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(Astro)Biggio's wife slapped at White Sox's ballpark
Houston Chronicle ^

Posted on 10/25/2005 8:42:45 AM PDT by Jalapeno

Biggio's wife slapped at White Sox's ballpark

Guillen issues apology to Astro, condemns fan

By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ

Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen issued a public apology on behalf of his organization to Astros second baseman Craig Biggio, whose wife was slapped by a fan in the stands at U.S. Cellular Field.

"I feel like it's our fault, and I talked to (Biggio) about it, and he knows we're sorry," Guillen said. "He knows it was something we couldn't control. It wasn't like a fight. (The fan) hit the lady and left."

The incident occurred on Sunday night during Game 2 of the 101st World Series at Chicago's ballpark, where several members of the Astros' traveling party were harassed.

"He slapped her and ran," Biggio said of the fan who struck his wife, Patty. "She ran after him. My brother-in-law ended up putting him against the wall. That's pretty sorry."

Asked if Patty had been hurt, Biggio said his New Jersey-raised wife held her own.

"You don't slap a New Jersey girl and get away with it," he said. "That happens sometimes. It's terrible. It's over."

Added Guillen: "I wish she would have grabbed something and broken his head. If that happened to my family, it would have been a big problem. ... People should just go to the game and not bother people next to you, or you're not a White Sox fan or a baseball fan. Just enjoy the game. Drink if you want to drink; just respect the people next to you."

No criminal complaint was made against the fan, according to Chicago police. Chicago defended

Biggio, manager Phil Garner, general manager Tim Purpura, catcher Brad Ausmus and several of the Astros were adamant that a few cowardly acts weren't indicative of the White Sox or Chicago fan base.

"The word was that the guy had been gouging her a little bit, pulling her hair and just doing some stupid things, things that are just not necessary," Garner said. "Have your fun. This (World Series) is a great thing for them and a great thing for us. Cheer and be as loud as you want to be and whatever else, but don't do that.

"I can't imagine Patty Biggio ever saying anything that would incite anything, either. I just can't imagine that. Even if she had, there's no excuse."

Despite the incident, Garner said he heard the Astros' traveling party had mostly positive experiences with the fans.

Nonetheless, Guillen did not hide his disgust at the treatment Patty Biggio received.

"On behalf of the White Sox organization, I just don't think we could control that," Guillen said. "But I think the family is a big part of my life. I think especially the kids. And when that happened in the ballpark, you feel you need to be supportive.

"When you're a man and you hit a lady, no matter whose wife it is or whose sister it is, you respect them. But it's something that's tough to control. It happened so quick." More harassment

Although Patty Biggio was the only Astros wife who was slapped Sunday, she wasn't the only member of the traveling party who was harassed. Ausmus said his wife, Liz, endured some vulgar taunts and a few vulgar hand gestures throughout the night.

"Some of the treatment that the Astros families received at U.S. Cellular Field was a huge black eye for the city of Chicago," Ausmus said. "Now, I understand that's not indicative of all the people in the Chicago area, because I have friends and relatives there.

"I know the people of Chicago are overwhelmingly good people. But if I was from Chicago, I'd be embarrassed by the way the Astros' families were treated by the White Sox fans. My wife didn't get hit or anything, but people flipped her off and were screaming at her."

The attendance at U.S. Cellular Field was announced as 41,432 for Game 2, and the crowd was obviously overwhelmingly in support of the White Sox. With that in mind, Ausmus said there was little the Astros' family members could do in response. "You don't want to get caught in a situation where you're inflaming the masses," Ausmus said. "So I think as an Astros fan at a visiting park, you pretty much have to swallow it."

'Bring him to me'

Maybe so, but Guillen insinuated that he would have definitely defended anybody in the Astros' traveling party.

"I know the security in Chicago is doing a great job," Guillen said. "And when something happens so quick, you can't blame anybody. And the guy that did it, he should be brought to Biggio, and he's the one that can hopefully get him back.

"I told the police, 'Don't put him in jail. Bring him to me in the dugout.' But hopefully, that won't happen again."

Shortstop Adam Everett heard a little bit about the incident, but he knew more than enough to form his opinion.

"That's real weak," he said. "That's bad. I don't care where you're at, to hit a woman is not good."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blacksox; chicagoblacksox
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To: sinkspur

"I got hit by a thrown bottle of Jack Danials coming off the field at Fayetteville (LSU vs Arkansas) . ."

Alcohol is banned in stadiums now. Which doesn't help, because the drinkers get blasted before the game.


61 posted on 10/25/2005 9:45:02 AM PDT by popdonnelly
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To: Jalapeno

A White Sox fan has no class! Stop the presses!


62 posted on 10/25/2005 9:45:24 AM PDT by TypeZoNegative (Future Minnesota Refugee)
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To: w_over_w
But my main point is men hitting woman (for any reason), that's no longer about obnoxiousness but grossly cowardly behavior that merits a public scrutiny.

It's usually drunk behavior, which is why I don't go to public athletic events any longer.

I've had a bellyful of listening to the tail-gaters, sotted to the gills after three hours and half-a-case in the parking lot prior to the game.

63 posted on 10/25/2005 9:45:29 AM PDT by sinkspur (If you're not willing to give Harriett Miers a hearing, I don't give a damn what you think.)
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To: The_Victor

Chicago is to the Midwest as Miami is to the South.


64 posted on 10/25/2005 9:46:11 AM PDT by TypeZoNegative (Future Minnesota Refugee)
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To: Southside_Chicago_Republican
I don't see how the deplorable action of one fan reflects on the team or the entire fan base or the team's home city. I've been around the country and have seen plenty of jerks.

