Blue haired UM fans
I am an older UM fan and have arthritic knees, making it difficult for me to stand for any length of time. I suppose I should just give up my long held season tickets since I prefer to actually "sit in my SEAT" that I pay for. I guess my handicap precludes me from being a UM fan?
As long as you developed arthritis from all your years standing during Michigan games, you're entitled to sit in your seat. But seriously, as long as you don't yell "down in front" during a 4th and 3rd in the 4th quarter with 1:53 left and Michigan down 3.
Also understand that some people like to stand. Attempt compromise and explain your situation to those that stand in front of you. Your handicap makes sitting during the game perfectly acceptable. You must concede, however, that there are many UM fans who sit through the game and nary voice a "Go Blue!" This bothers those of us who feel that Michigan Stadium should be a more significant advantage than it currently is.
I do make noise, and I do ask people to sit down because I want to see the action too. I just am not able to stand and enjoy the game. I hope all you young persons age gracefully without any health probelms.
It was not my intent to be derisive. I merely wanted to make the point that, like all arguments, there are two sides to this one. You clearly have the right to sit and enjoy the game. In fact, I think its great that you do. I also understand those who purchase tickets and want to be able to get excited and stand for the entire game.
This argument is similar to very large people having to buy two seats on an airplane (avoiding the question of whether or not the person is to blame for their size). It seems unfair to make one person pay for two seats. It is also unfair for someone to pay for a seat and end up only being able to sit in half of it because their co-passenger cannot confine themselves to one seat (I know this is a stretch, but it's meant as an example).
Anyways, kudos on being a loyal, long-time fan. I hope you keep making noise for a long time.
I laugh at your use of the word "stretch", very slick wordsmithing.
Just like most of the other people here, I've been yelled at to sit down. Here's how it starts:
An older person sitting in row 50, yells at me, sitting in row 48, to sit down. I oblige at first, giving the guy a clear view of the field. Unfortunately, at that point, I'm peering between standing bodies to see the field. Due to the pitch of the seating, the people obstructing my view don't obstruct the view of the gentleman behind me, so he's happy.
I grudgingly sit for a few plays, and then it's a big third down play, and dammit, I have a right to see the game too, so I stand back up. The older gentleman yells at me again. I sit back down, and peer between bodies.
After a while, alternating between getting yelled at and missing the action, I just stand up and ignore the guy. He persists. I ignore. I feel both guilt and anger, but I shut him out. I bitch about him on a message board, referring to him as a blue hair.
I go to another game, and I just ignore the damn blue hair from the opening kickoff. I'm angry. He's angry. We both know the situation. We know there is no good solution. Both sides resolve themselves to being pissed off. Angry posts about blue hairs continue, until bigblu comes along.
Unfortunately, when no compromise is possible, the stronger side wins. Every time. In this case, that means we stand. Until there is a better solution, resolve yourself to that fact.
I politely suggest that you get a seat in one of the handicapped-accessible sections. Because of the ADA lawsuit, the Big House has more wheelchair seats than the Athletic Department knows what to do with, and you'd have a clear line of sight, not to mention more legroom in a chair rather than on a bleacher.
Jackass Answer (Not Serious): The people in front of you pay for their allotted space and should be free to stand in it just as you are free to sit or stand in yours. Get better tickets or buy a luxury box.
Compromise: Set aside a section or two for old balls that want to sit and have paid their dues through the years. Just add a check box to the season renewal forms or something. You may have to move from a section you sat in for years but you'll be with other people that want to sit the entire game and don't have to bother yelling at people to sit down.
I'm sure nothing will change though and the debate will live on forever. How do other schools deal with this problem?
I hope young people age gracefully without any health problems because so many young people take these issues for granted, and without any human caring.
It's not that we don't care, honestly (at least some of us). I do care, and I try to be fair, but as someone stated above; should I then have to sit and have no view myself so that you can? Should then the entire stadium sit, so that those who don't want to stand can enjoy the game?
There is no good answer, though I do like the idea of having a separate section for those who want to sit. Better for everyone, at least a little.
as long as you make some noize while u sit
If you are handicapped, there are accessible areas set aside for you. I understand that you feel a sense of entitlement to enjoy the game, the way you see fit. The way I enjoy the game is to stand up and cheer for my team on a 3rd down play. This normally involves about 15 to 20 seconds of standing. If you can't handle that, I want to know how you get from your vehicle, into the stadium, up the ramp and into your seat. Honestly, when I get to the point that I can't stand for 15-20 seconds every few minutes, I will stop going to games. I will stay at home and sit in my recliner and watch it on TV. I do, however, agree with what Terminate Carr has to say. Just set apart a few sections for those who wish to sit.
