Don't Mess With the Mets...Security Staff
Be honest -- you've tried to break some rules at ball games before. Everyone tries to move up to better seats or sneak in some water. Last game I was at, six of us used a rain delay to our advantage and moved up an entire section at Yankee Stadium. Of course, we had to move a couple times before finding some seats that were unclaimed. But that's part of the ball game.
According to ESPN.com, one kid took it a step further. He could face a pretty lengthy punishment, and I'm here to defend him.
Ryan Leli did something that I'm sure all baseball lovers -- or lovers of any sport for that matter -- would love to do. He faked a press pass and snuck into multiple Mets games, including the one against Mike Piazza's Padres, to interview Mets players, including Piazza.
Of course, he was caught and now, according to that ESPN article, is facing charges for "criminal possession of a forged instrument, falsifying business records, larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal impersonation and criminal trespass." Wow. That's seven years prison.
And that's a load of bullshit.
You're going to charge a die-hard fan for sneaking into a game? The people getting punished shouldn't be the kid, but the crew of idiots who allowed him in for multiple interviews. Seven years in prison? Come on. That dumbass who decided to jump from his balcony seat to the net above home plate at Yankee Stadium only got a life-long suspension from the Stadium.
I don't know if they're trying to make a point in a post 9/11 era. But instead of dishing out a severe punishment to someone who did nothing but find a creative, albeit illegal, way to see his favorite players, let's not make it so easy for people to forge fake IDs.
I understand he broke a law, but he did nothing to harm anybody. The only thing that was stolen was the time of some players that they could have used talking to the actual media -- although I bet Paul Lo Duca would prefer the alternative. Of course he needs to be punished, but seven years in jail is ridiculous. I've heard of less for worse. Hell, look at this: This guy got only 60 days for rape! Rape! And the prosecutor thought eight years would be more fair. Even that's only one year more than the seven year punishment Leli is seeing. So this is just slightly better than rape?
I hope someone will come to their senses soon enough because I don't want to do a year in jail and community service for trying to sneak a bag of Funions into a game.
