The father of the shirtless father & son thug team the attacked Royals First Base coach Tom Gamboa last September was sentenced yesterday to 30 months of probation, community service, undergo addiction counseling, take part in parenting classes and remain under a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew for the next 90 days.
That's it.
This guy pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated battery back in May. He and his son rush the field and start beating the crap out of Gamboa. Gamboa has a permanent hearing loss in his right ear from the attack. The guy's son was sentenced to five years' probation and 30 hours of community service but a judge has recommended he be sent to a prison boot camp following a probation violation.
The went onto the field of play and blindsided the coach, and all they get is probation. This is just so wrong. This sends all the wrong signals to the obnoxious drunks in the stands who get up the liquid courage to go onto the field. The judge cited the behavior of baseball players encourages fan violence at ballparks. Huh? A first base coach incited this? Here's a quote from Judge Leo Holt, known around the Cook County Criminal Court building, as Judge "Let 'Em Go, Leo" Holt:
"What fan has not seen a pitcher intentionally hurl a baseball at a player's head at 90 miles per hour? Who has not seen a batter leave home plate headed for the pitcher's mound, bat in hand, bent on mischief and mayhem? ... [Baseball] ranks alongside mom, apple pie, hot dogs and Chevrolet. It is America's summer pastime. It teaches teamwork, sportsmanship and a host of wholesome and desirable character traits, but baseball is not immune from the frailties of human conduct.''
Now, as a side note, it's important to know that people have
actually died because of how this judge has ruled in the past. He's had rulings overturned. In recent years he has complained that prosecutors systematically move high-profile murder cases away from his courtroom—because he has a reputation as being friendly to the defense.
(I wonder if the court date was done to coincide with Kansas City being in town again? I can tell you that having them back in town just seems to bring out the weirdness in Sox fans... thank God they don't allow the people with upper-deck tickets to have access to the main level... 5 people were arrested on Monday because of fights in both the right-field and left-field corners of the upper deck)
2007- Drizzle
2006- $2,134
2005- Peter Jennings 1938-2005
- White Sox 3 - Mariners 1
2004- White Sox 5 - Indians 6
2002- Mmmm... cream puffs...