yesterday's Jay Marriotti column from the Chicago Sun-Times:
A Burbank police officer, Roberto Guerra, was off duty when he and his wife took their six and eight year old boys to a White Sox game against the Cleveland Indians. Little did he know an evening at the old ballyard would turn into a traumatic event, a trip to the hospital and a horror that will stay with their children for life.
Guerra called me Tuesday and explained how it came to be that he and his wife were attacked by two men immediately after the game. According to Guerra, the family of four was walking through Section 122 near the first-base dugout in hopes of snaring an autograph or two from Sox players. ''We thought the boys would like autographs,'' he said. It was then that Guerra heard profanities being hurled in the stands by two brothers from west suburban Carol Stream, 23-year-old Sam Vicario Jr. and 22-year-old Richard Vicario -- or, for our purposes, The Flying Vicario Brothers. The best course would have been to contact a security guard. But Guerra, angry that his sons had to hear the obscene language, approached the brothers himself.
''Do you mind? Our kids are here,'' he said, confirming the dialogue in a Chicago Police report. ''I am a cop. Watch your mouth.''
This is where a ballpark that advertises ''the family experience,'' complete with a mascot and kid-friendly activities, deteriorates into a nuthouse.
''Cop this!'' Richard Vicario shouted at Guerra as he grabbed his crotch, according to the police report. From there, Vicario allegedly punched Guerra and was joined in the attack by his brother as Guerra fell between the seats. When Guerra's wife tried to help her husband, she allegedly was attacked by 19-year-old Marianne Fricano, the wife of Richard Vicario. When three Sox security officers arrived, Richard Vicario allegedly cursed at them, spat in their faces and used racial epithets. As for brother Sam, he was accused of punching a security officer.
All while two young boys, looking for autographs, observed their parents being taken away with black eyes and broken noses.
A Burbank police officer, Roberto Guerra, was off duty when he and his wife took their six and eight year old boys to a White Sox game against the Cleveland Indians. Little did he know an evening at the old ballyard would turn into a traumatic event, a trip to the hospital and a horror that will stay with their children for life.
Guerra called me Tuesday and explained how it came to be that he and his wife were attacked by two men immediately after the game. According to Guerra, the family of four was walking through Section 122 near the first-base dugout in hopes of snaring an autograph or two from Sox players. ''We thought the boys would like autographs,'' he said. It was then that Guerra heard profanities being hurled in the stands by two brothers from west suburban Carol Stream, 23-year-old Sam Vicario Jr. and 22-year-old Richard Vicario -- or, for our purposes, The Flying Vicario Brothers. The best course would have been to contact a security guard. But Guerra, angry that his sons had to hear the obscene language, approached the brothers himself.
''Do you mind? Our kids are here,'' he said, confirming the dialogue in a Chicago Police report. ''I am a cop. Watch your mouth.''
This is where a ballpark that advertises ''the family experience,'' complete with a mascot and kid-friendly activities, deteriorates into a nuthouse.
''Cop this!'' Richard Vicario shouted at Guerra as he grabbed his crotch, according to the police report. From there, Vicario allegedly punched Guerra and was joined in the attack by his brother as Guerra fell between the seats. When Guerra's wife tried to help her husband, she allegedly was attacked by 19-year-old Marianne Fricano, the wife of Richard Vicario. When three Sox security officers arrived, Richard Vicario allegedly cursed at them, spat in their faces and used racial epithets. As for brother Sam, he was accused of punching a security officer.
All while two young boys, looking for autographs, observed their parents being taken away with black eyes and broken noses.
