Like a lot of sports fan, I followed the story of Bryan Stow, the Giants fan who was beaten within an inch of his life after attending a Dodgers vs Giants game earlier this year.
Early on, the story made it seem like all Stow had done wrong was wear a Giants jersey to Dodger stadium. Now,
new details are coming out about how Stow acted during the game.
Juan Banda told TMZ Monday that Bryan Stow was inciting Dodgers fans by screaming, "I [sic] rather eat my own feces than eat a Dodger dog."
Banda says he told Stow he was crossing the line with his comments.
"Told him (Stow) it was one thing to root for your team, but you are crossing the line. He didn't say much. Neither him or his buddies who were with him."
Banda told TMZ that Stow "did have a mouth."
"Maybe he said the wrong thing to the wrong guys."
First of all, let me say that it's still a tragedy that this guy was beaten within an inch of his life. I realize that sports fans can be pretty passionate about our teams, but when it crosses the line to where you want to beat up someone this badly for loving an opposing team, it's time to take a step back and reassess some things. I dearly love the Vols and while I can't see why a person would want to be a fan of Alabama or Florida or Georgia or any other SEC team for that matter, it still doesn't make me so mad, upset, or full of rage at those other fans that I want to go and beat them to a pulp....even if their team has just beat mine and I'm feeling pretty down about it.
Second of all, while I understand Stow wasn't exactly being a respectful visitor to Dodger Stadium, it's still no excuse to beat the hell out of him in the parking lot after the game. If that's what happened and there is a connection, that is. Obnoxious fans for the other team are a given and while it rub you the wrong way that they're insulting your team, venue, stadium, tradition, etc. that still doesn't give you the right to go all vigilante on them. Ask the ushers to remove them from the stadium, sure.
You can't help but wonder if there's going to be a shift in the sentiment for Stow from the victim to a guy who brought this on himself. Or that the person or people who beat him within an inch of his life were somehow "justified" in what they did.
posted by Michael Hickerson at 6/28/2011 11:58:00 AM |
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