"You'll Be Embarrassed": Crossing the Line with Mocking Cheers, Umpires Helpless

[Anchor]

Critics point out that the recent controversy over derogatory cheering stems from a culture of mocking cheers that has become rampant in student baseball. With the disappearance of sportsmanship, which emphasizes respect for the opponent, cheering that mocks not only players but even coaches has persisted.

Reporter Bae Jeonghun has the story.

[Reporter]

This is the game between Baejae High School and Gwangju Jeil High School, where the controversy over mocking the May 18 Democratic Uprising erupted.

Even before the problematic so-called "Starbucks" cheer, taunts directed at the opposing team continued throughout the game.

Some made barking sounds to distract the pitcher, while others mocked the pitcher, shouting at him to throw a ball.

Such mockery is not limited to Baejae High School.

A few years ago, during a game between rival schools in Seoul, organized cheering aimed at provoking the opposing team's pitcher continued.

[Ball, ball, ball, ball, ball.]

[Give up all the runs and get off the mound.]

Earlier this year, at a national tournament, when a first-year player stepped up to the plate, cheers mocking the opposing team's third-year ace echoed through the stadium.

[You'll be embarrassed if you get hit by a first-year.]

Professional team scouts say that "mocking cheers" have become increasingly severe over the past few years.

One scout stated that complaints from opposing teams due to mocking cheers are on the rise, and that even when umpires requested restraint, it had no effect.

A scout from another club mentioned that in a game he witnessed, there were even instances where the opposing team's coach was mocked by name. He added that he had conveyed his opinion to the teams involved, asking them to refrain from such cheering, but there was no change.

One reason why mocking cheers do not disappear is the rarity of strong disciplinary actions.

The regulations for this Blue Dragon Flag tournament, where the May 18 controversy occurred, state that "excessive cheering" can lead to a suspension of up to three games. However, there were almost no cases of actual ejection or suspension before this incident.

Experts agree that it is difficult to understand the phenomenon of rampant mockery in the baseball community, which has many unwritten rules precisely because it values consideration for the opponent.

[Yoo Hyo-sang / SBS Sports Amateur Baseball Commentator: Outside of Korea, in amateur baseball in places like Japan or the U.S., this type of cheering culture does not exist. Because there is a mindset that one must win at all costs, some parents even pressure the coaches, asking, 'Why is only our team not doing that kind of cheering? The kids are losing confidence.']

The Korea Baseball Softball Association announced plans to make prior notification prohibiting inappropriate cheering mandatory for all future tournaments and to revise related regulations to allow for strict responses to similar cases.

Reported by Bae Jeonghun | Video by Yang Du-won | Video Editing by Ha Seong-won | Graphics by Seo Seung-hyun and Hwang Se-yeon
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.