Celtics ban fan for two years for verbal abuse toward Boogie

[CptZoogs]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

This potential problem is what I brought up in the jazz thread.

This will end up chamging the entire experience as a fan and will eventually destroy the concept of homecourt advantage

I don’t think heckling has much of a positive affect on HCA.  For some of the better players, it would actually have a negative effect.  Think How the likes of MJ, Bird, Reggie Miller, etc. would respond to heckling.  HCA comes from the energy a crowd gives its home team.  The sheer volume a crowd can generate can also disrupt a teams ability to communicate on the floor.  Any heckler who thinks they are negatively affecting the opposing team is likely delusional.

[deadtired]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

This potential problem is what I brought up in the jazz thread.

This will end up chamging the entire experience as a fan and will eventually destroy the concept of homecourt advantage

This is a really overblown fear. I mean, when your kid is playing ball in high school, is that what you're doing - swearing at opposing high school players? You're not. You cheer for your side. You boo the other side. You don't heckle the players. Also, if booing and voicing displeasure was *really* a slippery slope, half of the crowd would be tossed every time a ref missed or made a bone head call. There'd be no one watching the game live.

And when someone is swearing at a player, it can ruin the experience for other fans. They paid for their ticket too. They want to watch the game and cheer and scream, not listen to some (drunk - always drunk it seems) person who thinks their ticket means they can behave any way they want. This is one of those common sense deals.

[Moranis]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

This potential problem is what I brought up in the jazz thread.

This will end up chamging the entire experience as a fan and will eventually destroy the concept of homecourt advantage

This is a really overblown fear. I mean, when your kid is playing ball in high school, is that what you're doing - swearing at opposing high school players? You're not. You cheer for your side. You boo the other side. You don't heckle the players. Also, if booing and voicing displeasure was *really* a slippery slope, half of the crowd would be tossed every time a ref missed or made a bone head call. There'd be no one watching the game live.

And when someone is swearing at a player, it can ruin the experience for other fans. They paid for their ticket too. They want to watch the game and cheer and scream, not listen to some (drunk - always drunk it seems) person who thinks their ticket means they can behave any way they want. This is one of those common sense deals.

Yep exactly.  If you don't behave like that while watching your kids you shouldn't behave like that any time.

[Silky]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

This potential problem is what I brought up in the jazz thread.

This will end up chamging the entire experience as a fan and will eventually destroy the concept of homecourt advantage

This is a really overblown fear. I mean, when your kid is playing ball in high school, is that what you're doing - swearing at opposing high school players? You're not. You cheer for your side. You boo the other side. You don't heckle the players. Also, if booing and voicing displeasure was *really* a slippery slope, half of the crowd would be tossed every time a ref missed or made a bone head call. There'd be no one watching the game live.

And when someone is swearing at a player, it can ruin the experience for other fans. They paid for their ticket too. They want to watch the game and cheer and scream, not listen to some (drunk - always drunk it seems) person who thinks their ticket means they can behave any way they want. This is one of those common sense deals.

Hell yeah you heckle the opposing team amd boo. Highschool onward.

And right now no one is getting kicked out for yelling at refs but it is heading down that road.

So far this year we have fans getting booted and banned for slurs. Good. Fine.

Now we have a fan getting booted for essentially heckling...no proof of slurs.

So what is next? Bannings for booings?

No cheering allowed?

No fan interaction?

[fairweatherfan]

If he said that he deserved the ban, but as a minor he does deserve a second chance once it's up.

The Celtics also of course have a major vested interest in leaguewide players and staff not thinking they'll condone that kind of language, so it makes business sense too.

[deadtired]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

This potential problem is what I brought up in the jazz thread.

This will end up chamging the entire experience as a fan and will eventually destroy the concept of homecourt advantage

This is a really overblown fear. I mean, when your kid is playing ball in high school, is that what you're doing - swearing at opposing high school players? You're not. You cheer for your side. You boo the other side. You don't heckle the players. Also, if booing and voicing displeasure was *really* a slippery slope, half of the crowd would be tossed every time a ref missed or made a bone head call. There'd be no one watching the game live.

And when someone is swearing at a player, it can ruin the experience for other fans. They paid for their ticket too. They want to watch the game and cheer and scream, not listen to some (drunk - always drunk it seems) person who thinks their ticket means they can behave any way they want. This is one of those common sense deals.

Hell yeah you heckle the opposing team amd boo. Highschool onward.

And right now no one is getting kicked out for yelling at refs but it is heading down that road.

So far this year we have fans getting booted and banned for slurs. Good. Fine.

Now we have a fan getting booted for essentially heckling...no proof of slurs.

So what is next? Bannings for booings?

No cheering allowed?

No fan interaction?

We are headed down that road? Based on what?

[CptZoogs]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

This potential problem is what I brought up in the jazz thread.

