Boy gets trampled for foul ball

baggio248 · 06-16-2004, 01:08 PM

Credit to the organizations, management and the players. The senior pastor may say he's a good guy, but he proved what he really is.

Quote:

ARLINGTON, Texas -- A 4-year-old boy who lost a foul ball to a not-so-grown-up adult is getting a windfall worthy of a game-winning home run hitter.

Nick O'Brien is held by his mother Edie after losing out on a foul ball Sunday during the Rangers-Cardinals game. Between innings, St. Louis' Reggie Sanders gave Nick a bat and ball.

A man sitting behind Nick O'Brien at a Texas Rangers baseball game Sunday knocked the boy against the seats as he dived to get a foul ball. Fans started chanting "Give him the ball!" but the man wouldn't give it up.

"I couldn't believe someone would do something like that to a 4-year-old boy," said Nick's mother, Edie O'Brien.

O'Brien said she swatted the man with a cardboard fan and called him a jerk, among other names. "I said, 'You trampled a 4-year-old boy to get this ball,' and he said, 'Oh, well,' " she told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, adding that the man seemed proud he got the ball.

Video shows Nick was standing up as the man dived across the boy's seat to grab the ball at Nick's feet. The man's leg strikes the boy, and the boy is jostled a second time as the man stands up with the ball and appears to exchange words with the mother.

Nick wasn't hurt, but fan outrage mushroomed, and even Rangers announcer Tom Grieve voiced his disapproval on TV, calling the man "the biggest jerk in this park." The man and a woman with him left before the game was over.

Meanwhile, the Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals quickly made sure Nick got souvenirs of his own -- two bats and four baseballs, including one signed by Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, a former Ranger.

Cardinals outfielder Reggie Sanders came out between innings to give Nick a bat and ball. "In my heart, I thought I should do something," said Sanders. "It's all about the kids."

The man who took the foul ball has not responded publicly to the criticism, but The Dallas Morning News identified him as Matt Starr, a married, 28-year-old landscaper and former youth minister. Starr did not immediately return a telephone message left by The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Starr is "not the bad guy he's been made out to be," said Rick DuBose, senior pastor of the Sachse Assembly of God Church. "He probably got a little aggressive and did something he regrets. But that's not Matt. He's a good kid, a good young man."

On "Good Morning America," host Charles Gibson gave the O'Briens more souvenirs Wednesday -- this time from the New York Mets. The family got tickets to Wednesday night's game against the Cleveland Indians.

"Wow," Nick responded.

zippyjuan · 06-16-2004, 01:12 PM

If you didn't see the clip, the guy weighed a couple hundred pounds- diving over a skinny 4- year old kid to get a ball!

nickel · 06-16-2004, 01:13 PM

I SAW THIS!!! that guy was a total jerk. he was getting booed and he still wouldn't give up the ball that he snagged out from under the kid and the kid's Mom.

I'm glad they showered the kid with souveniers. Some adults are such dumbasses.

WhiskeyPapa · 06-16-2004, 01:54 PM

After all the dust settled, the kid was actually lucky the bozo kept the ball. He's getting loads of perks and is probably having the time of his life. Too bad he's only four and won't remember much about this.

As far as the dork... he's just proven that our character is not defined by who we pretend to be ("a good young man" says his pastor), but by who we are when we're alone (or when we think we're anonymous.)

I don't fault the guy for diving for the ball - when you see a ball coming, you're focused only on the ball. But imagine how his life would be different if he would have turned to the kid, said "sorry son, this belongs to you", and handed over the ball. I bet he replays that moment over and over in his head all day long.

whitak24 · 06-16-2004, 01:58 PM

i guess what is really sad is that this was a FOUL ball. it's not like it was bonds' 72nd home run ball or something.

oh well, in the end, the kid a.) didn't get hurt, b.) is getting a ton of cool perks (kudos to the rangers and to mr. sanders for stepping up to treat the kid right) and c.) the bonehead who did this is getting a lot of time to think about what he did. hopefully, he can be smarter next time.

DarkFury · 06-16-2004, 02:19 PM

Yeah... that guy's gonna hear about this for a LONG time...

And he deserves every word of it...

eSDee · 06-16-2004, 02:30 PM

I would like to see the video clip. Did the little boy get hurt? Or was the only offense that the guy was a jerk and didn't give the little boy the ball?

Quote:

"I couldn't believe someone would do something like that to a 4-year-old boy," said Nick's mother, Edie O'Brien.

Again, what is she complaining about? Not giving the ball to the kid or did the boy get hurt? If she is complaining that the guy didn't give the ball up then she's overreacting.

Sorry if that sounds callous. I would have given up the ball but it's definitely not a requirement of the fans.

