"Visible altercations"

[SeriesFinale]

Witrado mentioned inhis write-up of last night's game that there were "visible altercations" in the stands last night.

 

Kinda took me back to being a little kid and witnessing drunken dust-ups at County whenever the White Sox came up to play the Brewers (a good friend of mine in Chicago who's a White Sox fan told me how he'd always be scared when he was little to come up to Milwaukee with his Dad to watch the games, for better or for worse).

 

Has it really gotten that bad again? Or is Witrado just stirring the pot? I haven't been to a Brewers-Cubs game at MP in a few years since I moved out West, and it seemed to me that the atmosphere was worse in, say, 2003, when the Cubs were killing us down the stretch and the place was crawling with chest-thumping Cubs fans. I'd think the series becoming more competitive would actually temper it a bit. Even in 2006, the last time I saw the teams play each other, it was pretty convivial in the stands (this was at Wrigley, but I tend to keep my trap shut while on the road). What's it like at MP these days?

[brains and braun]

It can be real bad, I think. But I do usually sit in the Terrace. Unlike your approach, a lot of Cub fans can get pretty vocal. In fact, I would say in the past few years, I seem to run across at least one group of Cub fans looking to provoke somebody. That said, the guys I'm talking about mostly fit that "drunken frat boy" profile.

[Ennder]

My guess would be the more the Brewers win these the more fights will break out as angry Cub fans take it out on others.

[homer]

My guess would be the more the Brewers win these the more fights will break out as angry Cub fans take it out on others.

 

Or drunken brewer fans rubbing it in their faces. I've been to two Brewer Cub games this year and the Brewer fans have been pretty obnoxious. If I had little kids, I'd avoid a Cubs game at Miller. There was a family in front of us during Friday's game (kids were like 7 or 8 years old) and the drunk Brewer fan next to me couldn't stop with the F bombs. Finally after a couple innings he screamed some near incoherent line with two or three more F bombs and me and my buddy nearly had to hold the dad back from going after the dude. After a scolding from all three of us he pretty much sat down and shut up the rest of the game. I don't want Miller Park to be a place where parents can't bring their kids regardless of the opponent. So please, stop with the F the Cubbies chants in the concourses and have some respect for little kids and old people at the very least. Show a little more class than Cub fans have shown in the past.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

My guess would be the more the Brewers win these the more fights will break out as angry Cub fans take it out on others.

Or drunken brewer fans rubbing it in their faces.

What's wrong with that? They are in OUR ballpark. If they can't handle it, then don't show up to an opposing team's ballpark.

[homer]

What's wrong with that?

Everything if it leads to some kind of physical confrontation.

[Fatter than Joey]

I've been to two Brewer Cub games this year and the Brewer fans have been pretty obnoxious. If I had little kids, I'd avoid a Cubs game at Miller.

 

I know I have -- In a large part the only difference between the Brewer fans and the Cub fans are the shirts they are wearing. I think both fan bases are virtually identical.

 

What's wrong with that? They are in OUR ballpark. If they can't handle it, then don't show up to an opposing team's ballpark.

 

I'd like to think that any fan from any team could come to MP and enjoy themselves.

[TooLiveBrew]

agreed, FtJ.

 

 

What's wrong with that? They are in OUR ballpark. If they can't handle it, then don't show up to an opposing team's ballpark

 

This sounds suspiciously similar to the 'It's my right to boo' defense.

[SeriesFinale]

I'm OK with visiting fans coming to the park (Personally I've seen far more Brewers games on the road than at MP the last five years) and enjoying themselves as long as they don't act like they own the place. Respect in the host-guest relationship needs to go both ways, and in fact I think it's slightly more incumbent on the visitor.

 

Anyway, I was wondering how bad the atmosphere was if Witrado thought to mention it, because it seems like any ballpark I go to anywhere regardless of whos' playing, there's almost always at least one "visible altercation" (usually in the upper deck or bleachers)...when I caught a Giants-Dodgers game a week or so back, there were three in the first seven innings before we left our seats.