I kind of imagine the new luxury boxes and suites will help move some of the sitters to a new location.
It's kind of funny, I'm the exact opposite. I'm 6'4" and I don't need to tell you the seats are pretty snug at the big house. And, there ain't a whole lot of leg room. My back hurt like hell the last game I was at because no one was standing. Finally, the game got a little excited in the 4th, and those in my section stood up. It was like heaven. Oh, and I'm only 26.
Same here 6'4" and 28. I go through the same thing.
If you are legally handicapped, then you can get a handicapped seat, and your post becomes moot. If you are not handicapped, then most of it really doesn't apply, anyway. I do, however, have a problem with some of your argument either way.
Your ticket basically guarantees you the seat that is on the ticket and a foot or so in front of it. It does not guarantee that you will actually see anything if you choose to sit while those in front of you choose to stand. Nor does it give you the right to expect that a thousand or so people in front of you should sit, especially when the game becomes exciting, because you want them to sit.
Also, your post seems to infer that you must go to the games to be a UM fan. I live in Florida, don't get to many games anymore, and am still a huge UM fan. In addition, many who do attend are fans of the opposing team, and some aren't even fans at all.
So, basically, you are asking if a handicap that may or may not be a legal handicap precludes you from being a UM fan? Of course it doesn't. I knew plenty of handicapped people who didn't go to games and their handicaps didn't preclude them from being UM fans. If it did, the TV ratings wouldn't be very good at all.
Anyway, in the interests of full disclosure, I turned 57 about an hour ago. When I was 19, I flunked my draft physical for what was diagnosed as a "pre-arthritic condition of the knees." In the early 90's, I lived a very active lifestyle that included bowling about fifty games a week and working about sixty hours a week.
Somehow, I fractured a thoracic vertebra during this time frame and didn't find out about it until years later, when I got x-rayed by a chiropractor who showed me the x-ray and asked me how I fractured it. Also, I turned down the spinal fusion surgery of L4 to L5 that was reccommended to me at the University of Michigan Hospital.
And out of all this physical crap, I NEVER LET IT BECOME AN EXCUSE FOR NOT HAVING A GOOD TIME, ESPECIALLY AT FOOTBALL GAMES. And I did go to about a hundred games at the Stadium during my years in Ann Arbor.
I go to HS and USF football games down here in Florida now and also see the Rays a few times a year, and am always one of the rowdiest people at the game. If I ever become too old or hurt to have fun, I will stop going.
I look at it this way:
If you can't enjoy the game at the stadium, watch it at home and let someone who will enjoy the game use your ticket. Why on earth would anyone purposely go to a game that they know they aren't going to enjoy?
Most of all, why be angry at those who DO enjoy the game?
It's not much of a home field advantage if the crowd doesn't make noise.
I would never have pegged you as 57.
I'm in the same boat somewhat. I live in Florida and don't get a chance to get to a lot of games. I try to get to one every year. Well, when you've got $100+ for two tickets to the game, and $300+ for a flight, and about $150 for the dogs to be in boarding while we're gone. At least I have family near AA, so room-and-board is pretty much free. But, now I'm at over $500 for one game only to get yelled at because I can't enjoy the game without standing up. Who's more entitled to enjoy the game??? I just think if I ever get to the point where I can't stand to see the game when I need to, I'll just sit on my ass at home and watch the game on tv, and leave the "rowdy crowd" stuff to the young'uns.
...take a good hard look....
Almost six fucking decades on this planet and it's yet to cross your delusional mind that perhaps some peoples idea of having fun at a game isn't getting inappropriately boozed up like some geezer trying to relive his heyday and screaming like a maniac?
You can enjoy the game sitting down. I support your cause, OP.
Dex:
Once again, attacking me on numerous occasions in your own schticky rag of a blog isn't good enough for you, so you have to resort to grade-school insults here.
You don't know me, but you seem to think that your suppositions are based somewhere in reality.
So, where are your facts to back up your ASSertion that I am "delusional?"
Where are your facts to back up your ASSertion that I am "inappropriately boozed up" at games?
And where are your facts to back up your stereotypical and bigoted ASSertion that I am a "geezer?"
And where are your facts to back up your ASSertion that I am "trying to relive my heyday?"
As usual, you have no facts to back up any of your bilious spewings; all you apparently have is a hatred for someone you don't even know.
