NY baseball fan settles 'God Bless America' suit

[Burma Jones]

NEW YORK — A baseball fan has settled a lawsuit that claimed he was kicked out of Yankee Stadium by a police officer because he left his seat to use the bathroom during the playing of "God Bless America."

Bradford Campeau-Laurion had named the Yankees and New York City in his federal lawsuit, which argued that he was a victim of political and religious discrimination and that his rights were violated at the August 2008 game.

The city did not admit liability in the settlement, which was finalized Monday. But it will give the Queens resident $10,001 and will pay $12,000 in legal fees to the New York Civil Liberties Union.

For its part, the Yankees will pay nothing but said in settlement papers that fans at the team's new stadium are allowed to move freely during the song and there are no plans to change that.


http://www.comcast.net/articles/sports-general/20090707/US.Yankees.Lawsuit/



I always thought two Public Displays of Patriotism were too much........What's next, the NHL trying to outdo MLB and having three songs, how about four at NFL games?

[LisaM]

1. I HATE when they play "God Bless America" during baseball games

I've often thought of writing to complain about it, but I know that MLB won't care.

[NeedleCast]

5. Me too

Personally I have no idea why we need ANY sort of nationalistic ju-ju at sports events except for maybe the Olympics and other international events where we're paying respect to where the athlete is from. Just more bullshit spawned by 9/11. I miss singing Take me Out to the Ballgame. At this point, if I know a particular sports arena does a 2nd nationalist song, I just get up shortly before it's going to happen and head for the concessions stands. Nothing says I love America like a cold Miller Lite, right?

[rurallib]

7. So do I. I have tried sitting it out, or just standing

I really wish they would quit that and the national anthem at sporting events.

[marmar]

2. Good grief......

Just when you think this country can't get any kookier.

[Joe the Liberal]

3. Good for him....

when you gotta go you gotta go.

[Bluzmann57]

4. If ya gotta go...

If someone needs to go to the bathroom, he or she should probably go. Why go during the inning if one doesn't have to. People pay a lot of money for tickets and want to see a game, not go to the bathroom. Sounds like the guy took a break when there was no on field action. Pretty smart if you ask me.

[MNDemNY]

6. Why did the city have to bail out the fucking yankees?

[damntexdem]

8. Well, they HAVE to play the National Anthem.

Because without it, no one could shout "play ball" when it ended, so there couldn't be any games.

;-)

[LisaM]

9. I don't mind if they play the national anthem (and I like hearing "Oh, Canada"

but "God Bless America" is a RELIGIOUS song!

I also hate when they do flyovers. Now that's a practice they should end.