http://espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stark_jayson/1539727.html http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0416/1539745.html It sounds like baseball games are starting to be dangerous sporting events to attend. Not only do they rob you of most of your disposable income, but your children are liable to see random acts of violence, civil disobedience and irate security people and baseball players beating the snot out of "diamond" invaders. Soccer moms of the world unite and encourage your families and friends to support the family atmosphere available at soccer matches. Apart from a handful of "hardcore" fans, your average MLS fan is a kitten compared to the brutes at baseball games.
From the article: From the article: "Royals general manager Allard Baird told The Kansas City Star that the team will not play Wednesday night's game against Chicago unless he is satisfied that security at the stadium is improved." At least they're not suggesting that the White Sox be forced to play a few home games in a closed stadium. Not that anyone watching on TV would be able to tell the difference.
Re: From the article: I wish they'd mention that these dopes do NOT live in Chicago. These yahoos usually crawl out their trailers somewhere in the suburbs.
Do the Royals really bring out that much hate in the White Sox fans. These were the two same teams last year.
Re: Re: Baseball Hooligans at it again In this instance I could have phrased it "law-breaking". "Diamond" invasions are further towards the black than the white in the gray spectrum of civil disobedience. Don't mean to get into a discussion of political philosophy, but if you want to get your message across (not that these guys had a message), you don't necessarily have to resort to causing traffic jams, trampling nicely landscaped areas, violating property rights or other things. Also, many sports event invaders do their thing sans clothes, which is not always the best way to express your individual freedom at a family-type event.
I wish these would happen more often, just don;t touch the players or the umps.... I love good old fashioned hooliganism
I'm no baseball fan, but if I'm one of the players or umpires out there and a guy is running at me I'm going to defend myself. I don't know if the guy has a knife (a knife was found after the Gamboa incident). It serves anyone stupid enough to run on the field, and more than anything else at a player, coach, or umpire to get the crap beaten out of them.
Re: Re: Re: From the article: Where did you hear that? Everything I read says they have not been identified yet.
Re: Re: Baseball Hooligans at it again Defending yourself is one thing. But in each of the most infamous cases at Comiskey, the players have beat the guys up out of retribution - not for defensive purposes. I am not sure whether this is completely bad, morally. But it still isn't something that you necessarily want the kiddies to see. It is much more alien to see spectators getting wailed on by players and security than it is to see hockey players "fighting" in the NHL, etc. Kids can be taught to understand that this is a part of the game as it is constituted. But there are a lot of very difficult "Daddy, why is that man punching that man? Is it just pretend?" type questions that would arise from the baseball type of incident.
My understanding is that in the Gamboa incident, the father-son tag team, the father's case is still pending but the kid got penalized a grand total of 5 years probation. Whoop-de-doo. Everyone at Comiskey now knows that the legal ramifications of going on the field are nil. Zero deterence. On the other hand, they also know that they may well get the living tar beaten out of them, and maybe that does provide some deterrent effect. I'll tell you what I would tell my little kid in your hypothetical: Son - that man never ever should have gone on the field, he doesn't belong there and he went out there trying to hurt someone. People like that deserve to get beat up, and if you ever go out on the field like that I personally will tan your rear end.
The KC first base coach actually requested that the kid not get jail time... wonder if he's changed his tune after this latest attack
Re: Re: From the article: Truth be told, I always had more fun at Sox games than Cubs when I lived in Chicago through the '90s. You were less likely to be accidently evesdropping on drunken cellphone conversations at Comiskey, and more fans would be able to tell you the score of the game the next day. But there are a couple of yahoos giving the Sox a bad name, to say the least. Oh: saw your profile, Aries: Go Flames! (that's where I was working in the '90s)
This was an unfortunate accident, but I have noticed something. The Royals have sucked for over a decade, 1991 was their last competitive season. Now, a few weeks into the season, they are 11-2 and teams are acting like they hate them. The Indians pitcher taunting Michael Tucker last week and last night on the Chicago FSNet pregame report they were actually talking to fans and players about the "rivalry with KC". Just proves again that people love to hate the team on top.
I am sure there is more vitriol directed against teams that are successful (i.e. Braves, Yankees, ManUtd, Real Madrid, etc) but I don't think there is a higher incidence of violence perpetrated against these teams. Then how come it is New York Yankess fans who are "famous" for throwing batteries or coins. Is it because they hate their own team? Or how come the violence in the White Sox/Royals game came against a Royals coach, when the Royals were probably the MOST miserable team in baseball? I think that excessive consumption of alcohol coupled with people with an astonishing lack of judgment (irrespective of their fan allegience) are the reason for these types of incidents. That and the fact that people think running onto the field is funny, even if it is "renegade" behavior. But that doesn't apply to situations when they actually assualt someone. I don't think anyone thinks that is acceptable or funny (relative to the somewhat humorous "streaker" or vanity type pitch/diamond invaders) . . . After all, I have not heard of an increase in these types of incidents in the wake of the infamous Nike commercial, however . . .
Re: Re: Re: Baseball Hooligans at it again "I'm fat, drunk and stupid." is indeed a message. Not sure if this is what they intended to send, though. Or, they're trying to get a big payday from the counter-suit that their 'rights were violated' when they were 'unjustly' beaten up by the big, mean, old baseball players. It would make the 6 months in jail almost worth it. But, the Royals are getting better at this. I wonder if they had a 'How to beat up fat, drunken, slobbering idiots' session during spring training this year?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Baseball Hooligans at it again This plus the fact that the umpire he 'picked on' was a former US Marine and already had him in a prone position on the ground and ready to go for the baseball players to work him over by the time they got there. Stupid, stupid guy. At least he was smart enough not to run out there with the White Sox on the field (they are known for having the tallest/heaviest lineup in baseball. Lots of very strong guys).