Bizarre behavior

[Pete Peterson Sr]

One of my umpires was crew chief at a quarter-final HS playoff series this weekend. He has a whacker at first base, calls batter-runner out. BR slams his helmet down and proceeds to get  in the umpire's face. He was immediately disqualified from the game. At this point, his father comes to the fence on the 1B side, and rails at the umpire, but eventually goes away. 

At the end of the game, security escorts the crew to their locker facilities, and apparently goes home. Player's father comes to the locker room, and pounds on the door yelling "Joe Umpire...I've got your name.I know who you are !" Crew ignores him, and he goes away. The two partners leave the locker room to bring the car to load up and leave. Car is loaded, and the crew climbs in, and suddenly the player's mother AND grandmother come out of hiding behind the small building and start berating the entire crew, having nerve enough to lean into the car through an open window. Driver rolls the window up on the woman's head, and drives away.

 Along with the ejection report, two post-game incident reports were filed with the state association.

 Oh, and prior to the father's appearance at the locker room, the losing coach (ejected player's team) stopped by the locker room to thank the crew for a good job, and to apologize for the behavior of the player. " He comes from a "High-strung" family". No joke, coach...

[BigUmpire]

Player and family should be banned from all HS sports.

Won't happen. Slap on wrist at best.

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[maven]

They might have pre-dialed 911 on their phones prior to stepping out of the locker room. Touching their vehicles was illegal.

 

The kid should be suspended and, if the behavior is repeated, expelled. The family should be banned now.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

Player and family should be banned from all HS sports.

Won't happen. Slap on wrist at best.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 Because of the ejection, the player will be required to take an online sportsmanship "class". The school will likely be fined and given a probationary period because of the parental behavior. There will be no sanctions against the parents themselves. I am basing this on what punishments I know have been handed out in previous situations such as this.

[Lala]

The sad thing is that things like this are happening and will continue to happen until some real sanctions, like the one that BigUmpire mentioned, are handed down.  Sportsmanship is suppose to be an emphasis.  Until the schools/leagues/state associations start to put sanctions in place to really deter the behavior, they are really doing nothing to actually stop it.  

[grayhawk]

Adversity shows character, or lack thereof.

[Mark Pepper]

I've had this discussion more often with my brethren in basektball stripes, but the principle still applies:  Should they press charges or file a complaint with the police?  Third-hand story of a basketball ref who has a 19 yr old girl drill him in the back of the head with the ball as he's reporting a foul to the table.  Do you file charges?  In this case do you file charges against the women whose heads were in the windows?  I totally get not wanting to.  Big hassle.  No one got hurt.  Who wants to be the guy who had a girl/mom/player/whatever arrested.  But the message of what is acceptable could be very strong.  

[LRZ]

I agree the conduct was egregious, but I'm curious: what crime was committed by touching the car or by leaning into the open window?

[grayhawk]

I agree the conduct was egregious, but I'm curious: what crime was committed by touching the car or by leaning into the open window?

 

Assault.

[ALStripes17]

I agree the conduct was egregious, but I'm curious: what crime was committed by touching the car or by leaning into the open window?

Oh you know, harassment and/or menacing

State of AL has maximum punishments of 6 months and 1 year jail time and/or up to $3K and $6k fine, respectively (Ala Code §13A-11-144)

[maven]

I agree the conduct was egregious, but I'm curious: what crime was committed by touching the car or by leaning into the open window?

 

The name of the crime will depend on the definitions in your state criminal code. It could be assault, menacing with intent, trespassing, or several others.

 

In my state, it would be aggravated menacing, a first degree misdemeanor.

[LRZ]

Although I don't play a lawyer on TV, I am one. In PA, it's not an assault; maybe harassment, a summary offense, not a crime, and only by a stretch. That's why I asked.

What these folks may have said, however, might be a different story. Still worth having 911 on speed-dial. Even if a charge of harassment were to be dismissed, the citation and having to go to court might still convey a lesson.

[Mark Pepper]

I think it would be unlikely that without any physical or financial harm that someone would be convicted, but widespread, across multiple sports, the message that if you harass sports officials there's a good chance you'll get arrested may benefit us, coaches, and players. 

[ALStripes17]

Although I don't play a lawyer on TV, I am one. In PA, it's not an assault; maybe harassment, a summary offense, not a crime, and only by a stretch. That's why I asked.

