A Syracuse Fan Actually Called Georgia Tech's Coach To Complain About Yellow Jackets Fans Chanting "Air Ball!"

TheComeback-  Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner said on his radio show that a Syracuse fan called him after the Orange’s game against the Yellow Jackets and was unhappy that fans chanted “air-ball” at Syracuse star John Gillon. According to Syracuse.com, Pastner says he told them too bad.

“I said, sir, a few things with all due respect,” Pastner said. “This is not intramurals nor is it the ‘Love Boat’ where everyone gets served cocktails at 4 p.m. I said this is men’s elite college basketball and I said the air-ball chant has gone around since Dr. James Naismith invented the game. I said, I guarantee you if one of our guys air-balled the ball at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, thirty-thousand people would be chanting airball for the entire game.”



​But...but...but...what about the poor players and their delicate feelings!? How can we possibly make sure that each high level student athlete that is perfectly unique in their own special way (sort of like a snowflake) will react positively to being reminded that their jump shot fell about 6 feet short? I want Jim Boeheim to turn his boys into men at his own pace, and the harsh reality of the "air ball!" chant is expediting the all-to-fragile maturity process faster than I - or some absolute loon of a Syracuse fan - deem acceptable! If Georgia Tech students are going to be classless than I prefer it be because they woke up hungover and went straight to the confessional instead of their lecture hall, not because they didn't respect the sanctity of some spirited, jovial competition. 

Seriously though - assuming this wasn't at all a troll job - how does a person like this come to be a fan of college athletics? This might be because phone calls have become the bane of my existence, but I can't imagine being offended to the point of looking up a number and dialing out to anyone about anything I saw take place during a basketball game. I honestly don't understand how someone could devote time, money, or energy to sports if a chant that has become more of a reactionary requirement than incessant mockery has you digging through 'The Yellow Pages'. I suppose you don't have to enjoy college kids interacting with opposing players and trying to get in their head. However, if it costs you a wink of sleep or a percentile of battery life then maybe, just maybe, find an interest that's a little more your speed....like attending Bible study and going around to nearby sermons shaking hands and saying "peace be with you" to everyone in attendance.