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January 21, 2016
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January 21, 2016
YOU GUYS. STOP.
Is that enough? No? Ugh, ok. Let’s discuss.
Much like hoverboards and those Tasty recipe videos that are engulfing our Facebook timelines these days, “open letters” seem to be popping up just about everywhere. You guys, when exactly did this become a thing?
Once reserved for things that truly mattered, like a team moving cities or a closer rightfully running his mouth, open letters have become the go-to solution for any sports fan whose feelings get a little trampled. Your team loses? Write an open letter. An opponent celebrates beating your team? How dare they? Better write an open letter to let the world know about the horrible injustices your fanbase survived.
In some ways, I get it. After all, we are rapidly becoming a generation of people who, thanks to the ease and accessibility of social media, tend to feel entitled to shout our opinions to the world at all times. No matter how trivial, if we’ve got something to say, “YOU PEOPLE ARE GONNA HEAR ABOUT IT!” But every little thing, you guys? Every time something doesn’t go your way? Can we not? And what’s even worse than the open letter epidemic itself, I think, is that media outlets are starting to report on them like they’re news. (Spoiler alert: 99 percent of open letters are not news.)
Case in point: The latest open letter to Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, which I’m sad to say gained a fair share of media traction earlier this week. Penned by a Seattle Seahawks fan named “Sarah” following her team’s loss on Sunday, the letter expresses distaste for Cam’s post-game celebration in front of the Panthers’ home crowd — particularly when he balled up a Seahawks “Twelfth Man” flag and threw it to the turf. Originally published on Facebook, Sarah’s letter was picked up by Seattle news station KIRO7—and then eventually a whole bunch of other media outlets, too.
Take a quick peek at the “incident” in question:
https://vine.co/v/iOtHAPZtIUd
Now take a look at Sarah’s open letter, which I’m lovingly calling “Sobbing in Seattle,” in its entirety:
via KIRO7
A couple of things here, Sarah. I don’t want to immediately jump to mincing words, but you’re exaggerating. Hyperbolic language is a frequent downfall of those who write open letters, and it seems to have made its way into yours, too. Cam didn’t “pull down” that flag. He caught it in midair, and it was pretty obviously tossed to him by a Panthers fan in the crowd. (Sarah, girl, please don’t write an open letter to that Panthers fan.)
Also, I believe “like it was garbage,” is, again, going a bit overboard. He’s celebrating a victory with a smile on his face. I can’t speak for Cam, obviously, but it seems to be much more about enjoying the win with Panthers fans, and way less about purposely trying to stab Seahawk Nation in the feelings.
Like emotional exaggeration, misguided logic is also a frequent component to the open letter. Sarah, you jump right to all of the charity work Seahawks players and fans do, as if that somehow makes Cam Newton a bad person. The problem here is that literally every team in the NFL does charity work. It’s all wonderful and amazing and appreciated, but the Seahawks are not special in that regard. Second, you’re criticizing a man who literally handed out no fewer than three game balls to kids in the stands. I’m not necessarily saying Cam is a saint…but come on.
Finally, Sarah, your letter is also kind of a grammatical mess. I’m assuming your use of lowercase letters when referring to “mr. newton” is intentional, but it’s not working. Are you trying to show some kind of backhanded disrespect? Because it looks silly and is giving you an air of unprofessionalism. A quick lesson: No one will take you seriously if your writing is full of typos. Or if you use Comic Sans. (A note to whomever edits this: Please don’t let me have any typos.)1
Sarah, believe me, I understand the feeling of heartache and disappointment when your team loses. I get it. You’re frustrated. You’re mad. You’re looking for someone to blame these bad feelings on, so vilifying your opponent seems logical. I feel you.
But taking to Facebook with an open letter to lambaste Cam Newton for celebrating a win? You can do better, Sarah. We can all do better, as a matter of fact.
If you’re going to write an open letter, dearest readers, make sure it’s for something that counts. Make it worthwhile. And for the love of God, make sure it makes sense. Don’t exaggerate. Be honest. PUNCTUATE. Hire a good editor, if you have to. And if you need one, I happen to know a few.2
If you’re an upset sports fan who’s looking for a more effective, less annoying way to express your feelings, think beyond the open letter. Do something constructive. Or write a tweet to complain about it and move on. Hell, Sarah, donate to a Seahawks-endorsed charity in Cam Newton’s name, just to spite him. If you feel like someone’s being an asshole, let them be an asshole. Do something nice for somebody instead. You’ll sleep better at night. And the rest of us will see fewer open letters in our news feeds — and more of those Tasty recipe videos.