 

Whenever you get booze and young men with civic pride and sports passions mixed together, something will occur.

[bani1717]

At a Brewers-Phillies game back in 2007 (Chris Capuano bobblehead day, in case anyone remembers the game), the Brewers blew a 6-0 lead and lost in extras. As I was walking out of the stadium and through the parking lots back to my car, a CUBS FAN was chanting "Let's go Cubbies!" The worst part is was that the Cubbies had a home game that night. Granted, rain was in the forecast, but instead of going and supporting her team play, she drove to Milwaukee to root against the Brewers and rub it in our faces that we just blew the game.

 

Also, someone I know ushers at Miller Park. He handled 13 ejections at one of the night games during the big series with the Cubbies last July. All or nearly all of them were Cubs fans. In the words of Bob from Bob and Brian in the Morning, it's not like they are courteous guests who come in and just root on their team. They are obnoxious guests who, in his words, "trash the place" and show no respect for anyone or anything but themselves.

 

And that's even during a weeknight game. Last September, I had a ticket to the Friday night game with the Cubs during the last series. In response to how poorly we had recently played, I evaluated my options and decided I'd rather sell my ticket for face and get my money back than risk going by myself and sitting up in the terrace with a bunch of Cubs fans who were drunk out of their minds and who would absolutely rub it in all of our faces that our playoff chances were going down the tubes. Obviously, in hindsight, I wish I would have gone to the game, as it was a thriller and the second to last step in clinching our playoff spot. But I wasn't about to want to go by myself and put up with all the crap that a Brewers-Cubs game brings when we had a chance of having absolutely nothing to play for.

 

Now, this isn't to say that all Cub s fans are obnoxious. For a couple games last year, there was the same group of a couple Cubs fans who sat in front of my seats for about 3 Cubs games. They were as polite as anyone could be. And then there was a guy trying to sell tickets at a game earlier this year, and I told him where the resale zone was where he might have a better chance of selling them. He was nice too and thanked me.

 

Also, I have seen drunk, obnoxious Brewer fans - especially at the Saturday night game against the Cubs here earlier this year back in April. A couple of them even got kicked out, and it pained me to see that. Maybe I'm just trying to justify things, but my theory is that if Cubs fans weren't so loud and obnoxious when they came to our park in the first place, Brewers fans wouldn't give it back to them.

[stoops17]

I was in section 230 last night, row 6. The section was half of each team's followers. In the second row there was a group of 6 brewer fans (early 20's age), one of them being the loud antagonist who probably had enough to drink for the night before the game started. He was asked by an usher and police officer to talk in the concourse during the 2nd inning before I even noticed him doing anything. When he came back in the 4th, he directed his angry chants and mean glares to a quiet same 20's age couple on a date cubs fans who he called the tattlers. During the 6th this same guy was involved in a fight that I couldn't really see towards the top of the section, all I saw was 2-3 beer contents go flying and both 229 and 230 standing to watch the commotion. His friends came back and were heard saying "he's on his own now".

 

At this point it's escalated that both fan bases have this chip on their shoulder towards each other and just can't take the high road or keep it fairly civilized. I'll keep going to the games, but I don't recommend it for thin skinned adults or families. I really fear if we get a game where the teams get heated towards each other that the crowd violence may get really out of hands.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

agreed, FtJ.

 

 

What's wrong with that? They are in OUR ballpark. If they can't handle it, then don't show up to an opposing team's ballpark

 

This sounds suspiciously similar to the 'It's my right to boo' defense.

We are talking about a Brewers-Cubs game here. All bets are off.

[TooLiveBrew]

So you actually want to see fights? That's messed up imo.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

So you actually want to see fights? That's messed up imo.

No. These fanbases have been going at it for 4-5 years and people expect this year to be any different?

[endaround]

Years? That's a laugh

[WisconsinSportsRule]

Years? That's a laugh

Not what I was implying, but more than a few.

