In honor of recent sports incidents that cross the line, I’m forced to unveil my first annual all-psycho fan team. The criteria for the team is simple. Either be arrested in some exuberant act of violence on/off the field, or just take the act of heckling way too far – all because your team didn’t come through in the clutch and get the big win that would have added some worth to your pathetic, miserable life.
First Team
Joseph Logan (Alabama) – After Alabama blew a 31-10 lead to Arkansas and lost 34-31 in double overtime, Logan allegedly grabbed a 9 mm gun, put it to his son’s forehead and pulled the trigger. All because 20-year-old Seth Logan asked his dad for a new car, and in the heat of dealing with an emotional loss, Joseph snapped. Fortunately the bullet missed Seth Logan, but his father may not be able to dodge an attempted murder charge.
According to The Birmingham News, Logan was just trying to scare his son, but that Joseph had been drinking, tossing boxes and throwing dishes when Seth asked for a car. That upset the elder Logan, however, because Seth apparently had wrecked several other vehicles. Talk about picking the wrong time to ask Dad for a new set of wheels.
William Ligue, Jr. (Kansas City Royals) – A year ago, Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa was attacked by the 34-year-old shirtless father and his 15-year-old son, and was beaten repeatedly at US Cellular Field in Chicago. The incident left Gamboa hearing impaired in his right ear. The good news for Ligue, Jr., who faces felony charges and possibly five years in prison, is that once his legal woes are over, he’ll always have a place waiting for him on the TV show “COPS.”
Juan Carlos Covarrubias-Serrano (Oakland A’s) – The 24-year-old threw a cell phone at Texas Rangers outfielder Carl Everett from the second deck of the Coliseum in Oakland during Texas’ 12-2 loss on April 20. Serrano was held on $15,000 bond and was charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Hey, just because you accidently used up your cell phone minutes is no excuse to take it out on an unsuspecting athlete.
Superdome fans (New Orleans Saints) – In a Dec. 17 game against the St. Louis fans, a dozen Saints fans were arrested for throwing beer bottles after officials flagged New Orleans cornerback Kevin Mathis for pass interference on Torry Holt. The call, which occurred late in the 34-21 loss to the Rams, sparked a 30-second bottle-throwing incident. This came a day after a similar incident in Cleveland, where fans threw beer bottles at the officials as they left the field after ending the game on a controversial replay call.
Unfortunately, the Saints fans couldn’t save their tirade for last Sunday’s 55-21 embarrassing loss to the Colts on ESPN. I guess they’ll have to be content with the usual routine of going to the game with paper bags on their heads. What a shame.
Second Team
Ron Alvarez, Kennedy High School in New Orleans, assistant coach – After the school’s Sept. 21 game against Barbe High School in Lake Charles, Alvarez was arrested for second degree battery and two fans – Jeremy Freeman, 19, and Malcolm Hawkins, 17, of Lake Charles – were booked with simple battery. According to the Associated Press, Alvarez allegedly punched Barbe assistant Richard Demarie, but intended to hit the principal.
“It’s pathetic,” Barbe coach Jimmy Chaver said to the AP. “I’ve never seen such a case of poor sportsmanship, from the coaches, the band, their fans, everyone.”
John Murray (Chicago Cubs) – Back in 1995 in a game against the Astros, Cubs reliever Randy Myers gave up a key ninth-inning home run to James Mouton that gave Houston a 9-7 lead. As Mouton rounded the bases, Murray a 27-year-old bond trader charged in from the right field stands. Myers used his martial arts training to subdue Murray, who later claimed he pulled the stunt as a dare.
“I was watching the game with some friends and I told them if Myers gives up another homer to a guy I’m going to run out on the field and yell at him,” Murray said. “In retrospect, it was a bad move on my part.”
Duh.
Honorable mention
Bereley Visgar (Milwaukee Brewers) – Visgar, a 23-year-old from South Beloit, Ill., jumped out of the stands and tackled Astros right fielder Bill Spiers in the bottom of the sixth inning of the Sept. 24, 1999 game against the Brewers. Houston starter Mike Hampton raced to the scene and pummeled the spectator before his teammates came to restore order.
Chris Falcone (Toronto Maple Leafs) – The Maple Leafs’ Tie Domi wrestled with a fan in the penalty box during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 29, 2001. Domi, who was serving a penalty, twice poured water over taunting fans in the front row. Falcone, who was sitting in the second row, lunged against the glass and threw a punch at Domi. A glass panel separating the two collapsed, and Falcone fell into the penalty box by Domi. Poor Falcone. He was just trying to get another sip of that tasty water.