What a nice young Christian Youth Minister. Knocks a 4 year old out of the way to get a foul ball! He is filled with Christian LOVE.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2630676

NJ

I hate to say this, but THAT'S funny!!

They showed the whole incident on ESPN last night. It didn't look like the kid got hurt, and the dude really did SPAZ OUT to get the ball, so it was funny, yeah... almost like an SNL skit. Just real.

I saw the replays on Baseball Tonight on Sunday night, and didn't think it was funny at all. It was pathetic. The guy didn't "spaz out," he dived for the ball, pushed the kid out of his way, then had words with the kids mother, and when the crowd began booing him stretched both arms out in a gesture meant to incite more negative reaction. When the crowd began chanting for him to give the ball back he left. Not funny in my book, but to each his own. For the kid's sake, I'm glad so many other people in baseball have reacted so positevely.

what's all this BS about the guy being "not a bad man," or being someone who "regrets" what he did. Bullshit. The guy obviously didn't regret a damn thing. He's a jerk. And a former youth minister? Yeah, right. Do as I say and not I do, perhaps.

Oh! The hypocrisy!

Before I post this, let me first say that I don't agree with the way the guy went after the ball...

however....not for anything, it does kind of annoy me that little kids are the only ones who should get baseballs at a game....

i've been going to baseball games since i've been 8 years old, and in the past 18 years maybe I've attended close to 100 games in various ball parks,and I have never even come close to getting a foul ball.

Just once I'd like to leave the park with a cool MLB baseball, just to have--not to sell, not to autograph, just as a momento of being a huge baseball fan.

It seems like the fact that I'm now almost 27, that I'm not entitled to shit when I go to any stadium, and quite frankly that isn't all that fair.

Josh

I also agree that the "foul ball" guy is a jerk, and the fact that he knocked down a little kid to get the ball is indefensible.

With that said, I completely agree js1metsfan. I have been going to Major League Baseball games since I was 6 years old. I remember watching all of the big guys always being the ones that got all of the foul balls/home run balls. You see, back then, MLB did not make this conscious effort to always make sure that kids only got baseballs. When I was a kid, I actually used to come to the ballpark with a baseball glove, and I also used to come to the ballpark early just to wait and wait for autographs from players, too. I was face-to-face with Dave Parker, and he actually ignored me. I will always remember that, and sincerely dislike him to this day. God bless Willie Stargell, who actually did take a moment to sign for me (and I was wearing a Yankees cap at the game). Now, I am 34, and it is like "how dare I actually have the nerve to want a foul ball?". I don't want to sell it or anything, either. I just think it would be something special to have. Once again, I agree that this "foul ball" guy is a total jerk. But, can't I once get a foul ball or a home run ball without having to justify it to everyone?

P.S. When I was about 17, I went to a NCAA baseball game between Missouri and Lamar in Beaumont, Texas. I got a foul ball--there were like 25 people at the stadium since the semester was over.

Because it was college and they had limited funds, I had to return the baseball. frown

I don't think -- at least at the games I've been too -- that there is anything wrong with an adult keeping a ball. Now if it lands on the ground and there are kids around who would like to have it, I thing you ought to let them get it. Or if you reach over a kid and catch it because you're taller, you should give it to him. But if it's hit to you and you catch it, by all means keep it. Unless there is a kid sitting right next to you, and you're on the jumbotron. wink

I heard on the Today Show this morning that the guy who is the subject of this thread is going to make a public apology.

My 10-year-old nephew has about 30 balls that he and his father (my brother) have caught. About 10 of them from MLB games; the others from Spring Training visits and minor league games. They bring balls with them, get to the games early and wait around after the games for autographs. They have certain spots that they like to sit at the Texas and KC stadiums to catch balls.

I think a ball into the stands is fair game, but not if you have to push a kid out of the way to get it.

The first ball that I catch, I'm keeping. I don't care if some kid is next to me. If I get it fair and square I'm keeping it. And if it's a home run ball by a non-Phillie and the crowd is screaming "THROW IT BACK!!!" well, screw them! After that I'll give it to a kid or throw the home run back onto the field. But not the first! wink

I'm a foul ball magnet I guess...almost every time I've been to Minute Maid, I've spent most of the game dodging bullet balls.

I've "caught", I think 3 of them.....I give them to the closest kid I make eye contact with....I've never really thought that much about it other then I like seeing a big smile on a kids face when they get one. That's worth a ball to me.