[LaprilOne]

Wisconsin Sports Rules: As Ron Burgundy would say "Stay classy, Milwaukee!"

 

A good friend is an usher, and is in my section, so we get to chat a bit at games. He said last night (5/9) was a zoo. Long game made the drunks even worse. Both sides.

 

I think everyone, no matter who they root for, has a right to enjoy the game without obscene idiots and foul language.

 

Today was not too bad. Lots of Mom's, kids and families.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

Wisconsin Sports Rules: As Ron Burgundy would say "Stay classy, Milwaukee!"

 

A good friend is an usher, and is in my section, so we get to chat a bit at games. He said last night (5/9) was a zoo. Long game made the drunks even worse. Both sides.

 

I think everyone, no matter who they root for, has a right to enjoy the game without obscene idiots and foul language.

 

Today was not too bad. Lots of Mom's, kids and families.

Oh, I'm sure no other team has those type of "fans". People see a few bad ones and make generalizations.

 

I'm not against enjoying a game in a non-"classy" way, but you'd expect some people to make every look bad. I just think it's funny that a few people would go to a rival game and not expect trouble.

[homer]

I just think it's funny that a few people would go to a rival game and not expect trouble.

You should expect to get "razzed" a little bit but no one should be expecting "trouble". I go to Brewer games down in Wrigley all the time and no one has verbally abused me. I would hope we would be able to do the same. People take this goofy rivalry way too seriously. If you're going to get in a fist fight because some dude has a Cub flag or says "brewers suck!" then you should really re-examine your life. Same goes for a loser Cub fans that can't take a few goat jokes.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

I just think it's funny that a few people would go to a rival game and not expect trouble.

You should expect to get "razzed" a little bit but no one should be expecting "trouble". I go to Brewer games down in Wrigley all the time and no one has verbally abused me. I would hope we would be able to do the same. People take this goofy rivalry way too seriously. If you're going to get in a fist fight because some dude has a Cub flag or says "brewers suck!" then you should really re-examine your life. Same goes for a loser Cub fans that can't take a few goat jokes.

Yeah, I didn't clarify that. I don't expect trouble in the sense that fans would be fist fighting, but rather some verbal abuse. I'm just saying that if you go to an opposing ballpark, you probably will face some verbal abuse, but no, I'm not advocating starting fights.

[logan82]

I'm not against enjoying a game in a non-"classy" way

 

I am. It is possible to have fun without verbally abusing other people or getting into altercations.

[Fatter than Joey]

People see a few bad ones and make generalizations.

 

Please remember all it takes is one drunken f-bomb to ruin the ballpark experience for a family or even a section of fans.

 

I just think it's funny that a few people would go to a rival game and not expect trouble.

 

I think it's funny that some think that the competition is not limited to the field. I really think it is funny that some drunken cowboy thinks that fans should expect trouble when certain teams roll into town.

[Fatter than Joey]

I don't expect trouble in the sense that fans would be fist fighting, but rather some verbal abuse

 

It takes 2 people to fight -- sticks and stones....

[WisconsinSportsRule]

People see a few bad ones and make generalizations.

 

Please remember all it takes is one drunken f-bomb to ruin the ballpark experience for a family or even a section of fans.

 

I just think it's funny that a few people would go to a rival game and not expect trouble.

 

I think it's funny that some think that the competition is not limited to the field. I really think it is funny that some drunken cowboy thinks that fans should expect trouble when certain teams roll into town.

How can you not expect some verbal abuse when the cubs come to town? It goes both ways. It shows passion and stupidness at the same time. I don't know how you would change the atmosphere when rivals come to town. The precedent has been set unfortunately.

 

I don't have a problem with some razzling or teasing, but it's not like I want things to get out of hand.

[Fatter than Joey]

How can you not expect some verbal abuse when the cubs come to town

 

It's a baseball game, not Christmas at the in-laws.

 

I don't know how you would change the atmosphere when rivals come to town.

 

Stay sober, and remember there are kids, elderly and non-dipwads at the park