We've been to Philadelphia twice. Both times, the occasion was marked by attendance at a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park. Neither of these times did we see a stupid fan run onto the field, but we're beginning to believe the occurrence is more common than one might guess.
Earlier this year, of course, it was the 17-year-old who got the Taser treatment. That story became a talker not only for the video produced but as a means of exploring the use of such a device on a clownish fan. At the time, we weren't really sure if we thought a Taser was necessary. Now? We're just sick of the running on the field phenomenon. It's not funny. If we were on the field, we would be legitimately concerned for our safety. You never know what the motive is of some drunk yahoo running toward you -- especially one who would run on the field in the first place. So we say any means necessary -- short of, you know, a permanent maiming or worse -- is fair game in the taking down of these folks.
That is why Braves OF Matt Diaz is today's hero. Diaz didn't even need the use of a weapon last night to upend the latest Philly menace. He just needed a good old fashioned trip. And he was willing to deliver. From the AP:
Atlanta left fielder Matt Diaz helped tackle a costumed fan who ran onto the field and briefly eluded security guards during the Braves-Phillies game Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, where a teenager was subdued with a stun gun this season.
The fan, wearing a red spandex suit with a red mask, jogged onto the field in the bottom of the seventh inning. He was chased by security guards for several seconds. After a guard slipped for the second time, Diaz coolly banged his knee into the back of the fan's knee, knocking him down. The guards then apprehended the fan.
Diaz got an ovation from the crowd and received high-fives from teammates in the dugout.
"I saw this idiot coming right at me," Diaz said. "I figured he'd be better off getting tripped than Tased."
Indeed. Your thoughts on the best -- and or most creative -- ways of subduing a fan on the field in the comments. For now -- as we ponder a lengthy Vikings post to come next -- we go to the video of the incident.