My recent trip to Petco Park last week proved to offer just about everything a dedicated sports fan could hope to enjoy at a professional sporting event these days; pleasant weather, lively atmosphere, quality game on the field, and plenty of intoxicated hecklers in the stands. Indeed the stage was set for a classic night at the ballpark.

But the experience just wouldn't have been complete without some good old fan induced interruption of play. Thank goodness someone sympathetic to the cause elected to run out onto the field in the top of the 9th inning to break up the tension of a boring 2-1 pitchers' duel. I mean come on, a franchise record sixteen strikeout performance by San Diego Padres starting pitcher Jake Peavy just would not have been enough to make it a truly memorable evening! And what would the experience have been without the presence of some adoring fans on hand to shower the field with their affection in the form of a few beer bottle projectiles?

My wife, who accompanied me to the May 22 game between the Padres and the Atlanta Braves, repeatedly remarked how she simply couldn't believe what the adventurous fan did. She insisted on an explanation. One must forgive my wife because she is still pretty wet behind the ears when it comes to professional sports. She was just likely suffering from a lack of proper perspective as a result of not having adequate information regarding the precedent for fan behavior. Rest assured, I was afforded the time to quickly bring her up to speed with some recent examples of the worst in fan behavior as stadium security kindly took the time to reward our entertainers for their invaluable contributions to the game.

October 10, 1999 - City of Brotherly Love Sets New Standards

During this notorious game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas star wide receiver Michael Irvin lay motionless on the artificial turf for nearly 20 minutes after awkwardly landing on his head after catching a pass from quarterback Troy Aikman. While the medical staff attended to the fallen player, many of the 65,000 plus Philadelphia fans on hand cheered both when they first realized that Irvin was injured and again when paramedics wheeled a stretcher onto the field.

Sure he may have been severely hurt as far as they knew, but Irvin has certainly been no small opposing threat to the Eagles over the course of his career. It was simply too invigorating for numerous Eagle fans to resist. The city that once belted Santa Claus with snowballs, chucked batteries at J.D. Drew, and even booed hall of fame third basemen Mike Schmidt for a good portion of his career stepped up big and set new standards this day.

June 19, 2000 - Only In Cali, Where We Riot, Not Rally

10,000 fans massed outside Staples Center to watch the action on a big screen during the Game 6 NBA Finals match up between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers would win a hard fought 116-111 victory to capture their first title in 12 years. The real fan fun would shortly begin immediately thereafter.

Things started tame enough. Just a few bonfires here and there to burn a little Pacers gear. Some innocent debris throwing at the limousines parked in front of the arena soon followed. Why not? All the rich and privileged front runners got to enjoy the win inside the arena. Why can't your average fan who can't afford to fork over several hundred dollars for a seat have some fun outside? By all means, smash some television news vans, torch some police cars, terrorize any car that comes along that tries to steer away from your celebration by jumping upon them and punching their windows out.

Meanwhile inside Staples, tens of thousands paying fans remain trapped because it has been deemed too dangerous to leave. Among them is A.C. Green. All the Laker player can do is stand on the floor with reporters hours after winning the championship wondering when he can just go home, let alone celebrate. The Pacers couldn't go anywhere either, for the team bus was barred by police from leaving. No major foul guys.  After all, isn't tonight all about you?!

December 16, 2001 - Welcome to the Dawg Pound!

Keeping with the spirit of "Ten Cent Beer Night", Browns fans did the city of Cleveland proud this day. Late in the 4^th quarter of a regular season game with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Browns quarterback Tim Couch apparently connected with wide receiver Quincy Morgan on 4^th and 2 to get a fresh set of downs. The Browns QB quickly ran to the line of scrimmage on first down and spiked the ball. After stopping the clock, and by rule eliminating any possible review that would challenge the initial call on the field, officials nevertheless huddled up and called into question whether Morgan indeed had possession. After several minutes passed, referee Terry McAulay emerged and ruled the play an incomplete pass. Little did he know the full implications of his actions.

Just as the Cleveland bench arose to protest the ruling, thousands of beer bottles promptly rained down upon the field from the Cleveland stands as countless fans aimed at not only the refs, but players on both teams. This prompted the refs to call the game with 48 seconds to play as everyone quickly ran for cover. Not the first time a game had to be called prematurely in Cleveland for sure, though the game would later be completed 30 minutes later after Commissioner Paul Tagliabue demanded it.

Before I could even get to the father and son duo who so well represented the cherished stereotype of what embodies a Chicago White Sox fan as they took to the field in 2002 to attack Kansas City Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa or the infamous 'Malice At The Palace' bout between the Indiana Pacers, the Detroit Pistons, and several Pistons fans at the beginning of the 04/05 NBA regular season, my wife abruptly interrupted my documentary of recent sports history.

"I think I know what this is all about", she exclaimed. "You do?", I replied. "Sure, now I know why people love to come to the games. Where else does the average Joe get the opportunity to make an ass of himself, somehow become a bigger story than the game itself, and find himself the talk of the entire country?" "Now you're getting the point behind it all", I assured her. "Sad but true isn't it?" "Yes, sad but true. Sports would be so much better without it." Spoken like a true sports fan honey.  It is indeed a travesty when a sports fan's enthusiasm comes at the expense of the spirit of the game, and crosses over into the realm of indecent behavior.  For a sports fan; there is no greater sin.