October 25, 200521 yr What's next, they're going to destroy disco records? Link The wife of Houston Astros player Craig Biggio wasn't injured when she was slapped Sunday night at Sox Park -- but the reputation of Chicago baseball fans got a black eye in Texas. Players on both teams were reportedly livid over the incident. Patty Biggio was sitting in a section that included player wives when a fan hit her "with an open hand'' in the back of the head as the game ended, said a White Sox spokesman. The seeds of confrontation were planted a few innings earlier. When Sox first baseman Paul Konerko hit a grand slam in the seventh inning, fans sitting behind Patty Biggio and another family member jostled them. That family member told the fans, ''Let's just cheer and enjoy the game,'' according to Sox spokesman Scott Riefert. Banned from Sox Park for now After Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik hit a game winning home run and, while fans began to file out, "someone slapped her in the back of the head,'' said Riefert. Patty Biggio and the other family member pursued the man and extra security assigned to the wives area also gave chase. "You don't slap a New Jersey girl and get away with it," Craig Biggio said in Houston. "My brother-in-law ended up putting him against the wall.'' The man claimed he was innocent and the Biggios declined to press charges, so the Sox released him after interviewing him. The man, whom the Sox won't identify, is banned from U.S. Cellular Field until team officials figure out exactly what happened. They did learn he was sitting in seats that belonged to "a medical consultant to the club who gave them to another doctor,'' said Reifert. Patty Biggio was accompanied to the game by the couple's three children, said Biggio's agent, Barry Axelrod. She "feels the whole thing got blown out of proportion,'' Axelrod said. "It was ironic because the prior night she commented to her family and friends about how much she was enjoying the atmosphere: the music and the security were first-rate,'' Axelrod said. Attack angers Astro fans Back in Houston, where Patty Biggio is active in local charities, news of the attack infuriated Astros fans who vented on the team's Web blog, some citing past violence at the Cell, including a 2002 incident where a fan attacked a coach and a fan assault on an umpire in 2003. "I hate to say it but it seems to be a theme for that stadium,'' wrote one fan. Said another, "I just don't see ANY Astros fan pulling that kind of stunt. A lot more class than that down [here].'' "White Sox fans are lower class of people,'' said one blogger. "Seriously. The fact of the matter is [u.S. Cellular Field] is not a safe place to bring your family to see a ballgame.'' Reifert disputed that, describing the incident as the work of "one idiot.'' Sox manager Ozzie Guillen apologized to Craig Biggio. "I told the police, don't put him in jail, bring him to me in the dugout,'' Guillen said.
October 25, 200521 yr I get the feeling it was more of an accident.(someone standing up and throwing hands in the air). If not, sh*t happens...fans are drunk. Every team has people like this. Can't exactly say 'white sox fans being white sox fans'. Obviously its wrong but they didn't press charges which makes me think it was more accidental.
October 25, 200521 yr I get the feeling it was more of an accident.(someone standing up and throwing hands in the air). If not, sh*t happens...fans are drunk. Every team has people like this. Can't exactly say 'white sox fans being white sox fans'. Obviously its wrong but they didn't press charges which makes me think it was more accidental. Yea, it's not like she said he insulted her or made her feel it was on purpose. She even said herself that it was not THAT major. Sox fans though have been known to be a bit aggresive and very into the game. I even heard Sox fans went to wrigly and poured some plant killer on the ivy, not sure if it was this year or another
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