At last night's Dodgers-Giants game, the first between the teams at AT&T Park since a Giants fan was beaten at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day, there were "many gestures large and small intended to ensure that passions from this generations-old rivalry don't continue to spill over from the field," according to Joe Garofoli of the S.F. CHRONICLE. There had been "online threats of Bay Area retribution for the attack," and S.F. police "had a 'World Series-level' presence in and around the ballpark." But S.F. Police Commander Greg McEachern said that while there were a "handful of arrests for public intoxication," there were "none for assault." S.F. Police Lt. Troy Dangerfield said that the increased police presence "could continue indefinitely" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/12). MLB.com's Chris Haft reported security "in and around AT&T Park was reportedly increased by approximately 30 percent to discourage fans from using one of baseball's most storied rivalries as an excuse to commit senseless acts" (MLB.com, 4/11). Fans in the stands said that the police presence was "noticeable and a clear deterrent to any violence" (ESPNLA.com, 4/12).
MOVING CEREMONY: In L.A., T.J. Simers notes the Giants "dedicated Monday's game with the Dodgers to Brian Stow, the Giants' season-ticket holder and father of two who was attacked on opening day in the Dodger Stadium parking lot." As soon as the national anthem ended before the game, the "plan was for a player from each team to speak to the crowd." Giants P Jeremy Affeldt "thanked everyone for donating to Stow's aid and asked the fans to treat each other with respect." Dodgers 2B Jamey Carroll spoke to the fans for his team, saying, "There is no room in the game for hatred and violence." Giants President & COO Larry Baer said that the solidarity message "made for a different aura in the stadium." Simers notes more than 100 paramedics "manned stadium entrances to collect donations for Stow's medical care." The Dodgers "allowed paramedics to use their parking lot to raise money for Stow's care but did so with no game scheduled," and the team said that it "raised $61,000." Dodgers VP/PR & Broadcasting Josh Rawitch said that the team "chose not to wait for a scheduled game where more money might have been collected because 'we wanted it to take place as quickly as possible'" (L.A. TIMES, 4/12). ESPN L.A.'s Ramona Shelburne notes before the game, players from both teams "stood at the pitchers' mound, observed a moment of silence in honor of Stow and his family, and asked for peace." It was an "exceptional show of unity and class that seemed to set the tone for the night." Affeldt "seemed to choke up several times during the address to the crowd." Giants Senior VP/Ballpark Operations Jorge Costa said, "I've been in sports for over 40 years and I don't remember that message ever before. I think it really struck a chord" (ESPNLA.com, 4/12). ESPN L.A.'s Jon Weisman wrote the event "illustrated how simple it is to embrace a rivalry without being overwhelmed by it" (ESPNLA.com, 4/11).
HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING: SI.com's Jon Heyman noted MLB rejected Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt's "request to have Fox advance him $200 million on a new TV deal, which would enable him to pay off ex-wife Jamie and perhaps enable him to keep the Dodgers." McCourt's representatives are "meeting with MLB folks this week to try other ideas to keep him afloat as owner," but he "may have an uphill battle because he has lost support from fellow owners due to negative revelations that surfaced during his divorce trial" (SI.com, 4/11). Meanwhile, in L.A., Bill Shaikin reports the "dispute between Frank McCourt and his former attorneys erupted into public view Monday when the firm filed suit" against McCourt. Boston-based Bingham McCutchen, the firm "responsible for the since-invalidated agreement that would have granted McCourt sole ownership of the Dodgers," essentially asked a Massachusetts court to "deprive McCourt of the chance to sue the firm for malpractice should he lose control of the team." The suit alleges, "Any injury, loss or expense he has sustained or will sustain were caused not by Bingham's conduct, but by his own widely publicized financial problems, huge withdrawals of cash from the Dodgers, and strained relations with Major League Baseball. None of this is attributable to Bingham's work." The suit also claims McCourt owes Bingham "hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid legal fees." McCourt's spokesperson, Steve Sugerman, in a statement "blamed Bingham for preparing an agreement that did not stand up in court." Sugerman: "Mr. McCourt is disappointed that the Bingham firm is unwilling to accept responsibility for its actions and is instead now trying to defend conduct that is indefensible" (L.A. TIMES, 4/12).
