As sports and politics merge, ‘fans’ become the big losers

Halloween may be over, but in Virginia (and elsewhere), politics and sports continue the masquerade as each attempts to look more and more like the other.

The main difference between a Washington Redskins tailgate and a tea party protest is that the food tastes better at the game. And while there’ll never be much chance of mistaking parking-lot brats for brown-bag sandwiches, there’s less and less differentiating America’s sports from its politics these days.

Politics made the first move in this identity theft. Perhaps it was a ploy to boost ratings or an appeal to a segment of voters not usually listening (the president is more likely to interrupt school than a football game to make a televised speech). Or maybe it’s an attempt to tap into the “fan-dom” that values loyalty to the team over the quality of the players.

So first, politicos started to “score” everything from poll spreads to electoral college tote boards. And then they picked up the lingo: Voters became “soccer moms and NASCAR dads” and speeches included a lot of “us versus them” language. Before long, winning candidates started to sound like head coaches: “Don’t ask me to govern, I have to get ready for the next ‘game’.”

And the voters responded. Just as seeing a “Red Sox” bumper sticker may pique an inner urge in a Yankees fan to run the car off the road, now a yard sign or letter to the editor incites similar animosity.

Very few of those watching closely are rooting simply for a “good, clean, game.” Politics has become sport without the sportsmanship.

Equally disturbing is the reverse trend — sport’s attempts to mirror politics. Instead of deciding games on the field, fans now sound more like trial lawyers:

- One Southeastern Conference officiating crew was suspended for two games after complaints about penalty calls against Arkansas in their game with Florida.

- The MLB playoffs have been focused on the flaws of the umpires — including the “Fox Box,” which allows fans to moan after every blown ball and strike call.

- And the NFL? Well, no one merges politics and sports better than the Washington Redskins.

The latest chapter in the political side of that saga was played out last Monday night when security officers confiscated all fans’ signs before they entered FexEx Field (and reportedly even harassed some for displaying negative banners in the parking lots).

Apparently, Daniel Snyder and his management team would rather appear to be jackboots than take a chance of embarrassment on national television.

It’s Snyder’s team, and his stadium, and he can make any policy he likes. But when sports (or politics) becomes about signs, it leaves little doubt about the quality of the product on the field.

When the University of Virginia instituted a similar ban last year, ESPN the Magazine writer Rick Reilly advised students to carry 60,000 signs to the next game. “Because sometimes rebellion isn’t just a good thing. It’s the only thing,” he wrote.

This year, some are instructing disgruntled Redskins ticket holders to “stay home” and send a similar message with 60,000 empty seats. When that happens, the swap between politics and sports will be complete: We’ll have screaming voters and apathetic fans.

Clements’ column runs every Monday.