-
Anyone Still Believe Me?
May 21, 2013 | 38 comments
-
What Those Who Boycott Israel Really Want
May 14, 2013 | 143 comments
-
Mitt on Marriage
May 8, 2013 | 38 comments
-
The One Constant
May 1, 2013 | 118 comments
-
Trudeaus and Terrorism
April 22, 2013 | 15 comments
Sports Arena
It Isn’t About the Uniform
Blaming the victim of a heinous crime.
The 2011 Major League Baseball season began on a dark note when news broke of a San Francisco Giants fan being beaten within an inch of his life in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium following the Opening Day game on March 31. Nearly two weeks after the incident Bryan Stow, a 42-year old paramedic and divorced father of two, remains in critical condition in a medically induced coma. Stow appears to have sustained permanent brain damage. His assailants remain at large.
Now a fair-minded, reasonable person would have sympathy towards Stow and his family. A fair-minded, reasonable person would want the perpetrators apprehended and brought to justice. Unfortunately, not all human beings are fair-minded and reasonable. This is where John Steigerwald comes into the picture. Steigerwald, a former sports anchor in Pittsburgh, weighed in on the incident in his weekly column in the Observer-Reporter, a newspaper based in southwestern Pennsylvania. In a column headlined “Know when you’ve outgrown the uniform,” Steigerwald inexplicably blamed Stow for his own misfortune:
Maybe someone can ask Stow, if he ever comes out of his coma, why he thought it was a good idea to wear Giants’ gear to a Dodgers’ home opener when there was a history of out-of-control drunkenness and arrests at that event going back several years.
Remember when it was the kids who were wearing the team jerseys to games? It was a common sight to see an adult male coming through the turnstile dressed as a regular human being with a kid dressed in a “real” jersey holding his hand.
Cute.
Are the 42-year-olds who find it necessary to wear their replica jerseys to a road game, those kids who are now fathers who haven’t grown up?
Are there really 40-something men who think that wearing the jersey makes them part of the team? It was cute when a 10-year-old kid got that feeling by showing up at Three Rivers Stadium in a Pirates jersey, but when did little boys stop growing out of that?
Here’s tip for you if you actually think that wearing your team’s jersey makes you a part of the team:
It doesn’t.
I do not think it would be understatement to declare that I have read thousands of articles over the past ten years. During the course of the past decade I would be hard pressed to come up with an article more obscene, full of malice or more poorly thought out than the one put out by Mr. Steigerwald. He has descended the depths of disingenuousness.
Steigerwald demands to know why a grown man like Stow would wear Giants gear to a Dodgers game. Well, because Stow is a Giants fan and wanted to show support for his favorite team. If Stow buys a ticket to Dodgers Stadium he should wear Giants gear if he so pleases and should be able to enjoy the game without having to fear for his safety. As I write this, the Giants are hosting the Dodgers at AT&T Park. You can be sure there are Dodger fans of all ages wearing Dodger blue. They too should enjoy the proceedings peaceably.
Take it from me. I am a Boston Red Sox fan who has attended more than 70 games at Fenway Park since 2000. I have seen plenty of fans wearing New York Yankees gear inside Fenway’s cozy confines whether the Sox are playing the Bronx Bombers or not. Never in a million years would I accost a Yankees fan simply for being a Yankees fan. In fact, I’m more than happy to talk with Yankees fans. I have also attended games at Yankee Stadium while wearing my Red Sox cap without incident and am planning to do so this coming weekend.
Is there drunkenness? Sure. Are there fights? You bet. But most fans, whether they root for the Sox or the Yankees, know how to behave themselves. You can be sure that if a Yankee fan were assaulted by a bunch of Sox fans in the Fenway bleachers, ballpark security would escort them out of the stadium and into the waiting arms of the Boston Police Department. If a Yankee fan were beaten in the Fenway Park parking lot by Red Sox fans and that Yankee fan ended up in a coma, I would want the Boston Police to arrest those responsible and I think nearly all Red Sox fans would too. It is worth noting that there were Dodgers fans who came to Stow’s aid when he was attacked. These fans also report that Stow did not want to fight his assailants.
Frankly, I am puzzled as to why Steigerwald thinks Stow’s age is relevant. The thugs who attacked Stow were out for blood. What makes Steigerwald think those thugs wouldn’t have attacked a child or a young adolescent who sported a Giants cap? And what if the thugs had targeted a middle-aged woman wearing a Giants jacket? Would Steigerwald have also chided a female fan for not dressing like “a regular human being”?
