Fights break out at 49ers vs Raiders Preseason Game

On Saturday, the Raiders went across the bay to play the 49ers in a week 2 preseason battle. I currently live in Pleasanton, in raider territory, east bay. People have been more focused on the world series champions Giants, but many people attended the game on Saturday. Knowing the rivalry, it is pretty big. They fight for the rights for the bay. But many fights broke out yesterday, including a shooting. Huge fights in the stands broke out. I have been to Oakland Alameda, its pretty tough their. Now the 49ers? We have seen many fights down in Southern California, including a sad story about Brian Stow. Chargers fans are violent also, they seem to care more about what fans are what team is better. Now the question is, is Bay Area sports becoming more violent, socal like?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattrl42

On Saturday, the Raiders went across the bay to play the 49ers in a week 2 preseason battle. I currently live in Pleasanton, in raider territory, east bay. People have been more focused on the world series champions Giants, but many people attended the game on Saturday. Knowing the rivalry, it is pretty big. They fight for the rights for the bay. But many fights broke out yesterday, including a shooting. Huge fights in the stands broke out. I have been to Oakland Alameda, its pretty tough their. Now the 49ers? We have seen many fights down in Southern California, including a sad story about Brian Stow. Chargers fans are violent also, they seem to care more about what fans are what team is better. Now the question is, is Bay Area sports becoming more violent, socal like?

Not good to hear. I posted an article about it in the Rivals forum. There's no need for crap like this but with the economy the way it is tempers are flaring everywhere you go. What's gonna happen is that they'll suspend preseason games between the two teams in the future if they can't contain the violence.

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulman

Not good to hear. I posted an article about it in the Rivals forum. There's no need for crap like this but with the economy the way it is tempers are flaring everywhere you go. What's gonna happen is that they'll suspend preseason games between the two teams in the future if they can't contain the violence.

I would be good to only have 1 game a year. If the fans get this crazy in a preseason game, I wonder how it will be in the Regular Season.

Pending investigation, the instigator should be barred for life from attending any NFL games.

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulman

Not good to hear. I posted an article about it in the Rivals forum. There's no need for crap like this but with the economy the way it is tempers are flaring everywhere you go. What's gonna happen is that they'll suspend preseason games between the two teams in the future if they can't contain the violence.

Looks like it's already a done deal.

Police looking for witnesses following Candlestick shootings

NFL.com Wire Reports
Published: Aug. 21, 2011 at 05:42 p.m.
Updated: Aug. 22, 2011 at 03:38 p.m.
Liked: 22 | Comments: 247

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Police interviewed witnesses and looked for suspects Sunday after two men were shot following a San Francisco 49ers-Oakland Raiders preseason game, while the mayors of the two cities jointly called for an end to "intimidation" and acts of violence at sporting events.

The San Jose Mercury News reported Monday that the 49ers and Raiders will discontinue their annual preseason game in the wake of Saturday's violence, according to a high-ranking NFL source.

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The newspaper reported that the league and police strongly support ending the traditional meeting between the teams and Raiders CEO Amy Trask and 49ers president Jed York have discussed it, according to the Mercury News. Instead of an official announcement, the game is likely to just go away quietly, the newspaper reports.

Saturday night's shooting in the parking lot at Candlestick Park evoked memories of another recent disturbing act of postgame violence involving two rival California pro sports teams -- the near-fatal beating in March of a San Francisco Giants fan outside Dodger Stadium.

In Saturday's attacks, a 24-year-old man, who reportedly was wearing a "F--- the Niners" T-shirt, remained hospitalized in critical condition Sunday after being shot several times in the stomach. He had managed to stumble to Candlestick Park stadium security for help despite the severe injuries, police said.

A second victim, a 20-year-old man, was treated for less serious wounds in a separate shooting, also after the game.
A third victim, 26, was hospitalized in serious condition Sunday after he was knocked unconscious in a stadium bathroom during the game. That attack appeared unrelated to the other two, authorities said.

The victims' names have not been released as the violent spree overshadowed the 49ers' 17-3 victory over the Raiders.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that video footage of fights between fans at the stadium has begun to appear on YouTube.

The crimes prompted San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and Oakland Mayor Jean Quan to issue a joint statement saying that violence at stadiums in both cities will not be tolerated. "The incidents .... are completely unacceptable and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," the mayors said. "Fans come to our stadiums to enjoy an afternoon of football, not to be subjected to intimidation or violence. "These games are family events and the types of images we witnessed last night have no place in our arenas," they continued.
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Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a spokesman for the San Francisco police, told the Chronicle that a "person of interest" was detained in one of the shootings. In the bathroom beating, police were looking for a man described as a Samoan or Pacific Islander in his late 20s, with a goatee and a ponytail, who stands more than 6 feet tall and weighs more than 220 pounds, according to the Chronicle. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

The police spokesman defended the security at the game. "I can't explain human behavior and why people get into fights," Andraychak said. "We believe we had sufficient staffing for the event." Andraychak said police were interviewing witnesses Sunday, and encouraged others who might have tips or witnessed the violence to come forward.

Police Sgt. Frank Harrell said Saturday that the man shot wearing a T-shirt that referred to the 49ers with an obscenity drove his truck to a gate and stumbled to stadium security. The other man was shot before that in the parking lot and had superficial face injuries, Harrell said. Harrell told reporters outside the stadium that the two shootings were being treated separately "but we believe they are related." He did not elaborate.

Citing a source familiar with the investigation, the Bay Area News Group reported Sunday night that friction between the Nortenos and Surenos gangs is suspected of sparking the shooting of the man in the anti-49ers T-shirt. In an email to the newspaper, Andraychak said there were no "known" gang connections.

The NFL released the following statement: "We deplore the activities of a handful of fans at last night's game between the 49ers and Raiders. We pledge our full support to Mayors Lee and Quan and to state and local law enforcement agencies. We are carefully reviewing the events to make sure we have a full understanding of what took place. We will work with our clubs and law enforcement agencies to ensure responsible fan conduct at all NFL games and a safe and enjoyable game experience for all fans in attendance."

The 49ers said that "these kinds of events are disquieting to everyone in the Bay Area community. We are working to assist the San Francisco Police Department in any way possible to understand how and why this happened."
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Trask said in a statement that "the incidents at last night's game are not acceptable to the Raiders or to any National Football League team and our thoughts are with all affected."

Raiders coach Hue Jackson also shared his desire for a safe fan-friendly environment "where we wish that people come out and enjoy a game and hopefully that those things don't happen."

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said he was saddened to hear about the violence. "I didn't know anything was going on during the game. I wasn't aware of that," Harbaugh said. "I feel bad for the people who got injured and the people who had to see that, for those who had to witness it."

The attacks come about five months after San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow was severely beaten by two men in Los Angeles Dodgers gear outside Dodger Stadium after the season opener between the archrivals March 31. Two suspects have been charged in the case.

The two men accused in the beating of Stow, Louie Sanchez, 28, and Marvin Norwood, 30, have pleaded not guilty. Stow, 42, a Santa Cruz paramedic, suffered severe brain injuries and remains hospitalized in serious condition. That attack drew widespread attention and focused the spotlight on security at Dodger Stadium, as well as the intense rivalry among Dodgers and Giants fans.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

It is one thing to be fans but not to take it out on others. Remember that baseball fan that was brutally beaten last spring and still is in recovery? Hopefully this person or people of interest will be brought to justice. As how cruel can you get?!

Black eye for the NFL.