Is there some deal with Philadelphia baseball fans that make them run out onto the field? I went to one game at the Vet many years ago, and no less than five drunk guys at different times ran out onto the field. I’ve seen maybe two people run onto the field at all other baseball games I’ve been to.
I do not believe excessive force was used in this instance.
I have no problem with tasering a fan who goes onto the field. Then again, I would get a kick out of the team mascot randomly tasering unsuspecting patrons in their seat. They could even include a disclaimer on the ticket, right under getting hit by foul balls, etc.
Imagine everyone watching the jumbotron during the 7th inning stretch, rooting for the mascot. Suddenly, you see your own face on screen. Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Philadelphians are just very ornery drunks. The city actually had a judge installed at the stadium to handle rowdies on the spot.
Tasering was the least dangerous option, honestly. And they were not trrying to subdue him, they were trying to catch him,w hich can be dangerous if he is tackled, to himself and to those doing the tackling. This is about as legitimate a use of tasering as I can think of.
And drunks from other places are the picture of class and decorum?
A first base coached was attacked.
It makes no difference if they are pro athletes, they are employees at work. Do you want some yahoo running around your work when you have no idea what his intentions are? I think after the White Sox incident here a few years ago, security personnel are right to subdue fence jumpers as quickly as possible.
Do you really think a 17-year-old is going to beat the shit out of a professional baseball player? I’m assuming you know what Ryan Howard looks like. Or for that matter (since I think this guy was in left field) Raul Ibanez.
Yes, they are. But again, those guys jumped the fence, charged the base coach, and attacked him. Taser them, no problem. A guy running around on the outfield is an idiot who should be arrested, but is not a threat. Take him down, and if he makes a threatening move toward someone, go ahead and Taser him.
Anybody who jumps onto the field should be tasered, then neutered. Right then, behind second.
Wouldn’t taking him down be more dangerous to both parties than a tasering?
I don’t want to be tasered for sure, but then again I am able to watch a baseball game from my seat no problemo.
When I was a kid, I was at a Phils game at the Vet and a woman jumped the fence, then took her top off as she ran the bases. I believe that was my first “live” view of a topless woman. And yes, she absolutely had the figure for it. She wasn’t tased, but was escorted off the field by a fairly large contingent of cops, all making sure to keep their eyes on her so she couldn’t escape.
I don’t think so.
Oh, right, I misremembered that it was the first base ump, but it was the coach. Not that it makes a difference.
I can see both sides. The problem is tasers are not as benign as people think. I mean on TV and movies, it’s mostly comical, they guy get’s tasered and his eyes roll back in his head and it’s like a big joke. Which in the movies and TV it often is meant to be.
But in real life, tasering can be very serious. I would think there must be some other way besides a taser to stop fans. Perhaps I’m wrong, in this case, yes then a taser would be fine.
I’m actually not trying to make the case that tasering is definitely excessive. I was trying to make an argument for and against. Marley23, for example, seems to be taking the position that this guy was a kid and clearly no threat, so something less potentially harmful should have been used. But I don’t think I’m of the same mind. The Seles incident and others referenced in this thread make me think that stopping someone before they could possibly do harm isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Lord knows I’ve managed to smuggle things into stadiums that were against the rules. Just because Ryan Howard is a big guy doesn’t mean he isn’t vulnerable to being attacked.
Part of me thinks this kid got the best lesson of “actions and consequences” of his life.
Dustin Pedroia is what, 5’ 7" and 145 lbs? No professional baseball player (or any athlete) should have to risk his career to subdue a rowdy fan or being attacked by one.
I have absolutely no problem with tasering a fan running around a playing field. This is class A stupidity and a taser is IMO a perfectly reasonable and proportionate response.
They know nothing about this person running on the field. Is he 17? Is he 27? Is he black belt? Is he off his meds? Is he on speed? They know zero about him except that he is running on the field where he isn’t supposed to be and he is trying to avoid them. They did the right thing, IMO.
Well, there was that streaker at the Super Bowl a few years back. He didn’t get tased.
Matt Chatham (New England linebacker) knocked the streaker on his butt.
Yeah, I mean, if the guy was completely naked, I might say it was overdone…but how the heck is anyone to know if he was armed or not, or a danger of some type? And even an untrained little guy could put a professional athlete on the injured list. Not likely, but you’re dealing with someone you pay millions of dollars to play sports, so you’re likely going to want to be more protective.
Perhaps they should have announced over the loudspeaker that anyone rushing the field will be tased, but anyone who does something like this should expect to get manhandled and potentially injured. It’s dumb, and you get your 15 minutes of fame, but it’s like being on an episode of jackass…you’re almost guaranteed to get hurt doing it, and if you don’t, it was because something went wrong or you pussed out.