When we are young and part of a team we are always taught to push our personal wants and needs aside, and strive to achieve the goals of the team. You see examples of successful teams on television all the time, celebrating together when they accomplish life long goals. These teams exemplify the importance of working towards a common goal together, and pushing selfish needs aside. Why is it then that nowadays, when a team follows these same steps towards success but falls short, do people begin to point fingers? I am a strong believer that no matter what happens within any sporting event there is never one reason for failure. No one person is ever fully at fault and should ever become a scapegoat.

Arguably the most famous scapegoat in the history of sports is Bill Buckner, who was the first baseman for the Boston Red Sox during the 1986 World Series. In the bottom of the ninth inning of game six, Buckner will forever be remembered for costing his team its first world championship in almost 70 years. Bill Buckner’s life changed that day forever, as he watched that slow rolling ground ball go between his legs and trickle into the outfield as if in slow motion. What always gets me about this story is that nobody ever talks about how relief pitcher Bob Stanley gave up a free run on a wild pitch that tied the game, or how he was so slow that he would have never covered first base if the ball had not slid through Buckner’s legs. Calvin Schiraldi, who was a relief pitcher for the Red Sox, is also absent when people talk about this infamous game, despite having given up three straight singles in the ninth inning with two outs that would have given Boston its championship.

The very sad part about this story is how Bill Buckner was cast out by the city of Boston and its relentless media. Between the death threats to his wife and family and the constant berating that he received from fans, his time in Boston had come to a close. This is the part of sports that really needs to change, because outside of the field of play these athletes are people. No matter what any incompetent fan or media member says, it was never Bill Buckner’s fault that the Red Sox lost the 1986 World Series. People always look for someone to put the blame on to relieve whatever hurt or pain they are experiencing, which is completely wrong.

I can’t imagine what it would feel like to become the person that takes total blame for him or her losing their team a game. The bigger question is, what type of person do you have to be to alienate somebody to the point where their life is threatened? Ask the fans of the Chicago Cubs, who in 2003 turned an everyday fan into number one on their most wanted list. During game six of National League Championship Series (NLCS) lifelong Cub’s fan Steve Bartman knocked a would-be foul ball out of left fielder Moises Alou’s glove, which would have put them three outs away from the World Series. Following the play the Florida Marlins went on to score eight runs and win the game, while turning Steve Bartman into one of the most memorable scapegoats of our time. This one play was credited by the fans and the media for being the reason the Chicago Cubs didn’t have a chance to win their first World Series in nearly a century. Bartman was forced to leave Chicago because of the numerous death threats he received for his actions on that fateful night. This story almost makes me even more sick than the Buckner story because you are singling out a fan, who has no control over any part of the game, and turning him into the reason that your team lost. The fans of the Chicago Cubs and the media should be ashamed of themselves for treating him this way, and ultimately making him live the rest of his life in fear. Was it his fault that the Cubs pitching staff went on to render eight runs in the inning? Is it somehow on him that golden glove short stop Alex Gonzales boots a tailor-made double play immediately following the foul ball?  Absolutely not; but people still proceeded to blame him for their team’s misfortunes.

In 2008, Bill Buckner was welcomed back to Boston to throw out the first pitch on opening day. Fenway Park proceeded to give him a nearly five minute standing ovation as a sign of gratitude for the great years he had given to their organization. Buckner said later that it was incredibly hard for him to forgive the fans and media in Boston for putting him and his family through the hell that they did. Time has a tendency to heal wounds, but if the Red Sox wouldn’t have won the World Series in 2004 and 2007 would they have ever forgiven Bill Buckner?

When you really think about it does anyone feel worse than the athletes that make the mistake that costs his or her team the game? I’m sure that Steve Bartman and Bill Buckner felt at their absolute lowest point, but in retrospect it was never their fault to begin with. Did their plays impact the game? Absolutely they did, but the blame should have never been solely placed on them, because so many factors play into a nine inning baseball game. It just appalls me that people can be so heartless about a game, and will go to such extreme lengths to cast out those they feel are at fault.

These are two of the most famous example of scapegoating, but this behavior occurs on a day-to-day basis at some level or another. Whether it’s a kid playing pop warner football who drops a pass, or professional basketball player that misses two free throws, people are inclined to lay blame on one single action of an event. If we can teach the importance of unity and togetherness at a young age we might be able to prevent this behavior from ever occurring as we move forward.  Children need to be taught at a young age that the team wins together, and loses together, but absolutely never points fingers at one another.