phils phans... always full of class

[Guest attgig]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5098407

PHILADELPHIA -- A New Jersey man is facing charges after police say he intentionally vomited on an 11-year-old girl and her father in the stands during a Philadelphia Phillies game. Twenty-one-year-old Matthew Clemmens, of Cherry Hill, N.J., was arraigned Friday on charges stemming from his behavior at Wednesday night's Phillies-Nationals game. Police say Clemmens made himself vomit on an off-duty police captain and his daughter after a companion was kicked out of Citizens Bank Park for unruly behavior, which included cursing, spitting and spilling beer by Clemmens and a friend. According to an account in the Philadelphia Daily News, Clemmens and his friend were asked by the 15-year-old daughter of Easton police Capt. Michael Vangelo to stop cursing and spitting. A short while later, Vangelo said, it started again. "One guy started spitting ... first it landed on the back of my daughter's chair. Then it landed on her hooded sweatshirt," Vangelo said, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. After Vangelo reported the incident to stadium officials, Clemmens' friend was led out of the stadium. At that point, Vangelo said Clemmens said he would be sick and "put two fingers down his throat." He then "leaned forward and started vomiting on us," Vangelo said, according to the Daily News. Philadelphia police say Clemmens also punched Vangelo and vomited on an arresting officer. "It reminds you of the type of behavior you used to hear about at the 700 level in Veterans Stadium," Philadelphia police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore, according to the Daily News. Vangelo told the Daily News he didn't hit Clemmens because "I kept thinking, 'If I get arrested, my kids will be alone here." The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Clemmens is being held on $36,000 bail on three complaints containing 15 counts of the different offenses. "I was just a dad with my kids enjoying a game," Vangelo said, according to the Daily News. "I never experienced anything like that before."

[bmfc1]

On Opening Day in DC, a friend saw a Phillies fan walk up to a Nationals fan and say "your team fucking sucks."

[ashie62]

My GF comes from Philly and is a Phillies fan. She just wears the hat with hair through the back and does not vomit at games. Taking her to Citifield for the first time soon. I hope she can acquire some "Metitude"

[Gwreck]

Citizens Bank Park is on a semi-permanent ban in our household. Only ballpark where I've ever been (slightly) afraid for my safety while there to see the Mets. Fans at Yankee Stadium II and III come across as having Emily Post-manners in comparison.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Not only that, but given another year or two of Phil success, and you'll have an entire generation is being born-- out of Yuengling-soaked, Shmitter-fueled drunk sex-- and raised with a tremendous sense of MFY-ish entitlement. So... drunker, cruder, traveling less tastefully than MFY fans... and feeling swell-of-head. Christ, this could be a long decade or so.

I never used to mind CBP-- it's a nice park, and it's a healthy exercise in fandom to play "away team" every now and again, I think.

But with YoungerPooper potentially in tow, the prospect of being held hostage by drunken lunatics with a lot less to lose than me terrifies me a little.

[Ceetar]

I've never liked Citizen's Bank Ballpark, but the appeal (when I can afford it, May 1st, maybe not..) of 90 Mets games (+11 in October..*hopes*) to see live versus 81 is just too broad. Plus I have a friend that lives down there, so good excuse. There's a brewery on the way called Iron Hill that has some excellent beers and makes a great pre-game dinner if you're into that sorta thing.

But ever since the rivalry really took off in 2008, the Subway Series intensity has drastically decreased for me. I could no longer hold up the Yankees fans as the epitome of all evil. I found myself thinking "At least they're New Yorkers.."

[Benjamin Grimm]

Gwreck wrote: Citizens Bank Park is on a semi-permanent ban in our household. Only ballpark where I've ever been (slightly) afraid for my safety while there to see the Mets. Fans at Yankee Stadium II and III come across as having Emily Post-manners in comparison.

I agree. (Well, about the Philadelphia part. I haven't been to Yankee Stadium since Seaver's 300th win in 1985.) I won't bring my kids into Citizens Bank Park. It's the nearest big league park to my home, and the Mets visit there several times a year, but I won't go there. If I have a jones to see a Mets road game, I'll go to DC.

[soupcan]

Yeah - I don't think I'll be visiting Citizen's Bank anytime soon either. If I can't go to a place and simply wear a Mets hat without being abused then why bother?

At Citi Field last week with my 13 year-old I had to turn around and admonish 4 guys in their early 20s after they started everything they yelled with 'FUCKING....!' At least they listened and stopped (why they had to be told to with kids sitting everywhere around them is ridiculous to begin with), I can't imagine what would happen in Philly.

[Guest themetfairy]

I'll be in Philly in two weeks, but I'll be sitting with the Team McGraw people and hopefully they'll watch my back.

[G-Fafif]

Move CBP to another town -- like Baghdad, perhaps -- and it would be pretty nice.

