Eight People Shot in Oklahoma following Thunder vs Lakers Playoff Game

Posted on May 22, 2012 by kcdermody

Despite the fact that violence at sporting events has been a rather large topic of conversation recently, with the many incidents that have taken place across the nation, yet another horrific shooting has occurred. This time, it happened in the Midwest following the basketball game between the Thunder and the Lakers. While few details have been released, and it is unconfirmed whether this incident was indeed related to the basketball game, we do know that at least eight people were shot in downtown Oklahoma City on Monday night.

According to Capt. Dexter Nelson, the shootings occurred just three blocks from Chesapeake Energy Arena in the Bricktown district where the streets were filled with approximately 6000 celebrating fans. Eye-witnesses reported an argument and a scuffle that erupted between a group of women and a group of men when someone opened fire into the crowd. Eight victims were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds. One of the victims is currently in critical condition while the others did not suffer life-threatening injuries. Nelson also stated a woman who was pregnant suffered a blunt trauma injury and she was even believed to have been kicked during the aftermath of the shootings. Although initial reports stated two men were arrested, Nelson confirmed there have been no arrests and in relation to the shootings and the initial reports were false.

Ironically, Oklahoma Governor, Mary Fallin, recently signed Senate Bill 1733 into law, known as the “Open Carry” law. This bill would allow anyone possessing a license to carry a firearm under the Oklahoma Self Defense Act will be able to carry openly or concealed at their discretion. Any property owner will be able to open carry on their own property regardless of whether they have a license to carry or not. Oklahoma is the 41st state to allow open carry.

Between the brutal beating of San Francisco Giants’ fan Brian Stow at Dodgers Stadium last March, the shootings following last year’s preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets’ fan who barely survived after being jumped after the game against the Kansas City Chiefs last December, not to mention countless other acts of violence, it’s quite apparent that tough legislation is needed if we’re to have a hope of reducing these horrible crimes.

What Can Sports Fans do to Take a More Proactive Approach Against Violence?

Posted on May 21, 2012 by FAV

We have had a lot of questions and comments in regards to our posting challenging fans to step up and take a more proactive approach in ending fan violence. Many of you have responded asking what it is you can do.

First and foremost, if you see something escalating, please do not try to get involved. We would never want anyone to put themselves or their family in danger. The best thing you can do is use the Game Day Security Hotlines and Text code to alert security to the issue. All calls are anonymous, so there is no need to be concerned about retaliation.

Although it is important that the venues do everything they can to ensure the fans safety, we as fans have to take on some of the responsibility. Along with the Game Day Security Hotlines and Text code we have also put together a list of Game Day Safety Tips. Please read them. Some of the tips may seem obvious but they are all important.

Lastly, with all of the recent incidents and all of the media attention to the issue of Fan Violence, many fans are afraid and on edge when attending a game. Remember be kind and respectful to all fans, no matter what team they are rooting for. At the end of the day, we are all fans of the sport. The smallest gesture of saying “hi” or “welcome to our stadium” to an opposing fan can make the largest impact!

Incident After Dodgers’ Game Highlights Need for Fans to be Proactive in Eliminating Violence at Sporting Events

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Anna Mohr

It’s another sad day for baseball fans and compassionate human beings alike as news has broken that yet another person has become the victim of violence following a Los Angeles Dodgers’ game over the weekend. The victim, whose name has not been released, was driving one of the vehicles involved in a fender bender while exiting the parking lot of Dodger Stadium. According to reports, the victim was pulled from his car and held down by three men, assumed to have been riding in a third vehicle, and was repeatedly hit and kicked by the driver of the other car involved in the accident.

This April 10, 2012 file photo shows Los Angeles Police mounted patrol officers Steve Cooper, left, aboard Jimbo and Roger Johnson on Ranger watching Dodger fans arrive for the home opener baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Stadium security and off-duty uniformed police officers working for the Dodgers responded to the scene quickly and arrested the four men. The victim, along with his pregnant passenger, was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Meanwhile, the assailants are, as of 12:45 p.m. PT today, still in custody, according to the LAPD and the Los Angeles County Jail. They are awaiting arraignment and are expected to be formally charged with assault with a deadly weapon. (In this instance, given the position of the victim and the number of attackers, feet and hands are considered “deadly weapons.”)

