By Scott Gold, Richard Winton and Maria L. La Ganga, Los Angeles Times
April 5, 2011

Reporting from Los Angeles and San Francisco— For a long time, for all the heroes and the heroics, the Koufaxes and Garveys and hobbled home run trots, the experience of going to a Los Angeles Dodgers game was largely about beating traffic.

Fans arrived late, left early and — at least in the eyes of rivals — didn't seem terribly concerned with what happened in the intervening hours.

But over time, being a Dodgers fan became an almost tribal identity to some. That helped to rebuild a fervent base of support for the team — but brought in, too, an unsettling pattern of fan abuse and boorish behavior that hit another low last week when a Giants fan was severely beaten on opening day.

The violence left even the truest blue Dodgers fans saying something has to change. "It's not right," said Tommy Lasorda, the Hall of Fame former Dodgers manager and, for many years, the face of the organization. "It's just a baseball game."

Brian Stow, 42, a Santa Cruz paramedic, a father of two and a Giants fan, was walking through the Dodger Stadium parking lot with two friends after the Dodgers' 2-1 victory over San Francisco. Stow was wearing Giants apparel, police said, and two young men began taunting him. One of the assailants then cursed the Giants and blindsided Stow with blows to the back and head, police said.

The two assailants repeatedly kicked and punched Stow while he was on the ground. Stow's friends attempted to help, and were also punched and kicked before the attackers fled in a car driven by a woman. Police said it appears there was also a 10-year-old boy in the car.

Stow has a brain injury and is in a medically induced coma at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. He remained in critical condition on Monday.

Part of Stow's skull has been removed to reduce the pressure on his brain, said Rebecca Mackowiak, his colleague at a paramedic service. Even if he recovers physically, she said, "he won't be the same person again."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Where are the Rick Mondays?

Let's take a break from politics today. Turn off the TV. Put down the remote. If you've been looking for the greatest play so far this year in the newly started baseball season you are in luck.

You've seen the top contenders - the most athletic leap, the most golden glove move, most clutch hit, whatever.....but I've found the greatest overall play of all time for you. It will give you and your friends something to talk about. The day was April 25th, 1976. Dodger stadium.

Coincidentally, Dodger stadium is also where an off-duty paramedic was recently put into a coma as described in the above news story. Watch the video.



After watching the video, I don't know about what comes to mind for you, but for me the initial reaction was to wonder, 'where are the Rick Mondays'? After reflecting some, I've come to the conclusion that there is no time to ponder where they are. The only thing to do is to decide if you are one. And, to prepare your mind and heart for that moment when you may be the difference in recognizing a developing situation by immediate involvement; by taking action. However obvious, simply recognizing that his example speaks volumes is excellent, but only gets you half way there. If you can realize that he didn't have time to ponder anything that day, you've arrived at the destination.

Let's get our head on straight. We know what is right. And what is wrong. Talk with someone today about indifference and what it allows. Talk about Rick Monday. Your Monday moment may be just around the corner.