On Field Incident in Chicago

[Henry4MVP]

Another thing that would help us out is if stupid fans would stop rushing the field during games. I'm a White Sox fan, but I'm glad I don't live in Chicago.

[thegame]

I want to see Mike Wilbon's reaction to that incident on today's Pardon the Interruption.

How classless, what is wrong with Chi Town these days?

[Henry4MVP]

Who knows? They need to either beef up the security or start fining those people about $10,000 a pop.

[EricStratton]

It's got to be the punishment after the fact.

Aside from hockey glass around the field it's just to hard to prevent a guy from getting on the field if they really want to.

[The REAL Sabres]

Royals say they won't play unless security is improved

CHICAGO -- First base umpire Laz Diaz turned to watch a fly ball that was hit along the right-field line. A split-second later, a fan was grabbing him around the waist.

Just seven months after Kansas City coach Tom Gamboa was assaulted by a father and son who'd run on the same field, another fan at the Chicago White Sox's home park was shockingly attacking Diaz. ...

Full Story... (http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0416/1539745.html)

[MiamiMasterpiece]

This is getting sad. They need to do something about this before somoene seriously gets hurt. What if some drunk fan goes after a guy with a bat in his hand of even someone who has a ball in there hand and can throw 90+ MPH? He will die. I hope they don't wait until this happens until they do something.

................And the all-star game is there this year too !

[thegame]

The All Star game will be an interesting event if things like this continue at Comisky. I imagine security will be bumped severly for that game and for the rest of the ChiSox schedule, but will it be enough?

As EricStratton said in another thread, stopping the fan who really wants to get on the field is pretty hard, but the punishment for such acts must be very severe.

[FrankieA]

One incident they forgot was when John Rocker was mooned by that fan at Dodger Stadium.

In my opinion, once your first step hits the grass/turf, you are open game. If they have to pick up pieces of your face off the ground, its your own damn fault and the no one but that person should be held liable.

[EricStratton]

While I agree the penalty should be severe you can't allow players to beat a guy just to beat him. Once he's secure (either by security or players) the beating has to stop.

Let the courts figure out what to do after that.

[Henry4MVP]

Wow, how'd I start this thread? :)
Anyways, you can't let the players decide the punishment. I'd rather see them get fined where it really hurts...in the wallet, and in the loss of freedom for awhile.

[EricStratton]

Originally posted by Henry4MVP
Wow, how'd I start this thread? :)


I tried to merge and move posts and you ended up on top.

[Snarf]

The people in Chicago got to claim down a bit. Remember a few years ago when the fan tried to steal the hat off the Dodgers player at Wrigley, and half the Dodgers team went in the stands after him? Then the thing last year and this, people please, relax, have one or two beers and eat a bag of peanuts. Really to end this problem, just get more security. Have security stand on the field like they do at the Bills games and watch the stands. In the 1995 American Assocation championship Tracey Woodson of the Louisville Redbirds and half of this team went up in the stands after some fans. The next game Buffalo cops were standing on the dugouts and in foul territory. It prevented anyone from doing anything dumb. If this don't get better in Chicago, bring in police dogs, that then people should think twice about it if they got a German Shepard hanging off their leg.

[EricStratton]

The difference is anyplace out of the stands is in play in baseball. If guards are on the field they could potentially affect the play on the field.

Add in the cost of an extra 20-30 guards (most likely off-dudy cops who in NYC get about $40/hr to work a game) x 82 home games and that’s a big check for a few drunks.

I still think fine the crap out of anyone (and I mean anyone whether you’re a drunk guy running for the hell of it, a girl giving Jeter your number (that happened a couple seasons ago) or someone reaching to far for a foul ball who falls over) and put the folks in jail overnight.

If a fan knows he will loose money and spend the night in jail that would eliminate all but the really determined idiot.

[billsfanone]

I hate most fans, period. Not just the ones that run on the field. I hate when I hear that "I have every right to trash talk at the players, I paid {insert $ here} for these tickets by golly!". This damn entitlement attitude that fans have is sickening. Same goes for autographs, etc. WTF! #1 – it’s just a game. #2 – the players are human beings.

