Proud yet Ashamed

This past weekend we traveled to Las Vegas to play a tough team in the Las Vegas Outlaws. Not expecting to see a sign that advertised a room at $49 a night or $2 shrimp cocktails. No, this was the Vegas that was set in Northern New Mexico. A town that was always promised to be beautiful and friendly. Beautiful yes, friendly, not so much. With the exception of the 5 fans of the Outlaws and a big lineman that played for the Outlaws. I do apologize for not remembering his name.

But why talk about what happened? It was embarassing to be a part of semi pro football. I was ashamed to be called a fan and a member. I am going to make some people mad, but I have to tell the truth, no matter what happens. Here's why:

The Roughnecks did win 40 - 0. I am happy about that, who wouldn't be. But what I am not proud of are the actions of most of the Outlaws during the game, their fans and a few of our Roughneck players.

I know that fans will be fans and they heckle, that's part of the game. Players are players they trash talk and intimidate, that's part of the game. But when fans are threatening to shoot players of the opposing team (fans-Outlaws/opposing team-Roughnecks) and they speak ill of their kids and wives and get their own kids to cuss out the Roughnecks players, that takes it too far. The fans were the players friends, wives and relatives and they were an embarassment to what this game stands for.

The Outlaws were brash and very unprofessional, or semi-unprofessional. If they were professional they would dare not act the way they did on Saturday. Yes it's just a game, yes they are adults, but more the reason to show and act repectful in all areas of the game.

They couldn't beat the Roughnecks fair and square so they taunted. The owner or coach of the Outlaws cursed at the refs until he was ejected for a personal fowl against a Rougneck. He continued to stay on the sideline and taunt. Yelling filthy dirty words with no regard of the children on the sideline who helped with their water.

The Outlaws QB #17, got mad and threw his helmet and cursed at the officials. The last time I checked, that was reason for ejection. But he was allowed to stay and play. From what I saw, only a few players of the Outlaws held their tounges and played the game. Only a few fans were ashamed of their hometown team and made it clear to me that they were. If not for thier relative playing on the team, they would have left.

But were some of our players, the Roughnecks, perfect? No. Because of the trash talking, some of our players fell into the ploy and reacted with anger. Again, the Outlaws could not match up to the Roughnecks, so they resorted to headgames and they were good at it. The Roughnecks fell into the firey sharp tounges and almost, almost fell totally apart.

Coaches on the field yelling at players, players arguing on the sidelines, people getting upset and not letting people do what they do. I was ashamed to be a part of semi-pro football at that moment and if anyone was around me, they could tell.

When did this game become a stomping ground for guys to act like idiots and jerks and have no respect or regard for others teams, or their families? Isn't this supposed to be a fun family event? It wasn't on Saturday.

Let me give the entire league a bit of advice. Get back to playing for your comminuty. Get back to being a role model for your children and others to follow. If your wondering why your community doesn't support you, maybe this past Saturday showed why. Be adults, be upstanding.

Roughnecks, you are a good team, you have all the talent that other teams wish they had. At the start of the season, you stated that you wanted to set an example of how other teams across the league and country should be. Don't lose that goal. Work hard to get there and show repsect along the way.

Other teams are giving you a label of thugs and criminals. Let them talk. You are better than that, you know what you are and where you can go. You have the ability to be great and do something that other teams have not done in semi pro ball in over 30 years! And that's change the image of this sport at this level. You may not realize this, but people of this community want and need something to get behind. They look to you. Don't let them, or you down. I would rather see a team lose every game and be upstanding and graceful, then to see them win everygame and be what their opponents brought the down to be.

Well Outlaws, if the game was played mentally, then you won 4o - 0. But the game is phyical. And the Roughnecks did win 40 - 0.