Why was this editor arrested at a baseball game for heckling?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Jacques, Sep 21, 2004.

Loading...
  1. Jacques

    Jacques New Member

  2. Mr. Engineer

    Mr. Engineer member

    Interesting article.

    I am still amazed at the reaction of the Texas Rangers management to the heckling incident in my home town. (Oakland). They tried to say that the incident was somehow caused by the heckler - come one man - grow up! You do not have the right to assault anyone because of heckling. Alas, Francisco will have the rest of the season to sit out and think of what he did, possible criminal prosecution, and a definite lawsuit. Expensive lesson on how a ballplayer should not act.
     
  3. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    While it may be difficult to excuse completely the chair-thrower's action, the circumstances leading up to it could be mitigating. I wouldn't be surprised to see him plea-bargain this to a misdemeanor.

    It is possible, IIRC, to create an assault on someone using only spoken words. We don't really know what was said that night, or by whom.
     
  4. Mr. Engineer

    Mr. Engineer member

    Actually the entire incident is pretty well documented both by video camera and by witnesses. I will try to find a link that shows this. However, nothing racial was said - just simple heckling. Pro althetes, like cops and other people who are in the public eye need to have thick skin. No matter what is said, you can choose to ignore it and move on. Instead Francisco choose the wrong and more expensive route to vent his anger.

    I have to admit, I would have paid to see Francisco being hauled off by Oakland's finest (baseball uniform and all).
     
  5. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    In addition, I remember the scene where the baseball player "playfully tapped" the mascot. In actuality, he hit the girl (wearing a hotdog costume) with a baseball bat. She was rather a small woman and so in hitting her high up, he actually knocked her to the ground. It didn't help his case when he was seen, on camera, laughing at the girl as she struggled to get to her feet. The girl's OK but the player, some loser, deserves everything he gets. The author of the cited article white-washes this incident and so, in all liklihood, sanitizes his own incident as well. You can't yell "fire" in a theatre and that's what he did.
    Jack
     
  6. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I have mixed feelings about this.

    Francisco got off easy, IMO, because almost nothing can justify throwing a folding chair into a crowd that certainly contains women & children.

    OTOH, I've had the misfortune of being seated near hecklers at ball games, and they ruin the entire game for everyone in the general vicinity.

    There is also the concept of "fighting words" which would pretty much excuse the reactions of the Texas pitchers if the taunting was outrageous.

    In any event, the woman with the broken nose just hit the lottery.
     
  7. Tom57

    Tom57 Member

    It's interesting that the local sports pages here have been slightly anti-heckler in this case. They have stopped just short of saying he got what he deserved, but on the other hand, they have suggested that he played an active role in the incident.

    Apparently this guy's heckling was really over the top.

    Neverthless, I'm with Bruce, it's pretty hard to excuse a player throwing a chair into the crowd.
     
  8. Tom57

    Tom57 Member

    And then, putting things in perspective, across the Bay a young man (21, I think) watched Bonds hit his 700th.

    On the way out of the game, he accidently brushed up against the mirror of a parked car. A bunch of guys jumped out of the car; words were exchanged, and the young man was fatally stabbed in the heart. Gang related, apparently.

    Insanity.
     
  9. Mr. Engineer

    Mr. Engineer member

    Yes - insanity. Very sad as well. It really bothered me because I frequent SBC Park.

    Some gang bangers are in dire need of some stick time. Perhaps a lifetime of being locked up in Folsom. (alas, gang bangers never learn)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 23, 2004

Share This Page