Cherry Hill High School East’s lack of sportsmanship is appalling to me. I know that the boys’ basketball team had a great season, but it is important to point out East’s character (or lack thereof) and not just our successes. I attended my first basketball games this year. I watched the semi-final boys basketball game and the finals basketball game, which happened on March 4 and March 7. I was excited to be in the stands and cheer on the basketball team with my friends. This was supposed to be a positive and pleasurable experience. However, after I heard the nasty cheers that we were chanting, I quickly felt uncomfortable and embarrassed to be representing East. The East culture surrounding sports is extremely toxic and this type of behavior should not be tolerated.
At the game before the semi-finals, there was a player on the other team who had a receding hairline. Whenever this player had the ball, the East fans would shout “baldy.” This is bullying and it is not acceptable. If an East student called another East student “baldy,” this could be cited as an instance of HIB (Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying.) Why is it okay to treat a student from another school this way? We should not be singling players out for their appearances. I am in favor of supporting your team and cheering for them, but not at the expense of targeting other players and humiliating them. If I were on the opposing team, I would never want to return to East. We are inhospitable and unkind.
We act the way we are taught how not to act. Yet for some reason, it is not only okay but encouraged, to act this way at the basketball games.
At the final game against Lenape, our behavior was reprehensible. Someone from East printed out pictures of a player on Lenape missing an attempted dunk. Some fans from East held up the photos throughout the game. Also, another player on the other team has a child. Whenever this player had the ball, East chanted “Baby Daddy” and at one point in the game when this player had received a foul and was shooting free throws, East fans started to chant “Wear a condom.” We should not bring up team members’ personal lives as a weapon. It is not appropriate. Why do we act like we are better than the other team? As if no one from East has made bad choices or wished for a second chance. Our opponents should not be worried that their personal lives will be broadcasted to the entire crowd of supporters at the game.
Furthermore, at this game, we cheered “Rutgers Camden” because a player from Lenape committed to play basketball there. In accordance with that, we also chanted “Big Ten Bozo” to signify that this player is not good enough to play for Rutgers New Brunswick.
I want to encourage you that when you attend sporting events next year, you do not just chime in with these chants to fit in with the crowd. Just because this has been the culture at East games for the past ten years, does not mean that this should continue. Confront your friends and tell them that this is not how they should be treating other humans. We should all be more kind and take responsibility for our actions. If you believe that the cheers are offensive and disrespectful, don’t join in. Do not become part of the mob. Make the choice that you know is right. We should be doing everything in our power to make East a more welcoming and warm community. However, right now, East is being represented in a horrible light and showing our surrounding community who we are as competitors, athletes, and human beings.