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Tuesday, July 22, 2008

N.Y. Post: SUNBLOCKHEADS AT THE STADIUM (RR)

The long term horrors of sunscreen have been proved by the Yankees…

Yankee fans are seeing - and turning - red over a ban on sunscreen, which Stadium security guards say was widely expanded in the last few weeks.

Security guards collected garbage bags full of sunblock at the entrances to Yankee Stadium over the sweltering weekend, when temps hit 96 degrees and the UV index reached a skin-scorching 9 out of 10 - a move team officials said was to protect the Stadium from terrorism.

But fans baking in the bleachers and upper deck argued that the sun may be a bigger threat than Osama bin Laden.

“I was really pissed because, since I am Irish and I have a bald head, I need my sunblock,” said Sean Gavin, 40, who had to toss his SPF 30 at the gate Saturday.

“After they saw me dousing myself with it, it should have been obvious to them that it was sunblock and not some explosive.”

Repoz Posted: July 22, 2008 at 09:39 AM | 51 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, Special Topics, NY Yankees

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1. BhamWhiteBaron Posted: July 22, 2008 at 11:41 AM (#2867700)

To be fair, since starting this ban; Yankee stadium has not been attacked by a terrorist.

2. flournoy Posted: July 22, 2008 at 11:44 AM (#2867703)

Here's an idea: apply your sunscreen before you head out to the game.

3. Repoz

Posted: July 22, 2008 at 11:46 AM (#2867705)

Yankee stadium has not been attacked by a terrorist.

Are you sure?

4. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: July 22, 2008 at 11:46 AM (#2867706)

Here's an idea: terrorists don't give a living crap about Yankee Stadium. But by all means, live in fear if one must.

5. JoeHova Posted: July 22, 2008 at 11:56 AM (#2867708)

Here's an idea: apply your sunscreen before you head out to the game.

yeah sure, but light-skinned people need to keep reapplying it, especially on really hot days (sweat).

6. Lassus: Posted: July 22, 2008 at 11:58 AM (#2867711)

I didn't RTFA, because the POST is garbage, but did they have a comment from the stadium regarding why in the name of Ra they were enacting such an idiotic policy?

7. Keith Law Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:04 PM (#2867716)

because the POST is garbage

Their sports section, at least for baseball coverage, is excellent and has been for as long as I can remember.

And you could read one article even if you think the rest of the paper sucks.

From the article:

An hour after being asked about the sunscreen ban, Yankee spokesman Jason Zillo told The Post that the rules would be changed to permit 3-ounce containers.

8. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:05 PM (#2867717)

Security at Yankee Stadium is all over the place. You can't, for example, bring in a tote bag filled with items. But you can fold a tote bag up, place in a clear plastic bag, carry that--along with the rest of your items--through security and then place all the items back in the tote bag once you clear the guards.

9. Swedish Chef Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:06 PM (#2867719)

but did they have a comment from the stadium regarding why in the name of Ra they were enacting such an idiotic policy?

You're on the right track, the prohibition against sunblock is a sacrifice to the Holy Ra, who will help them smite the northern barbarians in the coming struggle.

10. Dizzypaco Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:08 PM (#2867720)

I didn't RTFA, because the POST is garbage, but did they have a comment from the stadium regarding why in the name of Ra they were enacting such an idiotic policy?

It seems to me that the ban is the result of a simple misunderstanding. Baseball has a skin cancer program. The Yankees interpreted this to mean that they should be encouraging people to get skin cancer, rather than trying to prevent it.

11. Mister High Standards Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:08 PM (#2867721)

For the same god damn reason they don't serve beer in the bleachers or have enough consesionaires, or run out of ice in third inning in a 90 degree day or have consessionaires selling water or soda in bleachers or any number of things.

They are the ####### yankees and think just exhisting will get people to show up at the ball park.

This year I bought a partial season ticket plan. I had a choice between Shea 55 minutes away or the Stadium 15 minutes away. I prefer A.L. ball. My favorite team is the Sox, so I would have gotten to see them play a few times in the package and generally consider the talent level in the A.L. higher... yet kicked out the money to the Mets... why? Because they actually try rememeber that we are the consumer.

Yankee Stadium now, is like the Fenway prior to the Henry era. A terriable experience, with no regard for the consumer.

12. Chris Needham Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:10 PM (#2867723)

Sunblock includes petroleum-based products, right? Maybe this is there way of reducing terrorism by decreasing our dependence on foreign oil one sunburn at a time?

13. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:11 PM (#2867724)

But you can fold a tote bag up, place in a clear plastic bag, carry that--along with the rest of your items--through security and then place all the items back in the tote bag once you clear the guards.

