Jun 25, 2007

Work: College World Series Style part 2

With Oregon State winning and this being what looked to be the final game, we were sent to wait in the dugouts for the final out and then told to get on the field to keep people off. Now, I am just as fool-hardy as any other cop, but somehow 10 of us vs. 20,000 outraged/elated fans didn't seem like good odds. But, down to the first base, Oregon State, dugout we went.

All five of us.

One of the five was a BIG guy I had gone to basic training with named Kim. So, here we are, the few, the five, lined up in the dugout. One, two, three outs and out we go onto the field, with me leading. As I run toward first base, several fans had jumped the fence behind me and were heading to the pitcher's mound.

As I turned, I saw my buddy Kim in a wrestling match with one of them and another fan shouting "That's my son!" running toward them. What was it - father and son day?! So the father tried dog-piling Kim and the kid. I grabbed him and yanked him off. Just as we stopped moving backward, two of the cops on the field with me pile-drived the dad into the First base coach's area.

So, both were hauled away, probably to share some father-son time with the earlier pair.

What was really amazing was that I could hear the crowd yelling at the cops when Kim took the first guy down. I truly expected some sort of riot or at least a wave of fans running to the field When I drug the dad off and he got taken down, I heard cheering. Talking to people afterward, the crowd and the press were glad that these guys had been stopped so that the team could celebrate.

I like the CWS.

Work, College World Series Style part 1


So I worked security at the College World Series a couple days, including the final game last night. I started out at the right field en trace gate, not too exciting. Finally, I was reassigned and moved to a rover position to just patrol the entire spectator area looking for whatever trouble I could find.


Mid-way through the bottom of the seventh, I spotted several of the other law enforcement guys like myself escorting a guy out. He had been way down in front in reserved seating area so I got to them as they got into the main aisle moving to an exit gate. usually, the only reason to escort someone out is if they are drunk or really obnoxious and this guy fit the bill on both counts.


He was in his mid-20's and tanked. When I got to them I ended up in the front of the line of cops and next to the drunk guy. He was spouting off about how we couldn't touch him, how he knew his rights, and just generally being a jerk. As we got to the exit from the seating area to the main concourse, he bolted.


I took off after him and body checked him into a wall. As I got my hands on him he and and I were swarmed by the other 6-8 cops who were behind us with all of them wanting a piece of the guy. Hands and handcuffs were everywhere until he was finally restrained.


We walked him outside and the security supervisor said to get him off the grounds. Once we had gotten outside, the guy's dad came along and was trying to talk some sense into his son. The dad at least had the sense to know that if the kid didn't quiet down he was going to jail. We did manage to get him to the curb of the venue property line but by now he and dad were getting more upset with each other than us. So, while the drunk was distracted by dad, we took the handcuffs off, told him not to come back and let them both go.


By the time we got back to the main gate, we heard that father and son were duking it out in the middle of the street. Off the grounds, not our problem. Not a minute later we saw the horse patrol from Omaha PD heading up there. I'm sure they went to jail at that point. Several people watching all this commented that the father and son had been kicked out of the beer garden across the street for acting the same way earlier in the day.




Jun 23, 2007

BatManuel

Last night as I was getting ready for bed, the dog started barking like crazy. Then I head it: Frantic screaming coming from the living room "JON!"

When I asked what was wrong Kandy started yelling about a bat in the house. Not wanting to believe it, I went to investigate thinking (hoping) she was mistaken.

When I got to the living room, she was balled up on the floor with a blanket completely covering her. Still not sure there was truly a bat, I started to look around.

Then, suddenly, I was proven that she was right when M%^&* F!@#$%ing bat-bastard dive-bombed me.

Being the tough guy I am, I hit the floor.

Managed to work my way into the kitchen and propped the patio door open, hoping it would find its way out. Then found a broom and started bat-bashing.

Meanwhile, Kandy is still on the floor, and the dog is sitting on the back of the couch, watching the show.

After about ten minutes of me flailing around the living room at the crazed and most-certainly blood-thirsty bat, I managed to get it down a blind hallway. Using my best tactical methods, I finally got a lucky shot at it as it tried to bolt past me and knocked it to the floor.

I smacked it again with the broom and managed to get its screaming little ass outside where I bashed it with a shovel and threw it into the trash.

Now, I get to climb into the attic and look for bat entrances. And, with the temperature in the 90's outside it promises to be at least a couple hundred degrees up there.

Hooray!

Jun 22, 2007

Vacation looming


I am in pre-vacation no-motivation mode right now. Going to Florida to see by brother (and the Police at Dolphin Stadium!) on July 7. Then I come back to Omaha on the 11th to change planes and am off to Temecula, CA for 10 days with family and friends. Bi coastal baby!


When I go to Florida, I am renting a Trek 1500 to get some miles in along the Gulf. I am shipping my Giant to Cali to ride some miles from Temecula to Oceanside and San Diego.


But! Temecula is also the home of Intense Cycles. I called Intense and they are going to let me have either a Carbine or Fenix for a day or two!!!


After that, back to Nebraska for the State Games MTB and then the crit at the Babcook race.