Boo Hoo: Fans can ‘boo’ if they want

Nov 17, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Raiders safety Charles Woodson (24) and cornerback Mike Jenkins (21) force a fumble by Houston Texans running back Ben Tate (44) in the fourth quarter at Reliant Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Texans 28-23. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

I have a massive amount of respect for Houston Texans running back Ben Tate, but if a fan wants to boo any team, including their own … so be it.

Tate is the absolute toughest player in the NFL this season, as he’s been playing the running back position with cracked ribs. Bringing up the topic about the fans booing the Texans Sunday isn’t going to get him or the Texans anywhere.

Tate said on Sunday in an article on the Houston Chronicle:

"“These fans here in Houston are so up and down and so wishy-washy. I’m just shocked at that because this organization has come a long way. I just feel like if you’re a true fan, you stick with the team through the tough times and we’re going through a tough time right now.”"

My No. 1 pet-peeve in sports is when pro athletes complain about the fans. So what, if a fan wants to boo, let them boo. It is just a game. Just get over it.

Players just need to take it and go on with their day. That’s it.

Complaining about the fans won’t make anything better, especially if the team they are booing is 2-8 overall and losers of eight consecutive games. Win a game once every month and maybe the booing will stop. Do they want the fans to cheer or just sit there in silence when they screw up?

Keep losing and they won’t have any fans to play in front of … that will stop the booing, right?

We’ve all booed (or at least yelled at) a team at some point that we cheer for, whether it be the Texans, a college team or a baseball team … booing happens.

Booing “your own team” doesn’t make a person a bigger fan or less of a fan, it just means they aren’t happy with the product they are paying to see. Booing is just a quick, simple way for those in charge you are unhappy with the product they are putting onto the field.

Sometime a team needs booed every now and again to keep them honest.