DarkFury · 06-16-2004, 02:39 PM

I tell ya this... if someone had trampled DFJ for a dayuum foul ball... me and that guy woulda been SCRAPIN' in the stands.

Oh yeah... put it up on the MEGATron... cause he woulda got his @SS WHOOPED. (unless he was built like Mike Tyson or something... )

ray · 06-16-2004, 02:40 PM

Yeah, anybody have the clip?

slaus · 06-16-2004, 02:53 PM

Its on espn

eSDee · 06-16-2004, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkFury

I tell ya this... if someone had trampled DFJ for a dayuum foul ball... me and that guy woulda been SCRAPIN' in the stands.

Oh yeah... put it up on the MEGATron... cause he woulda got his @SS WHOOPED. (unless he was built like Mike Tyson or something... )

Well that's the question. Did he trample the kid or not? Or was he just be a dick?

*edit* I just saw it on ESPN.com (thanks slaus). The guy is too big to be diving for balls but he didn't trample the kid. The story is an exaggeration but what else is to be expected by the media.

attgig · 06-16-2004, 03:03 PM

not really trampling.

fell over the seat....
the kid was standing in the row.

he smushed the kid against the row as he was falling, and grabbing after the ball.

he got up...
wasn't at all apologetic.... -> that's what would've pissed me off.

Apex · 06-16-2004, 03:18 PM

Dude, it's a BALL. Give it to the kid.

nickel · 06-16-2004, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb0wwp

After all the dust settled, the kid was actually lucky the bozo kept the ball. He's getting loads of perks and is probably having the time of his life. Too bad he's only four and won't remember much about this.

As far as the dork... he's just proven that our character is not defined by who we pretend to be ("a good young man" says his pastor), but by who we are when we're alone (or when we think we're anonymous.)

I don't fault the guy for diving for the ball - when you see a ball coming, you're focused only on the ball. But imagine how his life would be different if he would have turned to the kid, said "sorry son, this belongs to you", and handed over the ball. I bet he replays that moment over and over in his head all day long.

i think the kid will remember plenty of it at 4 yrs old. i remember stuff from then, and this is pretty monumentous. don't you remember stuff that happened when you were 4 kb0wwp?

bachviet · 06-16-2004, 03:49 PM

I saw this and I agree that this guy is a jerk.

He was smart by leaving early.

whitak24 · 06-16-2004, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apex

Dude, it's a BALL. Give it to the kid.

maybe he doesn't have an balls, and has to keep any he can get his hands on

zenbooty · 06-16-2004, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickel

i think the kid will remember plenty of it at 4 yrs old. i remember stuff from then, and this is pretty monumentous. don't you remember stuff that happened when you were 4 kb0wwp?

I remember getting a Big Wheel on my fourth birthday, and riding it around the house while someone was watching one of Kenny Rogers's movies on the TV (I think it was Grizzly Adams).

DarkFury · 06-16-2004, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenbooty

I remember getting a Big Wheel on my fourth birthday, and riding it around the house while someone was watching one of Kenny Rogers's movies on the TV (I think it was Grizzly Adams).

Heh... I had a bright red pedal car that was similar to "Speed Buggy"...

Man... I LOVED that car when I was 4..

cheapie · 06-17-2004, 07:16 AM

Quote:

ARLINGTON, Texas -- A 4-year-old boy who lost a foul ball to a not-so-grown-up adult is getting a windfall worthy of a game-winning home run hitter -- and now he'll get that ball, too.

Nick O'Brien is held by his mother Edie after losing out on a foul ball Sunday during the Rangers-Cardinals game. Between innings, St. Louis' Reggie Sanders gave Nick a bat and ball.

Matt Starr, who was sitting behind Nick O'Brien at a Texas Rangers baseball game Sunday knocked the boy against the seats as he dived to get a foul ball. Fans started chanting "Give him the ball!" but Starr wouldn't give it up.

He changed his mind Wednesday.

Starr has also agreed to send a letter of apology to the family of Nick O'Brien and buy his family tickets to future Texas Rangers games, club official John Blake said Wednesday.

"The fan let it be known to us that he wanted to give the ball back, and we informed the family that it indeed is going to happen," said Blake, Rangers senior vice president.

Another club spokesman, Gregg Elkin, said the Rangers did not orchestrate Starr's decision.

"He did this on his own, through an intermediary," Elkin said. "Someone that knows him said, 'hey, he wants to do this, can you help him get it to the O'Briens,' and that's all we're doing."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1822940

johnnymk · 06-17-2004, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkFury

I tell ya this... if someone had trampled DFJ for a dayuum foul ball... me and that guy woulda been SCRAPIN' in the stands.

