PNC hits new low with ugly brawl
The Pittsburgh Pirates are not for the faint of heart.
Let’s be honest, after a losing streak starts being counted in decades, it takes a strong stomach to follow this team.
But, if you can believe it, there was a more disturbing Pirates story than just losing this week. And while it is also likely to churn your stomach, it has nothing to do with the play on the field. (Seriously, if you’re squeamish, don’t continue.)
A Pirates security supervisor had his finger torn off Saturday night at PNC Park in the midst of an altercation.
Yes, you read that right, a guy got his finger torn off at the Pirates game.
(I’ll pause while you contemplate the urge to revisit your breakfast.)
According to Associated Press reports, police say Rachel George, 21, of Greensburg was cited for smoking in her seat, which is against park rules, and was being escorted to the security office. That’s when her boyfriend and 50-year-old father allegedly jumped the guard and kicked off a melee.
Police recount the scene: The boyfriend ran up and assaulted the guard. Rachel George jumped on his back. The dad, Christopher George, pushed him against a fence.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is where things get gruesome.
According to police, the security supervisor got “his left hand caught on the fence, and when he was pulled by both [defendants] his left middle finger was ripped off at the second knuckle and was hanging by a piece of skin.”
Um, ouch.
While the finger was later reattached at a hospital, it’s unclear if the supervisor will have any long-term damage from the injury. Here’s hoping he’ll regain full use of his hand.
But even if he makes a full recovery, it is ridiculous that this young woman felt her need to continue smoking in a public stadium was worth all this. Oh, and in case you hadn’t guessed it for yourself, it’s believed that alcohol was a factor in the fans unruly behavior.
Police charged Rachel and Christopher George with public drunkenness among other charges including aggravated assault, conspiracy, harassment and disorderly conduct.
Unfortunately when it comes to bad sports fan behavior, you’re almost always talking about drunkenness. We’ve all sat next to or near fans like this before. People who think that a ticket to a sporting event entitles them to forsake the norms of society. That, just because they paid “good money” to be in a park, they can treat it as their own personal license for debauchery.
I’ve seen grown men drunkenly yell every possible swear word while sitting inches from toddlers. I’ve watched women nearly fall down concrete steps because they could barely hold themselves upright.
In fact, my last trip to Heinz Field had me three seats away from a (likely underage) guy who spent the entire first half swilling $9 beers and spitting mint chew onto the ground between his legs.
The second half was even more fun, as he spent much of it passed out, only to wake up long enough to vomit on himself. After his (slightly) less drunk friend abandoned him in the stands, I ended up helping the idiot down the steps so he didn’t bust his skull open.
I’m not against drinking in general, and the only thing I have against drinking at a sporting event has to do with the insane prices. (If I pay $9 for a glass of beer, it better be from some obscure German artisan brewery that I can’t pronounce.) But this is ridiculous.
While having a beer has long been part of the American pastime, it’s beyond comprehension why someone would get to the point where they ruin the experience for other fans at best, and endanger themselves or others at worst.
But I guess you can look on the bright side of the whole Georges debacle: For one night at least, the Pirates weren’t the most embarrassing people in the park.
If you have a favorite squeamish story, please send it to Brandon Szuminsky at bszuminsky@heraldstandard.com.