Chicago Cubs: Sportscaster wrongly blames fans for new Wrigley nets

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Kent Sterling recently wrote fans were stupid for getting hit by fouls balls at Wrigley. The Chicago Cubs and one toddler-victim with brain damage might disagree; if she could.

I was surprised how many people jumped on CBS Sports 1430 broadcaster Kent Sterling’s bandwagon this week via Twitter. When the local media expert came out to say that the reason Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs has to put up full netting around the park is that people are stupid. They don’t pay attention at games, can’t protect themselves, and put their kids in danger by sitting too close to the field.

Many agreed with Sterling, citing the prolific use of cell phones in this day and age. But a few dissenters saw through this absurd rationale to remember two words they learned since they were children, but obviously Sterling and his minions have seemed to forget, “Safety first.”

Perhaps Sterling would’ve been more conducive to rules that make people pay more attention during games? After all, that was the point of the story; fans are stupid and therefore need to be protected because of their inability to save themselves and because they don’t pay attention. So how about these rules, Mr. Sterling?

No children under age 10 allowed in the park as they can’t shield themselves from foul balls.
No senior citizens allowed in the park as they can’t shield themselves from foul balls.
No cell phones allowed in the park because they are a distraction to fans.
No food allowed because vendors, eating/drinking during a game are distracting.
No signs or colorful clothing that might distract fans.
No talking, cheering or singing during the game as it is very distracting to other fans.
No bathroom breaks during game time because fans need maximum concentration.

Or maybe Mr. Sterling, we can just put up some nets to protect fans and forget about these other far-out rules?

That’s just what MLB decided in December and announced to the world:

…all 30 teams will have extended netting in 2020. Seven ballparks will have nets from foul pole to foul pole, and 15 will extend nets to the where the stands angle away from the field of play. Nets at the other eight ballparks will extend “substantially beyond the far end of the dugout,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said.

What Sterling fails to understand in his rationale is that the clubs and MLB must protect fans that come to their parks to see a game. These aren’t some street-games that you rolled up on to watch at the local park; these are professional baseball games in multi-million dollar stadiums.

It’s almost like Wrigley Field is baby-sitting fans in its confines during games and watching over them to make sure everyone enjoys the game because that’s what the game is ultimately about: entertainment in a safe environment.

So if Sterling doesn’t want safety nets in the game of baseball, what does he say to the toddler who attends a game, gets struck by a 100 mph+ baseball in the head and suffers permanent brain damage?

Chicago Cubs: How do toddlers and elderly protect themselves at a game?

On May 29th of last season, a 2-year old toddler (still unnamed to date) was struck by a foul ball off the bat of Chicago Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr which fractured the child’s skull and caused permanent brain injury.

The little girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap during the game when the devastating blow hit the child and changed her life forever. It is reported that the little girl will be impaired the rest of her life and her injuries are akin to someone who had suffered a stroke:

…the child’s brain injury has affected her central nervous system in a manner that doctors described as being equivalent to a stroke. Areas of the brain affected, he said, include those in which injuries can result in seizures, loss of sensation and loss of spatial awareness…results of the injury include staring spells, periods of unresponsiveness, night terrors and frequent headaches.

Sterling’s response to this tragedy is that it was basically the parent’s fault for choosing seats that could be considered dangerously close to the field of play. They should have chosen seats that were safer for their child, according to Sterling. Of course, that’s how most fans go about buying tickets and selecting seats for a game; they purchase tickets based on safety and where they are most likely not going to be permanently maimed.

Right?

Yes, this is sarcasm folks, and here’s some more: maybe they should have dressed their child up in protective gear like a catcher, to come to a baseball game? Is that what Sterling wants us to do when we come to the ballpark? Be more vigilant and wear protective gear?

Chicago Cubs: I can’t protect myself?

When I went to war in Afghanistan in 2005 as a Soldier Journalist, I needed protection. The U.S. Army gave me a bulletproof vest, protective covering for my body and head, a gas mask and suit for chemical attacks, and a weapon to defend myself.

Why? Did the Army think I couldn’t protect myself?

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Of course not, the government has a duty to protect its Soldiers just like the Cubs have a responsibility to protect their fans. But this isn’t war, this is entertainment, and instead of handing out protective gear as you enter the park, the owners have instead hung nets to protect their fans.

Remember that professional baseball is a game full of winning and losing, excitement, challenge, history, emotions, and evolution, all for the purpose of entertainment. While people get hurt every day in the pursuit of entertainment (skydiving, rock climbing, surfing), it is their personal choice to pursue these endeavors and live with the consequences.

Attending an MLB game is not supposed trigger such life or death choices, like, “Will I make it out of this ballpark alive?” It’s merely supposed to entertain in the pursuit of winning.

So Mr. Sterling, while you may dislike the fact of keeping children and patrons’ safe at a ballgame, I’m certainly glad the Chicago Cubs owners and MLB have decided to increase the level of safety for fans. The 510 fans that needed assistance from getting hit by foul balls at the friendly confines between 2015-2019 probably agree with the move as well and most certainly disagree with your premise. Or was this just a publicity stunt?

Next. Chris Stapleton is playing Wrigley Field. dark

Maybe Sterling wrote the article to cause controversy and draw attention to him in the media due to a waning career. While I’m not trying to fan his popularity flames, Sterling has previously written a book called, “Oops- the Art of Learning from Mistakes and Adventures.”

Perhaps Sterling can add this “Oops” as the first chapter to his next book, as the Chicago Cubs and MLB’s new netting rule has assured us he will be alive and well to write it.

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Kent Sterling recently wrote fans were stupid for getting hit by fouls balls at Wrigley. The Chicago Cubs and one toddler-victim with brain damage might disagree; if she could.

Chicago Cubs: How do toddlers and elderly protect themselves at a game?

Chicago Cubs: I can’t protect myself?

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