Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

[Blzer]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

Now Comcast SportsNet has removed their archive of last night's game. We seem to be pretty sensitive about this kind of stuff. The worst thing that appeared in the game was the replay of the fall. He disappears after that, and I don't believe they make a prolonged mention of it (or his death) during the game's events. I don't know why the whole game needs to be removed because of one replay.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

Now Comcast SportsNet has removed their archive of last night's game. We seem to be pretty sensitive about this kind of stuff. The worst thing that appeared in the game was the replay of the fall. He disappears after that, and I don't believe they make a prolonged mention of it (or his death) during the game's events. I don't know why the whole game needs to be removed because of one replay.

I saw the replay from the Athletics side (Fox Sports Southwest made no mention of the fall until the man had died after the game), and the announcers were laughing about him falling over for a simple foul ball. I didn't take it personally, but there are some within Rangers circles who thought it was without taste.

[Blzer]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

I saw the replay from the Athletics side (Fox Sports Southwest made no mention of the fall until the man had died after the game), and the announcers were laughing about him falling over for a simple foul ball. I didn't take it personally, but there are some within Rangers circles who thought it was without taste.

Well to be fair, if he left this scenario unharmed, it would have topped Sportscenter's Not Top Ten. Everybody would be laughing about it. Obviously, their comments were not made in hindsight. I know I wouldn't have reacted like Fosse did myself, but I wouldn't exactly consider it "poor taste" when they were unaware of his condition. They did say they hope he was going to come out of that alright. I mean, at least they even made some sort of mention of it. The Rangers broadcasters were completely oblivious to the situation, making no mention whatsoever.

Again, I do understand how some people might feel about the insensitivity of the comments, but they don't have to remove the entire game for it.

[Marino]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

I saw the replay from the Athletics side (Fox Sports Southwest made no mention of the fall until the man had died after the game), and the announcers were laughing about him falling over for a simple foul ball. I didn't take it personally, but there are some within Rangers circles who thought it was without taste.

At the time they didn't know what was going on.

[doubledeuceR6]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

I watched the game last night and found out this morning on ESPN radio that the fan had died.

My prayers go out to the family and the Rangers organization.

[SPC_67]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

My deepest condolences go out to the family of the man. I feel especially sad for his young son. Very sad and tragic event.

Now when we talk about how we can prevent this, i don't understand why that area is open? It is a large safety hazard, even with the rail. I just don't understand why that area is open, and I can about bet whatever the reason is isn't good enough to be risking the safety of fans.

Why don't they put a net there, as someone said before, or flowers like they have in left field in Citizens Bank Park and several other stadiums? There is no reason for such an innocent man/woman to have to die.

[Blzer]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

My deepest condolences go out to the family of the man. I feel especially sad for his young son. Very sad and tragic event.

Now when we talk about how we can prevent this, i don't understand why that area is open? It is a large safety hazard, even with the rail. I just don't understand why that area is open, and I can about bet whatever the reason is isn't good enough to be risking the safety of fans.

Why don't they put a net there, as someone said before, or flowers like they have in left field in Citizens Bank Park and several other stadiums? There is no reason for such an innocent man/woman to have to die.

Agreed, I'm not sure why there isn't anything there. And again, this isn't the result of the fall. If I sat in that row, I'd be wondering why there is just a big gaping hole there.

If I were the owner, I would just add another row of seats. Maximize profits.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

Agreed, I'm not sure why there isn't anything there. And again, this isn't the result of the fall. If I sat in that row, I'd be wondering why there is just a big gaping hole there.

If I were the owner, I would just add another row of seats. Maximize profits.

The gap is there because there used to be a manual scoreboard there. When they took that out, the videoboard that replaced it was wide enough to cover most of the gap. The board that was put into place this year is a bit thinner, so there is a bigger gap.

Besides, you can't add seats in that gap. That is the walkway for the visiting bullpen from their locker room to their staging area. The same is true for the gap in the Home Run Porch (although the height of that wall is only eight feet). People just have to remember that there is a big difference in height and react accordingly. The same is true for the seats that jut out in right and for all decks.