[billsfanone]

I love sports, don't get me wrong. I love watching top athletes compete. I love rooting for a team. But the "fanatics" make me sick. I put fanatics in quotes because they are in no way better fans because they appear to be more passionate.

[billsfanone]

Let me add something else.

Sports arenas have become terrible to take kids too. At least from what I have seen.

Except for Arena football. I went with by bro and lil nephew to a NY Dragons game this year. Very kid friendly. No stupid drunk fans, focus on getting kids involved in cheering, etc.

This may sound almost sacrilegious to sports fans. I wish there was NO beer sold at games. How the heck did getting piss drunk become part of the enjoyment of watching sports? I don’t get it.

[EricStratton]

I tend to agree BF1. In minor league parks it’s great, the Devils’ fans do ok but other than that stadiums have gotten ugly.

Between drunks on Friday nights at Yankee Stadium, idiots at MSG for Ranger games and the dopes at the Meadowlands watching the Jets things have gone way down hill the last few years and I figure it will just get worse.

My question to fans (Bills fans included)

Do fans of the visiting team deserve the crap they get at the park?

[billsfanone]

I have yet to check out minor league baseball... I hear it's kid friendly too. I probably painted with too broad a brush...

It depends on the severity of the crap, ES. I have been to more Yankees games than games anywhere else or any other sport. I’m frankly embarrassed at the actions of many.

This may draw laughs, but it’s disgusting. One time these guys from Milwaukee (I think) were at a Yankees game. A Yankee fan went over to them and came up with the idea to trade hats in show of good faith. Well the Yankee fan took the Brewers hat to the bathroom and peed on it. So when they changed hats back later… Of course the a-hole Yankee fan got good ole pats on the back for it.

Same goes for the Ralph the few times I went there. I’m always up for good natured ribbing. Which I have given and received many times. But then there are times when people get in each other’s faces and almost come to blows over it.

I could be wrong. Maybe it’s a few bad apples spoiling a bunch as far as my attitude of most fans stink. But it seems to be tolerated. Maybe all fans aren’t acting unruly, but these idiots receive sort of a Jessie James / Billy the Kid type of admiration from less unruly fans of the same team. Plus beer commercials and the fact that they always put the biggest idiots on the highlight reels, just adds fuel to the fire.

I’m not the type of outspoken guy to tell others how to behave. Especially if there’s kids around, I don’t want to get into a shouting match with anyone (anyone I’m a fellow fan with). But you can shoot me if you ever see me giving the thumbs up and encouraging a jerk.

I don’t know what the solution is. It’s a reflection of society in a way – I think.

[EricStratton]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0416/1540106.html

A judge set bond at $250,000 on Thursday for a man who attacked an umpire during a Chicago White Sox game.


Eric Dybas of Bolingbrook was charged with one count of felony aggravated battery and one count of misdemeanor criminal trespass. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
The 24-year-old Dybas came out of the stands and grabbed umpire Laz Diaz around the legs during Tuesday night's game between the White Sox and Kansas City Royals.
Dybas was the fourth fan to run onto the field that night. The other three did not attack anyone and were charged with misdemeanor trespassing.
Dybas appeared in court Thursday with his lawyer. Cook County Judge Nicholas Ford called Dybas' actions disturbing and said nobody should be subjected to violent acts at a ballpark. Police have not disclosed a motive for Dybas.
"That place was filled with people. Anything could have happened," Ford said. "Somebody has to say no to this conduct, and it's going to be me."
Defense attorney Frank Kostouros said his client has an alcohol problem and his behavior was a result of that. The lawyer also said Dybas is sorry for what he did.
"This was a regrettable, alcohol-motivated stunt," Kostouros said.
Outside court, Kostouros called the bond "oppressive." He said Dybas has been unemployed since December and is dealing with his mother's breast cancer.
"He knows he made a stupid mistake. He does feel very bad about what happened," Kostouros said. "To make an example out of him would not be justice
more…


Hopefully this helps.