Asshole’s Anonymous

Baseball fans all over and Detroit Tiger fans in particular woke up to a rather nasty surprise – Tiger slugger Delmon Young was arrested for a hate crime at approximately 4am EDT.  It seems Young, in town with the Bengals for a three game set with the Yanks, was rather intoxicated while making his way back to his hotel – the Hilton on 6^th and 54^th – when he was approached by a panhandler wearing a yamulke.

(From the New York Post)

Hot-tempered Detroit Tigers slugger Delmon Young was arrested early this morning after he allegedly went on an anti-Semitic tirade and attacked a man in front of a Midtown hotel, police sources told The Post.

A panhandler wearing a yamulke approached a group of people to ask for some change — and that’s when Young, who was nearby, started shouting, “F–king Jews! F–king Jews!”

That’s when another man and a group of his friends got into a confrontation with Young at about 2:40 a.m. that quickly turned physical along Sixth Avenue, law enforcement sources said.

Young allegedly scratched a 32-year-old during the fracas on East 54th Street, pushing him to the ground in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel.

Both groups eventually retreated to their rooms, sources said, and that is when one of the men Young had injured noticed several scratches and called 911.

The victim suffered scratches on his arm and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

Young, known for his powerhouse arm in the outfield, was “highly intoxicated,” sources said, and had to be taken to Roosevelt Hospital to sober up before he was arrested and taken to the Midtown North Precinct.

Young, wearing a dark blue dress suit and looking somber, was escorted from the precinct just after 11:15 a.m. The outfielder kept his head down and didn’t say anything as he was led to a waiting squad car.

The Tigers, who are in the city to play the Yankees in a three-game set starting tonight, did not comment on the incident.

Tigers spokesman Rick Thompson said “we’ll get back to you” when asked about Young’s status.

Young, who has had problems controlling his temper in the past, was charged with aggravated harassment. Investigators are also looking into the possibility of charging him with a hate crime. He is in custody awaiting arraignment…

The Tiger’s went into full damage control mode, issuing the usual bland press release expected in the current PC/Corporate Culture.

 STATEMENT REGARDING DELMON YOUNG 

DETROIT – We are aware of the situation, however it is our club policy not to comment on pending legal matters. As we understand it, this is an allegation and we need to allow the legal process to take its course. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time. Per a provision in the Major League Baseball Basic Agreement, any allegation that involves alcohol is referred to MLB’s Employee Assistance Program. 

–TIGERS—

The whole incident drips with irony, stupidity and an utter lack of virility.

So a drunk Delmon Young who plays on late great Hank Greenberg’s team get’s drunk in New York City – the most Jewish city in the world – and hurls anti-Semitic epithets at men who aren’t Jews.  And when a fight ensues, Young and the other combatants can’t land a punch but manage to scratch each other.

According to various psychic sources, Bobby Layne and Ty Cobb are currently trying to possess Ndamukong Suh in an attempt to show Delmon Young the proper way to get into a drunken brawl.  Greenberg will come down at a later date to beat him with the several bats he used to warm up in the On Deck circle.

The true head scratcher is the utter lack of coverage by ESPN.  The two Detroit newspapers and the New York tabloids are up in arms over the ‘alleged’ incident.  NASCAR, the NBA Playoffs and the NFL draft were all SportsCenter had running in heavy rotation, that and the sanctions levied by the NCAA on the University of South Carolina’s football program.  My call to their Communication Department has gone unanswered.  However, the receptionist did wish me a magical day.

The Jews have a word for folks like Delmon Young, perhaps you’ve heard it before: schmuck.

***12:09 PDT, ESPN FINALLY mentioned the Young incident, over 12 hours after the fact in the 24/7 immediately on the spot news cycle.  Way to go guys.