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It's not the prices or the unruly crowds this time (or the blown ninth-inning leads.) First, in his Sunday column Bill Plaschke gave voice to fan frustration about longer and slower lines at Dodger Stadium:
The slowest person at Dodger Stadium is not Olmedo Saenz going to first or Grady Little going to the mound.
It is the concession lady going for the nachos.
She. Sighs. She. Shrugs. She. Walks. To. The. Other. End. Of. The. Counter.
It is the top of the third inning, I'm standing in a field-level line, there are 11 people ahead of me and the painfully loud rumors of a baseball game somewhere behind me.
She. Chats. With. Another. Concession. Lady. She. Walks. Back.
It's the bottom of the third inning, and now there are eight people ahead of me, and the only Dodger I have seen in 15 minutes is a dude wearing a Bill Mueller jersey crying, "How can you be out of beer lids?"
It's pretty on the mark. Meanwhile, Greg Vargas of Santa Monica has a different grievance. He and three buddies have to leave the stadium the other day—before the game even started—because one of them was ejected for (he says) referring to a pushy security guard at the gate as a "rent-a-cop." The dispute started over the lid to a bottle of water. Vargas emails:
I, and three friends of mine, all adults in various professions, all wearing ties, sober (we don’t drink at the games), were kicked out of the game last night, 5/10, for violating the Dodger "Code of Conduct."
Our offense was bringing bottles of water into the game (we were let in with them after being checked); accused of giving the check-in table staff a "hard time" (only one of us talked to anyone, and that was to tell them that his bottle of water was sealed when they asked); forced to throw out my bottle of water from an over-zealous, early-twenties, security staff member. As we walked away a friend of mine was so frustrated that he mumbled "rent-a-cop" not directly at the security guard and only under his breath.
When we get to our seats, my friend was called up by the Assistant Manager of Security and two policemen. After a short conversation, he was told he had to go, which, of course, meant we all had to leave.
After a day of reflection, Vargas sent this letter to Dodgers owner Frank McCourt:
Frank McCourt
Chairman
Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodger Stadium
1000 Elysian Park Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Subject: Has the Dodger Fan Code of Conduct gone too far?
Dear Mr. McCourt,
I have been attending Dodger games and I have been a Dodger fan for about 40 years. And for the most part, I have always enjoyed myself at the stadium. I attend approximately 10-20 games per year, and I sit at all seat levels.I am writing to you about an extremely unfortunate experience I and associates of mine had at Game 19, Wednesday, May 10, 2006 against Houston.
The four of us, in our mid-forties and professionals in our respective fields of employment, had great seats for the game: 111LG; F6, F5, E6, E5. That evening, I was offered those particular seats by another business associate of mine, and I gave our originally purchased seats for the evening to a relative of mine.
Unfortunately, the four of us never had the opportunity to see the game a winning game that included two 3-run homers. We were kicked out of the game, before the game even started, for violating the Dodger Fan Code of Conduct.
One of our offenses was bringing a bottle of water into the game, after they were cleared and checked by your table staff inspecting bags and goods brought in to the stadium. After clearing your goods checkpoint, having our tickets scanned, and about 30 steps into the park, we were stopped by one of the younger and more poorly trained security guards. I was stopped and told that I could not bring in my bottle of water because it was opened and unsealed. It was a violation of policy, and I had to throw it out. I admitted to your poorly trained security guard that the bottle was opened, because I had just opened it and drank some of it after presenting my ticket and walking into the park. Not satisfied, he proceeded to falsely accuse me of having given the check-in table staff a "hard time." I had not talked to any stadium employee until he had stopped me. I come to find out during the course of the conversation that my other friend had a brief conversation at the check-in table where he was told his bottle of water had to be sealed; he subsequently showed them his bottle on the way in and assured them it was sealed, and they let him in.
After explaining to your poorly trained security guard that I had not conversed with anyone, he was still unsatisfied and insisted that I throw out my bottle of water. I attempted to reason with him and explain that he misunderstood the entire situation. Once again, he insisted that I throw out my bottle of water or I was going to be thrown out of the game. This statement was supported by an immediate head-cock to the side motion so he would be in a ready-talk position and a handling of his communication device as a warning sign that he was going to call for assistance. It was a demonstrated show of force; it was frightening.
By that time, it was unfortunate that he was too invested in his own ego-fulfillment to rationally analyze the situation. Your young, poorly trained, overzealous, and rude security staff could not find any possible way to correctly assess the reality of the situation he discovered himself in. He couldn't find a graceful, polite, and diplomatic method of resolving the situation other than by forcing me to throw out my bottle of water. He had to even ask me to show him my ticket to assure himself that I was in the proper area. What else could he do? He was floundering. Did he make any attempt to inspect any of the other bottles we were handling? No. Did he make any attempt to ask the table staff if I, in fact, had given them a "hard time?" No.
