports either.
Posted at 10:32PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Cheryl