[Blzer]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

Well to be fair, I was totally kidding about the extra row of seats, and the need for the gap. What I meant was, why isn't the gap enclosed? I've made the example several times on here already about PETCO Park's chain-link that closes the gap, though I didn't provide a picture example like SPC-67 did with CBP.

I know there's a walkway under there, but that doesn't mean people should be able to fall down there either. And again, my opinion on that isn't related to the man who fell there last night. It only made me aware that there was a hole to fall through.

[Chrisksaint]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

That kinda does sound like a pretty dangerous area, i'm sure some sort of net or something will be placed there soon enough. With those steal beams and stuff behind the scoreboard that seems like an area that should be a little more secure with fans sitting right there.

I'm not blaming the Rangers Ballpark or anything for the death either, just stating that now in hindsight now that were aware the area is there it should be more protected.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

Nolan Ryan said in today's press conference that there used to be some sort of plank in the space, but people tried to keep going on it during play and at a lot of different times. By having anybody on the material, it made the area just as dangerous as it was before, so they took it out to discourage people from trying to get on the area. He also mentioned that like the time before, he didn't see it happen (he sits on the front row right next to the Rangers dugout) and learned about it from a Secret Service agent. Lastly, he mentioned that he and the city inspector went over the Ballpark again and found everything was in code.

As for Josh Hamilton; he's dealing with it in his way: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com...ranscript.html

[BigBlue]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

I can't stop thinking about the little boy. I just know that the Rangers organization will do something as will Josh Hamilton. I can't imagine anything positive coming from this tragedy. I haven't been to a game in some time, but I always note how low those railings are and how dangerous it is to have to walk past folks in that front row to get to seats.

I guarantee you that fan safety at stadiums is something that the league will focus on, probably ASAP.

My heart goes out to the family, friends of Mr. Stone, Josh Hamilton and the Texas Ranger organization.

BigBlue

[Knight165]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

Horrible tragedy.
I see he was a brother fireman as well.
I'm sure the F.D.N.Y. will pass the boot around for his families fund.

R.I.P. brother.

M.K.
Knight165

[Beantown]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

Now Comcast SportsNet has removed their archive of last night's game. We seem to be pretty sensitive about this kind of stuff. The worst thing that appeared in the game was the replay of the fall. He disappears after that, and I don't believe they make a prolonged mention of it (or his death) during the game's events. I don't know why the whole game needs to be removed because of one replay.

Nolan Ryan was asked by the fan's wife if he could do anything about removing the video out of respect for her son (who is, from her accounts, taking it really hard) and ESPN/the MLB have both taken down any clips and will not air anything. I assume the MLB asked other sites to do the same out of respect.

[Blzer]

Re: Fan falls and dies at Rangers game

Nolan Ryan was asked by the fan's wife if he could do anything about removing the video out of respect for her son (who is, from her accounts, taking it really hard) and ESPN/the MLB have both taken down any clips and will not air anything. I assume the MLB asked other sites to do the same out of respect.

Yeah, that's okay and understandable. I just assumed they could find a way to block that at-bat or inning if they had to, though. I have to watch quite a few Giants, Braves, and Red Sox games later in the night as an archive, and that would be a bit disappointing if I couldn't because the whole game had to be removed. I guess it doesn't hurt for me to be a bit more empathetic towards the situation though.

I feel so bad for the family. Must be very traumatizing for the kid to watch his father fall. Thankfully he didn't die then and there, that would just be the end of days for me.

And I think that Ryan and company have bigger safety issues to worry about on the grass lawn batter's eye in center field. Whenever there's a home run hit out there, any fan in the aisle sections on either side of it stampede onto the grass and barrel over each other for the ball. I don't think anyone is going to die out there, but I can see someone getting badly hurt if you run into the wrong guy who's desperate to get a ball. Plus, it's sloped grass. Imagine if it's a bit wet and you take a stumble. If anything, that should be blocked off from people to go on. It's kind of a cool thing to watch people do when a home run is hit, but if safety is their primary concern, I think they'll have to reconsider that center field area as well.