Brian Stow

I haven't written about this yet, because there hasn't been a lot to say, besides what a tragedy it was.  On Opening Day in LA, after a Dodgers/Giants game, Brian Stow was beaten in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium simply because he was a Giants fan.  Having been at Dodger Stadium (and also rooting for the visiting team) I can say from experience that it can be a very scary place.  Dodger fans love their team and they will make sure you know that, and know you are wrong if you are not rooting for them.  However, they sometimes cross the line.  You are supposed to be there for the love of the game, not to assault the visiting team's fans.

Since that day, Brian Stow has been in a medically induced coma.  He was finally able to be transported back to San Francisco from LA, but he is still in the coma.  That's almost 2 whole months.  He has swelling in his brain and they are using the coma to prevent seizures.  Many people, including Barry Bonds and Tim Lincecum have donated to his fund, and the Dodgers and the city of LA donated money towards the reward of finding the person responsible for this.  In the past week, the LAPD has arrested a person they believe to be responsible for this horrific beating.  Hopefully in the near future they catch the other person responsible.

The one thing that I'm not sure I agree with on this, is that the Stow family is suing the Dodgers for negligence.  They are basically saying that the Dodgers are responsible for this and did not do enough to protect Brian Stow.  Having worked in sports and having been to many different sports venues, I would say that unfortunately there isn't much more that can be done.  When you have tens of thousands of people at an event, and especially when alcohol is served, it is nearly impossible to make sure every single person at that event is alright, without having a security person for every one there.  While I was at Dodger Stadium, I saw a very strong police presence.  The people the Stow family need to focus their anger on are the two people who used their fists to assault this person, simply because he was wearing a Giants jersey.

With all of that being said, all of my sympathy goes out to Brian Stow and his family.  I pray for a full recovery and that  you will get to see many more Giants games in your future.

Have we learned nothing?

Once again, a basketball player used an anti-gay slur and was caught on camera.  Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls said something to a fan during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.  Last month it was Kobe, and now this.  Did we learn nothing from the Kobe incident?  You can't say things like that, especially during the playoffs and not expect it to be noticed.  I honestly do not care what the fan was saying to Noah.  Yes, the fan may have been out of line (I have no clue...I haven't watched a clip of the incident) but as a professional basketball player, you have become a public figure and you cannot say things like that.  The NBA had taken such a great step forward last week with the president and CEO of the Phoenix Suns had come out, and now it feels as if we had taken a step back.  Joakim Noah needs to be treated exactly as Kobe was.  He needs to be fined, and he needs to make a public apology.  I know he has already said he was sorry and was out of line, but honestly, it's not enough.  I've said it before and I'll keep saying it...if we keep letting people get away with saying things like this, then the hate will never stop.  We need these athletes, as well as every other public figure, to let people know that this is not okay.  The F word or "gay" should never be used as an insult.  And until they stop, no one else will.

Jorge pulls himself from lineup...wrong on so many levels

So before yesterday's Red Sox/Yankees game, Jorge Posada saw that he was batting ninth, and decided to remove himself from the lineup.  He apparently told Joe Girardi that he needed a mental day off.  During the game, his wife tweeted that he had a stiff back.  And of course, all the media outlets have reported that he is batting less than .200.  The only person who knows the truth, is Jorge Posada.

Now here is one of the reasons this is wrong.  Unless you are injured, you play.  You are Jorge Posada.  You have been with the Yankees since '95/'96.  The only way to get out of a slump and improve your batting average, is to play.  You can't get hits sitting on the bench.  Have some respect for your fans, your team, and yourself.  If you don't want to play because you don't think you can hit, then it's time to retire.  Especially when you are the designated hitter.  If you don't want to hit, there is no point to being on the team.  You can't help them.

Now the other reason why this is wrong.  Brian Cashman, why did you decide to make this known to the public.  You are the general manager of this team, do your job.  Protect your team.  There is no need to bring this to the media's attention.  You just created a firestorm or questions and scrutiny.  Maybe you did it because you wanted people talking about your team, and I get that.  But the Yankees already have so many haters, you don't need any more.  If you want people talking about your team, you need it to be in a positive light.

So here's my take on it.  If you are a baseball player, you play.  Simple as that.  And if you are front office staff, you keep clubhouse issues in the clubhouse.

THE LAKERS LOSE!!!

Yesterday, one of the best things happened.  The Lakers not only were knocked out of the postseason, but they were swept.  No, I'm not a fan of the Dallas Mavericks, but I would pick anyone over the Lakers.  And not only did the Lakers lose, they did it with absolutely no class.  Never mind that your coach is one of the most highly respected coaches in all of basketball.  Never mind that you are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA.  You saw that you were going to lose, and you decided to play schoolyard basketball, and show people that you truly do not have any class.  Lamar Odom being ejected was one thing.  No, the shove to Dirk was not okay and should not have happened, however I'm not sure he should have been ejected for that.  (Granted, I did not see it live...I only saw YouTube videos of it.)  But Bynum...are you freaking kidding me?  You acted like a child.  You knew you were out of the postseason, so you threw a fit.  He's all of five feet tall, you're probably a foot taller than him, and you elbow him in the chest when he's going up for a shot.  You just showed your fans, Mavs fans, basketball fans in general, and the world that you are a classless little bitch.  And then the Lakers in general...you lost by 36 points.  You're supposed to be the team to beat, the reigning champs, the best in the league.  Your coach is retiring at the end of the season, and that was how you reward him?  You gave up.  You could have done more.  You should have done more.  Even if you were going to lose, you should have played to show respect to your coach, your fans, and yourself.  But you didn't.  And that, I will just add to the list of the reasons why I hate you.