Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Rivalries are regular occurrences in sports, and the particular one I would like to talk about right now is the Los Angeles Dodgers-San Francisco Giants rivalry. Now, fans are generally always there to cheer their team on, but when rivalries start leading to fans dying, that’s when it’s time to question whether or not there needs to be a change.
Two years ago, a Giants fan was almost beaten to death by fans of the Dodgers, and a Giants fan stabbed a Dodgers fan just two days ago, so that is twice in three years that a violent altercation between fans of both of these teams have occurred. Now, no one can blame it on just one team or location because one episode occurred in Los Angeles and the other one occurred in San Francisco.
When is enough going to be enough? How many people need to be badly injured or killed before someone steps up and decides that maybe it is time to put an end to this longtime rivalry?
Currently, both teams are in the same division, so they play numerous times a year; and yes, these incidents don’t happen every time they play, but they have been happening far too frequently lately. We also have no idea how many smaller incidents have happened that haven’t been broadcast on television because police were able to take care of it without it getting too out of hand, so that should also be taken under consideration.
My idea of a fix would be to switch divisions between the Los Angeles Angels with the Giants. Both teams are from California and while that change may be ending a great rivalry, it could also start a new one. The Dodgers and Angels are two of the highest-salaried teams in baseball, so I think it would make for an interesting rivalry. Either way, something needs to be done in order to assure fans’ safety when going to games before these altercations get so out of hand there is no turning back.
Michael Pidgeon is a Los Angeles Dodgers writer for Rant Sports.com: “Like” him on Facebook, Follow him on Twitter @PidgeonIsGod, or add him to your network on Google
