Trash Talking Goes Too Far

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

If we should take anything from this story, it should be that we should do what we can to nip it in the bud. There is a fine line between "cutting up" with the other team and "cutting down" on the other team. If the line is crossed, don't do anyone any favors by not warning/ejecting a player who crosses the line. I'm not saying the umpires didn't do their jobs by any means, because you never know when someone decides to flip out. I'm only speaking in a forward-looking sense.

And "decided not to press charges" just adds to the problem, making it "allowable" to attack people if it's on a field.

[CecilOne]

This is the text of an email I recently sent to a State Attorney General' office.
USSF and NISOA are soccer sanctions, league and college.
.................................................. .................................................

I heard about this case:
"A few weeks ago a referee in [State] was assaulted by a player in a adult game. This assault was on the internet and eventually made its way to the national news. the assault was the referee was seriously bitten in the face by the adult player.
This referee is [ref name]. He is a member in good standing in USSF, NISOA and NFHS. He also is a member of [two local assoc.]."

I absolutely support your effort to prosecute this offender. No official, [ref name] or anyone else, should have to consider being assaulted during or after a game, let alone a player being close enough to bite him. No official in any sport should have assault as a concern. I used to officiate "adult" soccer in [local league] and dropped it because of players like this.

Sports official or not, assault is assault and if the Felony Assault Law protecting sports official is less severe than another law or requires a second offense, then please follow the more severe penalty. I frequently recommend police involvement in officiating threats and attacks and fully believe it is needed.

Thank you for your effort in this case.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

This is the text of an email I recently sent to a State Attorney General' office.
USSF and NISOA are soccer sanctions, league and college.
.................................................. .................................................

I heard about this case:
"A few weeks ago a referee in [State] was assaulted by a player in a adult game. This assault was on the internet and eventually made its way to the national news. the assault was the referee was seriously bitten in the face by the adult player.
This referee is [ref name]. He is a member in good standing in USSF, NISOA and NFHS. He also is a member of [two local assoc.]."

I absolutely support your effort to prosecute this offender. No official, [ref name] or anyone else, should have to consider being assaulted during or after a game, let alone a player being close enough to bite him. No official in any sport should have assault as a concern. I used to officiate "adult" soccer in [local league] and dropped it because of players like this.

Sports official or not, assault is assault and if the Felony Assault Law protecting sports official is less severe than another law or requires a second offense, then please follow the more severe penalty. I frequently recommend police involvement in officiating threats and attacks and fully believe it is needed.

Thank you for your effort in this case.

And just to demonstrate how well the courts work in this case, the same moron, Rannord Jones, was arrested again last night for stabbing a man in a fight at a Jamaican establishment.

Maybe this time they will up his bail a couple of bucks!

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

And "decided not to press charges" just adds to the problem, making it "allowable" to attack people if it's on a field.

Well, one of his teammates talked him down from doing so. It was clear that he was certainly not innocent in this whole thing, and a defense attorney could easily argue that the recipient (notice how I never say, "victim?") of the jab had instigated the attack. Granted, nothing can justify taking the knob of a bat to the back of someone's head over a softball game, but it was clear that both sides were guilty of something.

Furthermore, the wife of the attacker was present at the game, and she certainly gave him a good piece of her mind.

Both players were kicked out of the league.

[NCASAUmp]

Does anyone know which states have made separate laws regarding assaulting a sports official? I wonder if there's a chart somewhere...

[Dakota]

I personally oppose specialty laws like this as a matter of political principle. Can anyone name an assault on a sports official that would NOT meet the definition of assault on an ordinary citizen? Use the normal assault laws to prosecute these idiots and justice will be served. We don't need the political feel-good solution.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

I personally oppose specialty laws like this as a matter of political principle. Can anyone name an assault on a sports official that would NOT meet the definition of assault on an ordinary citizen? Use the normal assault laws to prosecute these idiots and justice will be served. We don't need the political feel-good solution.

I agree.

However, though I don't care for such laws, how many cases would be be cast aside by moronic judges who buy into the "heat of the game" bull$hit argument if a separate charge was not literally placed in front of them?

That type of attitude by the courts is what caused the separate laws to be enacted.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I agree.

However, though I don't care for such laws, how many cases would be be cast aside by moronic judges who buy into the "heat of the game" bull$hit argument if a separate charge was not literally placed in front of them?

That type of attitude by the courts is what caused the separate laws to be enacted.

Not to mention DA's that decline to prosecute "in the interest of justice."

[greymule]

seriously bitten in the face

It used to be that anybody who bit during a fight was considered the lowest of the low. Same with using a bat knob or hitting someone from behind, or doing anything else not part of a "fair fight." Not any more. A couple of years ago, in the "shake-hand" line after a men's SP game (surprise, surprise!), one guy, after his opponent had passed him in the line, reached back, grabbed the guy by the back of the neck, and slammed his face down into home plate. The next day the police had the field cordoned off with tape as a "crime scene," but it was all show; no charges were brought.

We've had so many violent and quasi-violent incidents that it's only a matter of time before somebody gets brain damaged. Not long ago, we even had a military-style raid of the field by Crips seeking revenge for the supposed "dissing" of one of their members by players. The police brought dogs to the field the next night, but no arrests were ever made, even though there were many witnesses to the assault.

Last year, in a 40-and-over SP league, a player, for an attack on a teammate, got himself banned indefinitely from attending any games (by a judge, not some league official).

[NCASAUmp]

Actually, if I remember correctly, the Wisconsin law had harsher penalties for assault upon a sports official. I believe it was a 10 year felony sentence.

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by Dakota

I personally oppose specialty laws like this as a matter of political principle. Can anyone name an assault on a sports official that would NOT meet the definition of assault on an ordinary citizen? Use the normal assault laws to prosecute these idiots and justice will be served. We don't need the political feel-good solution.

Correct. Assault is Assault.

These stupid Hate Crime Laws are insane. Somehow, a guy is a worse criminal if he slashes a guy's throat because he is gay than if he slashes a woman's throat to steal her purse?

Joe In Missouri

[Dholloway1962]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Does anyone know which states have made separate laws regarding assaulting a sports official? I wonder if there's a chart somewhere...

Found this (2 yrs old but probably not much has changed):

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-R-0747.htm

EDITED: I do like the included civil provisions of Oregon, however price should be higher. That is probably a bigger deterent than the criminal penalty. Hitting someone in the pocketbook is the best!

[wadeintothem]

California's law is lip service and same as any other assault. Means nothing. Unfortunately too many umps think they have a "special law" floating out there.

Reading through other state, some really do have decent laws on the books.

CA does not.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Dholloway1962

Found this (2 yrs old but probably not much has changed):

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-R-0747.htm

EDITED: I do like the included civil provisions of Oregon, however price should be higher. That is probably a bigger deterent than the criminal penalty. Hitting someone in the pocketbook is the best!

Lovely. NC classifies it as a Class 1 misdemeanor, with only 45 days maximum of jail time.