A code of conduct

It was startling to find out that the Philippine Basketball Association, an institution in existence for 35 years, does not have a code of conduct for players or fans. This was brought into the light at the congressional committee hearing set by Rep. Amado Bagatsing earlier this week. Looking at things from a positive point of view, the Wynne Arboleda incident is giving the PBA an opportunity to make certain things right and help restore some of the polish on its image.

Although the PBA already has some advantages over the NBA, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball such as not selling alcoholic beverages, it still needs to set in place agreements between itself as an organization, the players and its patrons.

In time for the NBA All-Star game in February of 2005, the league implemented a Code of Conduct for fans. What media focused on was the limitations set on beer sales during games, and training of arena personnel in managing persons who drink during live game situations.

Some of the items in the code go as follows: “Guests will enjoy the basketball experience free from disruptive behavior, including foul or abusive language or obscene gestures. Guests will sit only in their ticketed seats and show their tickets when requested. There will not be any obscene or indecent messages on signs or clothing. Guests will not engage in fighting, throwing objects or attempting to enter the court, and those who engage in any of these actions will immediately be ejected from the game.”

The main thrust is to prevent provocative or incendiary behavior from fans, which could result in confrontation with other fans or players themselves.

After the brawl between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills, management of both the Pistons and Pacers insisted that they had their own strict rules in place, and that the incident was merely a way to motivate them to “reinforce” those rules.

The melee was ignited by fans emboldened by their inebriation and threw beer cups at the players.

In the US, the Positive Coachign Alliance, of which Cal Ripken and Phil Jackson are members, asks parents to sign an agreement before watching their kids play in most sports. The parents agree not to use foul language, or shout at their children or officials of the games. A parent may be ejected if he violates this agreement.

In the last few years, the UAAP and NCAA here have each taken it upon themselves to clamp down on unruly behavior, as well. In fact, after a fight at the end of the first San Beda-Letran game in which fans pelted the floor with debris, the leageu forbade fans from bringing in any drinks, and the few vendors allowed to sell in the venue only sold drinks in plastic cups.

Watching a game is actually a covenant between spectators and performers. There has to be an understanding that fans cannot abuse players, and players cannot assault fans. In a civilized environment, verbal abuse should not result in physical attack. No matter how badly someone curses you, you have the choice to notify higher authorities, which in this case are the security personnel at the venue. Hitting someone is an act of lawlessness and savagery.

What is also disturbing is that, after Arboleda attacked him, nobody checked on Alain Katigbac. No representative of the PBA accompanied him to the doctor, or called him the following day. That fact was overlooked in media reports, but is very telling in the relationship between the league and its paying patrons.

It was unfortunate that PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios and Burger King head coach Yeng Guiao were somehow unable to attend the hearing, being the two people who could shed light on the matters that need to be rectified. Did Guiao give instructions for his players to rough up the Smart-Gilas boys? What exactly does the commissioner’s office do in these cases? Some coaches routinely tell their designated enforcers to “send a message” to players of opposing teams. Was this the case?

One last qustion: How far can and will Congress involve itself into this matter? We have seen many instances of the Lower House and Senate conducting sports hearings “in aid of legislation” with no legislation born out of it all, a gross waste of taxpayers’ money. Let’s hope this is not one of those cases.

On the court, there are levels of punishment for bad behavior from the players. The same should apply off the court, for everyone involved in the experience of watching the games, or else it ruins the experience of everybody.