
As we enter the final weeks of Yankee Stadium's existence, it's hard not to think of the history that was made there and the great players who used to call it home. Whether it's the Mickey Mantles, and Whitey Fords of old or the Reggie Jacksons and Thurman Munsons of more recent times, the place has seen more than it's fair share of Hall of Fame players.
Many Yankees fans and baseball fans in general will leave the place with fond memories of baseball's great cathedral. Well, not all of them. One fan in particular probably isn't going to have very nice things to say about the place after being kicked out earlier this week. His crime? He had to use the washroom.
A Queens man is considering legal action against the New York Yankees after he was ejected from Tuesday night's contest against the Boston Red Sox for trying to use the restroom during the playing of "God Bless America."
During the patriotic 7th inning stretch at Yankee Stadium, nature called on Bradford Campeau-Laurion. When he tried to leave his seat during the traditional singing of God Bless America, however, he says he was stopped by a NYPD officer who said he'd have to wait until the song was done.
"I then said to him, 'I don't care about God Bless America. I just need to use the bathroom.' As soon as I said that, he immediately pinned my arm behind my back," Campeau-Laurion told CBS 2.You see, as you may or may not be aware of, there's a rule at Yankee Stadium that forces fans to stay in their seats while God Bless America is played during the seventh inning stretch. You know, because there's nothing more American than taking away a person's freedom.
"He shoved me out the front gate and told me get out of their country if I didn't like it," he said.
Thankfully another of America's great traditions is suing the hell out of somebody who wrongs you, and I hope that's what Campeau-Laurion does here. Forcing someone to be "patriotic" goes against everything this country stands for, and it's about time someone did something to put an end to it.
Hopefully Bradford and his weak bladder will be the man to do so, and turn out to be a true American hero.



















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 13)
8-28-2008 @ 11:39AM
Bernie said...
I was once a Yankees fan from 75 to 81 after the 81 season, moved to San Diego when the Padres aquired Gossage and Nettles I went National league and never gave the Yankees another look, why? George! That's why... He should let the people he puts in charge take charge. If you don't give people a chance to run the damn team why hire them? Mets fan for years to come win or lose... who needs the Yankees? They are ready to go back to their 1980's mode, back to the bottom of the pack.
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9-02-2008 @ 4:56PM
Tony said...
Maybe you should check your history Bernie...
George took over the Yankees in 1973, helped get the Stadium rebuilt, and got them back to post-season play in 1976.
During the years you say were a 'fan', they won 2 Championships in 4 World Series appearances.
And after losing in the playoffs and World Series in 80 & 81, they were 2nd to different teams almost every year in the 80's, but there was no wild card then. The Yankees won more games than any other team during the 80's.
Thanks for moving to San Diego.
9-03-2008 @ 2:36PM
sher said...
what the heck does that have to do with the price of eggs in china?
8-28-2008 @ 11:54AM
robert leonardi said...
Hey fornelli , its douchebags like you that fuel that kind of behavior . What was he , a 3 year old little girl that couldnt hold it for 3 minutes during God Bless America . I could give a crap whether the guy is patriotic or not , its a matter of respect . I would bet a thousand bucks that him , like you , is some little weasel that just wants to buck the system because he probably gets bitched slapped by his wife at home , sound familiar Tommy ?
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8-28-2008 @ 6:22PM
veritas said...
Dear Robert, my only wish to you is that you should get a blader infection. You sound like a guy who has no trouble pissing in your pants.
9-02-2008 @ 2:26PM
Ron said...
Some people have physical issues. When they must use the bathroom.....it is now! Not everyone can afford Poise pants as you...obviously can.
9-02-2008 @ 10:03AM
tom blumenfeld said...
God Bless America is not our national anthem.
As to whether the guy is a 3-year-old girl, maybe he had a UTI.
That's a ur-i-na-ry tract in-fec-tion. In words you can un-der-stand, Rob-ert, he may have been sick. He may have had in his pee-pee what you have in your head. And even if he didn't, what's a city police officer doing enforcing patriotism, which would be under federal juris- oh, sorry, turf.
9-02-2008 @ 10:01AM
Pam said...
Mr. Leonardi,
Have you ever had prostate cancer? Have you been fine one minute only to accidently pee your pants the next because you couldn't get to the bathroom quickly enough? Or, perhaps driving down the highway; but nowhere to stop to use the restroom because the urge to urinate came out from now where? Or, on the job, you working a machine that cannot be left unattended and then the cancer damaged bladder and prostate tells you its time to void? Well, my husband has! He was exposed to every kind of chemical there was in Vietnam and while he was honored by a grateful nation for his actions, he acquired cancer at the tender age of 53. His life was saved, but everything else went to hell. Ejected from a baseball game because of "God Bless America". The God I know would have excused my husband to go to the restroom! What has happened to this country? Our freedoms to do as our framers intended are slowly being taken away by the government little by little. Oh, and if you asking does my husband wear Depends? No, but its becoming apparent that he will; and they don't work that well. How sad that is.
8-28-2008 @ 12:41PM
David said...