This will end up chamging the entire experience as a fan and will eventually destroy the concept of homecourt advantage

This is a really overblown fear. I mean, when your kid is playing ball in high school, is that what you're doing - swearing at opposing high school players? You're not. You cheer for your side. You boo the other side. You don't heckle the players. Also, if booing and voicing displeasure was *really* a slippery slope, half of the crowd would be tossed every time a ref missed or made a bone head call. There'd be no one watching the game live.

And when someone is swearing at a player, it can ruin the experience for other fans. They paid for their ticket too. They want to watch the game and cheer and scream, not listen to some (drunk - always drunk it seems) person who thinks their ticket means they can behave any way they want. This is one of those common sense deals.

Hell yeah you heckle the opposing team amd boo. Highschool onward.

And right now no one is getting kicked out for yelling at refs but it is heading down that road.

So far this year we have fans getting booted and banned for slurs. Good. Fine.

Now we have a fan getting booted for essentially heckling...no proof of slurs.

So what is next? Bannings for booings?

No cheering allowed?

No fan interaction?

Man, these slippery slope arguments get pretty silly.  I tell you what, if we get to the point where you can show me a fan is banned for cheering then I will cut a check for $5,000 and donate it to a charity of your choosing in your name.  Sound good?

[footey]

My two cents:

I never understood the point of personal heckling.  Who does that? I have never. Sure, you boo the opponents. But shouting insults at individual players?  No need for that.

I am skeptical when a player claims a fan shouts out the N word, yet no one else hears it.  I'm not saying it never happens. But I think more likely than not it doesn't happen.

But I understand why an NBA player, or any professional athlete, might make the accusation.  He gets tired of some entitled fan seated at or near courtside shouting personal insults at the player. If he complains that he is being yelled at, the teams really don't do anything about getting rid of the obnoxious fan. But if the player says that a racially derogatory term was used, the guy gets tossed.  Frankly, if I was in that player's shoes, I would consider doing the same thing. 

If teams put an ban on all personal heckling, this problem would get solved in two seconds.

[CptZoogs]

My two cents:

I never understood the point of personal heckling.  Who does that? I have never. Sure, you boo the opponents. But shouting insults at individual players?  No need for that.

I am skeptical when a player claims a fan shouts out the N word, yet no one else hears it.  I'm not saying it never happens. But I think more likely than not it doesn't happen.

But I understand why an NBA player, or any professional athlete, might make the accusation.  He gets tired of some entitled fan seated at or near courtside shouting personal insults at the player. If he complains that he is being yelled at, the teams really don't do anything about getting rid of the obnoxious fan. But if the player says that a racially derogatory term was used, the guy gets tossed.  Frankly, if I was in that player's shoes, I would consider doing the same thing. 

If teams put an ban on all personal heckling, this problem would get solved in two seconds.

Here is the actual NBA fan code of conduct:
https://www.nba.com/nba-fan-code-of-conduct

I suppose personal heckling could fall under "• Guests will enjoy the basketball experience free from disruptive behavior, including foul or abusive language or obscene gestures."  It all depends on what meets the standard of abusive language.  Does yelling at LeBron that he sucks constitute abusive language?  Perhaps they could do a better job of defining these guidlines.

[BringToughnessBack]

I am all for punishing fans who overstep their boundaries like this. It also makes for a bad experience for those fans sitting around him and having to hear that garbage for the entire game. Imagine being the family that saves up all year to take their children to a game and getting stuck right near that loud mouth abusive fan. Show some class as fans. Just because it is the enemy team does not give you a right to be sub human scum.

[BringToughnessBack]

My two cents:

I never understood the point of personal heckling.  Who does that? I have never. Sure, you boo the opponents. But shouting insults at individual players?  No need for that.

I am skeptical when a player claims a fan shouts out the N word, yet no one else hears it.  I'm not saying it never happens. But I think more likely than not it doesn't happen.

But I understand why an NBA player, or any professional athlete, might make the accusation.  He gets tired of some entitled fan seated at or near courtside shouting personal insults at the player. If he complains that he is being yelled at, the teams really don't do anything about getting rid of the obnoxious fan. But if the player says that a racially derogatory term was used, the guy gets tossed.  Frankly, if I was in that player's shoes, I would consider doing the same thing. 

If teams put an ban on all personal heckling, this problem would get solved in two seconds.

Well said. I agree with everything you said here.

[Moranis]

My two cents:

I never understood the point of personal heckling.  Who does that? I have never. Sure, you boo the opponents. But shouting insults at individual players?  No need for that.

I am skeptical when a player claims a fan shouts out the N word, yet no one else hears it.  I'm not saying it never happens. But I think more likely than not it doesn't happen.

