Posted on 07/22/2026 7:31:50 PM PDT by Morgana
A Chicago Cubs fan who smacked another spectator who did not stand for The Star-Spangled Banner is speaking out after a video of the incident went viral.
The video drew strong and divided reactions on social media, with public opinion split on the older man's actions.
Now, he has spoken out on the incident, which happened during the 10-1 win against the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Field on Sunday, in various interviews.
Robert Chavez claimed that an important element of the story is missing.
In the video, he is seen yelling at the younger man - who was not identified - for his refusal to rise out of his seat.
'I was telling him, "Please stand up", you know, "have some respect",' Chavez told Inside Edition.
After the younger man didn't comply with Chavez's demands, he was hit in the head by the senior.
He continued to bark at the younger man - as well as others who were stunned by his actions and looked to defend the recipient of the smack.
Chavez told TMZ that he informed the young man of his status as a veteran of the Vietnam War and even rattled him with some stories from the conflict - all to no avail.
But looking back on the incident, Chavez admitted that he shouldn't have resorted to physical violence.
'Oh yes, definitely. I wish I could,' he told Inside Edition when asked if he wanted to take back the slap.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.com ...
Major Leagues. I’m a little tired.
This would be like watching someone burn an American flag. I would clench my teeth and my fists; but do nothing because that is their first amendment rights.
During my grade school years, every morning we said Lord’s Prayer and stood to say Pledge of Allegiance.
Local neighborhood hardware stores sold rifles.
Crime was very, very low.
Then the 60s came...and the destruction of America exploded.
Connect the dots...it’s so easy to see even Ray Charles can see it...and he’s blind & dead!
I agree with the assessment that men sometimes need to do these things to bring immediate attention to a wrong. I stand with our veteran hero in this story. I think black men in the black community should do the exact same thing. It wouldn’t hurt anything and it would do a lot of good.
This!! It was never even a question of standing or not!
Sad to hear this guy come out with basically apologize for giving that kid a crack who probably deserved about 10!
It all started with “sending in advisors”, and underestimating the enemy (foreign and domestic). Now our culture is consuming drugs in heretofore unseen quantities, (even affecting our economy), foreign first names are everywhere in journalism. Foreign-born judges obfuscate common sense law-making.
BTW, responding to forum attacks on ICE and President Trump, I came up with a new word: “MAYORKANS”—who hails from Castro’s Cuba.
“Mayorkans” rudely protest ICE enforcement.
Definitely. This teaching tool works best when done during a child’s first 10 years of life and socialization.
In some cases, during the first seven years.
It’s a cliché.
It screams “AI wrote this!”
Cops and Cubs did the right thing.
In the past no lawyer or cop or judge would have given any 'plaintiff' like this punk the time of day.
It's what we are missing today.
I don’t doubt you would be right there sitting with him, had you been there.
Actually Chavez taught that little twirp a lesson......hope it sticks.
That stopped when I was in Junior High....for some black people.
When we finally got our seating in the theater and just before the movie started, the American Flag was shown on the screen and the National Anthem started. I stood and my date stood but nobody else did.
I immediately bellowed "GET OFF YOUR G_D BUTTS!" and the whole theater stood (I can be quite loud). and when the National Anthem finished, I yelled, "SIT" and they all sat, nervously looking back at me and my poor date.
Oddly, that was the last time I saw my date, Ann..
He should have hit him harder
better ways he could have done it.
firm grasp back of collar and jerk and lift.
Me also. All caps came off. Hands over hearts. But those were days long ago, gone now. Sad photo of current Amerika.
Candlestick Park 1971, San Francisco , construction workers were bombing a hippy couple that did not stand for the anthem. Sandwiches, cups of ice , etc . The cops came and escorted the couple to seats on the other side of the stadium.
The workers were there installing upgrades to allow additional seating for football games.
Lots of anti-freedom tough guys here! First off, freedom of expression only protects unpopular expression. Do you believe in the constitution and the rights of the first amendment? It doesn’t seem like many do. Second, the use of violence to coerce a free person to act is the antithesis of freedom! Put the shoe on the other foot. What if you got smacked because you didn’t stand for the so called black national anthem, or because you didn’t vocally support abortion? You’d be singing a different tune. Those of us who are prior service wore the uniform to defend and protect the Constitution, and that means all of it. Keep your hands to yourself and respect people’s rights, otherwise you’re no better than Antifa.
Either way, it’s assault. My God, that wasn’t even a “slap”...more a brushing against the kid’s head. If the parents couldn’t do the job of raising a respectful, patriotic young man, it’s nice to have a few old timers around to teach the youth some respect. I understand the kid’s right to not stand, but apparently the “slap” was effective. Good for the old guy...
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