Have a great Thursday, you guys.
29 Comments
While I certainly wouldn’t mind Larry Fitz and company represent the NFC, all of the ridiculous hate Cam has gotten all year has made me root for him more, and this letter may have pushed it over the top and made me a Panthers fan.
If it does end up being Cards-Pats in the SB, they can bill it as Fitz and the Tantrums.
https://media.giphy.com/media/11R5KYi6ZdP8Z2/giphy-facebook_s.jpg
Open gif to Sarah:
http://i.imgur.com/WcIgEaV.gif
I’m the same way, regarding Cam. I was never a big Cam fan, but the insane ridiculousness of fan and media reaction to him this year has me rooting the Panthers the rest of the way, and I hope Cam Newton dances all over the crocodile tears of America.
P.S. sarah:
http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view6/1988084/namby-pamby-o.gif
http://i.imgur.com/fSHL904.gif
An open comment to all commenters:
Cam is awesome. He is responsible for what has now become a common practice of handing TD balls to the kids on the stands. Regardless of who you support, you had to get a charge out of that little girl getting a ball last weekend. She will forever be a fan.
Fans of Richard Sherman should never evoke the term “class”. This lady is a veritable cornucopia of delicious fail.
Ok, I’ll stop and let everybody else pile on.
“Much like hoverboards and those Tasty recipe videos that are engulfing our Facebook”
“Facebook”
….okay stop, I found your problem already.
good post JPF … totally agree.
oh , brother …
Okay, overwrought Sarah complained about classless jerk Newton. And I wasted my time reading about it. Not a good start to the day.
https://media.giphy.com/media/4wycNsucv3ofC/giphy.gif
I like open letters. They’re a chance for the public to ridicule the (oftentimes) stupid individuals who write them.
I just get this huge grin on my face when I think about someone bleeding for the institution of the 12th Man (which btw is hardly an original concept out in Seattle… there’s any number of colleges who pride themselves on founding the “12th man” concept. One of my favorites may be from the Pitt Panthers. When I was in college, we went to a game at their stadium and to fire up the crowd they would play a video of the head coach saying “Number 12, we need you in the game” followed by this dramatic synthesizer tone. It put a smile on my face every time). What’s next, a Steelers fan complaining about letting a Terrible Towel touch the ground?
I think it boils down to two types: People who just can’t wait to be offended, and people who just can’t wait to be persecuted by the few offenders in the minority.
Neither should be writing down their thoughts, and if they do, we shouldn’t be paying them any mind.
PS. And Jessica, I can’t stop watching those Tasty videos on my feed (even if I have never and will never make a single one).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P8zsSwA9vo
“The 12th man is a community….”
Yup, Texas A&M’s community.
http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3884289/parties_1.png
http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3884305/background_1.png
Did you miss this?
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/23/was-the-terrible-towel-incident-really-so-awful/?_r=0
well done …
Even better (and contains an unrelated shot at the Browns!)
https://actionsportsblog.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/open-letter-to-towel-stompers/
Not sure if it’s a “human” thing or maybe a “spiteful Cleveland fan” thing, but I am with you 100%. But not just on this, on just about any topic when a slew of people jump to one side, I always want to take the other side.
I always hated videos showing up in my news feed. Those tasty videos though… loving it!
https://media.giphy.com/media/TlK63ESBQYHfLKNVxba/giphy.gif
How dare a professional athlete show emotion or have fun!
http://i.imgur.com/gM2tyFJ.gif
I live in Seattle and the attention the fans get is laughable. I fully believe that Ms. Bleed Blue and Green won’t care one bit once Seattle has a few bad years. She’s just mad that they lost.
Are you calling Newton “classless,” or borrowing her term?
Which begs the question: who are the lamest fans in sports? Seahawks fans have to be up near the top, with all their loudest stadium nonsense and 12th man pride.
I’m calling him classless. I hate “look-at-me” narcissism.
But then again, I suppose dignity is overrated.