Oh yeah... put it up on the MEGATron... cause he woulda got his @SS WHOOPED. (unless he was built like Mike Tyson or something... )

Too funny..and I would have paid big bucks to see it on tape

DarkFury · 06-17-2004, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnymk

Too funny..and I would have paid big bucks to see it on tape

Hee hee hee... "Ring the bell... <DING>"

WhiskeyPapa · 06-17-2004, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickel

don't you remember stuff that happened when you were 4 kb0wwp?

Four years old is a lot further back for me than it is for you! But you have a point. These are some pretty monumental events for a kid, so these memories will get planted in pretty good.

nickel · 06-17-2004, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eSDeeLoco

Well that's the question. Did he trample the kid or not? Or was he just be a dick?

*edit* I just saw it on ESPN.com (thanks slaus). The guy is too big to be diving for balls but he didn't trample the kid. The story is an exaggeration but what else is to be expected by the media.

he didn't knock the kid over but he trampled, aka pushed his flying in the air sweaty man-weight onto, a little kid and smushed him up against the next row of seats. not to mention he almost muff dived the Mom trying to get the ball out from underneath her. the Mom was hitting him with her program to get him out of there for godssakes. and then afterwards i could read the Mom's lips, and she even said she was "sorry" to the loser for whatever.

ok, he was caught up in the moment, but give the ball to the kid. i would have.

why do you think the story is an exaggeration eSDee?

avlena · 06-17-2004, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickel

he didn't knock the kid over but he trampled, aka pushed his flying in the air sweaty man-weight onto, a little kid and smushed him up against the next row of seats. not to mention he almost muff dived the Mom trying to get the ball out from underneath her. the Mom was hitting him with her program to get him out of there for godssakes. and then afterwards i could read the Mom's lips, and she even said she was "sorry" to the loser for whatever.

ok, he was caught up in the moment, but give the ball to the kid. i would have.

why do you think the story is an exaggeration eSDee?

i don't really think the kid got smushed... it looked like he got pushed a bit. the guy probably should've given the ball to the kid, and heck, i'd be mad if some guy dived into my row that way, but i think the kid's trauma is exaggerated, cuz he certainly wasn't trampled. as the article said, he was "jostled" . anyway, the guy finally caved to all the pressure and is going to give the ball to the kid (who by now probably doesn't care, because he's already gotten so much other neat stuff): linky

eSDee · 06-18-2004, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickel

he didn't knock the kid over but he trampled, aka pushed his flying in the air sweaty man-weight onto, a little kid and smushed him up against the next row of seats. not to mention he almost muff dived the Mom trying to get the ball out from underneath her. the Mom was hitting him with her program to get him out of there for godssakes. and then afterwards i could read the Mom's lips, and she even said she was "sorry" to the loser for whatever.

ok, he was caught up in the moment, but give the ball to the kid. i would have.

why do you think the story is an exaggeration eSDee?

Gah!! My post got deleted. Let me try to reguritate what I said:

I didn't see the second part of the tape where dude was going up the ladies skirt. I only saw what was on ESPN Motion, which was was when the boy got pushed forward by the guys legs as he lept into the next row. The guy was definitely stupid for jumping for the ball but as a few have mentioned he was probably caught in the moment. I just think that summing up this guys character by one momentary lapse of good judgement is pretty harsh. He made a mistake but people are making him sound like he's the scum of society. I have a little brother who is a little guy and I would be upset if someone jumped on him trying to go for a foul ball. But the kid wasn't hurt so I think the extent to which this guy is being thrown to the wolves is ridiculous. And I don't think that the kid is learning a very good lesson for the whole situation either.

DaFunkyUnit · 06-18-2004, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eSDeeLoco

The guy was definitely stupid for jumping for the ball but as a few have mentioned he was probably caught in the moment. I just think that summing up this guys character by one momentary lapse of good judgement is pretty harsh. He made a mistake but people are making him sound like he's the scum of society...

yea thats right, b/c for all we know, Steve Bartman might be a really cool dude.

oh wait, thats not what you're talking about?

ray · 06-18-2004, 08:40 AM

I watched the ESPN motion video as well and don't really feel like the kid got trampled. He got pushed aside, but nothing forceful. ESPN Motion didn't show the altercation with the mother afterwards, but if somebody dove into my row to get a stupid baseball, I'm pretty sure I would kick the person several t...several dozen times.

gwilks98 · 06-18-2004, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFunkyUnit

yea thats right, b/c for all we know, Steve Bartman might be a really cool dude.

oh wait, thats not what you're talking about?

