Basic human decency

W
hen we think about sportsmanship, the tendency is to consider sportsmanship exhibited by players or athletes who are competing. 
We think about the character they display and how they conduct themselves in whatever venue they are playing.
However, sportsmanship extends beyond the court or the field, the mat or the pool. It encompasses coaches, officials and fans as well as athletes.
The other day, I saw a post on Facebook which consisted of just a picture. In the photo, a female high school basketball player was inbounding the ball on the sideline in front of her opponent’s student section. 
At least, I feel safe in assuming it is her opponent’s student section.
The picture screamed a thousand words, and most of them were not good. As the player is waiting to pass the ball inbounds, she has many boys taunting her in the background. One is even leaned over and whispering in her ear.
She is exhibiting no signs of distress and appears to be entirely focused on the game, however the message being sent is clear.
Immediately, I felt that this situation was not okay, and I expected to see similar opinions
as I clicked on the comments for the picture.
To my dismay, I actually saw more people comment that they were not offended by the image and the obvious display of extraordinarily poor sportsmanship!
People commented that putting up with fans is part of the game and if you want to play, you need to toughen up.
Or, life is hard and you need to be able to take it if you are going to succeed. You have to learn to tune that out.
Or, it’s only because the player is a girl being taunted by boys that people might be upset. I totally had to shake my head about that one.
Or, people who don’t think it’s okay just have a participation trophy mentality.
Or, how is it any different than when
people make noise when a player is at the
free-throw line? 
My first response was, since when is it straight up acceptable to be horrible to people, regardless of the situation? 
This is not the same as making noise when a player is in the middle of the court. The young man whispering in her ear was not inhibited by social parameters because only she could hear him, and I would just about guarantee that what he was saying quietly, he would never have yelled across a gym.
In no other sport can the fans be that up close and personal as they can in a basketball game. I recall an incident several years ago when one of our Lady Dogies was physically grabbed by the opposing team’s student section when she was inbounding the ball in front of them. 
That was not okay.
At this same location a few years later, I sat next to the student section and was astonished to hear the sexual harassment our ladies had to endure during a volleyball game. I spoke to the students and to the athletic director about the behavior and was brushed off by both.
That was not okay.
Players know that the other team’s fans are going to taunt them, that is true. However no players — male or female — should be subjected to intimidation or just plain harassment by fans watching a sporting event. 
I know that it’s been a long time since I was a player on the court, and that the game has changed a lot since then, but the expectation of basic human decency hasn’t. It’s not okay to treat any person like that young lady was being treated while she was playing a game.