Chicago Just Can't Seem To Keep It's Hands Off Kansas City

The Mad Monk · April 16, 2003, 05:29

Quote:

Fan Attacks Umpire at Baseball Game

The Associated Press
Tuesday, April 15, 2003; 11:30 PM

CHICAGO - A fan came out of the stands during Tuesday night's game between the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox and attacked first base umpire Laz Diaz. Security and players came to Diaz's aid and the fan was quickly taken away.

Immediately after Carlos Lee flied out to right to end the eighth inning, the fan ran on the field and tried to tackle Diaz, wrapping his arms around the umpire's legs.

It was the first appearance by the Royals in Chicago since coach Tom Gamboa was pummeled by a father and son who came out of the stands last September.

Three times earlier Tuesday night, the game was delayed when fans ran onto the field before being tackled by security guards.

U.S. Cellular Field, formerly Comiskey Park, will host the All-Star game July 15.

Before the game, Gamboa tried to downplay his return to the field where he was attacked seven months ago.

"I haven't given it a thought really," Gamboa said. "Lightning doesn't strike twice."

Gamboa, who was the Royals' first base coach when he was attacked last Sept. 19, is now Kansas City's bullpen coach. Gamboa, 55, still has a minor hearing loss in his right ear following the beating.

The boy, 15 at the time, was sentenced to five years of probation and also ordered to undergo mandatory counseling and perform 30 hours of community service.

The boy was arrested along with his father, William Ligue Jr., who initially pleaded innocent to charges of aggravated battery and mob action. The case is still pending.

Gamboa, a former coach with the Cubs, said Chicago sports fans shouldn't be judged by what happened to him.

"It's a great sports city and no one incident or what two guys did would tarnish that," Gamboa said.

"It's over and done with as far as I'm concerned."

© 2003 The Associated Press

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Apr15.html

So...what's this special attraction about, anyway?

Richelieu · April 16, 2003, 07:11

It's like the Red Wings squids: just something they do...

Sava · April 16, 2003, 07:34

It's so sad that the four dumbasses that ran on to the field somehow represent Chicago fandome. These morons were not baseball fans. Fans don't disrupt the game. Fans don't run onto the field and create problems. These morons should all get a beating. What's really stupid is that the last guy who attacked the umpire will probably file a lawsuit against the teams and argue he was assaulted. Also, there were many fights in the left-field stands that game also. This is just sickening. I stopped going to baseball games in 2001 because of this crap. Not coincidentally, the last game I went to was a Cubs vs Sox game at Comiskey. It's a shame that there are so many f(cking dumbasses in the world.

Sava · April 16, 2003, 07:54

Here is the dumbass piece of trailer trash that attacked the Umpire. This stupid, Eminem wannabe should have stayed at home and watched Nascar.

Sava · April 16, 2003, 07:55

Another pic

rah · April 16, 2003, 09:08

Gee, by the time they loaded him into the police car. (seen on the morning news, sorry no pics) He had a bandage wrapped all the way around his head that was quite spotted with blood and his right eye was very swollen. He also looked considerably more roughed up then the pictures above. Score another victory for the Chicago Police

RAH

Sava · April 16, 2003, 10:05

Chicago PD

One of my good friends is a desk Sergeant in the city (formerly a homicide detective).

The Umpire, Laz Diaz, was on The Score SportRadio this morning and assured the audience that this scumbag would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Diaz is one of the most well-spoken, good-hearted men in baseball. Just like the Gamboa incident, this kind of crap seems to happen to the nicest guys.

rah · April 16, 2003, 10:25

And just when you think it's just a few isolated wackos, by buddy was listening to one of the local sports talk radio stations last night and said that a couple of loons called in to support the guy, and then one guy actually said that certain umpires NEED to get their butts kicked every now and then. The host was so agahst that he asked the caller to repeat himself in case he misunderstood. HE WAS SERIOUS> It makes you wonder sometimes.

Q Classic · April 16, 2003, 10:34

note to those nutjobs:

baseball ain't hockey.

both are wonderful games, but baseball doesn't allow fighting...

Ming · April 16, 2003, 10:42

note to those nutjobs...

NO sport allows the fans to fight with the players or refs

Arrian · April 16, 2003, 10:48

I saw the footage on Baseball Tonight, and it looked like the guy got a Royal Asskicking (pun intended). The Ump tossed him to the ground, and the Royals jumped all over him, and got in a few kicks & punches.

People amaze me.

-Arrian

Sava · April 16, 2003, 12:55

Two of the guys were on "The Score SportsRadio" today with Boers and Bernstein. B&B basically called them white trash. The two guys, brothers, said "It was just a heat of the moment thing." Both were SOBER! Also, the one guy said, "Well I went skydiving."

rah · April 16, 2003, 13:47

Yeah, i just heard that during lunch. One of the brothers claimed it was just on his list of things to do. No regret or anything. But it was fun listening to B&B trash them.

Sava · April 16, 2003, 14:11

"dumbass cracker"

Chris 62 · April 16, 2003, 14:23

I guess he didn't like the calls.

Sava · April 16, 2003, 14:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris 62
I guess he didn't like the calls.

It's a possibility, but I'm going to file this one under "stupid white trash".

Imran Siddiqui · April 16, 2003, 15:36

The funny part is that the ump the guy went after was a former Marine!

Doesn't matter, though, because the Royals took care of him

.

Drake Tungsten · April 16, 2003, 18:01

Quote:

Doesn't matter, though, because the Royals took care of him .