And that is too bad, because when you are not spewing bile, you appear to be somewhat intelligent. Sadly, you spend more time spewing bile than you do appearing to be intelligent.
I would appreciate it if, in the future, you confined your emnity toward me to your own rag. With the exception of this response, I have allowed you to attack me on numerous occasions, choosing to demonstrate the class that you lack by not responding to you.
This time, however, I felt that your cyber-bullying has gone far enough.
So, I'll offer you a deal:
If you stop attacking me for the heinous crime of being an enthusistic UM fan with an opinion that differs from yours, I won't counterattack you by referring to you as a consdecending, arrogant, misanthropic, pathological, chain-smoking, demagogue wannabe.
Fair enough, oh great and omniscient Grand Poobah of the WLA?
-Just so Tater can't edit his post.
As usual, you have no facts to back up any of your bilious spewings; all you apparently have is a hatred for someone you don't even know.
No longer chain-smoking!
I think I just came a little.
Once again, attacking me on numerous occasions in your own schticky rag of a blog isn't good enough for you, so you have to resort to grade-school insults here.
My blog is irrelevant to this discussion.
You don't know me, but you seem to think that your suppositions are based somewhere in reality.
I know you better than you can even imagine. I've got a little tightness in my traps, as well, any suggestions? It's hard for me to play golf with all this pain.
So, where are your facts to back up your ASSertion that I am "delusional?"
Other than your repeated claim that Barry Sanders had his worst season ever when Bobby Ross was the Lions coach, except for the fact he had his best? Or that Ed Martin had nothing to do with Michigan? Or any of the other dozens of blatant lies you post and then never bother responding to when people correct you?
Where are your facts to back up your ASSertion that I am "inappropriately boozed up" at games?
You've made at least three posts pissing and moaning that Michigan doesn't serve your precious beer at games, each time someone informs you they cannot legally do that, each time you decline to admit you are a fucking moron. Possibly because you don't read responses, either out of apathy or because you are a vile troll who gets off on being grossly misinformed on every conceivable issue.
And where are your facts to back up your stereotypical and bigoted ASSertion that I am a "geezer?"
I know things.
And where are your facts to back up your ASSertion that I am "trying to relive my heyday?"
This I'll give you. I made it up, because I'm guessing reliving that one time you owned some $uckeyelololol on MLive isn't something you can do inside the stadium. Unless you bring a laptop or something.
As usual, you have no facts to back up any of your bilious spewings;
Tater? Tater? Tater calls me out for no facts?
all you apparently have is a hatred for someone you don't even know.
Steve Threet called me the other day; he was wondering why a 60 year old nozzle from Florida keeps viciously insulting him at every opportunity.
And that is too bad, because when you are not spewing bile, you appear to be somewhat intelligent. Sadly, you spend more time spewing bile than you do appearing to be intelligent.
Sadly, you spend more time thinking of witty ways to jam a $ into a rival school name than you do actually thinking about any of the "opinions" you pollute the internet with.
I would appreciate it if, in the future, you confined your emnity toward me to your own rag. With the exception of this response, I have allowed you to attack me on numerous occasions, choosing to demonstrate the class that you lack by not responding to you.
I'd appreciate it in the future if you took the Alzheimer's meds before you posted, reconnected with reality, and quit constructing the world to fit your own ridiculous opinions.
This time, however, I felt that your cyber-bullying has gone far enough.
So, I'll offer you a deal:
If you stop attacking me for the heinous crime of being an enthusistic UM fan with an opinion that differs from yours, I won't counterattack you by referring to you as a consdecending, arrogant, misanthropic, pathological, chain-smoking, demagogue wannabe.
I quit smoking. I take exception to that remark.
Fair enough, oh great and omniscient Grand Poobah of the WLA?
Please don't read out blog. Your stench, it contaminates us just by you looking at it.
If you are legally handicapped, then you can get a handicapped seat, and your post becomes moot. If you are not handicapped, then most of it really doesn't apply, anyway. I do, however, have a problem with some of your argument either way.
There are probably plenty of people out there who are not "legally handicapped" who have physical or medical issues.
You are just dripping with empathy for you fellow man, aren't you?
BlueDurham wrote:
"There are probably plenty of people out there who are not "legally handicapped" who have physical or medical issues."
Sherlock! Sherlock Holmes!!! Is that you?
"You are just dripping with empathy for you fellow man, aren't you?"
Actually, I am, but you don't know me, so you have no way of knowing whether or not I have any empathy at all.
