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RIP

that said, you were fine to boo all you wanted.

$15.5m of career American earnings can buy any necessary therapy needed. Sounds harsh but it is part of the deal with professional sports. I'm sorry he killed himself, you should feel no pain other than that.

Thanks BL.

Peter,

I don't think you should feel that you somehow share responsibility to some degree -- no matter how small -- in Irabu's suicide. From what I've read, Irabu had some personal problems -- his wife recently took their two daughters and left him, he seems to have had a temper, sometimes drank too much. I think he was simply a troubled man, His career here in the States obviously didn't work out as he'd hoped. He probably felt at least a little humiliated by that.

That having been said, I don't attend many sporting events but I have never booed and I've certainly never directed any vulgarities at anyone - players or fans -- at any time. Behaving that way just wouldn't feel right to me. Most people would probably think that's a ridiculous way to look at it, but it's how I feel. i don't care how much money athletes make, I don't see how that gives me the right to be abusive. And as you said, who am I to decide someone really doesn't care about their performance on the field. How could I possibly know what's going on in their heads and hearts?

Peter - I read that Irabu recently had a separation or divorce and it is believed that was the source of whatever made him do what he did.

On the topic of booing at sporting events, I took the opportunity to blog on my site about my opinions on it.

http://blmeanie.weebly.com/blueblog.html

Greg/BL

I am sure you both are right and without getting too psychological here I think basic depression has to be a big part of the equation.

And Greg,

I totally agree with you about the vulgarities. I have never directed a vulgarity at a player and I would never use one from the stands in a game.

And BL, welcome back to blogging!

Peter, players are human, but so are you. Just the orther day I wrote about JD Drew and how I think he just doesn't care. But how do I really know? I don't, no one does.

I think pro athletes enter their realm with the understanding that they are under the microscope and need to have some thickness in their skin. Certainly fans have no right to cross the line and get personal, but a boo is just a reflection of the paying customer's feelings.

Sounds like Irabu did indeed have some demons and a lack of booing wouldn't have made a difference.

And for what it is worth, while you may never have directed any vulgarities at players, you have towards fans. Specifically every time you and I attend a game together. Oh the tears I shed...

Andy

lol @ Andy's post

I've suffered the professional equivalent of booing -- i.e., client dissatisfaction and dealing with difficult, belligerent personalities. It's easy enough to deal with, though there are some people who seem to take special pleasure in the special skill they have in making a bad situation as unpleasant as possible.

Simple booing at a sporting event is nothing to feel ashamed about. If things aren't going well, I have no problem in hearing about it from my clients. You might as well get it out there and deal with it. You didn't send him hate mail or say something particularly hurtful about his wife that he was able to hear. So don't feel bad.

My own philosophy is I almost never boo. The Twins have a closer, Matt Capps, who has been absolutely awful this year. He's blown some big games by walking people and then laying in some meatballs. He's been booed by even the "Minnesota Nice" fans, but I see no reason to join in. He knows he's not doing the job, and he's obviously trying his best. I'll only boo a bad call or a guy who's obviously not trying.

Andy

I took the liberty of printing out your last post and sending it to J.D. Drew with your return address at the bottom. I figured you wouldn't have time to do it.

Corey

I like your philosophy on booing and thanks for your comments.