Now let’s look at the two real issues that this story represents.
The first issue, and the less serious of the two is the fact that after 8 innings of any baseball game who could ever blame anyone from wanting to jump out of their seat and make a run for it! Other than taking several consecutive 5 Hour Energy Drinks, what else is a baseball fan to do in order to avoid falling into a deep slumber or going insane. Baseball is boring, it moves at such a slow pace that younger generations will never acquire the same love for the game that we, our parents, and grandparents grew to appreciate. When Neil Diamond’s hit song “Sweet Caroline” wakes me up at Boston’s Fenway Park during the 8th inning, I know baseball has issues. Do I agree with getting up and running onto any playing field, no, but do I understand the eagerness to see some action and get your blood pumping, yes.
Now the second and more pressing issue is the one of fans entering a restricted athletic field or playing area. Did Steve Consalvi deserve to be tased, absolutely! In this day and age of terrorist threats, and crazy behavior, that we read and hear about every day, you cannot and do not have the right to approach athletes in a restricted area. If, God forbid, this was not a kid pulling a prank and it was an insane fan or terrorist threat, and they had not used force to bring this person down and into the custody we would be having a totally different debate.
Does tasing defer this behavior? Apparently not, l ast night it happened again at another Major League Baseball game. But that’s not the point, if you’re trespassing and are perceived to be a threat to anyone in the park you should be subdued using the force necessary to make everyone safe.
If you listen to my radio show on Sirius/XM satellite radio “The ABC’s of Sports” you know that I’m a big extreme sport fan. The risk taking irreverent attitude is refreshing and different from the ho-hum every day sports experience. Yet, if the next generation feels so compelled to bring that to our attention outside their action sport world, consider me no longer a fan.
