THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: It's just a game

There have always been idiots.

Some have been just plain scary, like madmen who run nations with nuclear weapons — or on a smaller scale, you have nut cases who load up with automatic weapons and decide to open fire in schools, churches or shopping malls.

More recently, we’ve seen maniacs whose brains aren’t wired correctly use cars as weapons, driving full speed into crowds on sidewalks and that sort of thing.

Society has always been littered with occasional snipers and, on a larger scale, fanatics willing to strap bombs on themselves for whatever they choose to believe is a “higher cause.”

One of the great things about sports — the idea of a wonderful diversion — is that those who play and watch our various games and competitions can step away from the craziness of the world in general, and ...

You know, just have some fun.

I know, I know, the occasional fan (the word “fan” comes from “fanatic”) might have too many cocktails and run on the field, just to show off.

That’s been going on forever.

LATELY, though, crowds of team “supporters” and assorted ruffians in search of any available mayhem have grown in size.

And in the threats they can pose.

We’ve seen paying customers involved in brawls at NBA games, endless gangs at soccer games (not just in Europe or South America, but right down the road in Seattle) create massive slugfests, and thugs claiming allegiance to some team waiting in the parking lot to punch out fans from the opposing side.

All of this is horrendous, and ruins the entire idea of sport.

I do not condone any of it, and in fact ...

I’m worried that angry and miserable souls are beginning to take their sports-related fury to another level.

Now, it seems ...

They’re willing to attack the athletes who provide us so much joy.

I’m not referring, not in this case, to isolated incidents involving misplaced national pride — like Pakistan’s national cricket squad arriving home from an upset defeat and being pelted with rotten fruit and vegetable at the airport.

That’s taking the phrase “agony of defeat” to totally unsuitable levels.

At least, though, the Pakistani fans had a wrong-headed but vaguely understandable reason for going bonkers.

Their country had been embarrassed.

Yes, it was just a silly cricket competition, but for most Pakistani loyalists, it was a massive jolt to their pride.

You can blame overcooked nationalism for incidents like these, but that’s an argument for another day.

ON THE other hand, what “cause,” or hint of an excuse, got into a whole crowd of fans at Yankee Stadium this past weekend?

This is type of situation that seems to occur more often lately, and which makes me worry about the supposed enjoyment of attending a sporting event.

In case you haven’t seen or read this story, here’s a brief summary from The Athletic ...

Immediately following New York’s 5-4 walk-off win over the Guardians on Saturday, fans started throwing debris at Cleveland’s outfielders in right field.

One batter earlier, Cleveland’s Steven Kwan crashed into the left field fence trying to field a game-tying double.

As he was being checked for a concussion, fellow outfielder Myles Straw was seen climbing the fence to address fans (that) the players later said were celebrating Kwan’s injury.

Straw later described the shower of cans left on the warning track as a “beer parade,” adding that the fans were: “Classless, (the) worst fan base on the planet.”

“You can celebrate, chirp all you want during the game, but don’t try to get people hurt,” outfielder Oscar Mercado added.

“Honestly, at the end of the day, we’re human beings as well.”

WHY DO situations like this turn so ugly?

Most likely, if each of these can-tossing “fans” met the Cleveland players one-on-one, they’d be thrilled to talk to some major leaguers — and would probably ask for autographs.

In a mob, though, rational thought seems to disappear.

So, now ...

Somehow, we need to be educated all over again, and the absolute divide between spectators and players must be reinforced.

We can’t let the enjoyment of sports — for competitors and viewers — slip away as fan interference (and occasional violence) creeps into mainstream behavior.

You do want to be able to take your 10-year-old son or daughter to a game, yes?

If a time comes when that’s impossible, it would be heartbreaking.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball which is published monthly during the off season.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”