Somewhere Steve Bartman is saying "Phew, thank GOD! It's someone elses turn."

Cubsfan · 06-18-2004, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFunkyUnit

yea thats right, b/c for all we know, Steve Bartman might be a really cool dude.

oh wait, thats not what you're talking about?

ShawnLee · 06-18-2004, 02:56 PM

Steve Bartman... Hahahahahaha

06-16-2004, 01:12 PM	#2
zippyjuan Picture of the Day Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sunny San Diego Posts: 8,756	If you didn't see the clip, the guy weighed a couple hundred pounds- diving over a skinny 4- year old kid to get a ball! __________________ I add new pictures to my photo gallery pretty regularly. You can see them here if you are interested: http://www.pbase.com/jeffryz

06-16-2004, 01:13 PM	#3
nickel Vice Chairwoman, Joint Chieftess of Staff Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Jeterville, NYY Posts: 17,786	I SAW THIS!!! that guy was a total jerk. he was getting booed and he still wouldn't give up the ball that he snagged out from under the kid and the kid's Mom. I'm glad they showered the kid with souveniers. Some adults are such dumbasses. __________________ click me

06-16-2004, 02:19 PM	#6
DarkFury Secretary of the Navy Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood Posts: 34,997	Yeah... that guy's gonna hear about this for a LONG time... And he deserves every word of it... __________________ DarkFury's Pimptopia - Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game! Home of the Original OG Pimp (accept NO imitations)

06-16-2004, 03:03 PM	#12
attgig Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: the burbs of baltimore Posts: 11,924	not really trampling. fell over the seat.... the kid was standing in the row. he smushed the kid against the row as he was falling, and grabbing after the ball. he got up... wasn't at all apologetic.... -> that's what would've pissed me off. __________________

06-16-2004, 03:18 PM	#13
Apex Can you hear me now? Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Here Posts: 5,506	Dude, it's a BALL. Give it to the kid. __________________ The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge. Daniel J. Boorstin (1914 - )

06-16-2004, 01:54 PM	#4
WhiskeyPapa Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: 45° 11' 35" North Latitude, 95° 8' 37" West Longitude Posts: 3,427	After all the dust settled, the kid was actually lucky the bozo kept the ball. He's getting loads of perks and is probably having the time of his life. Too bad he's only four and won't remember much about this. As far as the dork... he's just proven that our character is not defined by who we pretend to be ("a good young man" says his pastor), but by who we are when we're alone (or when we think we're anonymous.) I don't fault the guy for diving for the ball - when you see a ball coming, you're focused only on the ball. But imagine how his life would be different if he would have turned to the kid, said "sorry son, this belongs to you", and handed over the ball. I bet he replays that moment over and over in his head all day long.

06-16-2004, 01:58 PM	#5
whitak24 easily amused Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: my office Posts: 9,781	i guess what is really sad is that this was a FOUL ball. it's not like it was bonds' 72nd home run ball or something. oh well, in the end, the kid a.) didn't get hurt, b.) is getting a ton of cool perks (kudos to the rangers and to mr. sanders for stepping up to treat the kid right) and c.) the bonehead who did this is getting a lot of time to think about what he did. hopefully, he can be smarter next time.

06-16-2004, 02:39 PM	#8
DarkFury Secretary of the Navy Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood Posts: 34,997	I tell ya this... if someone had trampled DFJ for a dayuum foul ball... me and that guy woulda been SCRAPIN' in the stands. Oh yeah... put it up on the MEGATron... cause he woulda got his @SS WHOOPED. (unless he was built like Mike Tyson or something... )

06-16-2004, 02:40 PM	#9
ray captain awesome Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 7,054	Yeah, anybody have the clip?

06-16-2004, 02:53 PM	#10
slaus Commander Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,189	Its on espn

06-16-2004, 03:49 PM	#15
bachviet What's Da Pho*? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SoCal (714) Posts: 13,296	I saw this and I agree that this guy is a jerk. He was smart by leaving early. __________________ Dell Dimension 9200 \| Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz) \| 4x1GB DDR2 \| 256MB nVidia GeForce 8800GT Dell Studio 17 \| Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHz) \| 2x2GB DDR3 1066MHz \| 1GHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Intel P4-C 3.0GHz \| ECS 865PE-A \| 3x512MB PC3200 \| 128MB PNY GeForce 6600GT

06-18-2004, 08:40 AM	#27
ray captain awesome Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 7,054	I watched the ESPN motion video as well and don't really feel like the kid got trampled. He got pushed aside, but nothing forceful. ESPN Motion didn't show the altercation with the mother afterwards, but if somebody dove into my row to get a stupid baseball, I'm pretty sure I would kick the person several t...several dozen times.

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