American sport fans have taken great strides to keep up with their South American and European counter-parts in fan violence. Not that there has never been violence in sports here in the US, but it has always been more of a staple throughout the rest of the world. Recently it has taken a major step here in the states. Five months ago, Opening Day at Dodger Stadium was marred by a horrific assault on Giants fan Bryan Stow, who was severely beaten suffering a fractured skull and other injuries. NFL (insert California here) fans not wanting to be left behind picked up where MLB fans left off. Two shootings and an assault in a San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders preseason game left the NFL trying to settle on measures to control violence among fans. Jeffery Miller once Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police now Head of Security for National Football League said to the New York Daily News yesterday "It's a little premature for the NFL to look at what we would or wouldn't do on something we wouldn't have to make a decision on for seven months." The Bay area rival 49ers and Raiders met for their preseason matchup on the Niners home turf on saturday. The game was overshadowed by the bedlam that took place before and during the game, which was attended by both of the respected city Mayors.
Two males were shot in separate incidents in the Candlestick parking lot, while another man was severely beaten in a restroom in the stadium. Also, a fight in the stands between fans (See post) capped off a 49ers win over rival Raiders. Some might say there is a connection between what's going on between fans and us as a society in general. Although it has always existed what separates us as Americans day in and day out are wider than ever.Whether it be money, religion, or lifestyle. At a time when America was in it's darkest hour, post-9/11 sports helped us come together and be one as a whole no matter what our ideas were.
It was September 21, 2001 Mets-vs-Braves. A night game at Shea Stadium when 41,00 fans came together in a show of strength and perseverance to see a rivalry play, but also be there for each other. With each plane that flew over Shea, fans would hold their breath and look up to the sky as if waiting for something to happen. In the bottom of the 8th, the Mets down by a run, the stadium still oddly quiet as typically rowdy fans are caught mourning our nation's biggest disaster, Mike Piazza steps to the plate. He delivers hope and joy with one swing of the bat. A fly ball lands deep in left center field, and New Yorkers, if not the nation, erupted in cheer. At that moment we knew not only as a city but as a nation that we would get through this. So let's not dwell on these recent violent incidents in American sports but the good ones that make us proud to be called An American Sports Fan..
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