EDITORIAL - Sports no place to lose your cool

When burly Burger King guard Wynne Arboleda attacked noisy basketball spectator Alain Katigbak during a recent PBA game, it was clear from the video footages shown that he intended to inflict serious physical harm.

Arboleda leg go of a kick that landed on the crotch of Katigbak and pressed his foot on that area for a few seconds, as if to squeeze and break what was underneath it. Then he jumped up and proceeded to pummel Katigbak with a barrage of lefts and rights.

Unfortunately, the video footages shown on ABS-CBN did not show what Katigbak may have done to provoke such a violent reaction from Arboleda. According to Arboleda, Katigbak cursed him no end in front of his family. Without such footage, we only have Arboleda's word for it.

Suffice it to say, however, that the provocation must have been sufficient to make Arboleda forget the game and come at him with all his might. Knowing the heights of passion a game can stoke, we would not be surprised if some may actually say Katigbak deserved the beating.

But before we ourselves get carried away by the same passions just discussing the issue, let us not forget a few things that need to be borne in mind in order to keep basketball the decent and respectable game that it is.

First, basketball is a spectator sport. Anyone who plays the game must remember that he does not only have to contend with the players of the opposing team, he also has to contend with the hordes of screaming spectators, many of whom will be for you, and many others against you.

Those who are for you will scream their heads off to egg you on, while those against you will do everything they can to rattle, distract and insult you — in other words, make you fail to do what you are supposed to do.

Now, if you are not mentally and emotionally prepared to handle such pressures, then you have no business playing the game. Those who have learned to live with the pressure will tell you they have developed the ability to channel their emotions into greater intensity of play.

This is not to say spectators should not be reined in. They must. League organizers must start getting serious about keeping the lid on provocative behavior among fans, including banning known provocators from game venues.

Nevertheless, we go with the sanctions the PBA slapped on Arboleda — suspension without pay for the rest of the season. And since he seems unrepentant, maybe even a lifetime ban is in order. Sports is no place for those who lose their cool. Remember Tyson and Holyfield's ear?