I spent a day in Chicago this past summer. I went with my older son and my nephew. We parked at Soldier Field and walked the city. We were so impressed. Everything in Chicago is built on a grand scale! It's a clean city. It's so cool that the whole lakeshore along Lake Michigan is a park, with bike trails, beaches and marinas. There was a street fair going on in the area around Buckingham Fountain and we had a blast listening to the music, enjoying some great food and hanging with the good people of Chicago. The House of Blues was great! Walking along the Chicago River was real nice. The Magnificent Mile was magnificent! :-) The Navy Pier was a great place to cool off, have a beer at the beer garden and listen to some more good music.

The fan that slapped Biggio's wife is a jerk and needs his a++ kicked. In my experience, this is not at all indicative of the people of Chicago, who I found to be hospitable

Chicago is a great city!

rochester_veteran
65 posted on 10/25/2005 9:47:20 AM PDT by rochester_veteran (born and raised in rachacha!)
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To: in hoc signo vinces
"Excuse me? New York is by far the rudest city in the US"

It is more then obvious you have either not been to NY or else you have never visited MA or the other New England states.

66 posted on 10/25/2005 9:47:38 AM PDT by Eagles Talon IV
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To: sinkspur
Jeez, that's class-ay.

And people say Philly fans are @$$holes...

67 posted on 10/25/2005 9:48:38 AM PDT by Malacoda (Islam = deranged, evil suicide cult)
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To: sinkspur

because he's being an ass. he's getting in someone's kitchen in an attempt to get in their head. Garner used to be a pretty emotional guy before he got to Houston. He and Guillen went toe to toe in a Brewers White Sox game a few years ago. The Astros owner is such a decent guy, I'm sure they are scared to get in a rumble. Hopefully the Astros will get a win tonight and get this thing going. Wouldn't surprise me to see the WhiteSox try to get into Oswalts head by starting a fight tonight. Right up their alley.


68 posted on 10/25/2005 9:49:53 AM PDT by kinghorse
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To: TypeZoNegative

whoa. nice one.


69 posted on 10/25/2005 9:50:22 AM PDT by kinghorse
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To: MadIvan

Hitting a girl is something us South Siders would expect Cubs fans to do!


70 posted on 10/25/2005 9:51:19 AM PDT by karnage (Go Sox)
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To: kinghorse
Chicago and the Upper Midwest sort of have a rivalry like how New England and New York has their rivalries. Every time their teams get together, you can always expect a trash talking.

BTW, Astros in 6.

71 posted on 10/25/2005 9:52:58 AM PDT by TypeZoNegative (Future Minnesota Refugee)
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To: kinghorse

If wishes were horses beggars would ride, kinghorse!


72 posted on 10/25/2005 9:53:10 AM PDT by karnage (Go Sox)
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To: kinghorse

This year his fun is winning the Series, and the Astros are the butts in the way.


73 posted on 10/25/2005 9:55:07 AM PDT by karnage (Go Sox)
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To: sinkspur
It's usually drunk behavior, which is why I don't go to public athletic events any longer.

You and me both. I get down to Baton Rouge once a year to hook up with some alum buddies and catch a Tiguh game . . . not bad . . . but Deaf Valley has to be the largest open-roofed bourbon warehouse in the country. And liquor is banned!!

74 posted on 10/25/2005 9:56:44 AM PDT by w_over_w (Bam, bam, bam-bam-bam . . .LET'S GO ASTROS!!)
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To: dakine
Thank goodness there are no drunken fans in Houston....

Drunkeness is absolutely no excuse for assault.

Under the State of Texas statutes regarding the use of force and deadly force, the punk that attacked her could be delt with in a most harsh manor outside Minute Maid Field.....but Chicago ain't Texas....

75 posted on 10/25/2005 9:57:11 AM PDT by cbkaty (I may not always post...but I am always here......)
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To: JFC
Fans need to GROW UP!

A Houston fan pulling this stunt would have had his ass handed to him, even if it were someone in my own party. (which would NEVER happen.)

Go Astros!

76 posted on 10/25/2005 9:58:37 AM PDT by houeto (Mr. President, close our borders now!)
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To: popdonnelly
Alcohol is banned in stadiums now. Which doesn't help, because the drinkers get blasted before the game.

As I said on another post, Tiguh Stadium is an open bourbon warehouse on Saturday nights in Baton Rouge. I think all that's banned are the bottles the liquor comes in. They get it in by other means . . .

77 posted on 10/25/2005 10:00:23 AM PDT by w_over_w (Bam, bam, bam-bam-bam . . .LET'S GO ASTROS!!)
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To: JFC
Fans need to GROW UP!

A Houston fan pulling this stunt would have had his ass handed to him, even if it were someone in my own party. (which would NEVER happen.)

Go Astros!

78 posted on 10/25/2005 10:02:23 AM PDT by houeto (Mr. President, close our borders now!)
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To: The_Victor
Judging by the Wikipedia map, Chicago is practically the geographic center of the Midwest. :)

How can Illinois be in the Midwest when it's in the eastern half of the country?

79 posted on 10/25/2005 10:05:19 AM PDT by judgeandjury
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To: Jalapeno

>>>"You don't slap a New Jersey girl and get away with it.<<<

Amen to that!


80 posted on 10/25/2005 10:06:36 AM PDT by Palladin (America! America! God shed His grace on Thee.)
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