It seems everyone on ESPN has been celebrating Manu Ginobli’s killing of a bat during his game earlier this week. If you haven’t seen it, he swatted a flying bat out of the air (video after the jump).

But every time I see it I can't help but get angry. I understand humans think they can trample over any living thing whenever they want, but to kill a harmless animal because it's bothering your fun little game is disturbing to me. Yes, I know countless animals' habitats are destroyed when a stadium is built. I know. But I can't help but agree with PETA on this one:

It seems everyone on ESPN has been celebrating Manu Ginobli’s killing of a bat during his game earlier this week. If you haven’t seen it, he swatted a flying bat out of the air (video after the jump).

But every time I see it I can’t help but get angry. I understand humans think they can trample over any living thing whenever they want, but to kill a harmless animal because it’s bothering your fun little game is disturbing to me. Yes, I know countless animals’ habitats are destroyed when a stadium is built. I know. But I can’t help but agree with PETA on this one:

Here’s our take on it: To bludgeon a 4-ounce animal to death, it takes either a small man or a totally unthinking one-with no respect or consideration for lives humbler than his own. This is a time when athletes in particular need to be on their best behavior around any animal and show that they have brains and a heart, not just reactionary brawn.

The celebration of this on ESPN and in other outlets has been even more disturbing to me. It brings front-and-center the lack of respect we have for other living things. Including each other, I guess. How crappy is it? The Spurs are saying the bat lived and flew away and they can’t find the body! And I have a bridge in New York to sell you….

Now, let the “Cyd is a whiny liberal” attacks start anew.

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