NJ

I agree wholeheartedly, NJ....I've caught two foul balls while attending games in Baltimore (one at old Memorial Stadium and one at Camden Yards when it first opened about 10 yrs ago) along with catching a home run ball hit by Jeromy Burnitz while he was playing in AAA for the Norfolk Tides back in the 80s.

The very first foul ball that I "caught" (or to be more precise literally landed next to me) at a major league game happened during a rainy 9th inning about 15 years ago while the O's were losing badly to the Red Sox (as usual ) and the combination of the weather and the score had caused most of the fans in the lower deck behind the Boston dugout (where I was sitting) to head for home....anyway, the foul ball bounced off the facade of the upper deck behind me and, much to my surprise, literally landed at my feet....after my friend and I admired the ball briefly I noticed that the little kid (who was probably about 7 or 8) sitting in the row immediately in front of me with his parents had a look of awe on his face over me "catching" this inexpensive souvenir....without even hesitating or giving it much thought I offered him the ball and the look of excitement and joy on that boy's face (along with his mother profusely thanking me for giving it to him) was priceless and meant MUCH more to me than having it sit on a shelf or in a box, where the other two balls are somewhere in my house.

Getting back to the topic of this thread, after repeatedly watching the highlights of that jerk in Texas trample over the 4 year old boy to grab the ball he DESERVES all the scorn and derision that he has received from the fans who were in attendance and the media alike....I applaud Reggie Sanders of the Cardinals for recognizing what had happened and promptly coming out of the dugout to give Nick (the 4 year old) a bat and autograhed ball.

Based upon his reaction, I have no doubt that the fat jerk had absolutely NO true remorse for his actions and is only offering an insincere "apology" now due to the fact that the national media has jumped on this story and even contacted his employer to get an idea of his character (or lack thereof )....Kudos also to Rangers color commentator Tom Grieve for immediately calling attention to his deplorable behavior and, if nothing else, resulting in a great deal of embarrassment for this idiot "fan".

Anyone catch the body language between the jerk and the woman with him? She was recoiling from him, as he sat back in the seats with his arms spread wide. Her whole demeanor seemed to hiss, "You are sooo not getting a bj tonight." wink

the problem wasn't that he was an adult who caught a ball instead of a little kid. The problem is that he jumped INTO the seat of a 4 year old kid, knocking him aside to get the ball. He didn't just reach up to get it. he dove into someone else's seat! The seat of a 4 year old.

here's an excerpt from the article I love how these fundamentalist christians (assembly of God) make excuses for one of their own (a YOUTH MINISTER no less) who did such a selfish rude thing. I wonder what the pastor of Sachse assembly of God church wouold say if a homosexual had doen the same thing. I'm guessing he would opine how this shows the Godless nature of homosexuals.

Yeah.. this guy was a youth minister. shows how much that's worth.

Originally posted by Gamecock:

Nice story, Gamecock. I'd like to think that most of us would do the same thing in that particular situation.

Certainly nobody disputes that the fan's behaviour was rude and selfish, although I can understand the thrill an adult could have in catching a foul ball and wanting to keep it, as Cattledog and Js1metsfan mentioned above. If none of the kids nearby appear to be showing any interest, I don't think an adult fan should feel guilty about keeping a ball that he/she has caught. I haven't been to enough MLB parks to know whether any of them have 'adults only' sections...if they do, then maybe buying a ticket in those areas is the only way to ensure a 'guilt free' experience.

[ June 17, 2004, 10:37 PM: Message edited by: Marc ]

I'm with Cattledog, Marc, and js1metsfan on this. Of course, I don't think any adult should push or run over a child while trying to catch a foul ball, but if I ever catch one I will keep it. This includes if I'm in the outfield seats and the opposing team hits a home run. You won't see me throwing the ball back onto the field. :cool:

[ June 17, 2004, 10:46 PM: Message edited by: pat125 ]

I think the adult / child situation is likely to only come up during afternnon games (which I believe the game in question was). Night baseball games, especially in the American League, run so late that you see very, very few kids at the games. At least that's been my experience at Yankee Stadium - kids are out in force at afternoon games but pretty rare at night games. So, if you want to catch a foul ball or wrestle around on the ground struggling for one without having to worry that the guy you just pushed out of the upper deck is a freckle-faced, gap-toothed, tousle-haired four-year-old with an adorable grin go to a night game.