Student Swearing Week

As much as I like sports, I like college basketball even more. It is, without question, my favorite. I’m one of those nuts who follows every school in NCAA Division I as much as possible. I love watching everyone you’ve heard of (like the Duke Blue Devils or the UCLA Bruins) and those you probably haven’t (like the North Florida Osprey).

One of the things that makes college basketball so special is the atmosphere. Those great “gyms” that are filled to capacity with fans make the perfect setting to watch a game. And the schools where the student sections are right by the court have gotten it right. There is nothing like watching a game played at Duke (Cameron Indoor Stadium, home of the Cameron Crazies), Illinois (Assembly Hall, home of the Orange Crush) or Pittsburg (home of the Oakland Zoo). (Michigan State’s “Izzone” is pictured.)

This week, ESPN is having “Student Spirit Week” as part of its college basketball coverage. The idea is to show the game, but also devote part of the time to the students seated near the court. Interviews are a part, but the main feature is that, somehow, they are having more sound from the crowd. (I tried to look it up, but I don’t know if they are having extra microphones, or just leaving their usual mics open.)

Sadly, this has caused much to be put “on the air” that would not be allowed from any other part of the game. “Live” sporting events are actaully tape-delayed, but only for a few seconds (usually, less than 10). This short delay gives the producers a chance to hear the audio and remove offensive language. If a player is called for a foul, for example, and blurts out a curse word, the producers have time to remove that split second from the audio before sending it out to your television.

Question: why don’t they do the same when it is the fans swearing? I have watched parts of 4 of the games thus far, and have been totally embarrassed by what I was hearing. I’m not even talking about one or two fans yelling something at a player or official. I’m talking about entire student sections chanting curse words and phrases. Why aren’t these removed from the audio? It has completely ruined wonderful games (including a triple-overtime classic late last night between Texas and Oklahoma State held at Gallagher-Iba Arena).

Many people struggle with profanity. Sadly, many Christians do, too. Many are fine with their speech until they come to an athletic contest or similar endeavor. I hope none of those students I’ve been hearing this week are Christians!

Paul urged the young preacher Timothy, “[Avoid] the profane…babblings…of what is falsly called knowledge” (First Timothy 6:20, NKJV). There was no time or place restriction on that command. We need to guard our tongues at all times, even in the “heat of battle.”

ESPN, please cut the audio! I want to enjoy the games again.