I know plenty of people who have plenty of physical issues. They either get handicapped seats, adapt to the situation, or watch games at home. They don't go to games to be miserable and yell "down in front." And they don't play the PC or gulit trip cards or whine about their lot in life. Most of all, they don't try to turn themselves into victims who expect anywhere from a hundred to a thousand people in front of them to sit down so that they don't have to stand.
When we buy tickets, we are all equal. The one person who wants everyone to sit down is no more or less important than the other thousand who want to stand up. It's not like we are talking about a BLEEPING FOOTBALL GAME or anything.
Anyway, thanks for trying to paint me as someone who lacks empathy just because you disagree with my opinion. I know that I must be an ogre for thinking that the people who choose to stand up and yell at a football game, of all places, have any rights at all. I guess it's posters like you who really lend credence to those who insist that MgoBlog is populated by people more intelligent than those who post in other blogs.
Shouldn't you be out strummin' the six-string on the front porch swing or whatever else you all do down in Margaritaville?
"You are just dripping with empathy for you fellow man, aren't you?"
Actually, I am, but you don't know me, so you have no way of knowing whether or not I have any empathy at all.
His point, which you don't seem to have gotten, is that your statement was completely lacking in empathy. One does not need to know you to see that, in your response, you lacked empathy.
Actually, I am, but you don't know me, so you have no way of knowing ...
Now that is just rich given all of the retarded posts that you have written on various football players that you don't know. You not knowing anything about players certainly hasn't stopped you from making all kinds of ridiculous claims about them, now has it?
I know plenty of people who have plenty of physical issues. They either get handicapped seats, adapt to the situation, or watch games at home. They don't go to games to be miserable and yell "down in front." And they don't play the PC or gulit trip cards or whine about their lot in life. Most of all, they don't try to turn themselves into victims who expect anywhere from a hundred to a thousand people in front of them to sit down so that they don't have to stand.
Oh, so now we find that the "plenty" of people that you "know" are representative of all of the others with physical ailments that attend the UM games. And thus you know that these people, who you do not know, are either trying to lay a guilt trip or turn themselves into victims.
But you have plenty of empathy for your fellow man. Yeah, right, but only if that person thinks like you do.
You sure are one hypocritical bastard and a real spuds-for-brains, aren't you Tater?
Anyway, thanks for trying to paint me as someone who lacks empathy just because you disagree with my opinion.
No, you did that all by yourself, Tater.
I know that I must be an ogre for thinking that the people who choose to stand up and yell at a football game, of all places, have any rights at all. But do people who buy tickets FOR A SEAT don't have any rights to sit down and still be able to see what is going on? Why the hell are there benches there at all? You know, Tater, if you want to stand during the game, you can buy STANDING ROOM tickets rather than buying a SEAT.
This issue will never go away. One thing the "down in front" crowd doesn't understand, as one poster referenced, is that it is never just one row of people standing, it is always multiple. So if I was sitting directly in front of bigblu, I would definitely try to respect his situation and stand as little as possible. But is isn't possible, because in order to respect your condition I would have to literally miss the game. If the ten rows in front of me are standing, my sitting down to respect you means that I am disadvantaged. So sorry, I will stand.
It's discussions like these that make me happy my seats are at the very top of the stadium. And to be honest, I wouldn't trade them for any other seat (well...maybe on the 50 behind the team).
I love being able to sit and stand whenever I want and the cool breeze is a plus when it's hot out.
I agree that there's no real way this will ever get resolved. Some people just aren't into getting up and getting crazy. We can judge them if we want, but it isn't going to change things. I'm 30 and 6' 6" and I prefer to stand because it's easier on my back (as mentioned above) but I am not a guy who yells, gets crazy, and tries to get people riled up. It's just not me. That being said, I would be happy to challenge anyone of my age to have more experience going to games and be a bigger "fan" than me, I just do it differently. It's fun and all to complain, but it's never going to change.
Quick story though about my worst experience ever at Michigan Stadium. 2005 OSU game. My in laws get tickets they can't use, so I move from my regular seats (sec 22) to the ones my in laws bought to sit with my wife. We're in sec 43, about row 20 and they have the band on the field right in front of us. Of course the people down in the first row can't see over them, so they stand on their seats to see. So, obviously, everyone behind them stands on their seats to see. No big deal, right? Wrong, the people behind me are screaming at me constantly throughout the first half that I'm in their way. Like I said, I'm 6'6" so I stand out, but what am I supposed to do? I sit, I look at someone's knees. I stand down on the ground, I look at their shoulder blades, I stand on my seat, I see the game. I try to rationally explain this to the people behind me, but the screaming and name calling continue. Finally, some pompous 40 something tells me, "you need to be an adult and take responsibilities for your own actions." With that, I decide to just leave and watch on TV somewhere instead of getting in a fight. On the way out I tell the ushers about it and they say "what am I supposed to do" to which I respond "perhaps do your job instead of standing here watching the game and getting paid." I realize that wasn't really appropriate, but it felt good. Anyway, I complained to the athletic department and some associate AD (can't remember who) actually called to apologize and the band hasn't been over there since.
