Who started the booing anyway?? Has it gotten worse ...or is that just my imagination?? Maybe it's because my parents told my sister and I to never boo anyone .... or maybe it's because I realize how hard athletes work to get to the top of their sport and they wouldn't deliberately perform badly ....but for whatever the reason ....I always hate to hear fans boo. Not so much when it's an umpire or referee who blows a call ....or a player who plays dirty (aka: Karl Malone of the past) .... but especially when it's a good player ... who's a good guy. Don't forget .... Lidge won a lot of games for the Astros and their fans.

I remember when the Lakers last played the Rockets in the playoffs .... the entire Toyota Center crowd seemed to be shouting ..."Koby Sucks.... Koby Sucks." I thought it was pretty funny ....until I turned around and saw my young son shouting at the top of his lungs,"Koby Sucks...Koby Sucks!!" I stopped him and said ....what are you doing?? And he said ...."Koby Sucks!" We then had a short conversation about that kind of talk ....and I told him I didn't approve of such talk.

Now I'm not saying I haven't said something negative myself a time or to ..when an official has blown a call .....but watching people boo quality people like Lidge just bothers me. Don't misunderstand ....I wasn't at the game cheering for Lidge last night .....on the contrary ...I was pulling for Berkman to hit a homerun in the bottom of the 9th and maybe knock Lidge out of the game. I understand the culture of sports nowadays ...and I know if a fan buys a ticket he has every right to cheer or jeer vigorously ....but I would really enjoy games more if I never heard a boo or hissssss.