nonya
18 Dec 2008, 06:25 PM
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - An Argentine soccer team may have won their game but not before running afoul with local fowl. A player from the San Lorenzo team accidentally killed a pigeon after kicking a ball in an Argentine league playoff match.
San Lorenzo defender Gaston Aguirre's powerful clearance in the 64th minute of Wednesday's game against Tigre went toward a group of pigeons looking for seeds in the grass. An explosion of feathers followed and the pigeons flew away — except one.
"It was unfortunate. I kicked the ball and poor pigeon," he said. "Now, I will be remembered as the footballer who killed a pigeon."
Several players surrounded the wounded bird as it tried to fly away but then collapsed. Referee Saul Laverni scooped up the dead pigeon and placed it off the field.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time sports has run into to trouble with fowl. In 2001, Arizona Diamondbacks' pitcher Randy Johnson killed a dove that flew into the path of his fastball during a spring training game. And New York Yankees outfielder Dave Winfield struck down a seagull in 1983 with a warmup throw in Toronto. Both incidents were accidental.
This year, golfer Tripp Isenhour was charged with animal cruelty and killing a migratory bird after hitting a protected hawk with a golf ball because it was making too much noise during a taping of a TV show. He pleaded no contest to the charges.
San Lorenzo defender Gaston Aguirre's powerful clearance in the 64th minute of Wednesday's game against Tigre went toward a group of pigeons looking for seeds in the grass. An explosion of feathers followed and the pigeons flew away — except one.
"It was unfortunate. I kicked the ball and poor pigeon," he said. "Now, I will be remembered as the footballer who killed a pigeon."
Several players surrounded the wounded bird as it tried to fly away but then collapsed. Referee Saul Laverni scooped up the dead pigeon and placed it off the field.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time sports has run into to trouble with fowl. In 2001, Arizona Diamondbacks' pitcher Randy Johnson killed a dove that flew into the path of his fastball during a spring training game. And New York Yankees outfielder Dave Winfield struck down a seagull in 1983 with a warmup throw in Toronto. Both incidents were accidental.
This year, golfer Tripp Isenhour was charged with animal cruelty and killing a migratory bird after hitting a protected hawk with a golf ball because it was making too much noise during a taping of a TV show. He pleaded no contest to the charges.