Monday, July 27, 2009

More ugliness for Philly fans

Citizens Bank Park is now the place to be in the summer in these parts.
The Phils are red-hot, and their fans are painting the town red.

But not all is hunky-dory in South Philly.

Once again, the actions of some Philly fans are giving the region a bit of a black eye.

And of course one of them had to be featured on national TV. The Fox cameras clearly picked up a green laser light that was pointed at several Cardinals batters during Saturday’s game. The action was halted while a section behind the Phils’ dugout was searched for the offending fan. It turned up nothing.

Maybe it was an exasperated Eagles fan upset that the Birds are now taking a back seat to the Phils, looking to get the green back in the picture.

After the game, one St. Louis player wondered out loud if the laser was fixed to some kind of gun and it he might be in danger.

You don’t usually think about Citizens Bank Park as a dangerous place.
That was something that we left behind at the Vet, and all those raucous sessions in the 700 level by Phillies and Eagles fans.

Unfortunately, the Phils’ new playpen is beginning to get a bit of a reputation for rowdy, boisterous fans as well. And just an hour or so after the laser incident, things turned deadly.

Police say it started as a disagreement between two groups who were inside McFadden’s, the restaurant that is attached to Citizens Bank Park.

Apparently a beer was spilled, words were exchanged. A fight broke out.
After the brawlers were expelled, the fisticuffs spilled out into the parking lot.

That’s when some blood was spilled as well. With deadly results.

Police say David Sale, 22, of Lansdale, was fatally beaten in the parking lot. Sale was found on unresponsive on the ground. It is believed he was part of a bachelor’s party that spent the afternoon at the stadium.

Police say they have two suspects in custody and are looking for at least one more.

The two incidents will no doubt add to the national villification of Philly fans.

It is OK for fans to paint the town red. It’s just plain ugly when it involves a green laster pointer.

And it becomes no less than tragic when that kind of behavior morphs into the ugliness of blood red.

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