Attacked umpire says stiff fines would deter fans from violence

Chicago Tribune ^ | April 16, 2003 | FRED MITCHELL

[TexRef]

CHICAGO - Umpire Laz Diaz was armed with a mask and chest protector Wednesday night. But the extra gear had nothing to do with Tuesday night's attack on him by a fan in the eighth inning.

"I have no apprehension," Diaz said before Wednesday's game. "(Sox security) is well prepared, and I'm sure they will do a heck of a job tonight."

[TexRef]

Sports officials being attacked is a growing problem. I agree that they need to crack down on these morons!!!

It's nice that the players came to the umpire's assistance -- I would hope for the same if anything similar every happened to me!

[Mister Baredog]

Physical assault deserves jailtime period(I don't mean overnight)

[bedolido]

Bill O'Reilly said it should be classified as terrorism and prosecuted.

I've yelled at the TV many times during NFL games. But that's a real sport. Boreball (baseball) is toooooo boring to be concerned about the calls.

[Alberta's Child]

Attacked umpire says stiff fines would deter fans from violence . . .

Why should someone who assaults an umpire be treated any more harshly than someone who assaults me on a street somewhere?

[Blue Screen of Death]

Make Mike Tyson an umpire.

[Orangedog]

Bill O'Reilly said it should be classified as terrorism and prosecuted.

Just imagine what Hitlery will classify as terrorism when she scams her way back into the White House.

[iconoclast]

A stiff fine AND about a 5-10 year ban from sporting events is in order for these Cretins. Mandatory AA attendance probably wouldn't be a ad idea either.

[iconoclast]

Bill O'Reilly said it should be classified as terrorism and prosecuted.

Typical O'Reilly blather.

[TexRef]

Why should someone who assaults an umpire be treated any more harshly than someone who assaults me on a street somewhere?

I'll tell you why: Because people are MORONS!

The bottom line is that we are not able to protect ourselves.

If I am walking down the street, I may or may not have a gun with me for protection. You want to attack me? Fine. You will have to live (or die) with the consequences.

When I am officiating a basketball game at a high-school or college there are no guns allowed. (It would be to inconvenient to carry anyway -- and too tempting to use on out-of-control coaches/players) :)

There are far too many fans that get out of control when watching athletic events -- and I am not just talking about moronic drunk ones either. At events where no alcohol is sold and the fans are NOT drunk, there are many that still act like idiots.

I have had a few people make threats -- and even a coach that wanted to come after me and had to be restrained (after I had already ejected him).

Somehow we need to deal with the problem. Too many of these people are getting off with slaps on the wrist and that will do nothing to stop future assaults.

[Blue Screen of Death]

It's nice that the players came to the umpire's assistance

Ever notice that they never attack the batter?

[firebrand]

*

[Johnny Gage]

Attacked umpire says stiff fines would deter fans from violence . . .

Why should someone who assaults an umpire be treated any more harshly than someone who assaults me on a street somewhere?

Yeah.. maybe they should give all umpires a CCW and handgun. BANG the perps dead..

I guarantee you it would only take 1 or 2 before no one ever did it again.

[Alberta's Child]

You didn't address my point. If someone deserves an 18-month prison sentence for assaulting an umpire, I should hope that he deserves the same sentence for assaulting me on a street somewhere.

When I am officiating a basketball game at a high-school or college there are no guns allowed.

Just as the guy who assaults me takes a risk, then so are you when you willingly allow yourself to be put in a position where you can't defend yourself.

[Alberta's Child]

There have been a few infamous cases over the last years involving fans and players getting involved in altercations at NHL hockey games. If you ever see a videotape of these things, notice who always comes out on the losing end.

[gas_dr]

I am a referee of three sports, two of which I work on the college level, and one on the professional level. I was working a nationally ranked high school soccer game last January, when I was assaulted from the stands. A tripping foul occurred, and I immediately issued a yellow card. The kids father came running out of the stands, across a track, climbed a fence, out on the field and hit me. I was stunned. Of course I was not allowed to tell my story to the press at the time as all referees are gagged from speaking to reporters. The report eventualy was I got yelled at and stopped the game...which is untrue.

The main point is that assaults on referees is increasing. The good referees get hotly contested games where assault is more likely to happen. The general sportmanship has degraded in the last 10 years, and many exceptional referees are quitting because of ugly incidents like this...

As for the penalty to the goober who did this to me -- he was banned from county extracurricular activities for 1 - 2 years, including his sons graduation. Do you think this is harsh enough?

[Redwood71]

AS an ex umpire and official of different sports, under ASA, USSSA, Nation Federation, NCAA, AAU, USVBA, and calling at levels from grammer school to college, I also find it distressing that officials are not well protected with such crowd sizes, and with alcohol so questionable controlled. I have seen the lacking efforts of park people when they fail to stop the harrassment of the players and officials prior to the "fan" hearing enough of his/her voice and either starting a riot or making one due lack of self-control or responsibilities for their actions. "It's always someone elses fault."

But I do disagree with your observation of the actions of, at least, three of the players as after the attacker was down, he was struck in the back of the head by one player, and was purposely spiked by two players on uncovered legs on the back of his legs. Where as the "fan" needs to be jailed for trespassing and assault, so should the three players that had no action in subdueing the man but intentionally struck to do damage, especially the two that stomped on his pinned calves with the spikes.

If the players are going to use gang violence to try to stop gang attacks, are they not exibiting the same type of behavior? Especially when the "fan" was not using anything, this time, other than bare hands and two of the players were using a weapon that is capable of slicing an achilles tendon or muscle.

I'm not for this type of "fan" behavior, but I'm also not for this type of player behavior either. Subduing is different from attacking. And those players obviously attacked the fan after he was subdued.

[TexRef]

You didn't address my point. If someone deserves an 18-month prison sentence for assaulting an umpire, I should hope that he deserves the same sentence for assaulting me on a street somewhere.

I don't disagree. My only problem is that officials are not allowed to protect themselves (at least with a gun/knife/etc). They are placed in a hostile environment and it is up to the location to provide security and the legal system to take care of the morons who decide to cause mayhem.

Just as the guy who assaults me takes a risk, then so are you when you willingly allow yourself to be put in a position where you can't defend yourself.

Because there is nothing like officiating! Those who do it, love it, and understand.

[Alberta's Child]

I noticed that they stopped showing the videotape of last year's incident in Chicago after about 24 hours. I wondered at the time if this tape was confiscated by Major League Baseball to protect the players on the field from being sued.

[Alberta's Child]

Like I said -- the risk you assume (of being assaulted by a fan) is no different than the risk of being struck by an errant ball, puck, player, etc.

If personal safety were that much of a concern, I'd give it up.