Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - 3:42 pm
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30230537/
NEW YORK - A baseball fan says he was ejected from Yankee Stadium for leaving his seat to use the bathroom while "God Bless America'' played.
Bradford Campeau-Laurion filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against New York City and the Yankees.
The lawsuit contends he was made a victim of political and religious discrimination on Aug. 26.
It says two police officers who ejected him were enforcing a Yankees policy that keeps spectators in their seats during the song.
A spokeswoman says the city law office has no immediate comment. A Yankees representative did not immediately return a call.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - 3:48 pm
Well piss on them. LOL.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - 4:12 pm
I'll bet there is a lot more to this story.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - 5:19 pm
Probably so. I've seen this sort of thing at a Mariner's game, where if you go to the bathroom or concessions, they make you wait at the top of the steps to go back to your seat AFTER the inning is over. I found this to be quite annoying to have to wait.
I see no reason why the Yankees should require people to sit still or stand during the playing of god bless America or even the national anthem, and it's certainly not an ejectionable offense.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - 6:49 pm
It's a stupid rule.
However, if the fan knew the rule and broke it anyway, then bad on him.
I think the police overreacted. A simple warning would have sufficed.
It's a stupid rule.
Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 6:36 pm
Excerpt from the CNBC link:
Campeau-Laurion, a director of Web productions for a media company, does not participate in religious services and objects to being required to do so, the lawsuit said. He is proud to be an American but objects to being required to participate in displays of patriotism, it added.
"God Bless America," written by Irving Berlin in 1918, was played at big league ballparks throughout the country when baseball resumed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It was discontinued in some cities the following seasons but remained a fixture at Yankees games, at which security personnel and ushers use chains to block off some exits while it's played.
etc.
Isn't this bordering on fascism just a little bit?
So, a guy isn't interested in hearing yet another rendition of "God Bless America" before the baseball game. So? Doesn't mean he has to be thrown out because of it.
"God" bless America indeed. Bastar pigs.
Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 7:10 pm
I think it borders on bullshit.
Number one, you should be able to come and go from your seat at any time you please.
Number two, "Take me out to the ballgame" should be played during the 7th inning stretch, not god bless America. We honor our country at the start of the game with the national anthem.
Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 7:16 pm
Well I have to agree with Vitalogy(strange feeling).
Complete bullshit.
Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 7:54 pm
Agreed here too.
Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 7:58 pm
As a much older friend once put it, the people who enforce rules like this, thus preventing people from using the facilities, "do not understand the plight of the older gentleman!" 
The part about barricading the exits during performance of the song just scares me. Calling that un-American would be an understatement. That is the type of action that I would associate with dictatorships and cults. I am surprised that they can get away with it from the safety and liability aspects, alone!