This is just another disappointing ending to the New York Yankees. With the season going the way that it is, another black mark on this team is the last thing they needed. Our country is based on the freedom to believe and the freedom to do as we choose. There are consequences for some of the actions we may do, but facing discipline for using the bathroom during a song is not in the Constitution anywhere. This is a joke! I have been to Yankee Stadium and there aren't any signs that say, "hope you aren't sick or need to use the bathroom, because we will eject you. If your choking, then get a drink after the song." Pathetic! Sue them for putting you through this indignity. After all, the officer didn't know this might have been a medical emergency, and the person now has to travel just to find a restroom. Sue! Try suing for the team at least a fan will finally own them!
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8-28-2008 @ 12:56PM
Tom Fornelli said...
Mark,
That "French a-hole" you speak of is an American citizen. You know, that country that gives us the right to free speech.
Saying you don't care about a song is quite different than saying you don't care about America. And even if he didn't care about America, that would be his right as well.
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8-28-2008 @ 1:04PM
Walt said...
The guy's been drinking beer for 7 and a half innings and decides to relieve himself during a lousey 3 minute span (if that much) when the Yankee Organization pays homage to those serving our country. Like Mark says-a frenchie. Fornelli, you must be one of those liberal-america hating a-holes, whose idea of freedom is being given the chance to crap on the country who gives you freedom. It doesn't surprise me that you are given a job by aol.
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8-28-2008 @ 3:49PM
nale said...
Walt, You are a classic example of how somepatriotic Americans go overboard. You rant about the freedom we have in these country as you try to defend denying people freedom. Don't you see how silly that is? Freedom is good so you deny it to people so show how much you love freedom?
How can you praise our freedom yet force people to listen sit to a song? Don't you see how absurb that sounds?
Most patriotic Amercians know that freedom means that some Amercians may not behave or think the way we do.
Yes it would be great if everyone wanted to pay homage to those serving our country but freedom means people shouldn't have to. You and the Yankees are free to hate/dislike those people but not free to force them to do want you want them to.
Freedom mean freedom for everyone not just freedom for those who think/feel/act like you. If that is not your definition then someday people who don't think/feel/act like you may force you to do things you don't agree with in the name of 'freedom'.
9-02-2008 @ 7:52AM
Beth said...
A bunch of "ginzos" commenting on a last name of an American born person is hysterical. Funny but last I checked my American History books, Italy sided with the Nazis against everyone else including America. If you dont like anything french then get rid of the Statue of Liberty. France gave it to us. Lets send her back. Lets send most of our paper products and car parts back to Canada too since there are "french-speaking" people there. Better yet lets ship everyone back to the countries their forefathers came from. Ignorance is alive and well in New York and online.
Not like he stood up during the anthem. He stood up during a song and I hope he sues the heck out of everyone involved. But then again NYPD make their own rules up like giving that loser A-Rod an escort to a game because he was going to be late. Maybe he was too busy screwing around again!!
9-02-2008 @ 10:45AM
Big Daddy said...
Walt, You really can't be that ignorant. I wish he had wipped it out and taken a leak right thee. Then what would the cop have done. I'm as "patriotic" as the next guy, but how can this possibly be justified to deny someone of a humanly body function. This is the most obserd thing ever. And for the character that replied enforcing patriotism is a job for the Feds, YOU CAN'T ENFORCE PATRIOTISM. You can hate this country and still live here...Let's get a grip on reality in this country.
8-28-2008 @ 1:51PM
Josh said...
Yeah, rules are rules. You would've been a hit in Germany in the 40s. For someone who's so gung-ho about America, you sure don't seem to get what the country is all about. People have certain rights, and when anybody, even a giant corporate entity, gets in the way of those, we've been given a way to fight back.
And no, I wouldn't expect anything else from a NYPD officer, but that doesn't make it right. It's all too common for big city cops to lose their tempers and make decisions on impulse, but that's not how it should be. Cops in this country are protected by about a billion different laws, and they're given guns and clubs and radios to call for backup, so with all of that reinforcement comes the responsibility of keeping your cool and not letting people get into your head. There's no excuse for roughing up unarmed civilians who aren't being physical, no matter which words come out of their mouth.
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8-28-2008 @ 2:56PM
Bob A Ganoush said...
What country are you people from?
I hope he sues the hell out of the
Yankees and spends the money
supporting the Mets.
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8-28-2008 @ 3:43PM
Maveness said...
*high fives Bob*
The country I was born in has freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Whether other fans or the freaking Yankees like it, the guy has a right to pee whenever he feels like peeing. And that "rule" is totally unenforceable in a court of law.
Hope he takes them for a ride.
Patriotism isn't a song. It's something far less tangible. And it means different things to different people.
9-02-2008 @ 9:51AM
tom blumenfeld said...
I would hope he'd sue the hell out of the NYPD, except you and I would wind up paying that, just as Giuliani's First Amendment violations cost us so much.
8-28-2008 @ 3:12PM
K said...
this is why im a red sox fan!
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8-28-2008 @ 5:55PM
Blah said...
maybe he was an atheist and didn't care about the "god bless".
it is the country of freedom after all.
he paid for his seat and had the right to go to the bathroom when he pleased.
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