Yes, the Yankees are in a giant conspiracy with the plastic bag manufacturers. Bwah-hah-hah-hah.

Anyway, what the hell did fair-skinned people do on 95 degree days at the ballpark before they invented SPF 50? I don't remember any of my friends plastering themselves with zinc oxide for those Bat Day double headers.

14. Teheran's Uranium Enriched Missiles Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:12 PM (#2867725)

Wear straw hats?

15. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:13 PM (#2867726)

Yankee Stadium now, is like the Fenway prior to the Henry era. A terriable experience, with no regard for the consumer.

Guaranteed sellouts for almost every game will do that for you.

16. Dizzypaco Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:15 PM (#2867727)

Anyway, what the hell did fair-skinned people do on 95 degree days at the ballpark before they invented SPF 50?

Get skin cancer.

17. Mister High Standards Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:15 PM (#2867728)

Guaranteed sellouts for almost every game will do that for you.

Hate to tell you this, but through June you could walk up to any non-redsox/mets game and get tickets. Last year, you could do it all year.

I bought half a dozen walk up tickets this year, and over a dozen last year.

18. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:17 PM (#2867730)

Post 13:

My daughter-in-law is very fair and wears a big sun hat to baseball games. She also wears one of those knit blouses so she can have long sleeves without being too warm. She also regularly applies spf 45(!). And I am pretty sure that three ounces wouldn't last.

And that's not sitting in the bleachers where you don't catch a break from the sun unless you leave your seat. I know when I took her and others to the rodeo she had the aforementioned stuff and then more stuff in her purse.

My son told me how they went for a walk one time in mid April on a sunny 65 degree day and when they got back to the house the back of her neck was red. He couldn't believe it.

That girl is FAIR.......

19. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:19 PM (#2867733)

I agree with MHS. I love the Yankees, and i love going to Yankee stadium, but if I were a casual fan out for a fun day with my kids, I can't say as I'd be particularly impressed with the effort made on behalf of the fans. But, to be fair, the bleacher beer ban definitely has its purpose.

20. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:21 PM (#2867735)

MHS, your second point is the reason why I prefer Yankee Stadium to Fenway. Even when the team averages 53,000 fans a game, you can always get walkups! Ah, spontaneous baseball, and no arguing with an annoying fat guy in front of Eastern Standard necessary.

21. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:24 PM (#2867737)

The bleacher beer ban shows how much times have changed. Until about 1975 or so you could take a keg into the bleachers of County Stadium.

As long as you let security have a sip or two.......

22. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:26 PM (#2867738)

yet kicked out the money to the Mets... why? Because they actually try rememeber that we are the consumer

Even Shea was a lot more fun before 9/11. We used to sit in the upper deck with an $8.99 30 pack of Coors Extra Gold (special of the summer of 1999 at Joe's Liquor in New Brunswick) and nobody would bat an eye.

23. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:27 PM (#2867740)

I think the tide began to turn re: beer in the bleachers during the 1995 ALDS. They were at the time, and remain to this day, the most insane crowds in Yankee Stadium history. The Mariners pitchers complained of all sorts of abuse throughout the series while warming up.

24. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:28 PM (#2867741)

Hate to tell you this, but through June you could walk up to any non-redsox/mets game and get tickets. Last year, you could do it all year.

This is true, but it doesn't change his larger point. The Yankees draw so much (over 50K per game for 4 years running) that they don't need to appeal to the people there.

I also think that--either intentionally or not--services are declining at the old park throughout the last season.

25. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:56 PM (#2867767)

"the rules would be changed to permit 3-ounce containers"

If fake suntan lotion is this huge ####### danger, what's to stop the members of a terrorist cell from individually smuggling three-ounce quantities of explosives into the park, and then reconstituting them later? For that matter, what's to stop a terrorist from just hiding explosives in his underwear? Are we all going to have dick checks before we go to the park? Won't THAT be delightful?

This is just security theater, plain and simple. Well, security theater plus the obnoxious desire to squeeze fans for every last ####### nickel. From the story's photo caption: "...at the Stadium, where 1-ounce bottles are sold for $5." What a coincidence.

When I went to the All-Star game two years ago, the gate guards made me turn around and walk four blocks back to my vehicle (when I was in a walking boot after ankle surgery) in order to dispose of an imminent threat to stadium security: my great grandfather's bottle opener keychain. I guess I could've held it to the GM's throat and made him fly the stadium into a federal building. Maybe next time, I'll give it a shot.

