Fans shoot and beat each other in San Francisco

The next time you watch an NFL game on television or see one in person; pay close attention to the field. Pay attention to the players on both teams. Check out their mannerisms before and after the game. The most heated rivalries have best friends on opposing teams. They don't hate each other. The players will shake hands, hug and ask about each others' families. These men run, block and tackle as hard as they can, but they still realize it's only a game. It doesn't matter what the outcome of the game was or who it was against. Take Super Bowl XXXVI for example. The Rams lost a heart-breaker to the Patriots. Players from both teams could be seen in a huge circle praying together.

This isn't just a Rams-Patriots thing. Pick your rivalry - Steelers-Ravens, Packers-Bears, Chiefs-Broncos - these guys don't hate each other. You'll see them praying together, hugging, shaking hands, and smiling even after the toughest game. So, what's wrong with us as fans? Why do we take these rivalries so personally? My Rams could go 0-16 (I hope not) and the sky won't fall. They could go 16-0 and gold coins won't fall from the heavens either. It's sports people. We enjoy it, but it's not life or death. Someone needed to relay this message to the fans at the 49ers - Raiders game over the weekend. There was fighting in the stands. One man was beaten unconscious and left in a bathroom. Two more men were shot. Watch the ESPN account below (email subscribers click here). Listen to the dad of one of the victims and be careful out there. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol