Pirate Attacks Sausage

[TheHappyBurgerMeister]

I heard this made national news. It happened in my city here yesterday at the ball game. Just read the article. It's sad, but funny at the same time!

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brew/jul03/154027.asp

[Brandon]

lol. that's funny in a mean way.

[Small Wonderian]

When I saw the highlights of that on Baseball Tonight and ESPN SportsCenter, I thought that was the most ridiculous thing in all of baseball. I mean, come on, to hit the Sausages that were racing around foul territory, which is something that the Milwaukee Brewers do all the time, is sick and crazy.

I mean, what was Randall Simon thinking?! Prank or not, Simon had absolutely no right to do that, and he should have been fined more than just some lousy $432!!!

[*Melissa*]

This guy plays for my hometown team...what an embarassment. I think he should have his @$$ thrown in jail for a year. After all, that's what he'd get if he wasn't a baseball player.

[Polniaczek033]

i think it was quite funny! well, u know. I dont think he should be thrown in jail or have to pay more.... he didnt hurt her...she just got skinned knees....besides...Milwakuee will prolly push down one of the peirogies. lol....

[Janice]

I just saw the footage on the news, and all I can say is, What the hell was he thinking?
It was bad enough to hit her in the first place, but unreal that he hit her with a bat in the head.
It sounds like this guy could use a few sessions in a therapist's chair.

[Hollow]

all he did was her knock down... its not a crime. i guess i should be in jail for knocking my brother on the ground.

[Janice]

Originally posted by ~°Sarah°~
all he did was her knock down... its not a crime. i guess i should be in jail for knocking my brother on the ground.

If you knock him to the ground with a baseball bat, maybe you should. By the way, it is a crime. It's called assault.
Both of the girls that fell were on the Today Show, and when asked about a possible lawsuit, one of them said that they're 'keeping their options open'. I think the girls are changing their tune that it was no big deal.


Simon Cited for Disorderly Conduct After Hitting Mascot
Pirate Fined $432, But Not Charged

By JULIET WILLIAMS
The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (July 10) -- Prosecutors grilled Pirates first baseman Randall Simon, then let him off the hook for hitting one of the Brewers' sausage mascots with his bat.

Still, he was cited by the sheriff's department for disorderly conduct and fined $432 for a swing that got more attention than any other around the majors Wednesday night.

Simon said he didn't mean to knock down the woman, who tumbled to the ground and got a few scrapes but wasn't seriously hurt during the popular costume race at Milwaukee Brewers games.

"I thought at the moment they were trying to play with us,'' he said Thursday. "They were running right next to the players. I'm a fun player, and I've never hurt anyone in my life.''

The 19-year-old woman, Mandy Block, was among four team employees dressed as an oversized bratwurst, a hot dog and Italian and Polish sausages racing past the Pirates' dugout between the sixth and seventh innings at Miller Park.

Simon took a half swing at the Italian sausage character, hitting her from behind. When Block fell, she knocked over 19-year-old Veronica Piech, the woman dressed as the hot dog.

"It just seems ridiculous -- it's like a big sausage getting hit by a bat causes all this controversy. It just seems kind of funny to me,'' Block told WTMJ-TV.

"It wasn't that big of a blow,'' she said. "I think just because I'm so small and it's such a big costume that I tumbled, and the reason I couldn't get up right away is because I couldn't get up. I wasn't like hurt so bad I couldn't get up. Luckily someone helped me up.''

After the game, Simon was arrested and booked for misdemeanor battery, and told to show up at the district attorney's office the next day.

Simon and one of the women met with prosecutors, but Deputy District Attorney Jon Reddin said the two women didn't think Simon meant to hurt them and "were not interested in having him charged criminally.''

Simon gave the Brewers two autographed bats for the women.

"It's a lesson,'' he said. "As a player, you don't want those types of things that might change your career. This might change not only me, but every other player in the big leagues. From now on, I'm going to be checking before doing those types of things.''

Simon drew boos from many of the fans when he was used as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. He grounded out in the only playing time he saw. The Brewers won 2-1 in 12 innings.

Simon was not in the starting lineup Thursday. The Pirates said they do not condone Simon's behavior and will address the issue internally.

Rick Schlesinger, Brewers executive vice president for business operations, said he was "sickened'' by Simon's actions.

"This is one of the most outrageous things I've ever seen inside a ballpark or outside a ballpark,'' he said.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said the league was reviewing the matter.

"Obviously, the type of behavior exhibited by Mr. Simon is anathema to the family entertainment that we are trying to provide in our ballparks and is wholly unacceptable,'' Selig said.

The Brewers planned to continue the sausage races in their current form.

The racing sausages were scheduled to compete against racing pierogies (dumplings) at a series with the Pirates in Pittsburgh Aug. 15-17 and then again during a series between the teams Aug. 22-24 in Milwaukee.

Josee Meehan of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council was pleased by all the attention.

"I think it probably raised awareness that there are all types of sausages out there. But I had no idea you could race them,'' Meehan said. "We were talking about it in the office today, about which one would win. We thought it probably would be the hot dog, because it's leaner than the other ones.''

On Thursday, four new people were inside the costumes, and Pirates players moved into the dugout and away from the field during the race.

"They're rounding the Pirates dugout -- they've made it safely,'' Brewers announcer Robb Edwards said to the wild cheers of fans on their feet.

Fittingly, the Italian sausage won.

07/10/03 23:45 EDT

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

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[Swimfan85]

i personally think everyone is overreacting, Simon himself knew that the top of the head was high and her head was much lower so he would be hurting her he jus thought that the head would floop back up..and if the girl doesnt care, then why should we ?

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by *Melissa*
This guy plays for my hometown team...what an embarassment. I think he should have his @$$ thrown in jail for a year. After all, that's what he'd get if he wasn't a baseball player.

Go to Jail? It's Not even that serious-LOL All he did was give her a lovetap-LOL

[Brad Russ]

Please tell me all you guys who are making a big deal about this are joking. First of all, he did not hit her in the head. He hit the head of the suit, and unless the girl was 7 feet tall, he was nowhere near her head. Secondly if you look at the tape, he barely even touched her. He could have hit her as hard as he did if she wasn't wearing that outfit, and it still probably wouldn't have left a mark. The only way that could have hurt her is if she was made of a marshmallow. Thirdly, even the girl who got hit has no hard feelings, and sees the obsurdity of the media blowing this thing up. If she can laugh at this, and see it for what it was, I think we should too. I think everyone needs to calm down and quit reacting so quickly to the stupidest things.

[Kitt]

Originally posted by mdntrider7
Please tell me all you guys who are making a big deal about this are joking. First of all, he did not hit her in the head. He hit the head of the suit, and unless the girl was 7 feet tall, he was nowhere near her head. Secondly if you look at the tape, he barely even touched her. He could have hit her as hard as he did if she wasn't wearing that outfit, and it still probably wouldn't have left a mark. The only way that could have hurt her is if she was made of a marshmallow. Thirdly, even the girl who got hit has no hard feelings, and sees the obsurdity of the media blowing this thing up. If she can laugh at this, and see it for what it was, I think we should too. I think everyone needs to calm down and quit reacting so quickly to the stupidest things.

Since you and I disagree so often and so widely, I'll take this opportunity to tell you that I completely agree with you on this.

[Brad Russ]

Originally posted by Kitt
Since you and I disagree so often and so widely, I'll take this opportunity to tell you that I completely agree with you on this.

I didn't think I'd ever see the day where you and I would agree on something. This is definitely a landmark day. Anyway, thanks for saying that, that comment definitely made my night!!!