# MLB meets WWF **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 14, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443 "2004-09-14T18:11:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/1 "2004-09-14T18:11:28Z")
[Rangers’ pitcher hurls chair at fans](http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpa2lpNnFzBF9TAzk1ODYxNzc3BHNlYwN0bQ--?slug=ap-rangers-fanfight&prov=ap&type=lgns) Yep. This is always a good thing. I can’t imagine what the asshole fans were saying to the idiot players, but I’m pretty sure that when the chair came flying into the stands, the assholes ducked and an innocent person received a broken nose. Hey, them’s the breaks. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/2 "2004-09-14T18:19:06Z")
Ladies and Gentlemen, Now pitching for the Texas Rangers- Bobby Knight. What a jerk. Yes, the fans can be abusive but this was uncalled for. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/3 "2004-09-14T18:30:45Z")
I guess some pitchers _really_ don’t like being called “belly-itchers”. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/4 "2004-09-14T21:20:33Z")
You know that expression: There’s pitchers. There’s belly-itchers, then there’s that weird third catagory… Um… Oh yeah. Jackasses. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/5 "2004-09-14T21:23:37Z")
This is my favorite part of the article: > [@](#): > > After the game, Rangers manager Buck Showalter said the fans "went over the line.’’ That’s right, Buck, it was the fans. Those epithets were putting your pitchers in danger, and hurling a chair into the crowd was the only reasonable course of action left to Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/6 "2004-09-14T21:27:18Z")
Best thing that happened to her, she just won the lottery. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/7 "2004-09-14T21:49:57Z")
Well, could have been worse, I guess. If it wasn’t for the designated hitter rule, Francisco might have picked up a bat and gone after those abusive fans. No excuse for the chair hurling, but really, what goes through the tiny little minds of fans who wish to hurl the foulest of abuse (verbal or otherwise) at players? It’s a fucking baseball game, fer cryin’ out loud. Here’s one bit in the article that really flummoxed me: > [@](#): > > Fans at A’s games have also been rowdy in the past. Last season, one was charged with assault after throwing a cell phone from the second deck that hit outfielder Carl Everett, then with the Rangers, in the back of the head. Some mook got so wound up he _heaved his cell phone_ at a player? WTF? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/8 "2004-09-14T21:58:55Z")
As a hardcore fan of the Texas Rangers (yes, there are a few of us), I’m very interested in the outcome of this situation. A writer on [ESPN.com](http://ESPN.com)’s “Page 2” called for a full year suspension today, which I think is a bit excessive. I’m hoping for 30 games, and expect it to be no more than 50. I’m not sure if any precedent applies, so I guess it could be more. One thing is for sure, the A’s organization needs to revamp their bullpen situation, which is easily the worst set-up in the majors. The players sit on folding chairs with their backs directly to the front row of fans. There is no “dugout” or any separation between the players and fans. No doubt, the Rangers players lost their cool, and throwing the chair was unacceptable behavior, but I’m surprised something like this hasn’t happened sooner at Network Associates Coliseum. After all, these guys are human, and some can only take so much abuse before acting out. I also heard an unconfirmed report that the man and woman who were hit with the chair had been spotted on camera shouting at the players earlier in the game. Hopefully that’s true, so at least innocent bystanders weren’t hurt. Pash ---
**Author:** ![Phelan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Phelan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phelan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/9 "2004-09-14T22:06:23Z")
From what I’ve heard so far, the fans never said anything that bad. Here’s a link to the A’s mb, where there is some second hand info on that. [http://www.forums.mlb.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=ml-athletics&msg=29504.1&ctx=0](http://www.forums.mlb.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=ml-athletics&msg=29504.1&ctx=0) “According to the guy in the ponytail and glasses (I talked to him after the game) who was standing two seats from the “heckler” the quote literally was: “So which one of you guys is going to blow it tonight”. To which, Brocail responded “Your mama” and the guy said “Your mama” back and Brocail flipped. I can’t imagine that was all it was, but the guy insisted that the “heckler” was shocked anyone would get as angry as Brocail did based on what he said.” Also I heard that someone might’ve shouted “fat” or something, but there’s no excuse reguardless. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/10 "2004-09-14T22:20:08Z")
> [@Pashnish Ewing](#): > > I also heard an unconfirmed report that the man and woman who were hit with the chair had been spotted on camera shouting at the players earlier in the game. Hopefully that’s true, so at least innocent bystanders weren’t hurt. Bullshit! Unless the fans began the violence, they remain innocent bystanders. So what if they were yelling? That what you _do_ at ballgames! Shit, _I_’ve been yelled at and taunted in those bleachers by A’s fans, but if Barry Bonds threw a god damn chair at them, I’d do whatever I could to help those A’s fans (probably talking shit back, but still). Anyway, yelling at the ballgame goes both ways. Those people could’ve been yelling, “Good job” for all we know. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/11 "2004-09-14T22:21:19Z")
The lastest that I read is that the woman who was injured is married to one of the hecklers, not that it matters. I am dying to know what was said that flipped them out so bad. Haj ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/12 "2004-09-14T22:23:08Z")
What do you expect? With such low a payroll ($55 Million), you tend not to find the highest class players on the roster. If I had to guess, some trial lawyer has already contacted the assaulted party / parties and will use the team’s payroll in his ‘amout to sue for’ calculation. > [@Pashnish Ewing](#): > > As a hardcore fan of the Texas Rangers…I also heard an unconfirmed report that the man and woman who were hit with the chair had been spotted on camera shouting at the players earlier in the game. Hopefully that’s true, so at least innocent bystanders weren’t hurt OCO! With the exception of fighting, throwing things & running out on the field, there are no other crimes a spectator can commit. Even if those unconfirmed reports have the two people spewing the most vile or heinous words imaginable, they’re still as innocent as a new born lamb. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/13 "2004-09-14T22:24:11Z")
