Betting there’s plenty of reasons for fans’ hate

SLOANE Stephens, after losing in the U.S. Open, said she was trashed in vulgar racist terms on “social” media.

Of course, she was. Social media has become the safe harbor for hitand-run techno-vandals. One no longer needs to spray-paint the playground walls.

As I’ve received plenty of hatefilled emails, here’s my advice: Hit “delete” then move on. Never publicly play to anyone’s bigotry or hatred. It may sting to read, but, in time it becomes easier to dismiss.

Reader Bill Deletconich: Given that two days earlier, after winning her match, Stephens presumably was not targeted by such vitriol, is it possible that at least some of it came from gamblers who’d bet on her?

It can’t be dismissed. Sports once known for the civil comportment of on-site fans — tennis and golf — have steadily grown more raucous and unruly, often with TV’s mindless urging, and gamblers have more reasons than most to be bad losers.

Additionally, if spectators at this Open merely applauded a wellplayed point, ESPN ignored them. Instead, any fool who jumped up, spun around and excessively demonstrated — the Spike Lee Method, as if he’d act that way if watching alone — were rewarded with the attention they craved.

Gambling on PGA events, as invited by the PGA along with marked-up booze, has to be accountable for at least some of the increasingly disruptive and highly personal misconduct toward players.

The Ryder Cup, once celebrated for good sportsmanship among competitors and crowds, has regressed to a holy war, with missed putts and balls hit into ponds loudly cheered, and knuckleheads such as Patrick “Captain America” Reed joining TV come-ons urging spectators to prove their patriotism by acting like louts.

And now has the growth of legalized gambling increased hateful rancor toward pro golfers and tennis players, the kind once reserved for jockeys and harness drivers? I wouldn’t bet against it.