Banned for life? Possible huge fine and yr in jail? Too harsh, IMO.

[BigMeatballDave]

Mets fan who crashed Johan Santana’s no-hitter jailed for two nights, misses son’s first birthday party.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-bi...144120029.html


The New York Post describes him as a "Mets nut" who says he "couldn't help" running on the field to celebrate with players after Johan Santana finished the first no-hitter in franchise history on Friday night.
But the Gary Carter-jersey, jorts-wearing man from Long Island named Rafael Diaz paid a big price for trespassing at Citi Field. After Diaz spent two nights in a Queens jail, a judge ordered him released Sunday — a day too late for him to attend his son's first birthday party.
"That's the bad part," Diaz said of missing his son's bash.
The Mets also have banned him — for life — from Citi Field. Diaz also could face a year in jail and a $25,000 fine related to the city's unruly fan law. Harsh, but that's the going rate for offenses that include "entering the field of a New York sporting event." Of course, Diaz's actions were stupid, selfish and a little bit dangerous.
So, man. Was it worth it?
"You'll have to ask my wife that."
Here's the thing: The kid isn't going to remember that his dad stood him up on his first birthday because he loved Johan Santana (and the late Gary Carter) more. The junior Diaz hopefully will have many more birthdays to come where his dad won't be locked up. (Divorce is another matter.) There's more than enough time for Diaz to make it up to him.
In exchange, Diaz got the experience of a lifetime, running onto the field and rubbing elbows with the likes of R.A. Dickey, Mike Nickeas and others for a few brief seconds before security tackled him to the turf. As long as that fine doesn't kick in, and his previous record is clean and it eventually slips the Mets' collective mind that Diaz isn't allowed inside the home ballpark, this isn't a bad trade. Besides, he and his son will get to watch that highlight and tell anecdotes like this one:
One jailer even showed him YouTube footage of the Friday-night antics that landed Diaz on yesterday's Post front page.

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by Dave

So, he deserves a yr in jail for this? $25,000 fine?

I have no problem with the lifetime ban. Asshats need to stay of the damn field. The jail time and the fine are steep though.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Micjones

So he wasn't trespassing when he was in the stands, but the minute his feet hit the field?

Kick him out. Ban him for 3 months, but my goodness.
This is some kind of overreaction.

I think banning him the remainder of the season is fair.

I wonder if he's a season ticket holder?

[Dragonocho]

if you make running onto the field illegal then only criminals will run onto the field.

[Setsuna]

On my local sports radio station, they were saying how when the guy ran on the Saints field he was put in jail the weekend of the Superbowl so he had to miss everything. I say do something similar. Make him miss the World Series. Keep him in jail the whole series.

[Demonpenz]

#Now Joined Tennis
MonicaSelles
MonicaSelles: Sup guys. /me slaps people around with a trout
Monicaselles: I think the punishment is right on the $$$ LOL

MonicaSelles has left #tennis

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

#Now Joined Tennis
MonicaSelles
MonicaSelles: Sup guys. /me slaps people around with a trout
Monicaselles: I think the punishment is right on the $$$ LOL

MonicaSelles has left #tennis

IRC jokes. I appreciate the old schoolness of it but I don't think it will tranlsae to your standup.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Dragonocho

if you make running onto the field illegal then only criminals will run onto the field.

[Rain Man]

I'm trying to envision that my firm wins a big contract and we get the call and everyone comes out to the common area to celebrate and do high-fives and stuff, and some stranger walks in and starts celebrating with us. It would seem rather odd to me.

Sadly, we don't live in an innocent time any more. You have to assume that the guy's going to do a Monica Seles or Royals attack, so you have to strongly discourage people from running onto the field. The only way to do that is to punish people when they do.

[Johnny Vegas]

Originally Posted by Dave

if you make running onto the field illegal then only criminals will run onto the field.

[Demonpenz]

pr_capone has joined chat
#whatsthedeal

pr_capone: Things not being open on holidays? /me shurgs.
Sienfield: Srsly

pr_capone has been kicked from #whatsthedeal by @sienfield (my bit fool!)

[KCUnited]

I think it's Gooden all to want to celebrate with your favorite team, but you have to follow the rules.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Micjones

So he wasn't trespassing when he was in the stands, but the minute his feet hit the field?

Kick him out. Ban him for 3 months, but my goodness.
This is some kind of overreaction.

Ocerreaction? Maybe.

I know a surefire way to avoid the punishment though.

[Dragonocho]

The Gary Carter Jersey earned him a perm ban.

[alpha_omega]

Wow...that isn't your average "running on to the field".

[Demonpenz]

Look at this. I am playing the worlds smallest Violia for this story.