I have some mixed feelings about this item from ESPN. The piece is an informal sampling of opinion from a bunch of players, league officials and managers on the 17-year-old Phillies fan who was recently Tasered (Tased?) after he ran out onto the playing field. Let’s start with a notion we can all agree with:
“I think it’s important that the players are protected out there,” Houston manager Brad Mills said. “You never know what’s going to happen. So many times we’ve had guys run on tennis courts with knives or whatever, we just have to make sure that’s taken care of.”
Absolutely. Ballplayers are exposed when they’re on the field, and there’s no excuse for a fan to be on the diamond when a game is in progress, especially since loner whacko-ism, at least anecdotally, is on the rise, and players need to be secure when they’re at work.
Now on to the part I’m not impressed with. The piece quotes a number of players from Cliff Lee to Laynce-with-a-”Y” Nix, and they come off as out of touch assholes.
Check this gem from Nix:
“You never know what kinds of crazies are out there, but I don’t feel threatened,” Nix said. “To be honest, I kind of wish somebody would come out for me. I would take pleasure in taking care of him, but I feel safe with the security.”
Um, fuck you, Laynce. If you feel safe with security, or your own self-defense capabilities, then fine, but to bait “the crazies” to come after you is to act a macho schmuck, and now if someone does come after you, you have no one but yourself to blame. And, frankly, given your .176 batting average, 1 HR and anemic .567 OPS, I wouldn’t be surprised if a crazy Reds fan does come out for you. Dick.
In honor of this, a Top 10 of fan altercations. From Canada!
Greatest post ever. Nice job.
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