Baldwin not happy with ‘farcical, unnecessary’ drums in UAAP games

MANILA, Philippines – New Ateneo consultant Tab Baldwin experienced his first win with the Blue Eagles when they defeated the UST Growling Tigers on the opening day of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament on Sunday, September 4. But after the game, the 58-year-old voiced his displeasure with the noise from the drums inside the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Baldwin, who’s also the head coach of the Philippine men’s national basketball team, explained he’d prefer to hear from the fans watching in attendance instead of what he feels is “artificial” noise. In what’s become something of a tradition, drums are usually brought by the pep squads of both playing schools during UAAP basketball games.

“I would be a lot more impressed if the noise was made by the fans instead of a bunch of drums,” Baldwin said after getting asked about the environment at The Big Dome in his first UAAP game.

“I don’t really believe in artificial noise in indoor stadiums. I think we have very enthusiastic and energetic fans. It would be nice to hear them.”

Baldwin was particularly unhappy that the noise made it difficult for Ateneo to communicate during its game against UST.

“It would be nice to hear a team that’s on a run be supported by their fans, instead of the other team banging their drums so the players can’t communicate on the floor, the coaches can’t communicate with the players.

“To be perfectly honest, it’s farcical, because basketball is a game of communication. Because it’s so fast-moving and there’s so much interaction between the players, and when you eliminate that aspect, you introduce a lot more mistakes into the game because the players and coaches can’t communicate with one another.”

The American-Kiwi head coach also noted that relying on noise created from fan support will show how solid a school’s fan base is when its basketball team is trailing in a game.

“Use that word – I believe it is farcical. I also believe it’s unnecessary, because you’ve got tremendous number of very enthusiastic fans that will sit up there and they will make appropriate noise. When their team is on a run, that would give them a lot of support. And when their team’s struggling, we’ll see if they’ll support their team when they’re struggling. That’s the way it should be. Anything else is artificial and I’m just not an artificial guy. I’m kind of a real guy.”

Baldwin, however, also pointed out that he doesn’t take anything against those whose job it is to create noise with the drums during game action. “Nothing against the actual people who are up there banging the drums and all of that – that’s their job,” he said.

“I’m against it being allowed to take place. I’m not against the people who are doing it. They’re doing their job. They’re doing a heck of a job. But it doesn’t do anything for me, except just drown out the opportunity to communicate.”

The head coach then continued, “If it’s the Sto. Tomas fans drowning out the ability to communicate, man I’ll applaud them. I would give them all the kudos in the world. But a bunch of drummers? No. I’ll bring a brass section in here the next game and we’ll drown out all the drums. What are we trying to do? I’ve been in stadiums all over the world. I’ve seen crowds that were flat-out intimidating because of the noise they could lay on you. But drums doesn’t intimidate anybody.”

Baldwin and the Blue Eagles will be back in action next Sunday, September 11, for a match against the NU Bulldogs. – Rappler.com