Being a fan of numerous teams, there are a lot of teams that I do not like because they are rivals of teams I support.
Arguments between fans can be entertaining, as long as they can control their emotions.
There have been two separate occasions in the first two weeks of the Major League Baseball season where fans have crossed the line of just having an argument.
San Francisco Giants fan Brian Stow did not even have a chance to give his opinion on the rivalry between the Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers when he was severely beaten by two Dodgers fans after Los Angeles defeated San Francisco 4-3 on opening day.
Stow remains in critical condition with a fractured skull from the incident in the parking lot, while the Dodgers fans evaded the police officers and have yet to come forward.
The rivalry between the Giants and Dodgers has been one of the best rivalries in baseball, dating back to the late 1800s when the Giants played in New York and the Dodgers played in Brooklyn.
The fact that the rivalry has such a long history gives the two Dodgers fans no excuse for their actions.
Thankfully, the Giants and Dodgers organizations and other fans have raised money in support of Stow.
There have been people raising the issue there was not enough security at Dodger Stadium on opening day, but it is not possible for there to be enough police officers and security guards to control 56,000 fans.
Police officers were also blamed for assaulting Pittsburgh Pirates fan Scott Ashley at PNC Park Saturday at the game between the Pirates and the Colorado Rockies.
The officers consistently beat Ashley with batons and eventually shot him with a tazor gun.
Ashley was said to be using a variety of profanities, was severely intoxicated and agitated other fans.
The police might have used excessive force in this situation, but Ashley should not have put himself in the situation for officers to take such actions.
The focus of each sporting event is meant to be on the athletes, not the fans. The athletes appreciate the support of their fans, but the actions of Ashley and the two Dodgers fans are in no way supportive of the Dodgers or Pirates organizations.
Whether fans are intoxicated or not, they are the ones that are responsible for controlling their actions.
Assaulting fans of other teams while trying to defend yourself in an argument is not worth getting thrown in jail.
Nothing is wrong with supporting your favorite team, but remember, it’s a game, not a war.
