…when I hear/read about people being subjected that kind of harassment. A little good-natured ribbing is one thing, verbal assault is another.

That said, the last line of that article really struck me as bizarre:

(The Rays’ 23-year-old rookie [Evan Longoria] is no relation to the award-winning actress [Eva Longoria] and the two have never met, although they have exchanged gifts through the mail).

So they don’t know each other and have never met, but they’ve exchanged gifts? What was the occasion – National Similar Names Day? Weird.

“Oh, it’s no big deal that we harrass women and children. We’re big, burly men. That’s how we roll.”

Gimme an f’in break. I wonder how those posters or fans would feel if their children or sisters were getting treated like that.

jersey? Tell me what seperates these jerks from animals. In fact, calling these jerks assholes is an insult to all assholes. Anyone who brags about harassing women and children needs his face pushed in. It’s easy for these jerks to spout this bilge when they are in a stadium surrounded by other mouth-breathers, I wonder how brave they would be if they faced someone on the street wearing a Ray’s jersey. What a bunch of idiots.

I am all for some spirited gamesmanship, but these guys suck.

It is just wrong for a fan of the other team to feel unsafe in your ballpark. I enjoy going at it with Cardinal fans, Giants fans, Dodgers fans, anyone who wants to chat it up. I like to believe, especially after a few beers, that I am quite a wit. However, anyone who throws stuff or engages in nasty verbal abuse should be tossed out. For extreme cases, they should be tossed in the baboon cage at the local zoo, although the baboons might be too evolved to accept them.

might be off limits for me. Only when I go to a game in the bleachers do I do a little ribbing (ignoring when I made a Sioux Falls OF cry at a Flyers game. I’m starting to not be as proud of that anymore). Now when I go to an away game, I expect a little back and forth, but otherwise let me cheer for my team and you can cheer for yours. If I start getting obnoxious like some of these Philly phans are, then I expect to get put in my place. Until then though, let the fans be fans, not punching bags.