Kudos to the Dodgers and to the City of Los Angeles. Subsequent to the brutal attack on Bryan Stow at their stadium a little over a year ago, the Dodgers’ organization has taken steps in the right direction in an attempt to minimize attacks on their guests as well as apprehend spectators found to be in violation of city law and/or stadium policy. They are one of the few organizations who are permitted to hire off-duty LAPD officers to patrol their premises, in uniform. In addition, they hire undercover officers donning rival team jerseys to be present at every home game. Yet still, the violence continues.

Police and management can only do so much to combat this problem. In this most recent case, they responded as quickly as they were able, an undisputed claim. But they’re only human. Unless an officer happens to be standing in the middle of a brawl (and let’s face it, most people possess the minimal amount of common sense necessary to tell you not to break the law in plain view of a cop or security guard), he/she can only reach the victim as quickly as his/her legs can move. And while surveillance cameras may help, alerting authorities when a potentially dangerous situation arises and often used as evidence ex-post-facto, they are still just devices that can neither prevent nor halt a physical altercation.

The rest is up to us, the fans. It is up to us to absolutely insist upon acceptable behavior from our fellow game-goers. It is up to us to take responsibility for our own actions, and to think before we commit them. It only takes one decision and split seconds to change a life, many lives, including your own. Let’s start making the right ones. Indifference changes nothing. Demand concern. Demand outrage. Demand change.

BaseballintheBlood.com – On The Phone With…Fans Against Violence

Posted on May 18, 2012 by FAV

We recently had a great phone interview with Todd Coppernoll of Baseball in the Blood. Below is an excerpt from the interview and article about Fans Against Violence.
To read the full article please visit BaseballintheBlood.com.

Shootings and Savage Beatings…at the Ballpark

On The Phone With…Fans Against Violence

~By Todd Coppernoll-May 18, 2012

Over the past year, fan violence at U.S. sporting events has received heightened media attention. The savage beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow, in the parking lot at Dodger Stadium, is causing many to take a second look at what is “acceptable” behavior in the stands.
Last August, the San Francisco 49ers hosted the Oakland Raiders for a preseason NFL game at Candlestick Park. Following the game, three fans were hospitalized…two had been shot, and the third had been beaten unconscious in a stadium restroom.
In September, Kathy Samoun, who is a Raiders fan, founded “Fans Against Violence.” read full article..

Anti-Fan Violence “Improving Personal Safety at Stadiums Act” Passes CA State Assembly Unanimously

Posted on May 18, 2012 by FAV

Yesterday, Thursday May 17, 2001, the bill known as the “Improving Personal Safety at Stadiums Act”, passed The California State Assembly unanimously with 72 votes. With the ever growing number of incidents of fan violence, this is great news for Sports Fans statewide.

AB2464 would require all professional sports venues to post Game Day hotlines and Security Text Codes in designated areas throughout the stadiums and arenas, as well as parking lots. Currently, a majority of professional sports venues already have the Game Day Hotline and Text code program in place. Should this bill become a law, it would, by extension, require all sports venues to adopt this program.

Although AB2464 will not end Fan Violence in its entirety, it is a small step in the right direction. While sports venues have a major responsibility towards ensuring fan safety, Game Day Text Codes and Hotlines are great tools for Sports fans to take a proactive approach in their safety.

The next step for the “Improving Personal Safety at Stadiums Act”, will be to pass the State Senate then on to the Governor for signature. In speaking with Assemblyman Mike Gattos staff today, there was an air of reserved confidence that AB2464 will not be met with resistance through the State Senate. If it does indeed pass and is signed by the Governor, the law could come into effect as soon as January 1, 2013.

We at Fans Against Violence, encourage sports fans to get behind and show your support for AB2464. If you are interested is joining us in supporting this bill, please email us at info@fansagainstviolence.org.

Could Intentional Violence on the Field Lead to More Violence in the Stands?

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Anna Mohr

There’s nothing like intentionally pelting an opponent with a 93-mile per hour fastball to heat up an already sticky sports rivalry. And that’s exactly what happened on Sunday, when Phillies’ pitcher Cole Hamels plunked Nationals’ outfielder Bryce Harper in the back with a pitch in the first inning. Hamels later admitted, with no apology, that he threw to hit, and his actions were simply “old school” protocol. He was slapped with a five game suspension and fined by MLB. The punishment seems arbitrary, at best, and left many wondering, “Is it enough?”

I’ve often asked myself why violence on a baseball field, basketball court or any other playing ground is treated any differently than the violence that occurs on the streets, amongst “regular” civilians. Why is Cole Hamels any different from the average Joe who picks up a hard object and throws it in the direct path of another human being? Why do we abhor the common assailant, yet feel a sense of allegiance to a member of our favored team who, essentially, is guilty of the same offense?

All I have deduced from contemplation of such questions is because we, as fans, allow it. We somehow interpret such behavior as the honorable defense of our team, our fan base and our hometown. We justify such acts by trying to reason that sports is a perpetual effort towards retaliation, and that people deserve to be mistreated simply because they support a team other than ours. It’s a vicious cycle when treated with such gravity and we, as fans, have it in our power to put an end to it.

Whether you’re a Nationals’ fan, a Phillies’ fan, a fan of a different team, or not a baseball fan at all, please do not condone Sunday’s events. Do not allow Hamels’ poor judgment to escalate the problem of uncivil, unfriendly rivalry. Keep in mind that his conduct not only could have resulted in the serious injury of an up-and-coming 19-year old who was just trying to do his job, but will likely create more hostility amongst the two organizations and their supporters. And this is something we at FAV desperately want to prevent.

While ultimately the Phillies defeated the Nationals 9-3, Bryce Harper managed to steal home after he was hit by Hamels’ pitch, a feat in its own right. When asked to comment about the incident, Harper simply said, “Hamels threw a great game tonight.” Perhaps these “old school” players can learn a thing or two about good sportsmanship and class from these young rookies.

How Assumptions Lead to Fan Violence

Posted on May 7, 2012 by John Doublin

We see and hear about it at nearly every sporting event around the world: Two or more fans get into a shouting match about their favorite teams. “My team is better than yours. Your team sucks. You guys are going down!”

If it remained simply a war of words, that would be fine. In fact, that’s the whole point of fandom; supporting your team regardless of how bad they are, or what’s happening on the field.

Unfortunately, it almost never ends with verbal exchanges. Invariably, a fight breaks out and someone gets hurt.

What are the reasons behind this? Why does “trash talk” almost always end in hurt feelings and emergency room visits? The answer is multi-faceted.

Perhaps the biggest contributor to these incidences is passion. Passion for the game, passion for the team and a passion for being able to call your team a “winner.” Passion is great, but only if it’s restrained and directed in a positive manner.

The next time you hear a fan of the opposing team spouting off about this or that, just remember…that person is just as passionate as you are and they are simply looking to cheer their team on…just like you.

Don’t take offense, even if what they’re saying is offensive and rude. Keep in mind that if you react to their venom, you become no better than them. “The fight avoided is the fight best fought.”

Be the “bigger,” more mature person in these cases.

Another factor that often leads to fan vs fan violence is assumptions. Assumptions about a particular fan base, an assumption about a person’s intentions and assumptions that your words aren’t as inflammatory as you think.

Often times, appearances can lead people to make assumptions about the character of a given person. These assumptions can cloud judgement and cause a person to act in a way that is outside their normal personality.

On Halloween, when a six-year-old boy knocks on your door wearing a hockey mask and carrying a pretend ax, do you automatically assume that he is a serial killer that has been raised from the dead? Of course not.

For some reason however, when fans of opposing teams go to, let’s say, an Oakland Raiders game, they tend to assume that the people with the spiked shoulder pads and face paint are automatically thugs that don’t deserve the common courtesy of respect.

