Title: Don't mess with Sheff's balls
estragand - April 15, 2005 08:52 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| By HOWARD ULMAN, AP Sports Writer BOSTON - The Boston Red Sox and Major League Baseball on Friday began looking into the scuffle between New York Yankees star Gary Sheffield and a fan in the right-field corner at Fenway Park. The confrontation came in the eighth inning of Boston's 8-5 win over New York on Thursday night while Sheffield was fielding Jason Varitek's two-run triple in front of the 3-foot high barrier. Red Sox president Larry Lucchino met for 75 minutes Friday with chief legal officer Lucinda Treat, chief operating officer Mike Dee and director of security Charles Cellucci, said Charles Steinberg, Boston's executive vice president for public affairs. The commissioner's office told The Associated Press that Bob Watson, baseball's head of discipline, was reviewing tapes of the play and security chief Kevin Hallinan was expected to talk to Red Sox officials. In spring training, Hallinan toured major league camps and spoke to players about this very kind of confrontation, telling them not to go into the stands — a clear reference to the NBA melee that involved Indiana's Ron Artest and other Pacers in their November game against Detroit. After Thursday night's game, Sheffield said that in the heat of the moment, he thought about Artest. "That's the first thing that came to mind," he said. Steinberg did not release the fan's name or say whether he had season tickets. The fan was ejected but not arrested. A source familiar with the situation who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity said the man was Christopher House. The answering machine at a phone number listed for a Christopher House in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood said it was full and could not accept messages. Steinberg said Fenway Park fans generally don't reach for balls rolling near the low fences in foul territory along the first-base line or in fair territory in right field. "It's wrong to interfere with a ball in play, but we don't know what his intention was," Steinberg said. As the ball rolled, the spectator reached over the wall and made a sweeping motion with his arm. Sheffield said he was hit in the mouth. Sheffield picked up the ball, pushed the fan, then threw the ball to the infield. Sheffield then confronted the fan but did not punch him. A security guard quickly jumped over the fence and got between the fan and Sheffield. "We appreciate the restraint that Gary Sheffield showed," Steinberg said. Steinberg said the team is also looking into the actions of the fan who was holding a beer that spilled during the scuffle. He said he didn't have that person's name and doesn't know if the beer was deliberately thrown at Sheffield or it spilled after he was pushed by other fans. The team is considering increasing the number of signs that warn of fan interference and make more announcements at the park that interfering with a ball in play will result in ejection. |
Unfortunately, this is probably going to lead to a LAWSUIT from "the fan". It's really not a big deal. If this had happened in a Royals-Devil Rays game, it wouldn't be all over the airwaves.
The video of the incident is all around the Fucking Internet...check it out. The fan wasn't "swiping at the ball". Unless he was a Complete Athlete and playing a rebound from the turf. The dumbshit probably has 13 baseballs on his mantle at home. He's an embarassment to baseball fans. I'm also guessing that ..... (gasp)..... ALOCHOL was involved!
Also, perhaps a lawsuit from Mr. Beer Spiller Victim. He's out, what... 7.50?! I'm sure he'll present himself as some sort of common man champion and attempt to sue the Yankees or Gary Sheffield for 7.50. Then the court and MLB can watch the tape and detemine that he only had roughly 1/3 of his beer left. Therefore, he's only due about 3.45. What a great waste of time this'll be.
The Legend Stalker - April 16, 2005 03:24 AM (GMT)
High-larious...
The big news: Some idiot fan who was obviously drunk hit Sheffield by accident.
The REAL News: HOW THE FUCK ARE THE BLUE JAYS IN FIRST?!?!
The big news: Some idiot fan who was obviously drunk hit Sheffield by accident.
The REAL News: HOW THE FUCK ARE THE BLUE JAYS IN FIRST?!?!
estragand - April 16, 2005 05:47 AM (GMT)
Welcome aboard, Legend.
Blue Jays in first? Roy Halladay is why. Don't fret, though... the Pirates were something like 12-5 in 2003 and look how good that year turned out for 'em. Early season stats are just that. I mean, Clint Barmes is tied for second in home runs. I'll go pantsless for a week if Barmes finishes 2005 as #2 in the HR race.
Bad segue into...
Dumbshit, errr...FAN interference continued tonight (Friday). Less than 24 hours after the Sheffield case, and only 20 feet from where I was sitting.
Yup, that's a home town Rockies "fan" fighting Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday for a fly ball. I was there, and several fans were YELLING "Let him catch it!" Dumbass got boo'ed after the incident....but he had no idea what he did wrong.
Blue Jays in first? Roy Halladay is why. Don't fret, though... the Pirates were something like 12-5 in 2003 and look how good that year turned out for 'em. Early season stats are just that. I mean, Clint Barmes is tied for second in home runs. I'll go pantsless for a week if Barmes finishes 2005 as #2 in the HR race.
Bad segue into...
Dumbshit, errr...FAN interference continued tonight (Friday). Less than 24 hours after the Sheffield case, and only 20 feet from where I was sitting.
Yup, that's a home town Rockies "fan" fighting Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday for a fly ball. I was there, and several fans were YELLING "Let him catch it!" Dumbass got boo'ed after the incident....but he had no idea what he did wrong.