Oh, my own two cents? Suspended for at least the rest of this season, on top of whatever the Oakland PD and the victim will (hopefully) undertake. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/14 "2004-09-14T22:26:01Z")
> [@](#): > > MLB meets WWF That would be _WWE_. Wouldn’t want a lawsuit on our hands, now would we? ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/15 "2004-09-14T22:30:16Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > If I had to guess, some trial lawyer has already contacted the assaulted party / parties and will use the team’s payroll in his ‘amount to sue for’ calculation. I just remembered, didn’t Dewey just move to TX? If he needs the money, I hope he gets those clients signed up before Johnny Cochran flies in from LAX. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/16 "2004-09-14T23:11:58Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > Bullshit! Unless the fans began the violence, they remain innocent bystanders. So what if they were yelling? That what you _do_ at ballgames! > [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > OCO! With the exception of fighting, throwing things & running out on the field, there are no other crimes a spectator can commit. Even if those unconfirmed reports have the two people spewing the most vile or heinous words imaginable, they’re still as innocent as a new born lamb. Give me a fucking break. I said that throwing the chair was unacceptable behavior, and that a _fifty game_ suspension was warranted. It’s not like I’m defending Frankie here. Yes, If someone was injured, I would rather it be the unruly fans instead some non-asshole who was minding their own business. I am not saying asshole fans deserve to get hit with chairs. > [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > Those people could’ve been yelling, “Good job” for all we know. Yeah, and the chair may have accidentally slipped out of Frankie’s hands for all we know. :rolleyes: [embarrassed]Uh, what’s OCO mean.[/embarrassed] ---
**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/17 "2004-09-14T23:16:50Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > Bullshit! Unless the fans began the violence, they remain innocent bystanders. So what if they were yelling? That what you _do_ at ballgames! Shit, _I_’ve been yelled at and taunted in those bleachers by A’s fans, but if Barry Bonds threw a god damn chair at them, I’d do whatever I could to help those A’s fans (probably talking shit back, but still). > > Anyway, yelling at the ballgame goes both ways. Those people could’ve been yelling, “Good job” for all we know. I too agree that the Rangers went too far, but BULLSHIT ON YOU, :wally !! Taunting the opposing team is a classless act, and it is not what you should do at games, unless you are a couch potato, beer bellied, fantasy baseball geek with no life whatsoever. You root, root, root for the home team, enjoy the seventh inning streach, and appreciate the play of the game, even if the home team loses. ---
**Author:** ![OneChance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/74df32/32.png) [@OneChance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneChance)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/18 "2004-09-15T06:24:31Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > What do you expect? With such low a payroll ($55 Million), you tend not to find the highest class players on the roster. Right, class has everything to do with pay. Roger Clemens or Pedro, two high-priced players, throwing at someone’s head. Real class there, I tell ya. :rolleyes: Besides, what kind of lowlife goes to a game and gets their jollies heckling the players? I’m guessing that after they’re done heckling, they go back home to their trailer, untie the kids and beat them for pleasure, then wonder if they should continue to bathe every six days or maybe make it seven. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/19 "2004-09-15T06:41:11Z")
What kind of person goes to a game to taunt players? [Claude Lueker](http://wso.williams.edu/~jkossuth/cobb/race.htm) > [@](#): > > These incidents pale in comparison with what happened at Hilltop Park in New York in May 1912, and what that episode triggered. A fan whom Cobb recognized as a regular heckler was sitting behind the Tigers’ dugout verbally abusing Cobb. He and Cobb traded insults for a while, but Cobb wanted to avoid trouble, so he stayed in center field carriage park area during the second inning. In the third, he went by the New York dugout to look for the owner to ask to have the fan removed. When he got back to the Tigers’ bench, he yelled something to the fan about his sister. The fan, Claude Lueker, responded to Cobb by calling him a “half-nigger.” Sam Crawford asked Cobb if he would take that from the fan, at which point Cobb charged twelve rows into the stands and began to beat the fan vigorously. > > It was at this point that people alerted Cobb to Lueker’s handicap—he had lost three fingers on one hand and all of his other hand in an industrial accident. Police pulled Cobb off Lueker, and he was ejected. AL President Ban Johnson was at the game and, after hearing Cobb’s side of the story, suspended him indefinitely. The end result of that incident was that the universally loathed Cobb was universally supported by his teammates, the whole team went on strike, the scabs got spanked 24-2, and under threat of suspension the team came back, but only after showing support for Cobb. Also notable was the response to the reporter who informed him the Lueker had no hands: “I don’t care if he has no feet”, in typical Cobb fashion. Violence between hecklers and players has a long and storied history, and I am of the opinion that if you’re going to taunt you should be prepared for a response. That’s not to justify violence nor to exonerate the players, but to point out that if you think about saying something at the ballpark that you wouldn’t say anywhere else you need to be prepared to accept the consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Cerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Cerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerri)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443/20 "2004-09-15T11:02:57Z")
We keep _telling_ y’all don’t mess with Texas, but do you listen? 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-meets-wwf/264443.md?page=2)