Giants and Dodgers Address San Francisco Crowd in Sign of Unity

Both Dodgers fans and Giants fans have rallied in support of Bryan Stow, the paramedic who was savagely beaten on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers responded by announcing they will strengthen their security measures to ensure a safer home environment during games, and the Giants beefed up their security for this week’s series against the Dodgers. Prior to the series opener in San Francisco Monday, the players got together on the field and addressed fans. Here’s a video of how it looked:

Veterans Jamey Carroll of the Dodgers and Jeremy Affeldt of the Giants addressed the fans. Carroll reminded fans “There’s no room in this game for hatred and violence. It is about respect. This is America’s national pastime and let’s keep it that way.”

Affeldt added “I don’t have to tell you about the Dodgers-Giants, it’s one of the most storied rivalries in the history of the game but in honoring that rivalry and honoring the Stow family, you have to remember when these two teams get on the field and play, we’re competitive. But when the last out is made, that rivalry ends on the field, so please respect that.”

Yes, there’s a rivalry between the teams, but like Affeldt said, it should end on the field after the game ends. And it shouldn’t ever get to the point that one person attacks or fights another just because he or she is wearing the wrong clothes.

Although I dislike the Giants and the fan base, it was nice to see the players address the crowd before the game and frame baseball and the rivalry in the proper context. Hopefully fans of both teams (and fans of all teams in sports) have learned serious lessons from this horrific story.