That is narrow minded and unfair. The fact is that some of these “Super-fans” are pillars of the community. Their game-day personas are simply that—personas. Wayne Mabry is not actually a “Violator.” He’s a regular person with a job and responsibilities just like you.

Mr. Mabry is not only a “normal” person, he’s a passionate philanthropist, having raised a ton of money for local and national children’s charities. I have been given the honor of interviewing Mr. Mabry and the transcripts from that interview will be available at Raider Nation Times soon.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

The most obvious reason for these confrontations between fans is the one thing professional sports leagues absolutely refuse to remedy: The sale of alcohol at games.

The fact is, there is just too much money to be made from alcohol for the teams or leagues to remove it. It’s sad, but it’s true. Everyone knows that professional sports is a business and the leagues and the team owners are in it to make money…and alcohol is extremely profitable.

It is a proven fact that alcohol lowers inhibitions and causes people to over-react to volatile situations. It has also been shown to amplify emotions. Think about that for a second. Your ability to control your actions and your emotions are skewed and your team is losing. Nothing good can come from that.

This alteration of the frontal lobe of the brain results in bad judgement and stupid decisions; decisions that send people to jail and the hospital. It’s not rocket science.

What can fans do to prevent this? That’s simple…DON’T DRINK AT GAMES! You can wait until you get home. We’ve all heard the expression, “I don’t need alcohol to have a good time.” So, why do we need it to enjoy a sporting event? We don’t.

Please, “drink responsibly”…or not at all. You’ll be doing us all a favor.

Take a look at this video and ask yourself these questions:

Is this how I’d want my children to act? Are the people chanting “let them fight” really the kind of people that represent my feelings about this game? Do I want my children subjected to this behavior? Is this scene enhancing or detracting from my game-day experience?

Ultimately, there is only one group of people that can prevent fan vs fan violence; the fans themselves. Report potential problems to security, (there are text codes to reach security posted at most every stadium). Don’t drink to excess. Don’t make assumptions about other fans. Be passionate, but be mature and think of the message you’re sending your children.

If fans don’t police themselves, the leagues will do it for them. We, as fans, have to step up and do the right things. If we don’t, the teams and the leagues will do it for us…and that will suck the fun out of everything for us. The rules for attending games will be overly restrictive and ruin our experience. “…the trees are all kept equal by hatchet, ax and saw.”

Please, don’t let one or two bad apples ruin the bunch for the rest of us.

Follow John Doublin on Twitter: @CoachJayDee and find more of his work at www.RaiderNationTimes.com

RaiderNationTimes.com ‘s Captain Jack Rack ’em Levy on Fans Against Violence

Posted on May 1, 2012 by FAV

In this fun Raider Nation Times article, Captain Jack Rack ’em Levy gives his unique and colorful “swords up” view on Fans Against Violence. We’d like to thank both Raider Nation Times and Captain Jack for this fun article. If you’re a Raider Fan, be sure to check out their site at www.raidernationtimes.com

RaiderNationTimes.com -Fans Against Violence – Can’t We All Just Get Along?

~By Captain Jack Rack ’em Levy-April, 27, 2012

It’s early Wednesday morning as I write this, the Captain having completed his night of work and the Raiders (likely) able to skip the first night of Festivities for the NFL Draft of 2012. I’m not like many people who are ‘day walkers’ on this earth, as I prefer working eves/nights to get away from many of the ‘anal retentive folks’ one usually has to deal with during a day … or folks you’d prefer to throw out a window for being a pain in your toucas…

Oakland Raiders ~Captain Jack Rack 'em Levy

Wow, talk about a spot on segue, as it IS a bit early to talk about whom the Raiders have drafted…since by the time this gets posted to the ‘net (and barring any unforeseen and/or unlikely scenarios) the Raiders will STILL be waiting to see whom is available with the 95th pick of the draft.

… Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm… what to write about this week… when all of a sudden my topic gets almost literally dumped into the Captain’s lap through the IM of one Kathy Samoun, an avid fan and staunch supporter of the Silver and Black I know via some ‘Social Network’ known as Facebook (you may have heard of it…)

Kathy and I start to chat immediately after I’ve given my daily ‘Happy Birthday wishes’ to all friends on the site, where she directs my attention to one of the charitable endeavors she is sponsoring via her organization “F.A.V.” – Fans Against Violence (whom you probably have NOT heard about, until now). read full article..

CA Assembly Committee Passes the Amended “Improving Personal Safety at Stadiums Act”

Posted on April 25, 2012 by KSamoun

Great news for California sports fans! Today, an amended version of the bill known as the “Improving Personal Safety at Stadiums Act,” was sent before the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media and passed by a unanimous vote.

On April 17, 2012 the bill, which would have created a “Ban list” of persons convicted of violent crimes at sporting events statewide, A “Stadium Violence Reward Fund”, and require all professional sports venues post, in visible areas, the venues security telephone and text messaging numbers, failed to pass the Public Safety Committee.

Some of the Assembly Committees major concerns were the criminal enhancements, the constitutionality of the bill, fear might incite further violence due to release of public information, and budgets concerns with implementing the “Stadium Violence Reward Fund” program through the Department of Justice.

After the bill failed to pass the Assembly Public Safety Committee last week, Assemblyman Mike Gatto and his staff were not about to give up. They amended the bill removing the “Ban List” and “Stadium Violence Reward Fund” altogether. What remains is the portion of the bill that contained the “Safety Notification Provision”.

After passing the Public Safety Committee yesterday, the amended bill was set before the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media today and passed unanimously.

Although the bill was significantly amended, this is a big step towards improving fan safety at sporting events. The Bill will require all professional sporting venues to provide visible game day security text codes and hotlines for its fans. The Bill still has a process to go through before even getting to the Governor to be signed into law, but it looks very promising.

Fans Against Violence, a San Francisco based organization dedicated to improving the game day experience for fans in all sports, compiled a centralized list of the current security text codes and hotlines for the NFL, MLB and MLS and are currently in the process of putting together lists for the NBA and NHL. We encourage all sports fans to do what they can to support this bill.

There is still a long process for this bill reaches the Governor’s desk to be signed. We encourage all sports fans to do what they can to support this bill.

HOPE: An Inside Job – An Inspiring Article By Deion Sanders and Tejado W. Hanchell, PhD

Posted on April 24, 2012 by FAV

In today’s tough economic times our lives are filled with stress, fear and sometimes hopelessness. As everything around us seems to be going up; unemployment, taxes, the price of gas and food, our morale as a nation seems to be going down. Many people ask themselves on a daily basis “Will things ever get better?” With these life issues comes a feeling of helplessness and a sense of being alone in our struggles. Studies have shown that economical and emotional stress and/or hopelessness may be some of the many possible contributors to the growing trend in fan violence.

We were so happy to read the very inspirational article below and to be given the chance to share it with you.

We would like to thank NFL Hall of Famer, Deion Sanders and Tejado W. Hanchell, PhD for being so gracious and allowing us to bring this to you.

We encourage you to read this article and share it with your friends! Everyone can use a little HOPE and inspiration in their lives!

“HOPE: An Inside Job”

“I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired!”
“I’m out!”
“I’m done!”
“I’m gone!”
“I just can’t take it anymore!”

These are statements often uttered from the mouths of people who have given up hope. Whether it’s in life, business, sports, or relationships, we all need hope to keep on going. Hope is the elusive elixir of life. It is the fuel that makes the engine of our lives move forward. While gas may be nearly $5 a gallon in the US, we cannot even begin to put a value on the price of hope.

Hope is what gets that man out of bed even though he’s been out of work for 6 months. Hope is what allows that woman to keep a smile on her face even when she’s alone, feeling lonely, and love hasn’t visited her in quite a while. Hope is what allows us to go to sleep at night and have peace when all hell is breaking loose. Hope is the one thing in our life that is not dependent solely on what’s going on in our life. In fact, hope is the expectation that, regardless of how bad things may be right now, they WILL get better. Hope is “the expectation of good.”

