Jimmy Butler sat out for a game that a young fan traveled 4,000 miles to see him play in. Art by Anthony Arroyo.
By Anthony Arroyo, Staff Reporter
On Jan. 24, a young boy from Argentina flew about 4,000 miles to see his favorite NBA star, Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat, play against the Boston Celtics.
Unfortunately for the boy, Butler was ruled out right before the game started. Although Butler made it up to the boy by meeting him later that week, there are many similar instances where fans do not get accommodated.
With professional sports, there is often a debate when it comes to the issue of players taking rest days when many fans paid their hard-earned money to see them play. It is especially devastating when some of these fans travel long distances to see these players, just for them to sit out. Over the last decade, the practice of load management, limiting an athlete’s physical activity to preserve their health and prevent injury, has been common.
Many people argue that fans are entitled and that players need to do what is best for their health, even if that means sitting out during games. While it may be true that players should prioritize their health, there should be a balance of sitting games when necessary versus sitting out games when you want to.
It is incredibly frustrating from a fan’s perspective especially when they pay so much money just for players not to take the court, as advertised.. At times, it feels like a gamble because you do not know who is going to play.
As a Los Angeles Clippers fan, I have fallen victim to this gamble many times. Our star players, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are known to rest or sit out many games during the season. Last December, I finally saw them both play live. Before that, at least one of them was always missing. Not only is this a problem for fans who attend the games, but it is also a problem for those watching at home. Unless you are a diehard fan of one of the teams that are playing or the sport itself, there is usually no reason to tune in at all if the star players are missing.
It seems players always have a say when they are advised to sit out games by management. This was never an issue 15 to 20 years ago, as pro athletes seemed to have played every game that they possibly could. During the Hall of Fame induction of the late great Kobe Bryant, his wife Vanessa mentioned that the reason Bryant played through many injuries during his playing career was because of the fans. She recalled, “I remember asking him why he couldn’t just sit a game out because he was hurting; He said, ‘What about the fans that saved up to watch me play just once?’”
The impact that fans have on the world of sports cannot be argued. Part of the reason sports leagues are successful is because of fan support. They bring in money through merchandise and ticket sales, as well as television ratings. During the pandemic, many pointed out that the atmosphere for the games without any fans just was not the same. Now that they are allowed back into the arenas, it seems like they are being taken for granted. Fans are crucial to any sport, and they should be given more acknowledgment from the players. Any time a player thinks of sitting out, they should at least take fans into consideration.