This tragic incident isn’t about a baseball uniform. The tragedy is about people who cannot behave themselves in public. If a person can be driven to beat another person into unconsciousness because they don’t like the baseball jersey of a complete stranger who is walking in the other direction then the responsibility lay solely with the person who raised their hand in violence, not with the person who wore a shirt. A person who behaves in such a manner should not be free to walk the streets. While Steigerwald might wish to interrogate Stow, it is possible that Stow might never wake up. If Stow should succumb to his injuries and his assailants are arrested in connection with his murder, then they should be subject to the death penalty. It seems to me that Steigerwald should have saved his outrage for the people responsible for attacking Stow.
About the Author
Aaron Goldstein writes from Boston, Massachusetts.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (37) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Aaron Goldstein
More Articles From Sports Arena
http://spectator.org/archives/2011/04/14/it-isnt-about-the-uniform
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
H/T to National Review Online
ADVERTISEMENT
Tina B| 4.14.11 @ 7:02AM
What could possess someone to write a column like that after such a tragedy? Maybe we should ask ourselves who instead of what.
Darin| 4.14.11 @ 7:05AM
Usually liberals give the victim a pass and insist they are not responsible for the consequences of their actions. Now we have the victim being held accountable because they were a specific type of shirt? Anyone else see how utterly insane this type of thinking is?
John Drake| 4.14.11 @ 8:10AM
The victim being held accountable because they wear a specific type of shirt....or hat, or pants, or shoes, or colors....visit any inner city ghetto controlled by gangs and you can get killed for simply not wearing the right "colors" or wearing your hat the wrong way, etc. Yes, utterly insane, but an ugly reality in modern, urban, society.
Bob K.| 4.14.11 @ 7:57AM
You are right on the money on this one Mr. Goldstein!
investorcs| 4.14.11 @ 8:17AM
Even Mr. Goldstein is being disingenuous here. I understand that the real facts surrounding both this incident and the general situation have been reluctantly reported in local CA area news coverage. What has happened is that Hispanic gangs have taken over the ball park, adopting various teams as their own including wearing gang colors, and using it as an excuse for expanding their turf along with mindless agression. It is not an isolated incident, although it is the most egregious so far. Whites who now simply attend the game are singled out for verbal confrontations, in many cases even when their children are present. Stow was viciously attacked because he was white and trespassing on what is now considered gang territory. Team administrators and the police know about this situation, but do nothing meaningful to address it or even admit to it as being racially motivated. These hate crimes have been brought to a stadium near you courtesy of multiculturalism, which the powers-that-be will never acknowledge. It is now a good idea to consider NOT going to such venues at all, since you may be risking both your life and those of your family members.
Colin | 4.14.11 @ 10:22AM
Couldn't agree more with the reply post from "investorcs." Open arms, open borders, the continuing hesitancy to mutter anything negitave regarding illegal aliens or Hispanics; while gradually tying the hands of law enforcement for decades in the tried and method of profiling has lead, not only Los Angeles, but other major cities across the fruited plane to allow open season on most anyone resembling an ancestor of Davey Crockett to be targeted by a thug culture always present in the "smack the gringo" mobs festing in these burgeoning, soon-to-be third world cities formerly referred to as Mayberry, U.S.A. And it's only becoming worse. And worse YET, no one's really there to control this growing cesspool of gangs in 'da local hoods.
It was also intersting to note that few media outlets mentioned (by name) the word Hispanic in describing the appearance of the two punks who attacked Mr. Stow in the stadium parking lot. If they'd appeared to be skinhead types, it'd have been blasted across the front pages of your daily fish wrap and leading off the nightly news.
From the beginning, it seemed for all the world that the twin perps didn't look much like Wally and the Beaver. Although to be fair, Eddie Haskell still doesn't have a solid alibi, nor for that matter does Donny Osmond. Yet, the bulk of the MSM remained(s) hesitate to describe the initial artist renderings as "Hispanic in appearance." But that may soon change. I think I just felt something beginning to freeze over and it ... (uuh) Wait. Never mind. Someone just left the 'fridge door open. I'll have to get back to you.
Eddie? EDDIEEEE!!!
Sheila| 4.14.11 @ 10:50AM
Spot on. Diversity = war.
missbosslady| 4.14.11 @ 11:07AM
Sheila, thanks for the heads up on the sbpdl site, this story fits in well with their running narrative.
The obvious response to the sports writer is that he is so thoroughly immersed in the multi-culti cult that he is completely unable to see what is real.
When I read about the story of Mr. Stow I was horrified, not surprised mind you, but horrified to say the least. What have we devolved to that a story like this would engender anything besides outrage toward the perps?
There is only one correct reponse to this incident. One must be absolutely divorced from reality and any sense of decency to see any culpability in the victim.
When will we manifest our outrage in a way that has an effect on society? How long will we sit at our computers and read about one atrocity after another before we stand up and face down the perps, their protectors and apologists?
