In the span of less than a week, two Philadelphia Phillies fans ran onto the field at Citizens Bank Park, with one being subdued by use of a Taser fired by a Philadelphia policeman. Is the Taser a reasonable manner of suppressing runaway fans, or is there a better or safer way to squelch the shenanigans of rogue fans?
Of course there's a better and safer way to manage such situations, but nothing is more entertaining than witnessing the incapacitation, via the Taser, of a stupid fan who dares breach security for a jaunt on the playing field. The novelty of seeing such a fan evade a number of clumsy security guards quickly grows old. When it's time for "relief," nothing beats a Taser-toting, trigger-happy cop eager to squeeze one off. And he usually throws strikes.
The latest fence-hopper to get Tasered was Steve Consalvi, a 17-year-old maniac who, on May 3rd, ran onto the field at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. After a few victory laps, Consalvi felt the stinging wrath of the Taser, and was promptly arrested, thus becoming a hot topic in 'current' events, while earning the nickname "Stunning" Steve Consalvi.
Before his mad dash, Consalvi called his father, asking permission to run onto the field. In a perfect world, the younger Consalvi should have been Tased right then and there. What kind of pansy calls his father for permission before embarking on such a renegade, anti-comforming sprint? Any sensible kid would do that during the act.
Clearly, Consalvi's act was not a spur-of-the-moment idea, and was thoughtfully premeditated. Had he killed somebody running onto the field, he could be facing the death penalty.
What exactly did Consalvi expect his father to say? "By all means, son. Run onto that field. And grab a gallon of milk on your way home."
Of course, Consalvi's father advised him not to do it. Consalvi should have been Tased again for his egregious display of parental disobedience. So he was lucky to escape with a single Tasing, when three would have been more appropriate.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not totally condemning Consalvi's actions. I admire the audacity it takes for a fan to run onto a baseball field. It gives new meaning to the term "ball four."
And I appreciated the nod to Philadelphia Phillies history when Consalvi tasted voltage, yet was able to pull off the Pete Rose headfirst slide as he was going down, the "electric slide," if you will. However, due to the juice surging through his body, Consalvi was unable to place a bet on that night's Cincinnati Reds game.
What I do condemn is the notion that a Taser should not, under any circumstances, be used in such situations, when fans break free of security to frolic on the playing field, whatever the sport. In fact, the Taser should always be used in such situation. By golly, it's only fair to a dissident fan to know the punishment before embarking on his/her scheme. And it's only fair that fans in attendance enjoy a Tasing for having the game interrupted.
What's so great about the Taser? Its immediacy. Problem solved. Once the Taser is deployed, the situation is over, saving one or more athletes the responsibility of pummeling an unruly fan and possibly facing a frivolous lawsuit. And a convulsing, drooling patron serves as a firm reminder to other fans that there are dire consequences to a foray onto the field.
Those who protest the use of the Taser are short-sighted pacifists, too concerned with the rights and feelings of a trespassing fan when the majority of their concern should be directed at the athletes themselves. I find it nearly impossible to feel sympathy for someone who has been Tased. Scientific studies have proven a common link between all people who have ever been Tased—they all deserved it.
Consalvi's father is one of these people. He told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he didn't think the police should have Tased his son. In their defense, Mr. Consalvi, the police "didn't think" your son should have run onto the field.
In these cases, the safety of the athletes far overrides the safety of the intruder. That's why Tasing in the most sensible option. Why? Because there's the possibility that only one person gets hurt. And that's the person who deserves to be hurt.
Tasing is not an inhumane or cruel act under the circumstances. Compassion for the runaway fan is secondary in these instances; the safety of the athletes takes precedence.
Are you a fan considering a mad dash on the field, and you want compassion? Have your girlfriend make the run. The larger her breasts, the greater the compassion. You can applaud such compassion as she's discreetly fondled from the playing field.
Compassion was the last thing on Consalvi's mind. His concern was becoming a temporary folk hero. He succeeded in that respect. The fact that he was Tased only added to his fame. And Consalvi had to know that he would face some form of physical apprehension. No fan interrupts a sporting event expecting to be escorted politely from the playing area. Ironically, that would likely be more of a deterrent than the threat of physical violence. But we all know physical violence makes the highlight reel.
Historically, the runaway fan seems to strike most often in baseball, football, and tennis. Apparently, grass, natural or otherwise, is like catnip to the chemically imbalanced, temporarily crazed fan. When is the last time a fan veered onto a basketball court, and the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers weren't playing? You never see a fan rush a bowling tournament, or a fishing competition, or a hockey game. But don't think it can't happen. In the realm of fan intrusion, anything is possible. If you believe otherwise, then how do you explain the "fan man's" interference in the 1993 Evander Holyfield/Riddick Bowe boxing match.
It's imperative that all sports organizations embrace the use of the Taser, not only for its practical applications, but for its entertainment and endorsement value, as well. The Taser could be sport's next great marketing gimmick.
How could Amp Energy Drink not want to sponsor the highlights of the latest fan Tasing?
And how about a "Taser-Cam" at stadiums and arenas, in which a lucky fan is randomly selected on camera and given the opportunity to rush the field while being chased by a Taser-wielding law enforcement officer. What does the sporting world need most? Drug reform? Hah! Reasonable ticket prices? Phooey! Likeable role models? Bull! What it needs are sanctioned fan versus Taser events.
Would fans flock to "Taser Night?" Heck yeah. In this promotion, the first 1,000 fans through the gate receive a replica Taser gun, while the first 100 to leave actually get Tasered.
Can you imagine the music blaring from the public address system when a fans nerve receptors feel the Taser's fury? There's Metallica's "Ride the Lighting." And anything by funk pioneers Zapp would fit the mood.
For beach music afficionados, the Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" is perfectly thematic for a good Tasering.
Does anyone remember Johnny Kemp? You will after "Just Got Tased" blares over the speakers after a hoodlum is crippled by a blast from the stun gun.
Why stop there? There's Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Gimme Three Steps." The Clash's "Shock The Casbah." Bon Jovi's "Tase of Glory." Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell." Boston's "Don't Look Back." Bruce Springsteen's "I'm Goin' Down." The Beatles "Hello, Goodbye."
Clearly, the Taser is the best option to manage fans on the run, and its use should be recommended, encouraged even, to combat such situations, and provide maximum entertainment. Its advantages easily outweigh its disadvantages, of which there aren't any, save for the few people who have died after being Tased. Usually, good "conduct" gets you off easy.
However, all things considered, the Taser has "shock value."
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