[Diddle E. Squat]

The victim was Chef Boyardee/Super Mario on the left. Note the dimensions, the top of the head of the person inside would be at the bottom of the nose of the costume, even if it were John Kerry or Julia Roberts in there. The bat was intentially swung to hit in the hat portion, thus no body part was close to being hit. Knocking a mascot to the ground in a prank may be a bit mean, but it isn't criminal assault or other hyperbole.

[discostu]

No knocking a mascott to the ground in a prank is stupid, doing it with a swinging bat is amazingly stupid. The fact that he aimed above the person's head and succeeded shows nothing more than he had enough common sense to not do it in the first place. Does he have any idea how that costume is secured to the person? Is whiplash a possibility? Is there something hard in there that he could knock into the person's head? He has no way to know until it's too late. Add that he comes from the back so the person in the suit has no way of knowing or bracing for it and you have the act of a complete moron who is being properly and justly ridiculed for his behavior.

[Akira]

Note the dimensions, the top of the head of the person inside would be at the bottom of the nose of the costume, even if it were John Kerry or Julia Roberts in there.

That was perhaps the funniest thing I've heard come out of this thread!

Come on, people! Watch the video! Yes, it was stupid but meant to be HARMLESS. It was a love tap on top of 2 feet of foam! If you can watch that video and think anything else, you probably also think OJ is innocent.

As for the comment another poster (not Mr. Squat) made that "he'll deserve what's coming to him", I guess he thus deserves NO CRIMINAL CHARGES and a $432 fine. Gawd, please don't bring a civil suit on this one...

[discostu]

And as for it being "blown out of proportion" the currently leading punishment on the ESPN poll is sending him back to the Tigers, I think things are pretty well proportioned.