The story of Mr. Stow made me sick to my stomach right before a rage started to well up inside of me.
Repeatedly tamping down the anger is sure to have an expiration date.
Steve A| 4.14.11 @ 9:06AM
Memo to Steigerwald, Try going to a Pittsburgh sports bar on a Sunday in December & telling the 40 yo Steelers fans decked out in their team jerseys that they need to grow up & get a life.
tdiinva| 4.14.11 @ 9:17AM
If California was a conceal and carry state; and the Dodgers allowed patrons to carry on the premises (they don't even let off duty cops bring their service weapons in) there would be less of this kind of activity if for no other reason that there would be more cops present to insure that no gun play occurs.
JW| 4.14.11 @ 9:39AM
Steigerwald is just a media whore looking for web page hits.
cuban pete| 4.14.11 @ 10:19AM
Bingo!!
Stoddard| 4.14.11 @ 2:12PM
Yes. Newspapers are so desparate now every column has to be "edgy" in some way or another.
Write their advertisers a letter asking if they condone the writing.
It's more effective attacking through the ad dept. than calling an editor who is probably happy that people are reading regardless.
Le Cracquere| 4.14.11 @ 10:03AM
"Avarice"?
Wally| 4.14.11 @ 10:18AM
Memo to Steigerwald, Try going to a Pittsburgh sports bar on a Sunday in December & telling the 40 yo Steelers fans decked out in their team jerseys that they need to grow up & get a life.
He does. He is a decent guy and generallly a good columnist.
Steigerwald certainly does not condone this attack or blame the victim. He simply has a long standing issue with adults wearing jerseys, and chose an unfortunate instance, and an unfortunate manner, with which to make the case. He did not consider the gravity of the situation when making a point that is frivolous and callous in context.
missbosslady| 4.14.11 @ 11:13AM
A long standing issue with adults wearing jerseys? Wow, what a a great cause worthy of an obsession.
You gotta be kidding!?!
Maybe Steigerwald should stop playing the clothes police and move his mind toward more substantive sports matters. A sports writer obessesed with fan wardrobe does not sound like sports writing to me.
In addition, someone might want to inform Steigerwald about how many dollars the economy sees from the selling of sports wear.
Wally, your an apologist, apologizing for an apologist.
Wally| 4.14.11 @ 12:54PM
Not an apologist. He just wrote a thoughtless piece.
Steve A| 4.14.11 @ 10:25AM
Wally, Really?? If he actually does this, in person, not just with a pen, then he has some major cajones.
Wally| 4.14.11 @ 10:37AM
He does it on TV and in print. Thinks it is fine for kids, but silly for grown ups.
Tom P| 4.14.11 @ 3:30PM
Lots of sports writers, radio people and comedians make fun of or criticize adults wearing sports jerseys. I hear it all the time. This is terrible, terrible timing though, and Steigerwald shouldn't have taken appropriated this tragedy as opportunity to do it again.
Steve A| 4.14.11 @ 11:08AM
At best, this buffoon has zero tact & no class. I happen to agree that it is a bit silly to strap on the team jersey, at least for me, but my "opinion" is simply an opinion & does not make it anything more than that.
I would bet this jackass has a Phillies or Pirates cap somewhere in his closet or a Titleist golf visor he sports on occasion but this is fine.
manray favjet| 4.14.11 @ 12:00PM
Here's a little more info on Steigerwald.
http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sa.....ither-am-i
Turns out he is even a bigger low life who is not sorry one bit about what he wrote
CalMark| 4.14.11 @ 12:03PM
Steigerwald seems to be a Pittsburgh partisan identifying with the perps. No wonder; sports fans in that town are just as juvenile and hostile (sometimes, as in L.A., to the point of violence) to anyone wearing non-Pittsburgh gear.
In short, no one from Pittsburgh should talk. It's a place where H.R. at a major company threatens (I've seen emails) to send people home for not wearing black-and-gold on Fridays before important Steelers games.
A Pittsburgh Sports Fan, relates a co-worker, decided to "stick it to 'em" in "enemy" territory by defiantly wearing a Pittsburgh jersey on a flight to Detroit, also a big sports town. The woman was apparently shocked that no one in Michigan even commented, let alone tried to pick a fight.
Bottom line, Mr. Steigerwald: Juvenile is, as juvenile does--and such juveniles are increasingly vile and violent nowadays because of enablers like you.
Wally| 4.14.11 @ 1:06PM
Steigerwald is not a partisan. He is opinionated pro and con on all Pgh teams.
Some sports fans in any pro town can be and are juvenile and hostile. Although I know of NO incidents here that are comparable to what happened in LA (drunken asses pushing and shoving is about the worst it gets). To blanket label all Pgh fans as such is absurd.
