I have to admit, ever since I saw this picture on Bugs and Cranks last week I’ve been thinking about it, wondering if there was a way to incorporate it into a post. Low and behold, like a hurled, empty Molson bottle gliding through the rarefied Skydome air this story appears on Baseball Think Factory:
Blue Jays’ fans lack respect, loyalty in home opener
The writer is Katie Graves, who works for The Gazette, you know, the school newspaper at The University of Western Ontario. Sounds like she went to the Blue Jays home opener with a smile on her face and a pocket full of hope, perhaps anticipating something special from the angles in light blue and white. What she found however, she won’t soon forget.
The first few innings were just like old times; The Jays sported their retro uniforms and three levels of Rogers Centre seating were packed with towel-waving fans.
But as the innings went on and the alcohol took charge, some fans showed their true colours.
In the 500 level, a section over from where I was seated, two men got in a fist fight that not only disrupted their section, but all the surrounding sections who could no longer focus on the game. Fans were distracted by the security guards dragging a pile of drunk guys out of the stadium.
Once that was taken care of, a female fan decided to flash the crowd, and what would most fans rather watch — the Jays beat the Sox, or the topless girl in the 500s? I think the answer is obvious.
Uh-oh. A fight at a Blue Jays game not involving John Gibbons? And who was that girl? Daughter of Rick Moranis?
Just when I thought people might start paying attention to the game, two idiots decided to run across the field. If these people cared at all about baseball, they would not delay the game and distract the players in the final minutes of the game, especially in a game your team is winning.
As the cops removed the couple from the field in handcuffs, more foolish fans threw bags of popcorn, cups, napkins and other garbage into the outfield.
Those “fans” end up ruining the game for everyone else who just wants to see a good display of baseball. If you had time to think about arguing with your neighbour, throwing popcorn on the field, or contemplating running into the outfield, you clearly are not focused on the game; I am sure half of those people will not watch another Jays game all season.
If that guy up top is any indication it’ll be a lot more than half. People like him even have trouble getting off the couch to clean the resin out of their heroin spoons.
13 responses so far ↓
1 simon // Apr 9, 2008 at 9:58 pm
haha, great picture!
well, the Jay’s drew 35000 then 30000 in the two games following the sold out home opener. And these are weekend games against the mighty Bosox, so yeah, I’d say about half the people aren’t gonna come back to see the Jays at the dome, but that’s par for course.
What’s up with fights breaking out in the crowds anyways. Apparently the Bosox-Dodgers tilt at the LA Coliseum was full of drunken fisticuffs.
Oh yeah, fights tend to break out in Japanese sporting events that involve the Hanshin Tigers or the Urawa Reds.
2 IronChef // Apr 9, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Toronto is the armpit of Canada, and Western isn’t even a real University.
3 simon // Apr 9, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Western is the party school of Canada (even made Letterman’s top 10 list!) Unfortunately I was stuck in drab geekland of Waterloo…
4 Shinsano // Apr 9, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I’ve actually heard Raptors fans get pretty wild and obnoxious. I’ve read a couple small items about them adding extra security for games at the Rogers Center.
5 John M // Apr 9, 2008 at 11:00 pm
See, this is where Yankees fans are so much better. They don’t throw garbage on the field anymore. They don’t flash their boobs. They don’t run on the field.
That means you can concentrate on the drunks brawling in the upper deck. Yes!
6 SCREWFACE // Apr 10, 2008 at 12:27 am
@simon Open the dome, with a winning ballclub, expect 40 000+
@ironchef Correction…
Toronto MAKES Canada, & Western people are soft
@Shinsano Blue Jays fans can get insane. Even more so, you should see our Toronto FC fans. Taste of Europe riots in North America.
…
It’s the 500 level, what can you expect? I’m sure all ballparks around the land, sitting up in 500+ we’re behaved properly. I’m sorry, but the author of the story comes off as a naive virgin. It’s the beer that makes us go crazy.
7 Dan // Apr 10, 2008 at 2:58 am
sounds like a normal night at Citizens Bank Park here in Philly…..nothing like the Vet’s 700 level though.
8 Shinsano // Apr 10, 2008 at 6:56 am
I can only shudder to think what goes on at those Guelph Storm games.
9 Tix // Apr 10, 2008 at 11:19 am
More Jays mahem:
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/413029
10 Matt // Apr 10, 2008 at 1:19 pm
My beloved White Sox used to have half price Mondays. The practice was ended do to excessive brawling.
What most people observed was that cubs fans would show up for the cheap tickets and start fights with Sox fans. (or Sox fans with cubs fans, either way, the two fan bases don’t mix well)
The White Sox abandoned the practice in ‘05 and went so far as to deny 100 level access to ticket holders with 300 or 500 level tickets. This has almost ended the brawling completely. I haven’t been to The Cell in two years, but I can’t remember the last time I saw a brawl like in the ‘03 or ‘04 seasons.
11 Shinsano // Apr 10, 2008 at 3:19 pm
The A’s do (or did, not sure) a $2 Wednesday with $1 hot dogs and $1 cokes. I thought it was the greatest thing ever.
Then again the A’s and Warriors have better fans than most other sports teams.
I’d almost throw the Raiders in there too, but something’s telling me not to push it.
12 Gus Lonzo // Apr 10, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Speaking as a Canuck, I suppose that my feathers should be ruffled by this story, but when I look at that f—— hoser, well, what can one say other than nice mustache buddy! And also as a Canuck, I have a pretty good idea what this fella is saying here, i.e., something to the effect, “Hey e’erybody! How’s it goin’ eh?! Look at me! I’m downin’ a bruski in Skydome! Pretty cool, eh?! Go Leafs! I mean… Go Jays!” And having been to Skydome several times as well, I can also say that it’s a dump of a place–the Trailer Home of MLB stadiums, and everyone knows it too. As for Toronto being the armpit of Canada, the person who posted that comment might want to visit Sarnia for a comparison. As for Western being nothing but a party University, I don’t know about that, but I do think London’s a nice town. And as for Guelph Storm games, I can’t say anything about them, though I can comment on Guelph Holoday Platters games–which is what the Guelph Storm used to be called back in the day. And in a word
(and like most OHL games) I would call them “violent.”
13 Gary Garland // Apr 16, 2008 at 1:06 pm
So she’s never been to a Raiders game, I take it. The U.S. Army now uses Raiders games to get its troops ready for Iraq.
Leave a Comment