Just like they're taking care of the rest of the league. 11-1 baby!!!

rah · April 16, 2003, 18:03

Yes, they have, but during my long lifetime, I can remember quite a few similar starts by my hapless CUBS, and we know how all of those seasons ended up.

RAH
So enjoy it while you can.

Drake Tungsten · April 16, 2003, 18:05

Oh, I'm sure the Royals will find some way to miss the playoffs. That's why I'm taking full advantage of this once-in-a-decade run...

rah · April 16, 2003, 18:17

ONCE A DECADE. you're lucky. the CHUBS are '0' for my lifetime, and i'll be 50 soon.

RAH
Yes April is always a good month because everyone still has hope.

H Tower · April 16, 2003, 19:59

Maybe I should reconsider going to that white sox game on saturday...

rah · April 16, 2003, 20:08

Don't worry, last night was a weeknight, we all know how much more sober White Sox fans are on the weekend

H Tower · April 16, 2003, 21:55

thanks, that makes me feel much better.

Knowing the white sox, it will probably be miniature bat day at US Cellular Field.

god, even typing that makes me sick. BRING BACK COMISKEY!!

Sava · April 16, 2003, 21:57

I've heard some people call it "the Joan"... after Joan Cusack, the spokesperson for USCellular.

Swissy · April 16, 2003, 22:17

Go ahead and go saturday H Tower, tuesday game was one of those half price nights. I expect most of these jerks drank what they saved on the cost of admission.

H Tower · April 16, 2003, 22:55

oh i'm still going, don't worry about that. look for me knocking some drunk whte trash guy on his ass as he makes his way towards the field

Sava · April 18, 2003, 08:32

From Letterman:

Quote:

Top Ten Excuses From The Guy Who Attacked The Umpire

10. "I thought it was 'Attack A Defenseless Umpire Night'"

9. "Let's see you drink 15 beers and not do something stupid"

8. "Look at all the endorsements the shirtless father and son lunatics got"

7. "I wanted to impress Royals shortstop Angel Berroa"

6. "Umpire? I thought he was a vampire"

5. "It was Royals-White Sox game -- somebody's gotta make it exciting"

4. "You never heard of a little thing called 'spring fever'?"

3. "Pete Rose bet me I wouldn't do it"

2. "You're just not yourself when you've got shingles"

1. "From my angle, he looked exactly like Uday Hussein"

The Mad Monk · April 18, 2003, 08:40

Just in time for an update!

Quote:

Big-league bail for wild fan

April 18, 2003

BY ANNIE SWEENEY AND DAVE MCKINNEY Staff Reporter

Eric Dybas has maintained that his charging onto the field at a White Sox game this week was just a stunt for attention, but a Cook County judge saw it differently Thursday.

He set bail for the Bolingbrook man at a whopping $250,000 and scolded him in court for playing an "incendiary game" of "who can make the crowd shriek the loudest."

Judge Nicholas Ford said tackling umpire Laz Diaz at Tuesday night's game at U.S. Cellular Field between the Sox and the Kansas City Royals was an act "that appeals to the worst common denominator. The potential for danger was great."

"Anything could have happened," Ford said. "Someone has to say no to this kind of conduct, and today it's going to be me."

The judge said Dybas' actions could have inspired 10 or even "100" spectators to try something similar on the field, which he said should be considered "sacrosanct." He also noted that the stadium was filled with people, including children.

Last year, bail for 35-year-old William Ligue was set at $200,000 after he was accused of charging onto the field at the then-Comiskey Park and assaulting Kansas City first-base coach Tom Gamboa during a game. That was the last time the Sox and Royals had played in Chicago until this week.

Tuesday's incident has resulted in even more criticism and hand-wringing about how to preserve a fun and safe ballpark experience.

State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) announced he would introduce legislation that would make it a felony to trespass on a "place of public amusement.'' The legislation also proposes a mandatory fine of $1,000 and performance of community service.

Currently, such trespassing is a misdemeanor.

"With the All-Star game coming to town in just a few months, we need to take the proper steps now to make it clear that we will not tolerate these types of stupid and dangerous actions,'' Fritchey said.

In a statement to investigators, Dybas, who has been charged with felony aggravated battery, said he jumped over the first-base wall Tuesday night after seeing two other men jump onto the outfield earlier in the game.

"He wanted to one-up them," prosecutor Lorraine Scaduto said in court, "and do something even more outrageous."

Dybas, 24, wasn't in the courtroom, appearing instead via closed-circuit TV. He stood emotionless during the hearing, wearing the same blood-stained shirt he was shown in Tuesday, and there was a bandage above his right eye --the result of being subdued by several players and security guards.

His attorney said Dybas had been drinking all day, including time he spent at the Cubs game earlier, and that Dybas' actions were "fueled" by the alcohol.

Attorney Frank P. Kostouros, noting that earlier in the day a murder bail was $200,000, said $250,000 for his client was too high and the judge should have taken into consideration his client's alcohol problem.

Kostouros also said his client would like to apologize to Diaz, both teams and to Major League Baseball.

Dybas' mother, Shelly Erickson, and his fiancee, Kelly Sherwood, were in court. As Kostouros described her son's drinking problem to reporters, Erickson held on to Sherwood tightly and cried quietly.

If convicted, Dybas could face three to five years in prison.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/...fangood18.html

Quarter Million Dollar Bail? Three Years in Prison?

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

chequita guevara · April 18, 2003, 10:15

U.S. Cellular Field? When did this happen? It was still Komisky Park when I left town. What the hell are you people doing to my city!?!