26. aleskel

Posted: July 22, 2008 at 12:59 PM (#2867771)

the security at the Stadium is the biggest reason I basically stopped going this year after regularly going to 10+ games a season for the last couple of years. Never mind the stupid draconian #### they make you do (show your cell phone, take off your cap, empty your bag), but it also holds up the lines at the entrance gates, which are cramped and slow already. So you end up waiting on line to get patted down in 95 degree heat and you might miss the first inning. Fantastic.

Also, the Yankees have to be the team with the biggest political discrepancy between the ownership and the fanbase. The Steinbrenners are still pumping out that God Bless America, War on Terror ####, and I would venture that Yankees fans are pretty far to the left.

27. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 22, 2008 at 01:02 PM (#2867775)

"The Steinbrenners are still pumping out that God Bless America, War on Terror ####..."

Well, once you've been convicted of illegally channeling funds to Richard Nixon, you're pretty much committed to the red team.

28. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: July 22, 2008 at 01:08 PM (#2867788)

Well, once you've been convicted of illegally channeling funds to Richard Nixon, you're pretty much committed to the red team.

George, at least, is all over the map poltically. He's given more money to the Dems than the GOP, but he's given to everyone from Bush to Hillary to Rudy to Biden.

29. Lassus: Posted: July 22, 2008 at 01:31 PM (#2867806)

Their sports section, at least for baseball coverage, is excellent and has been for as long as I can remember.

Keith, for the record, I respect your work quite a bit. But does this excellent coverage you refer to include the stories about A-Rod and Madonna or anything at all involving Derek Jeter's fielding?

The Post may have daily occurances of decent coverage, but overall I'd rather go to, well, sources like yourself any any number of internet scribes for my baseball over the POST, which I maintain smells rather poor in the summer heat.

30. aleskel

Posted: July 22, 2008 at 01:37 PM (#2867812)

The Post may have daily occurances of decent coverage, but overall I'd rather go to, well, sources like yourself any any number of internet scribes for my baseball over the POST, which I maintain smells rather poor in the summer heat.

I think the Post (and the Daily News) sports sections have good reputations because they have the most EXTENSIVE coverage - they have to devote more column space to sports than any other paper. And they are particularly good with baseball, with usually 3-4 pages devoted to the Yankees and the Mets each every day. Whether they have QUALITY sports coverage ... that I don't know.

31. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: July 22, 2008 at 01:44 PM (#2867821)

This is true, but it doesn't change his larger point. The Yankees draw so much (over 50K per game for 4 years running) that they don't need to appeal to the people there.

Thank you. Guess I should have said "guaranteed near-sellouts every game." I also was not serious with the pre-SPF 50 crack. Back in the days of the Bat Day double header, you could move around the stadium to find some shade, even when the place was packed. Still, the strategies that Harveys laid out remain operative today.

32. RJ not in TO

Posted: July 22, 2008 at 01:51 PM (#2867832)

Keith, for the record, I respect your work quite a bit. But does this excellent coverage you refer to include the stories about A-Rod and Madonna or anything at all involving Derek Jeter's fielding?

Have to agree, the Post is garbage. The only NY paper with baseball articles that are worth reading is the Sun, and that is basically because of Marchman.

33. Big Train Posted: July 22, 2008 at 02:06 PM (#2867854)

Is Bergen County considered a NY paper? I like some of their stuff.

34. Big Train Posted: July 22, 2008 at 02:06 PM (#2867856)

Post does have pretty decent boxing coverage though, which is more than I can say for any other paper (besides the USA Today)

35. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: July 22, 2008 at 02:43 PM (#2867892)

The Record and the Star Ledger cover NY sports but are not read in NY.

36. Boots Day Posted: July 22, 2008 at 02:53 PM (#2867904)

At day games in the uncovered bleachers at Coors Field, the ushers walk around a couple of times a game with huge bottles of No-Ad sunscreen, offering some free to anyone who wants it.

But I guess it makes sense that the Yankee organization would hate Yankees fans. Everyone else does.

37. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: July 22, 2008 at 02:58 PM (#2867913)

But I guess it makes sense that the Yankee organization would hate Yankees fans. Everyone else does.
RDF

38. J. Lowenstein Apathy Club Posted: July 22, 2008 at 03:30 PM (#2867958)

For that matter, what's to stop a terrorist from just hiding explosives in his underwear? Are we all going to have dick checks before we go to the park? Won't THAT be delightful?

####, I normally have to slip the draft beer girl behind section 114 an extra $20 to do that. A freebie or two would rock.

39. RJ in TO Posted: July 22, 2008 at 03:50 PM (#2867978)

For that matter, what's to stop a terrorist from just hiding explosives in his underwear? Are we all going to have dick checks before we go to the park? Won't THAT be delightful?

####, I normally have to slip the draft beer girl behind section 114 an extra $20 to do that. A freebie or two would rock.

