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Pearly Gates: An Angels Blog
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Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Nice, but you gave the bat to wrong one...

ESPN has the heartwarming story of a middle-aged man who literally pushed a four-year old out of his way to catch foul ball. Classy...
A man sitting behind Nick O'Brien at a Texas Rangers baseball game Sunday knocked the boy against the seats as he dived to get a foul ball. Fans started chanting "Give him the ball!" but the man wouldn't give it up.

"I couldn't believe someone would do something like that to a 4-year-old boy," said Nick's mother, Edie O'Brien.

O'Brien said she swatted the man with a cardboard fan and called him a jerk, among other names. "I said, 'You trampled a 4-year-old boy to get this ball,' and he said, 'Oh, well,' " she told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, adding that the man seemed proud he got the ball.
Well, that part isn't all that heartwarming, but what happened afterwards certainly was:
Meanwhile, the Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals quickly made sure Nick got souvenirs of his own -- two bats and four baseballs, including one signed by Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, a former Ranger.

Cardinals outfielder Reggie Sanders came out between innings to give Nick a bat and ball. "In my heart, I thought I should do something," said Sanders. "It's all about the kids."
The man has been identified as Matt Starr- a former youth pastor of all things. Congratulations Matt, you've just been nominated for the prestigious "Douchebag of the Year Award." Oh, and thank you to Reggie Sanders- you are the man.

On a side note: The kid got a ball signed by Nolan Ryan!? Damn, I would gladly take one in the chest for that reward.

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