Now, I know you may be saying, “Prime, things are so bad right now, I don’t know if I can have any hope, and I wouldn’t recognize hope if it knocked on my door.” My friend, the reality is BECAUSE things are so bad is why you really NEED hope. Your life may be hanging on by a thread (many friends and love ones have left you for dead), but now is the time to grab hold of the rope of hope. When you hang on to hope…hope won’t leave you hanging. (Somebody should just clap right there!)

The thing about hope is that you have to hope in something bigger than yourself or your situation. For me, my hope is rooted in my relationship with the Lord. I found hope in Him when I couldn’t find hope in PMS – Power Money & Sex. I was living in a big house, but I didn’t have hope. I was driving expensive cars, but they could not give me hope. As a matter of fact, I was suicidal. The enemy had tricked me into believing that I would be much better off dead. I had all of the things that society said should make you happy, but you can’t be happy if you don’t have hope. I had all those things, yet I had no hope. But there is good news. Even if you don’t have PMS…you can still have hope!

One of my spiritual mentors, Bishop Alfred Owens, often says that hope is the “neglected triplet.” The Bible talks about faith, hope and love in I Corinthians 13. Most people focus on faith and love, but few people take the time to talk about hope. The Rev. Jesse Jackson is famous for saying, “Keep hope alive!” I have found that is often easier said than done. So the question remains, “How can I have hope when my life seems hopeless?” It seems like nobody cares. I’m jobless. I can’t support my kids. I don’t have a career. I’m neglected, overlooked, abandoned, and rejected.

The TRUTH is, hope has nothing to do with what’s going on around you. It has everything to do with what’s going on inside you. I refuse to allow my environment or people, places or things to control the thermostat of my life, and I don’t care how YOU feel about me, what matters the most is how I feel about me! In a few weeks, I will be speaking in Winston-Salem, NC for an event called “Hope on the Inside”* sponsored by the Forsyth Jail & Prison Ministries. This ministry focuses on bringing hope to men and women who are incarcerated and to their families. The thing about some of you is that you are free, but yet you’re incarcerated. And there are many people in jail that are incarcerated, but they’re free. If a man or woman in prison can have hope, why can’t you?

The reality is, however, that while many of us are walking around free we are locked up in our own internal prisons. We are bound the guilt and shame of our past, but the key to freedom is hope. You do not have to be a prisoner to your past. Hope sets you free! Guilt and shame will always focus on your past, but hope looks toward your future. Guilt and shame focus on what you DID. Hope focuses on who you ARE. And who you ARE is better than what you DID! TRUTH!

Don’t get caught up in the mistakes of your past. Leave your past in the past, and look with hope toward your future. Although I looked back with my hand on my head highstepping…I could never run at full speed looking back! As the Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 3:13-14, we are to forget what’s behind us, and reach for what is in front of us. The only way we can reach forward is if we have hope. I must warn you though, hope comes with side effects. When you have hope, it’s hard for you to be selfish. When your life is filled with hope, you want to do everything in your power to share it with someone else.

HOPE = Helping Others Pursue Excellence

Hope doesn’t just make you better; it helps you to make others better. That’s what it did for me. Hope is what caused me to start the Primetime Sports Association, the TRUTH organization, and Prime Prep Academy, and to be the face of Georgia and Texas in the summer feeding program where we feed up to 100,000 kids a day and employ up to 50 kids in the summer months through the Texas Workforce Commission. It’s because of hope that I drive two hours every day to work with kids and families to help them see that they have a bright future, not only in sports, but in academics. Hope turned my life around, and it can turn yours around too. I used to dance when I scored touchdowns. Now I dance when I see the smiles of hope on the faces of kids and parents in our TRUTH program.

Hope is a powerful thing. It can turn any time into Primetime!

TRUTH!

Deion Sanders
www.twitter.com/DeionSanders

Tejado W. Hanchell
www.twitter.com/TWH_PhD

To see the original posting of this site, please visit Deion Sanders website and blog.