Anyway, I'm not really sure what the point of me writing this all out is, but it kind of relates and it felt good to get it out. :)
My seats are in Row 74. The only thing in front of me is the walkway.
So, I dont need to stand all the time, and if I were to stand just for sake of standing the whole game, it would really piss the people off behind me. There's no reason for me to stand on a play by play basis as there's nothing in front of me to obstruct my view.
We get rowdy up there and stand often, but its unfair to stand for the sake of standing up there.
That said, all of us in the immediate section have had the same tickets for years. Standing or sitting, we dont have a ton of issues. We're all old friends up there.
glad this problem doesn't happen in the student section.
We just get drunk sorostitutes arriving midway through the second quarter that ask moronic questions or chat on their cell phone (which is preferable to the questions) the whole game.
Isnt amazing the different environs in different spots in the Stadium?
I've sat in the student section as well as sections right behind the team. We stood the whole time and it was downright raucous at times. Much different than my own seats. It was fun.
And, yeah, I sat in the student section 2 years ago and heard football questions I havent heard in years. Like, why are we punting. I love drunk college chicks.....no creeper.
If you don't want to use it, you should watch the game on tv. The seats are just for eating snacks at half time. When I am unable to stand, I will watch the games on tv. That way I won't put a damper on the loud and helpful fans' good time.
The handicapped seats are fairly new, as is the arthritis in my knees. I have had my seats for many years, and don't wan't to give them up. I like the location. I just don't know why excitement and yelling has to be associated with constant standing, I don't object to occasionally standing for a big play, but often times one has to stand for the entire game to see. Maybe I will just remain home from now on. I would like to say thank you for all the warm, caring replies. The human equation is fascinating.
If you aren't willing to compromise and take the seats that are provided for people in your situation then you should just stay home.
The thousands of people on the waiting list would like to thank you.
I don't object to occasionally standing for a big play, but often times one has to stand for the entire game to see. Maybe I will just remain home from now on.
I hope that isn't the case and that you be able to continue attending the games. I have found myself that getting older isn't all that its cracked up to be, its highly overrated.
The problem with the handicapped seats (and I was trying to refer to this above) is that you may be too physically impaired to stand for much of the game, but not handicapped enough to qualify for the handicapped seating. But I really don't know what the policy would be.
Thank you Blue Durham. It is interesting your comments are supportive and yet others act like vultures circling a potential new set of 4 tickets. Understand this Terminate Carr.....these tickets will remain mine until I die! I may not use them, but neither will you.
And I do hope that you have many, many memorable games in your future.
Understand this bigblu.....I've had season tickets since I graduated so I don't give a shit what the fuck you do with your tickets. You can shred them and mix them with your metamucil for all I care. Nobody gives a shit if you go to the game or watch from home.
Obviously you didn't attend any classes at UM. And in case you hadn't noticed, Coach Carr, the guy that won a National Championship, has been retired for some time now.
1. Class of 2003
2. Carr retired? You don't say. Nothing gets buy you does it?
3. You know that there is an e in blue right?
4. You know that only ESPN and morons refer to Michigan as Big Blue right? There are several pages on this discussion. If you'd like me to point you in the right direction, just let me know.
Someone that graduated from such a prestigous institution as UM should be able to express themselves better than by using such language, my Mom taught me better, obviously yours didn't. I am not the one with a username advocating the termination of someone who has retired. You assume bigblu refers to my being a Michigan fan, when you assume you make an ASS out of U and ME. Grow up youngster.
Normally if you are going to tell someone to watch their language it is best not to use the word "ass" in the same paragraph.
wow, i sure don't sense any arrogance in this thread, i guess i was wrong in my thread a few days ago about you guys.
also, if any of you guys go to an away game, do you yell at the people there to sit down? if not, what gives you the right to yell at anybody at U of M games?
Mayo, mustard, peppers, lettuce, pickles, oil and Italian seasoning please.
sorry, we don't make those where i work. sounds good though, is that at potbelly? well, minus the italian seasoning, i could find something better than that to use