San Francisco 49ers Fans Did the Wave While Opposing Player Was Injured
By Eric He
Oct 13, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (93) signals to the crowd as he is carted off the field after an injury during the fourth quarter of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 32-20. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Late in the fourth quarter of the San Francisco 49ers 32-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona defensive end Calais Campbell laid on the field after sustaining an injury during a collision. A stretcher was brought out to transport Campbell off the field.
Meanwhile, the fans at Candlestick Park decided that this would be an opportune time to perform “the wave,” as documented on Twitter:
Not classy: #49ers fans doing the wave while Cardinals' Calais Campbell is being placed on a stretcher
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) October 13, 2013
Candlestick crowd doing the wave while Calais Campbell is down and being carted off is not a great sight. #stayclassy
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) October 13, 2013
"Coming up next on Paulie Mac's Great Moments in Candlestick Park History: fans do the wave while doctors stabilize Calais Campbell"
— Steve Berman (@BASportsGuy) October 13, 2013
After the game, several 49ers players and even CEO Jed York voiced their displeasure at what the fans.
To say I'm disappointed some fans did the wave this afternoon while @Campbell93 was down is understatement. Hope you get well soon Calais
— Jed York (@JedYork) October 14, 2013
“There is a man down there on the field getting carted off, you got fans out there doing the wave, I thought it was disrespectful,” tackle Joe Staley told Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “I know their players didn’t appreciate it, and our guys didn’t appreciate it. That’s our livelihood out there. It’s a brotherhood out there. I think that’s what makes this game so great. Just didn’t appreciate it.”
To their credit, the fans did give a standing ovation as Campbell was wheeled of the field on the stretcher, but by no means does that excuse them from performing the wave while a player was injured.
As for Campbell, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that he was taken to a local hospital and was able to move his extremities. Fortunately, he will be ok.