I typically write with pride in this space, spreading good news about the leaders, servants, and learners who make our community such a strong one. Tonight I have to do the opposite, for I am feeling disappointed and ashamed of my own failure to enforce more hospitable behavior by our basketball fans this evening. When several of our students went across the bleachers to stand behind the few but raucous students from North Raleigh Christian Academy, I immediately asked them to move back. They quickly consented. When our entire student section migrated to the NRCA side about 20 minutes later, I should have sent them all back. Instead I walked over with Captain Lee, monitored our students. and felt ashamed that we had so inhospitably displaced the parents of our opponents.
I regret my lack of courage, good sense, or both - first because we can do better as hosts, and second because I ought to do better as someone who trumpets so often the virtues of respect and kindness. After the game, I fielded a series of complaints from NRCA parents and grandparents. Because they were right, I could only apologize for myself and on behalf of our school.
Luckily, I and the NRCA parents were able to separate the bad behavior in the stands from an extraordinary game on the court. The Cavs played some of their best basketball of the year. Surging to an early lead, fending off a late run by NRCA, hitting three-pointers and high-pressure free throws with calm focus, and even dunking to seal the victory - this was a tremendous Senior Night with some heroic performances. The girls varsity was equally impressive, letting their powerful senior class lead them to victory.
As our Spirit Week unfolded behind Student Council's able leadership, it was clear how much we all appreciate the fun of healthy competition. As students swarmed the court after the boys' overtime win, it was impossible not to feel pride and joy for DA. However, even after a night with two victories, two touching tributes to senior parents, a great dance team performance, and a crowd full of CavDome crazies, I couldn't help but wish that our fans (and I as an administrator) had performed as excellently as our players.
I will email the Athletic Director and Upper School Director at NRCA this evening, apologizing for our collective lack of hospitality. Based on the understanding comments of their parents after the game, I trust they'll accept that apology and that we'll have many more opportunities to show our best sportsmanship on and off the court.
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I was at the game last night, for both the Varsity boys and girls games. I enjoyed both games immensely, especially because both teams won on Senior night, which is always special. I didn't think much of the mass migration to the other side of the bleachers at the time. In fact, I was quite amused. The NRCA fans (though few in number) had begun to irritate me, specifically on one play, with their impersonation of the Cameron Crazies as David Kern stood in front of them to pass the ball in. I didn't move until most of the parents had been displaced, so I didn't see much of the initial frustration by said parents, but I have read your comments and sympathize with them. I also heard from multiple students that parents argued with them, and in one case, got in their face. I think that the move by the group made sense in that it placed us all at DA's end of the court for that half, but not because it put us in the middle of all of the parents and students. I agree with you in a sense in that the way in which we charged across was rude and tactless. However, if we had done so in an orderly and polite fashion and cheered next to or even (possibly) among them, I don't think there would have been anything wrong with that.
More embarrassing for me would have been how we would have cheered, and how we did for the entire night. I am not one to shy away from trash talking when playing video games or sports, or when talking about other pro or college sports teams, but some of the chants that I heard echoed by my fellow students were...well to be honest, downright offensive. I was so ashamed that I sat down when my fellows shouted "Brown v. Board", "We've got God", and "Support Diversity". Personal jabs at players about their hair, choice of college, or even taunts at the coach I can endure, though they too show a lack of class. But I couldn't believe some of the things people shouted. I wasn't the only one sitting down in shame when some of these chants started. I won't be a hypocrite; I stayed in the student section. I could have left, or gone and sat somewhere else. But more mortifying than the move to the other side of the bleachers were these chants. Belittling the religious affiliation of another school has, in my mind, no place in our school. We pride ourselves on our diversity as a school, and for the work of the CSI, but that doesn't give any of our students the right to criticize any lack of diversity that NRCA might have. I know that it is very difficult to prevent our students from using cheers like they did, but I felt obligated to express my shame and disappointment in our student body. I hope that in the future, my fellow students might behave differently. Thank you for your time.
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