But I understand why an NBA player, or any professional athlete, might make the accusation.  He gets tired of some entitled fan seated at or near courtside shouting personal insults at the player. If he complains that he is being yelled at, the teams really don't do anything about getting rid of the obnoxious fan. But if the player says that a racially derogatory term was used, the guy gets tossed.  Frankly, if I was in that player's shoes, I would consider doing the same thing. 

If teams put an ban on all personal heckling, this problem would get solved in two seconds.

It also might sound like a racial slur from far away.  Lots of words sound the same. 

[Silky]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

This potential problem is what I brought up in the jazz thread.

This will end up chamging the entire experience as a fan and will eventually destroy the concept of homecourt advantage

This is a really overblown fear. I mean, when your kid is playing ball in high school, is that what you're doing - swearing at opposing high school players? You're not. You cheer for your side. You boo the other side. You don't heckle the players. Also, if booing and voicing displeasure was *really* a slippery slope, half of the crowd would be tossed every time a ref missed or made a bone head call. There'd be no one watching the game live.

And when someone is swearing at a player, it can ruin the experience for other fans. They paid for their ticket too. They want to watch the game and cheer and scream, not listen to some (drunk - always drunk it seems) person who thinks their ticket means they can behave any way they want. This is one of those common sense deals.

Hell yeah you heckle the opposing team amd boo. Highschool onward.

And right now no one is getting kicked out for yelling at refs but it is heading down that road.

So far this year we have fans getting booted and banned for slurs. Good. Fine.

Now we have a fan getting booted for essentially heckling...no proof of slurs.

So what is next? Bannings for booings?

No cheering allowed?

No fan interaction?

We are headed down that road? Based on what?

Based on what has happened so far this season.

It will continue to happen more and more.

[Silky]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

This potential problem is what I brought up in the jazz thread.

This will end up chamging the entire experience as a fan and will eventually destroy the concept of homecourt advantage

This is a really overblown fear. I mean, when your kid is playing ball in high school, is that what you're doing - swearing at opposing high school players? You're not. You cheer for your side. You boo the other side. You don't heckle the players. Also, if booing and voicing displeasure was *really* a slippery slope, half of the crowd would be tossed every time a ref missed or made a bone head call. There'd be no one watching the game live.

And when someone is swearing at a player, it can ruin the experience for other fans. They paid for their ticket too. They want to watch the game and cheer and scream, not listen to some (drunk - always drunk it seems) person who thinks their ticket means they can behave any way they want. This is one of those common sense deals.

Hell yeah you heckle the opposing team amd boo. Highschool onward.

And right now no one is getting kicked out for yelling at refs but it is heading down that road.

So far this year we have fans getting booted and banned for slurs. Good. Fine.

Now we have a fan getting booted for essentially heckling...no proof of slurs.

So what is next? Bannings for booings?

No cheering allowed?

No fan interaction?

Man, these slippery slope arguments get pretty silly.  I tell you what, if we get to the point where you can show me a fan is banned for cheering then I will cut a check for $5,000 and donate it to a charity of your choosing in your name.  Sound good?

If team start preventing fans from booing and heckling it will only be a matter of time before fans will not be allowed to cheer. Perhaps not hometown fans but a celtics fan watching the game in la will be prohibitted from cheering for boston because it will upset someone in section 15 row j that saved up all year to go watch lebron.

[footey]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

This potential problem is what I brought up in the jazz thread.

This will end up chamging the entire experience as a fan and will eventually destroy the concept of homecourt advantage

This is a really overblown fear. I mean, when your kid is playing ball in high school, is that what you're doing - swearing at opposing high school players? You're not. You cheer for your side. You boo the other side. You don't heckle the players. Also, if booing and voicing displeasure was *really* a slippery slope, half of the crowd would be tossed every time a ref missed or made a bone head call. There'd be no one watching the game live.

And when someone is swearing at a player, it can ruin the experience for other fans. They paid for their ticket too. They want to watch the game and cheer and scream, not listen to some (drunk - always drunk it seems) person who thinks their ticket means they can behave any way they want. This is one of those common sense deals.

Hell yeah you heckle the opposing team amd boo. Highschool onward.

And right now no one is getting kicked out for yelling at refs but it is heading down that road.

So far this year we have fans getting booted and banned for slurs. Good. Fine.

Now we have a fan getting booted for essentially heckling...no proof of slurs.

So what is next? Bannings for booings?

No cheering allowed?

No fan interaction?

Man, these slippery slope arguments get pretty silly.  I tell you what, if we get to the point where you can show me a fan is banned for cheering then I will cut a check for $5,000 and donate it to a charity of your choosing in your name.  Sound good?

If team start preventing fans from booing and heckling it will only be a matter of time before fans will not be allowed to cheer. Perhaps not hometown fans but a celtics fan watching the game in la will be prohibitted from cheering for boston because it will upset someone in section 15 row j that saved up all year to go watch lebron.

Booing and heckling are two different things, completely.  Especially when the heckling is directly related to a particular player.