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Red Sox fan in court on battery charge after thunder sticks incident
November 18th, 2008, 2:07 pm · 20 Comments · posted by Larry Welborn
You know those inflatable red thunder sticks used by rabid fans at Angels home games?
They are supposed to be bopped together to make a lot of noise during Angels rallies, right?
They are not supposed to be used to bop the head of fans of opposing teams.
That’s apparently what happened during the Angels-Boston Red Sox American League Championship Series in 2004.
And it led to tragic consequences.
Daniel Slama, now 33, an Angels fan, suffered two broken vertebrae and a concussion when he was chased down by an angry Red Sox fan after somebody bopped the guy on the head. Slama is still recovering.
David Hackman, 37, the Red Sox fan and a former deputy sheriff in San Benito County, is now on trial in Orange County Superior Court, charged with battery causing serious injuries.
He could be sentenced to a maximum of three years in prison if convicted.
Opening statements in his trial before Superior Court Judge M. Marc Kelly are expected Wednesday.
The incident started at about 10:30 p.m. after the Red Sox won a 12-7 come-from-behind thriller over the Angels at Angel Stadium.
Hackman, who was wearing a Red Sox cap, was on the stairs after the game when someone bopped him on the head with thunder sticks and taunted him with a robust “Red Sox suck!”
The original police reports identified the bopper and the taunter as Slama, an Angels fan who was wearing an Angels jersey.
But Deputy District Attorney Israel Claustro contends that it was another fan who initiated the altercation, and that Hackman retaliated against the wrong guy.
Claustro also claims that Hackman used excessive force when he grabbed Slama by the neck and shoulder and threw down the stairs, and then followed that up by kicking Slama once when he was on the ground.
Defense attorney Ron Brower, however, contends that Slama was under the influence of marijuana and alcohol, and was legally drunk when he provoked Hackman after consuming more than a gallon of beer.
Brower acknowledges that Hackman chased Slama a few feet and put his hand on Slama’s shoulder.
But Slama, Brower contends, was so intoxicated he lost his balance and fell backward down the stairs, hitting his head on the concrete.
Hackman, who had been a patrol deputy with the San Benito County department for four years, is now medically retired from an unrelated on-duty injury, Brower said.
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Don’t see why Slama would be running from Hackman if he wasn’t the one who did the taunting, as he claims. I smell a lie… a marijuana, alcohol-induced lie, haha.
there are sports fans for you. gotta be lower on the intelect level i guess
Are you serious. Those things are that strong. C’mon now.
This story has set an all-time record for use of the word, “bopped”.
red sox do suck.
it’s just a game. for it to get violent is ridiculous.
All the Angel fans should of beat the cra$ out of this Boston fan. They would of done it in Boston if this incident occured there. Plus he was a cop so he should of got a double beating..
Angel fans get your issues in priority, Go Angels !
Sounds like the obnoxious Angels fan got what he deserved. I’m no Red Sox fan, but I’ve seen lots of Angels fans taunt and harass fans of other teams at the Big A. I’m glad somebody finally beat one down.
I can’t believe baseball, the most boring “sport” in existence, whips people up into such a frenzy. What a reason to go to prison.
if you did the bopping….
Excuse me, why was my comment not posted but one after mine included? Do I have to be an Angels butt-kisser to be included??
I agree that baseball IS the MOST boring sport of all. When my 5 year old asked to go to a game someday, I asked my spouse who was going to draw the short straw for that one. I was only thinking of how boring it is, but I guess we have to think of the drunk idiots and their actions too.
Let’s Go Angeles!! Let’s Go!!!
How about don’t start a fight if you can’t win? People who jump into a fight and gang up on someone are cowards. If you’re drunk and high and think you can fight, you deserve what you get.
“Hackman, who had been a patrol deputy with the San Benito County department for four years, is now medically retired from an unrelated on-duty injury”
So the guy knows with the conviction he will lose his cop job and decides to do a slip and fall. Now the taxpayers pay for his retirement.
why don’t someone spend one week tailing this guy, from the 24 hour fitness, to the yard work to the other non confining duties i’m sure he is doing and get this guy off the welfare roll.
Someone got a video recorder!
red sox suck!
You have got to be joking !! What a waste of court time just because of two poor desisions made by each of the parties involved.
Looks like the Angels get their butts kicked by the Redsox on and off the field, Ricky Boy!
Being a Sox fan I think this guy is just stupid and should be banished from Red Sox Nation. No matter what team you are rooting for this guy of behavior is unacceptable. Enjoy the game, a beer (not a gallon) and cheer on your team. Rivalries are great, it’s what makes the game fun. Just keep your hands to yourself.
BTW - everyone is going to say the visiting team sucks….it’s what happens.
sorry “this kind of behavior”…..typo
I notice in the original posting, this report states, “that is apparently what happened.” Must be nice to know the outcome of a trial before testimony is given and opening statements are heard.
Shall we wait for the jury’s decision, or would we rather just hear the reporter’s judgment?
“Conviction by Media”