And, or course, by that time we were all getting very frustrated with his child-like and ridiculous behavior. I, in true player-umpire fashion, carefully and gently placed the bottle at his feet and told him he could throw it away if he wanted to. Of course, I eventually picked it up and tossed it so we could all walk away and attempt to enjoy the rest of the night and the seats that were offered to me. As we walked away, another friend of mine was so frustrated by the turn of events that he mumbled "rent-a-cop" under his breath while walking away.
Your young, poorly trained, overzealous, and rude security staff just couldn't let it go. He followed us all the way to our seats and called in reinforcements. The cavalry included two policemen and Mr. Larry Tashman, Assistant Manager of Security and Guests.
When we get to our seats, my friend who mutters "rent-a-cop" was called up by Mr. Tashman, et al. I followed and explained to one of the policemen what we had experienced and what had actually happened, as did my friend talking to Mr. Tashman. After a short conversation, my friend was told he had to go, which of course meant we all had to leave. Apparently, he had violated the Dodger Code of Conduct by muttering "rent-a-cop". Even after he offered to apologize, which he should not have even had to offer. Mr. Tashman was unreasonable and educated him that there were "no apologies, zero tolerance."
Mr. McCourt, "no apologies, zero tolerance" for what? Does that only apply to the fans? What about your staff? Are they allowed to act in any way? What if your fans decided there was "no apologies, zero tolerance" in treatment one might receive from Stadium staff? But, I assume it is a one way street in this case.
No where in the Fan Code of Conduct does it say that speech is limited only to words acceptable to the Dodger organization. Getting tossed for calling someone a rent-a-cop, after we had been falsely accused, poorly treated, and embarrassed in public by a young and ill-trained security guard is unreasonable overkill and a waste of time and resources. Or do you consider the words "rent-a-cop" "foul/abusive language per #3 on your Fan Code of Conduct?"
Is Mr. Tashman responsible for the lack of training of this particular security guard? Is anyone training these "kids" on assessment? The Dodger organization is really taking chances with safety and security when poorly trained staff is allowed to confront the public in this manner. You never know what can come of it. That is risky behavior on the part of the Dodger organization. You can't simply dress a child up in a uniform, clip on a nametag and a communication device, and let them loose on the public.
Even when we tried to reason with the irrepressible Mr. Tashman and explain to him what had happened, he also had too much invested in the situation and would have lost face had he backed down. His own ego was too much at stake by that time. He became judge and jury without listening to reason and the facts; without listening to four reasonable, sober, professional adults all telling him the same version of the actual events. Instead, he had to stand by his staff that was wrong.
Of course, Mr. Tashman offered the usual and expected insincere apologies as he led us to the gates, accompanied by the police. That must be the "professional and courteous manner" that is #1 on your Code of Conduct.
I never thought I would be tossed out of a game for being sober and orderly instead of drunk and disorderly, like some of the fans that attend a game. All of this due to the random application of the Dodger Code of Conduct by a young, overzealous, security staff member poorly trained in assessing the reality of a situation and his supervisor who obviously applies a similar analysis of events.
Mr. McCourt, I am sure Mr. Tashman is a capable professional; otherwise he would not be in the position of power that he has been placed and entrusted. However, in this case, Mr. Tashman's ego overwhelmed his sense of reason.
Has the "Dodger Code of Conduct" gone too far? When the Dodgers began applying this Code of Conduct, it was only time before these kind of things were to happen.
Below is your code of conduct. It is interesting how #1 on the list says "Fans will be treated in a consistent, professional and courteous manner by all Dodger Stadium staff and team personnel. We were treated otherwise
Fan Code of Conduct
The Los Angeles Dodgers are committed to creating and maintaining a safe, comfortable, and family-friendly sports and entertainment experience at Dodger Stadium. The following guidelines have been established regarding fan conduct.
Fans will be treated in a consistent, professional and courteous manner by all Dodger Stadium staff and team personnel.
Our fans' experience will not be disrupted by unruly actions or behaviors of others. Fans should report any inappropriate behavior to the nearest usher, security guard or Stadium staff member.
Fans will enjoy the baseball experience free from foul/abusive language or obscene gestures.
Fans will consume alcoholic beverages in a responsible manner. Intervention with an impaired, intoxicated or underage guest will be handled in a prompt and safe manner. Those appearing intoxicated will be denied entry or will be subject to ejection from the Stadium.
Fans may keep any ball hit into the stands as a souvenir. However, fans must not go onto the field, throw objects onto the field or interfere with balls in play. Violation will result in immediate ejection and/or arrest and prosecution.
Fans will sit only in their ticketed seats and show their tickets when requested.
Fans wearing obscene or indecent clothing will not be admitted into the Stadium.
Fans may not display any obscene or indecent messages on signs.
Fans will comply with requests from staff regarding Stadium operations and emergency response procedures.
Smoking is permitted in designated areas only.
Fans must adhere to the Code of Conduct provisions or they will be subject to ejection without refund and revocation of season tickets and may also be in violation of city ordinances resulting in possible arrest and prosecution.
Thank you for your time.
Greg Vargas
Previously:
Baseball for four: $322.50
Defending Dodger Stadium
Photo: Ballparkwatch.com