According to Gothamist, a man was forcibly ejected from Yankee Stadium, apparently without legitimate reason, by the police (surprise).
His crime?
Getting up to go to the bathroom while God Bless America was playing during the 7th inning stretch. Oh yeah, he's also a self-proclaimed atheist and a Red Sox fan.
It doesn't surprise me that a couple of cops could be a bit overzealous about something like this. Sadly, it's pretty a pretty common occurrence when police try to assert control over things that are not under their authority or not even any of their business. Even if the guy was mouthing off about God or America as he got up to use the restroom (as the police will surely claim in their defense), isn't that his right to do so?
What does surprise me is that apparently the Yankees have an unwritten policy of locking down the stadium during God Bless America, which has been played during the 7th inning stretch every game since 9/11. At least that's what I've gathered from reading the comments at Gothamist. So, the Yankees demand patriotism and public displays of religious allegiance from their fans and guests?
Click here to read a more complete story.
Let's go Mets!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
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12 comments:
If he's a Red Sox fan then fuck him. Let him rot in jail.
Let's go Mets is right. Our first baseman, Carlos Delgado, got some heat during the 2004 season while he was playing for the Toronto Blue Jays. He refused to stand during "Gold Bless America" in a protest to the Iraq war. He did go on to the field during the "Star-Spangled Banner", however. The Mets signed him from Florida before the 2006 season.
Agree with him or not, it was his right to have done so. Let's go, Mets!
So, the police have issued a statement defending themselves. The follow-up report is at Gothamist.
"God Bless America" isn't even the national anthem.
Not to get into a first amendment debate or defend the actions of the police...I wish people in this country had more of a national spirit and cultural identity. Baseball is supposed to be the great American past time. As an example I think of the Italian national football teams' fans and how passionate and enthusiastic they get about their country and sport. I doubt this guy was completely innocent...yes his first amendment rights are intact...but I don't care if some Red Sox fan gets his ass kicked if he is mouthing off during God Bless America.
Standing at attention and deference should be a choice we would all like to make, not a requirement enforceable by law or physical force. It should be good, patriotic manners to do so, and nothing more. If the guy wants/has to take a leak, it's America. Go for it and piss. Just deal with people's glares later. And if some dude wants to start a fight with him for being disrespectful, so be it, but it shouldn't be at the hands of the state.
Obviously we don't have the whole story. If dude was causing a genuine & sustained disturbance to other fans, such that it impedes their ability to watch the game, then the Yankees (not the police) are right to eject him.
But if he's just gotta take a piss, it shouldn't matter what song is playing -- it's the 7th inning stretch, your supposed to get up, buy a beer, take a leak, etc.
Allan...I agree with you...I never wrote that the police should have arrested him. I said that even though the story focuses on the police, I think he probably deserved a good ol fashioned ass kicking...preferably by drunk angry fans.
My other point actually mirrors an older conversation we had about sports fans in this country. I think we both agree that many American professional venues have a sterile unauthentic fan base. NYC is one of the only cities where it is actually fun to watch a professional sport. I was lamenting that as a country we do not have more of cultural pride compared to other countries. You probably don't hear much about Juventus fans fucking around during the Italian national anthem.
I agree with Mike too...we don't have the whole story. If a poorly planned trip to the head was the impetus for his arrest, then the whole thing is fucked up. If he was making a scene and being an asshole around kids during God Bless America, well fuck him...yes he doesn't deserve to be arrested, but kick him out of the park for disorderly conduct.
Steve, I agree with you, too. I don't think that we have a very good atmosphere in most venues here in the U.S. This is an entirely different conversation as to why spectator sports here are sterile, as you say.
Yippee! Everyone agrees!
I have to say I agree with Steve. If more people got their asses beat or punched in the face for stepping out of line this would be a better country. Whether it's his 'right' or not to go to the head I dont care, it's my right to kick him in the neck and have police arrest HIM and not ME cause I'm a godddamn American and he acted like a jerk and wore a Red Sox hat that morning.
Let me add that I don't completely agree with Steve, I'm tired of people complaining about the supposed lack of patriotism in this country.
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