In the time of TikTok and Facebook videos showing horrific parent and player behavior involving game officials in all sports, here’s something you’ll be surprised to learn: In the last few years, parents, players, coaches and fans have — in general — gotten better.
I know a few of my colleagues in the zebra community may disagree, and it only takes one or two bad experiences to color perceptions forever. But, overall, the amount of unpleasantness has decreased.
I say this from my own experience. For years, I have carried a notebook with me, taking notes on various happenings at games. More than once, at season’s end, all I needed to do to write this column was go through it and describe the dumb, insensitive or offensive things I witnessed on the field or the sidelines.
For a few years now, the notebook has been nearly empty.
