As if the University of Maine needs anymore negative press, Maine
officials and fans showed poor sportsmanship at Sunday afternoon's
Hockey East game against UMass-Lowell at Alfond Arena. With four
minutes remaining and Maine down 5-0, the message board operator
scrolled "Maine loves the NCAA. Not!!!" two or three times. Be-
fore doing that, "Merry Christmas Lowell" was scrolled.
 
What the Lowell message really meant may be known only to the
message operator, but throughout the game Maine fans were all over
Lowell players for "taking dives,"  being "cry babies" (goalie
Roloson in particular), and taking "cheap shots" at Maine players.
It was not a pretty sight from behind the goal on the north end
of the arena.
 
Clearly the NCAA message was out of line to be displayed only to
get the crowd riled-up. Do Maine fans know what respect is?
 
The game officials weren't immune either. If the fans had any say,
Maine played a clean game and Lowell played dirty and cheap. This
was not the case. Lowell did not play dirty and cheap. Lowell
played aggressively while Maine went through the motions. Maine
players were more concerned with pushing back and protecting them-
selves, rather than letting the officials take care of things.
 
Maine has fallen on hard times. Run-ins with the NCAA, injuries,
and inexperience. Frustration is only natural. However, Maine
fans and players should channel their frustration to more pro-
ductive endeavors, like staying for the entire game instead of
leaving after the 50/50 raffle, and focusing on hockey, not self-
defense. As Ben Kenobi said in Star Wars: "Use the force, let it
guide your actions." Moral of the story: Anger will get you no-
where. Learn to control it.
 
Ryan Robbins
Stodder Hall
University of Maine
 
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