Generally they are a LOT tamer than many other cities I have visited. Go to Cle for a Browns game or out on the Island for an Isles game (or Philly for anything!) then tell me about it.
Schome| 4.14.11 @ 1:05PM
I've read a lot of stories about this horrendous crime, and every article mentions ad nauseum that he was a paramedic. Now don't get me wrong; I admire those in public service that actually help the community instead of abusing it. But why should his occupation be any more salient, important and newsworthy than a truck driver, accountant, construction worker, waiter, cook, landscaper, manager, etc who suffered the same fate?
Who Knows?| 4.14.11 @ 2:03PM
Barry Bonds and baseball fan beatings?
What a country!
So many people, usually males, putatively “grown up”, hanging on to their glorious days of youth, when it was almost all about the PHYSICAL growth of the body---from about birth until the age of seven, when emotional-sexual maturity dominates---epitomize the ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT condition.
Just think---baseball players follow certain rules while they swing a piece of wood at a hard ball that is thrown all over the place.
Who CARES!
Likewise concerning the singular game of golf. A bunch of guys and gals honing the body, with arms and hands gripping and swinging a stick to blast a tiny ball into a hole!
A** HOLE!
Steve A| 4.14.11 @ 2:27PM
Who Knows, Sounds like you never did get over being cut from that Junior High School team. You need to get past that anger.
Who Knows?| 4.14.11 @ 8:42PM
Projecting, are we?
Seek| 4.14.11 @ 2:20PM
So a Giants fan was beaten because his gear angered the perps? I suppose Steigerwald would say to a female rape victim that she dressed "provocatively." Same difference. In each case, the victim "deserved" the fate.
The point above about Hispanic L.A. "Doyers" fans is well-taken. If you're a white guy, you can dress Dodger blue from head to toe and still be a target if you're around the Chavez Ravine. Mexicans don't respect this country. To them, it's all about reconquest.
It's time for the LAPD to get on the case. Maybe, like that hat squad chief played by Nick Nolte, a few cops can take some radical Hispanics on a trip down "Mulholland Falls."
Steve A| 4.14.11 @ 2:30PM
I went & linked to this jerk Steigerwald's page & read further. It appears to me his entire point is this: No Giants Jersey, No Beating.
Wow, what a deep thinker!
No car, no car jack. No purse, no purse snatch. This guy is a true visionary.
bayan chat | 4.14.11 @ 4:39PM
very nice blog admin
Tim R| 4.14.11 @ 4:40PM
Living in LA, I am all too aware of the sad deterioration of Dodger Stadium as a venue for true baseball fans. In recent years, thanks in part to lax security and indifference from team management, the Dodger fan base is increasingly populated by the obvious gangbanger types (the ones with shaved heads and neck tattoos). They are rude, boorish, crude and hostile. The constant barrage of foul language and insults hurled at fans of other teams makes for an uncomfortable situation, particularly if you bring your family. Anecdotal evidence from other fans points to increasing hostility to people in general who don't fit into this gang culture. Unfortunately, these thugs are uniformly Hispanic, whether the media, the police and team officials care to acknowledge this or not. This intolerable situation of gang culture run rampant must be addressed lest real baseball fans just quit entirely from going to Dodger games. For now, attending games in Anaheim or San Diego are a much better option.
PCP Smoker| 4.14.11 @ 8:45PM
The posters have it. This is not about the going-ons of the teen-man, the 40 yo man wearing a jersey. This is about excusing the assault by mexican thugs. The Giants fan is nothing more than Reginald Dennis was to those thugs.
Denis| 4.16.11 @ 9:20PM
Bravo, Mr. Goldstein.
Brubaker| 4.17.11 @ 10:49AM
Mr. Goldstein, I agree with virtually your entire column, but I disagree with your bottom line.
Obviously fans should be able to wear whatever team garb they choose, and they should do so without fear of being accosted. The point that you choose to gloss over is that in some locales, wearing an opposing team's colors is tantamount to bearding the lion in his den. Perhaps you ought to be able to, but discretion argues against it.
pc| 4.18.11 @ 12:30PM
This makes me so sick! So, the bottom line here is, we have the RIGHT to go to any stadium for ANY sport and cheer on the team WE WANT! I have been in the same position with fans of the football team I follow when I went to the rival stadium for a game. I vowed to never go to a night game again! They were horrible, drunken a**holes! Seriously!! Stay home and watch the game if you want to drink! Would any die-hard fan like to get treated like that if they traveled to a rival stadium?? I highly doubt it! People need to chill out and enjoy their games anywhere they want. I mean.....damn!
Creative Recreation | 8.10.11 @ 10:21PM
is good