Can the Yankees do this? (legally)

[TruffleShuffle]

sure strikes me as bullcrap

 

i'm not sure if the yankees have the right to make rules like this at their venue, and even if they are - can the ushers and "police officers" inside the stadium physically abuse the paying customers who violate the rule?

[Derwood]

that's crazy

[Cynosure]

That makes me sick. That's like people getting kicked out for refusing to remove their hats during the National Anthem.

 

It really makes me angry that someone can get assaulted for not wanting to sing a silly song. Just because you don't sing it doesn't mean you are anti-American. If a person chooses to not participate in a song either because they plain don't want too or because they don't believe in it, that's the same freedom people have TO participate.

 

That guy should definitely sue.

[treebird]

i hope the yankees are shamed so much that they have to leave yankee stadium after the season

[OleMissCub]

That's just unbelievable. Pretty gross abuse of power over something fairly stupid.

 

Although the guy was wrong in saying that they were violating his first amendment rights. I'm assuming that Yankee Stadium is private property. Your first amendment rights are very, very limited on private property.

[nilodnayr]

He waited another 45 minutes to go to piss? He obviously did not have to go that urgently. If I were him I would have broken into new Yankee stadium, found the front office and pissed all over the place. That guys a wiener.

[TruffleShuffle]

Although the guy was wrong in saying that they were violating his first amendment rights. I'm assuming that Yankee Stadium is private property. Your first amendment rights are very, very limited on private property.

 

 

yeah i figured that part.

 

however, this raises a few questions. one, who is paying the police officers that intervened? if they are NYPD, are they being paid by the city, or are the yankees paying the city to pay the officers? if they're being paid by the city, i would think that has some bearing - public-funded officers accosting private citizens at a private venue.

 

also, assuming that there is nothing on the ticket or on the PA about having to stand still while God Bless America is being sung, it's unreasonable to think that people should know about this custom, let alone be obligated to follow it.

[erik316wttn]

sure strikes me as bullcrap

 

i'm not sure if the yankees have the right to make rules like this at their venue, and even if they are - can the ushers and "police officers" inside the stadium physically abuse the paying customers who violate the rule?

 

Especially if the guy would have a medical condition--which some people do-- which would require him to use the restroom frequently.

 

The Yankees need to lighten up. Seriously. Every sporting event I've ever been to in my entire life I've seen people chatting or looking around not paying attention to the anthem.

[JimSorgi]

That is ridiculous.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

This makes me want to go to Yankee Stadium now and pull out my wang during God Bless America.

[CubInOK]

I dunno about legal, but this is a really bad business practice.

[Jehrico]

I'm extremely patriotic, and I can't even begin to fathom how on earth this makes sense...legally, morally, ethically, or just by plain old common sense. :banghead: :banghead:

[17 Seconds]

What a joke that whole family is. Pathetic.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

It's unbelievable in the sense that I don't believe the guy's story.

[MasterBlaster]

His attitude towards everyone else not named Brad is kind of telling of his attitude problem if you ask me:

 

DS: Were you aware of the "no movement" policy before you attempted to go to the bathroom?

 

I was not aware. People did not seem to be moving at the time, but I thought it was more a function of the fact that a lot of people at the stadium are rabid patriots rather than an actual policy.

 

It would be nice to see an account of the incident from a bystander.

[ConstableRabbit]

This is stupid.

 

On top of how stupid the rule is, it's not even the national anthem we're talking about.

[jersey cubs fan]

His attitude towards everyone else not named Brad is kind of telling of his attitude problem if you ask me:

 

DS: Were you aware of the "no movement" policy before you attempted to go to the bathroom?

 

I was not aware. People did not seem to be moving at the time, but I thought it was more a function of the fact that a lot of people at the stadium are rabid patriots rather than an actual policy.

 

It would be nice to see an account of the incident from a bystander.

 

Attitude problem?

[kujay]

The guy does seem to be kind of a tool.

 

But that doesn't make what the guards did right. He's got a civil case for false imprisonment, battery, possibly assault, not to mention any possible constitutional arguments.

[chuckywang]

That's just unbelievable. Pretty gross abuse of power over something fairly stupid.

 

Although the guy was wrong in saying that they were violating his first amendment rights. I'm assuming that Yankee Stadium is private property. Your first amendment rights are very, very limited on private property.

 

Who paid for Yankee Stadium? Private money or tax dollars?

[CubbieBum]

Even if it is private property they are still in the wrong. No matter what your basic rights (like the oens in the First Amendment) can't be violated. This kind of thing has been an issue before in some Japanese autoplants. The owner who is from Japan wants to use Japanese work guidelines that in some parts violate the rights of a U.S. citizen. The company is a privat company on private property but in some cases they have been forced to change their policy (a lot of times the government will illegally rule against the worker because they fear losing the plant).

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I honestly can't believe how many of you people are taking this guy seriously. He seems like the classic jerk who would make a scene, then come back with a completely different version of events that paint him as the victim.

 

He's the guy who gets a DUI and then swears the cops illegally followed him out of the bar, verbally abused him, fudged with the breathalyzer and did all kinds of other mean things.

 

He may even be narcissistic and self-deluding enough to believe his own story at this point, but I don't believe a word of it.

[MasterBlaster]

His attitude towards everyone else not named Brad is kind of telling of his attitude problem if you ask me:

 

DS: Were you aware of the "no movement" policy before you attempted to go to the bathroom?

 

I was not aware. People did not seem to be moving at the time, but I thought it was more a function of the fact that a lot of people at the stadium are rabid patriots rather than an actual policy.

 

It would be nice to see an account of the incident from a bystander.

 

Attitude problem?

Yes, he obviously has preconcieved notions and a chip on his shoulder against people who do like to acknowledge God Bless American/National Anthem, so it's not out of the realm of possibility that he might exaggerate. Hence, it would be nice to see a 3rd person account. I don't believe his account, and I wouldn't believe the Police account either.

[jersey cubs fan]

I honestly can't believe how many of you people are taking this guy seriously. He seems like the classic jerk who would make a scene, then come back with a completely different version of events that paint him as the victim.

 

He's the guy who gets a DUI and then swears the cops illegally followed him out of the bar, verbally abused him, fudged with the breathalyzer and did all kinds of other mean things.

 

He may even be narcissistic and self-deluding enough to believe his own story at this point, but I don't believe a word of it.

 

As somebody who is somewhat familar with NY cops/rent-a-cops, "the Yankee way" and faux-post 9/11 aggressive patriotism in the NY area, I would not dismiss his claims.

[CubinNY]

I honestly can't believe how many of you people are taking this guy seriously. He seems like the classic jerk who would make a scene, then come back with a completely different version of events that paint him as the victim.

 

He's the guy who gets a DUI and then swears the cops illegally followed him out of the bar, verbally abused him, fudged with the breathalyzer and did all kinds of other mean things.

 

He may even be narcissistic and self-deluding enough to believe his own story at this point, but I don't believe a word of it.

 

As somebody who is somewhat familar with NY cops/rent-a-cops, "the Yankee way" and faux-post 9/11 aggressive patriotism in the NY area, I would not dismiss his claims.

I'd like to second this post. There are a lot of meat heads at Yankee stadium who will be more than willing to beat some sense into you should you not show the proper level of reverence.

[cheapseats]

"God Bless America" is an incredibly crappy song.