CHIEF NOC-A-HOMA'S BOYS: You will not see me praising Atlanta's baseball players often, but sufficient dap is due and owing to Matt Diaz for his well-executed tripping of an on-field intruder during last night's game after the spandex-clad idiot had caused the first two security officers to fall. Said Diaz: “I saw this idiot coming right at me. I figured he’d be better off getting tripped than Tased.”
[Quipped one online commenter: "Presumably the fan was left-handed or Diaz wouldn't have made contact."]
Now, the economic point: this is the second such incident I've seen in person this season; the first was the May 3 tasering. Both nights were Dollar Dog Nights, and I have to wonder -- does the availability of cheap hot dogs lead fans to spend more discretionary money on beer, and therefore make incidents like this one more likely?
I think that the first tasering may be the result of beer, but unless Red Power Ranger Guy just happens to always have a facemask-included spandex outfit with him at all times, the second had to have been preplanned. There is clearly some kind of a Mischief Night thing going on, I don't think that it's coincidence, that when the Dogs BatSignal is on over the ballpark consequences seem less important and/or you overestimate the probability that you'll end up a fan-favorite Robin Hood outlaw.
ReplyDeletesimilar to nighclubs that offer $1 highball nights, and door-crasher specials at wal-mart, people will get outright looney when you offer them a deal on pretty much anything.
ReplyDeleteYou can't deliver a love letter to Chase Utley when the Phillies are batting. That was the mistake.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is, you can probably get $1 hot dogs in many locations around Philadelphia. The team shouldn't go around advertising, today our monopolistic concessions will price our wares as though there were a competitive market.
Dear Chase,
ReplyDeleteI feel like I can call you Chase because you and me are so much alike. I would love to meet you someday. It would be great to have a catch. I know I can’t throw as fast as you, but I think you would be impressed by my speed. I love you hair. You run fast. Did you have a good relationship with your father? Me neither. These are all things we can talk about. And more. I know you have not been getting my letters because I know you would write back if you did. And I hope you write back this time and we get to be good friends. I’m sure our relationship would be a real home run.
Mac
This may explain why Philly and Chicago are more affected by this problem: our players fight back, dammit.
ReplyDeleteDon't underestimate the intoxicating power of 9 all-beef, nitrate (or is it nitrite?) filled hot dogs. I did one per inning at one game and felt like I could fly off the second deck.
ReplyDeleteI did notice a hot dog in someone's hand every time I saw a crowd shot while watching the game last night. It was prevalent enough to be noteworthy. I'm glad to know why, now. Though at the time I just figured that Philadelphia baseball fans really, really like their hot dogs.
ReplyDeleteI was there for the tasing incident as well.
ReplyDeleteAs for dollar dogs, yes, the really stupid things happen on dollar dog nights. The employees hate them-- my mom and brother both work at CBP. They used to have "college nights" where colleges bought group tickets and besides that, lots of kids would go down, eat a lot of hot dogs, get drunk, etc. They stopped the college nights because of the nonsense but have kept the dollar dogs. The worst college night was always the first night game after the home opener. Apparently, it's traditionally a very low sales night in all of baseball but the Phils have made it a big night through a combo of the great past few seaons, the college nights and the dollar dogs.