Attending sporting events is a form of escapism where people can let loose and leave all of life’s worries behind but sometimes fans take it too far.
It’s usually alcohol that fuels erratic behavior amongst fans that can get them kicked out of the arena, football stadium or baseball park.
And an alleged racist incident that occurred at Chicago Cubs famous Wrigley Field might get a fan banned for life.
It happened earlier this year during the NBA regular season when Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook got aggressive with a fan in Salt Lake City, Utah when they were playing the Jazz because he claimed a person in the stands was screaming racial epithets at him.
Is racism inherent in some people? Sure it is but sometimes what some people consider to be racist could possibly be wildly misunderstood like what happened at Wrigley Field on May 7th.
The Chicago Cubs are investigating an on-air incident that occurred just behind NBC Sports Chicago reporter and former outfielder, Doug Glanville, on Tuesday night’s matchup between the Marlins and the Cubs.
Glanville was standing next to the wall with fans right behind him when one fan threw up the “OK” sign right behind his head.
That gesture has been used as many different things. First of all, it has a long history of meaning “Okay,” but other kids used that symbol as a game where you try to get someone to look at it if you display it below your waste, otherwise known as “the circle game,” which gives the person who used it free reign to punch the gullible person who fell for it in the arm.
But recently that symbol has taken on a new meaning. Many people think it’s the symbol for “white power” a gesture perpetuating white supremacy and it’s important to note Glanville is an African American.
Here’s what it looked like.
Cubs not ‘OK’ with ‘offensive’ hand gesture during Doug Glanville report; club investigates fan – Washington Times https://t.co/LHEJCt6eBu
— piratech (@p1ratech) May 8, 2019
The Cubs president of business operations, Crane Kenney, issued a statement several hours after the telecast, “An individual seated behind Mr. Glanville used what appears to be an offensive hand gesture that is associated with racism. Such ignorant and repulsive behavior is not tolerated at Wrigley Field. We are reviewing the incident thoroughly because no one should be subjected to this type of offensive behavior. Any derogatory conduct should be reported immediately to our ballpark staff. Any individual behaving in this manner will not only be removed from the ballpark but will be permanently banned from Wrigley Field.”
The white power symbol was used recently when Brenton Tarrant, the man accused of murdering 49 people at the Al Noor Mosque in New Zeland, flashed the symbol when he appeared in court.
But the court of public opinion has already demonized the unnamed fan. Most people have zero doubt that he intended the gesture to be racist.
Kenney also said, “Whether this person is going to ultimately say he intended it, that he was playing ‘the circle game’ or some other stunt, the judgment to use that in connection with a respected reporter who happens to be African-American doing his job … that connection … coincidence is not going to fly here.”
LeBron James perpetuates this kind of nonsense.
Even if it was intended to be benign and he meant it in no way the people interpreted it, he’s already lost the battle and it looks like he’ll be banned from Wrigley Field regardless if he argues against the widespread assumptions.