You're getting ripped off. Most people will tell you you're a dick for free.

40. Greg Pope Posted: July 22, 2008 at 04:03 PM (#2867993)

If fake suntan lotion is this huge ####### danger, what's to stop the members of a terrorist cell from individually smuggling three-ounce quantities of explosives into the park, and then reconstituting them later?

Yeah, it's the same thing at airports. I can bring about 10 liquids in 3-ounce containers in one plastic bag through security. I can go through security on the same boarding pass numerous times in a day. I can get a boarding pass for a puddlejumper for $70 or so. So I can get gallons of liquids through security for under $1,000. Is that stopping any terrorist organization? I don't think so.

Oh, also, a boarding pass that can get you through security can be faked with Adobe Acrobat in about 5 minutes.

41. aleskel

Posted: July 22, 2008 at 04:05 PM (#2867996)

Oh, also, a boarding pass that can get you through security can be faked with Adobe Acrobat in about 5 minutes.

oh great, now BBTF is going to be put on the terrorist watch list. Thanks a lot, Greg.

42. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: July 22, 2008 at 04:10 PM (#2867998)

oh great, now BBTF is going to be put on the terrorist watch list. Thanks a lot, Greg.

You thought we weren't already listed? NOW who's being naive?

43. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 22, 2008 at 04:14 PM (#2868006)

I can't wait until they finally approve the airline shock bracelets. Combining the problems with insecure data transmission and the problems with Tasers, all in one convenient package!

44. Danny Posted: July 22, 2008 at 04:20 PM (#2868012)

I brought bottled water and sunscreen into Yankee Stadium on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with no problem at all. On Sunday, they made us put it in a clear plastic bag that they handed to us. This was at Gate 2.

We exited through another gate, which was littered with piles of discarded water bottles. Maybe it's selectively enforced?

The Stadium ran out of ice around the 9th inning of Saturday's 12 inning game, and they were selling hot water and warm soda for extra innings. Disgrace.

I went to Redskins preseason game at Fed-Ex a few years ago in pouring rain. They didn't let umbrellas in, and there were several dumpsters just filled with discarded umbrellas and hundreds of people ranting at security guards. On our way out, the guards gave us free access to find "our" umbrella. I walked away with the nicest umbrella I've ever had--though I of course lost it a month later...

45. The District Attorney Posted: July 22, 2008 at 04:59 PM (#2868061)

To be fair, since starting this ban; Yankee stadium has not been attacked by a terrorist.

Lisa, I'd like to buy your sunscreen.

Anyway, Kurt Vonnegut is gonna be pissed about this

46. bbc is prejudice bout men Posted: July 22, 2008 at 05:28 PM (#2868092)

DA,

no darling, I'M lisa.

- and so far at the Box, they haven't stopped me from taking sunscreen in - if you have seats on the 1st base side, you gonna need it if they have the roof open in april/may. and me and the twins are pretty light and there is no way i would go to a ball game (with the roof open) without sunscreen. anyhow, the security at the Box is much more worried about people trying to sneak food/water in. for a while they wouldn't let you even take in baby formula

and i don't know what they gonna do to me if they check me for a dick and i don't happen to, uh, have one on me - uh, at the time.

47. jwb Posted: July 22, 2008 at 05:39 PM (#2868103)

Are we all going to have dick checks before we go to the park? Won't THAT be delightful?

Yes.

Edit: Sorry. The direct URL link shows a box with google ads rather than athe x-ray machine photo you see if you enter via www.chicagotribune.com. Stinkin' java code monkeys.

48. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 22, 2008 at 06:31 PM (#2868156)

"no darling, I'M lisa."

I was confused there for a minute.

"and i don't know what they gonna do to me if they check me for a dick and i don't happen to, uh, have one on me - uh, at the time."

Maybe you'll get lucky, and it'll turn out to be Souvenir Bat Day.

49. winnipegwhip Posted: July 22, 2008 at 06:37 PM (#2868160)

They wouldn't get away with this in Toronto.....

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=665017

50. Joe Mauer Power Hour Posted: July 22, 2008 at 11:44 PM (#2868553)

Are you sure?

I was so disappointed that this link in #4 wasn't the scene in Seinfeld where Jerry calls in a bomb threat.

Steinbrenner: "Hello, are you the bomber?"
Seinfeld: "Yeah, this is terrorist bomber."

51. AJM Posted: July 23, 2008 at 12:32 AM (#2868664)

The Stadium ran out of ice around the 9th inning of Saturday's 12 inning game, and they were selling hot water and warm soda for extra innings. Disgrace.

Give them a break. It's not like they could just magically make ice or something.

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