[Centerfield]

soupcan wrote: Yeah - I don't think I'll be visiting Citizen's Bank anytime soon either. If I can't go to a place and simply wear a Mets hat without being abused then why bother? At Citi Field last week with my 13 year-old I had to turn around and admonish 4 guys in their early 20s after they started everything they yelled with 'FUCKING....!' At least they listened and stopped (why they had to be told to with kids sitting everywhere around them is ridiculous to begin with), I can't imagine what would happen in Philly.

And how did Stevie Jetes respond?

[Guest Edgy DC]

"It reminds you of the type of behavior you used to hear about at the 700 level in Veterans Stadium," Philadelphia police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore, according to the Daily News.

I like that a Philadelphia cop had no other reference point. "This is is so strange that the only thing I can compare it to is... other Phillies fans."

We spent an afternoon in Phillie last week. My wife said I should never use "mooks" to refer to New Yorkers again. We weren't identifying as Mets fans or Washingtonians or anything, and just walking around shopping, and she just found the general sense of aggression on a sunny retail afternoon to be oppressive.

[seawolf17]

Plus, remember, Phillies fans MURDERED a guy at the ballpark last year. So this a group of human beings who really know how to party.

[Valadius]

Four words:

Santa Claus. No shit.

[Frayed Knot]

Then, of course, there was the holding pen complete with on-site judge to handle all the incidents at the Vet during Eagles games.

[Fman99]

I would like to see the park and take Fboy to a game there but I won't, on account of exposing him to the rabble that attend that place.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'd like to think Fatty McDouchepuke got that shiner as a result of a few accidental "falls" on the way to the stationhouse.

[ashie62]

themetfairy wrote: I'll be in Philly in two weeks, but I'll be sitting with the Team McGraw people and hopefully they'll watch my back.

I'll be there for the first time in August with friends From South Jersey. I'm looking forward to it

[nymr83]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'd like to think Fatty McDouchepuke got that shiner as a result of a few accidental "falls" on the way to the stationhouse.

he puked on a little girl...i'd have voted to acquit the arresting officers if the guy had fallen on a gun and its discharged into his face on the way to jail.

[Guest Edgy DC]

More important is that that post by Lunchbucket was a Bullet of Puke.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'd like to think Fatty McDouchepuke got that shiner as a result of a few accidental "falls" on the way to the stationhouse.

I like to think that Fatty McDouchepuke got a "boyfriend" named Bubba after he was looked up.

[DocTee]

Phils phan tased. Had this happened in Arizona, the offender would've been stopped and asked for his papers, then possibly deported.

A police officer used a Taser gun to apprehend a fan who ran onto the field during a Phillies game Monday night, and the team and the police are investigating whether it was an appropriate use of force.

The fan, wearing a baseball cap, red T-shirt and khaki shorts, hopped a fence and scurried around the outfield, eluding two security officers in the bottom of the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. One officer used a Taser and the fan went down in a heap. Several Phillies placed gloves over their faces and appeared to be stifling laughter at the wild scene.

Phillies spokeswomen Bonnie Clark said the police department is investigating the matter and discussing with the team whether using the stun gun was appropriate.

Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore told The Philadelphia Inquirer police internal affairs will open an investigation to determine if the firing "was proper use of the equipment."

Vanore was not made available to The Associated Press when a call was placed to the police department's public affairs office late Monday night.

The teams said it's the first time a Taser has been used by police to apprehend a spectator who ran onto the field.

The fan was 17-year-old male and he will be charged with criminal trespass and related offenses, the team said. The Phillies did not release his name because he is a juvenile.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Phillies spokeswomen Bonnie Clark said the police department is investigating the matter and discussing with the team whether using the stun gun was appropriate.

"Next time we should try a real gun," Clark added.

[seawolf17]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Phillies spokeswomen Bonnie Clark said the police department is investigating the matter and discussing with the team whether using the stun gun was appropriate. "Next time we should try a real gun," Clark added.

"Next time you should conveniently 'miss' and hit Chase Utley," I added.

[Guest themetfairy]

Considering the fact that a pack of phans beat a guy to death in the Citizens Bank Ballpark parking lot last year, I can understand why the cops are ready to deal with these guys with the heavy artillery.

[Gwreck]

I'm not a big fan of tasers but in this particular case, sounds perfectly acceptable to me and if it acts as further deterrent to running on the field, even better.

[Frayed Knot]

It depends. If the guy was resisting in some way - other than just being a stupid drunk who is having fun until he's caught and goes quietly - then it's one thing. But tasers occasionally kill people and I prefer cops/security folks didn't pick that as their first option based on the premise that he might do something or because it's easier than chasing him.

[Guest attgig]

another view:

[G-Fafif]

I'll bet Phillies spokeswoman Bonnie Clark never dreamed so many of her quotes would regard police actions when she took the job.

[MFS62]

When I see "Phillies fans" I always think "class".
Class D.

Later