No one’s claiming that the stands at Dodger Stadium are suddenly going to be as safe as Main Street at Disneyland, but the next homestand should be a lot mellower than the first. I say “should,” because even with increased security, there are no guarantees. Take this story from a Los Angeles resident, whose daughter attended a Dodgers game on Friday … one day after the attack that left Giants fan Bryan Stow in a coma.
Here’s the text message my daughter sent from the stands in Game 2 of last week’s opening series: “Omg ma i’m horrified by the fans here. they give la a horrible name. They are acting like animals!!”
She was sitting near a twentysomething trio, two women and a man, who spent the entire game taunting a baby-faced young fellow a few rows away. His offense? Wearing a Giants jersey.
Most of the insults they hurled are unprintable here — from Holocaust references to sexual slurs. “This is why people get killed,” one of them yelled, when the young man stood to cheer a Giants hit. “I hope you get shot in the parking lot.”
This was the day after Giants fan Bryan Stow was severely beaten in that lot.
Granted, the publicity surrounding the Stow attack hadn’t gained full steam by then, but still, it’s clear that the people doing the taunting knew about it. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens when those fans meet the “sea of blue” that police chief Charlie Beck has promised will be at the stadium from now on.
The Dodgers are holding a “drive-thru fundraiser” for Stow today until 3 p.m. (PST), in which anyone can drive up and donate funds to help offset his medical costs.
Meanwhile, the Giants have promised “World Series-level security” for the opener of a three-game series with the Dodgers tonight at AT&T to guard against retaliatory attacks.
“We’re in no position to accept inappropriate behavior from these games,” said Jorge Costa, the Giants’ senior vice president of ballpark operations. He is concerned about threats of retaliation posted on social media sites.
The Giants have dedicated today’s game to Stow, with members of the paramedic community scheduled to be circulating in the stands asking for donations. Also, apparently, Dodgers players are going to get involved with a “pregame message” tonight. It’s a little late and at the wrong venue, IMO.
The two men who attacked Stow have not been caught. The reward for information leading to their capture has grown to $150,000.
Of course, there is only one person who can turn this around. Bieber, we need you now more than ever!.
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Thugs are speaking for LA [Los Angeles Times]
Security tight tonight at AT&T Park for Dodgers-Giants tilt [Ballpark Digest]