What these folks may have said, however, might be a different story. Still worth having 911 on speed-dial. Even if a charge of harassment were to be dismissed, the citation and having to go to court might still convey a lesson.

Harassment of a sports official is a Class B misdemeanor in AL.

Why else would a person come into my car window other than to threaten me and my duties? Harassment to the letter and a crime by definition. Whether summary offense or not, how is that not a crime?

[ALStripes17]

I think it would be unlikely that without any physical or financial harm that someone would be convicted, but widespread, across multiple sports, the message that if you harass sports officials there's a good chance you'll get arrested may benefit us, coaches, and players.

The threat of physical harm is enough. I somewhat agree that there won't be a conviction but I promise if I ended up pressing charges against someone for that, they will think twice before following me out the car next go around.

Any judge in their right mind that allows something like that to walk away scott-free needs to be removed immediately. There's no place for it in sports, especially at the youth/high school levels

[Mad Mike]

I had an experience a few years back where a dad didn't like a foul call I made on his kid just as the half-time buzzer sounded. I was walking back to the scorers table in the half-court circle boundary when he grabbed my arm, spun me around and stuck his finger in my chest stating, "I'm gonna kick your f#$*en ass!". Suffice to say, I backed up and got away from him before he could complete his threat. I called the police and signed the citation on him for battery. The prosecutor eventually agreed to drop the charge on him for some unknown reason to this day (maybe he offerred to take an anger management class). However, I did learn it cost the guy $1000.00 for his legal retainer. So, at least from that stand point it cost the guy some cash. I have seen him at other events as his kids have continued to play sports. While he is still loud and obnoxious, he has never set foot on the court again or physically accosted officials to date! 

 

So, yes, officials should press charges. If nothing else, these idiots have to fork over money to an attorney to defend themselves and the best way to change behavior stems from the pocketbook.

[Jocko]

@Pete Peterson Sr - I'm assuming this wasn't a Pete Jr. situation. Nobody in their right mind would threaten that guy.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

@Pete Peterson Sr - I'm assuming this wasn't a Pete Jr. situation. Nobody in their right mind would threaten that guy.

 

Of course not. I have never met the angry baseball parent with the temerity to start something with Junior. Or myself, either... when Junior is with me, lol.

[ArkBlue]

Apologize if this has been posted before.  Seems relevant to the conversation.

 

 http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-r-0747.htm

 

 

Sorry, just joined the site and have been reading all the threads.  Just realized this thread is a few weeks old.

[Cav]

Check out what protection is available and what you can do to help at www.naso.oog

[Jocko]

Personally, I have zero fear of fisticufss. I don't spoil for it, but I won't run from it either. And if anyone's calling 911, it's for the ambulance to haul that guy off while I give my knuckles the ice treatment. I'm not a badass, but I've been in my share of scuffles (and some of your share too), and I'm confident I can hold my own (and most of yours too). Call the cops? Ain't happening until someone is bleeding.

And in my experience, anyone that TRULY wants to is gonna go without warning you first. At least that's how I roll. Once the time for diplomacy has passed, no words need be uttered.

Edited July 1, 2014 by Jocko

[BigUmpire]

Personally, I have zero fear of fisticufss. I don't spoil for it, but I won't run from it either. And if anyone's calling 911, it's for the ambulance to haul that guy off while I give my knuckles the ice treatment. I'm not a badass, but I've been in my share of scuffles (and some of your share too), and I'm confident I can hold my own (and most of yours too). Call the cops? Ain't happening until someone is bleeding.

And in my experience, anyone that TRULY wants to is gonna go without warning you first. At least that's how I roll. Once the time for diplomacy has passed, no words need be uttered.

 

Bumper Sticker:

"Be the last man standing"- Bigumpire

 

I am convinced Jocko would be.

[Jocko]

I am convinced Jocko would be.

BigUmpire - me too :D

[Pete Peterson Sr]

I am convinced Jocko would be.

BigUmpire - me too

 

Junior would be, or die trying, lol...

[SJA]

Here's some "specialized advice for physical encounter situations". While you're beating "this guy" senseless, with all you have, remember to also be hollering "stop!!, stop!! . . . you're hurting me!!! . . . get off me, leave me alone!! . . . "help, help!!.

It's a psychological observation that people in general will remember what is heard during times of conflict or stress rather than accurately remember what they see. . . . ergo, you've got unknowing witnesses for YOUR DEFENSE.

Strange but true!

SJA :-)