Padres & Dodgers - A Brawl & the Blame Game AND BRIAN STOW

It's 2 AM and I just got an irate tweet from a close friend of mine putting words into my mouth saying that I am condoning violence and even death in sports. In this case, the infamous Dodgers/Padres game the other day.

Let me make myself clear. I am NOT condoning violence at all. All I am saying is that there are TWO people to blame in this.Not just one.

First of all, regardless of who was playing on that unfortunate game the other day, I would still stand up to my belief, til the day that I die, that I am appalled at how people just conveniently point the finger on Carlos Quentin and that "poor" Zack Greinke has a broken collarbone and that Quentin shouldn't be back on the field until "poor" Zach Greinke is well enough to play again.

This is NOT about being a San Diego or Los Angeles fan. This unfortunate story is all about an apparently not so smart/high priced pitcher named Zack Greinke who, from past history, is known to have hit Carlos Quentin twice already (obviously took him out of a game twice in the past- and as sports analysts said was obviously intentional) - decided it was probably "smart" to hit him again so he can get hurt and walk off.

If anyone at all was watching the game, Quentin, despite the hit, tried to let it go but Greinke continued to run his foul mouth and instigated Quentin to come after him, playing that tough guy with the small man complex, and resulted in a brawl. It is apparent that Greinke obviously does not really have anything much between his ears as the person he provoked was obviously 3 times bigger his size.

Unfortunately, as in most brawls, people do get hurt. And in this case, the smaller guy, THE INSTIGATOR, Zach Greinke, got hurt and suffered a broken collarbone - taking him out of the game- for the next two months.

I am not defending Carlos Quentin for his actions. However, I do understand where he is coming from. Someone was trying to hurt him the way most baseball careers abruptly end - not only once - but three times in a row. How can that not be so obvious?

The bigger guy does not always mean THE BAD GUY.

Who threw the foul ball? Three times? Greinke.

Who ran his mouth despite Quentin letting it go and threw his gloves down yelling to the bigger guy invectives? Greinke.

WHo got hurt? Greinke.

So this is all Quentin's fault? Apparently not. MLB, thank GOD- has ruled out that Greinke and Matt Kemp, who also charged at Quentin after the game at the parking lot, also got suspended. So, there you go folks. Greinke IS ALSO TO BLAME FOR HIS MISFORTUNE. His injury was a result of his own evil manipulated battle which went sour in the end. It's simple.

It's like North Korea instigating America with a war and when they go down, who's the one to blame for it? America?!?! Just because we are the considered the superpower of the world and more prepared for stuff like this than North Korea? Well, we surely didn't start the war, did we?

Bottomline, I don't condone violence in sports. I believe in fair play. I even frown upon my own teams when refs dont play fair - like that Louisville/Michigan NCAA game with the infamous Peyton Siva playing -when the refs called deliberate fouls on Michigan while I had a stake at the number one spot in my brackets for Louisville and had serious money in play as well. So don't anyone ever call me as someone condoning violence in sports because I take personal offense in that.

I also take personal offense in this whole incident not as a Padres fan but as a San Franciscan . First off, I live, breath and enjoy the blessing of being able to call San Francisco my home. I will always be a Padres/"Daygo" fan for life but San Francisco is my home. I moved up to the Bay from Daygo twelve years ago and finally found home. San Francisco is where my heart is.

Two years ago, Brian Stow, a young, off duty paramedic from San Francisco, was half beaten to death at the Dodger Park. All because he was wearing a Giants gear and cheered for his city. HALF BEATEN TO DEATH. With no security or bodyguards or teammates protecting him. And now I see people who never had much to say or show disgust to that horrendous attack or even had the nerve of going further by saying he so deserved to be half beaten to death because he was repping the wrong team in their hood- quickly point fingers and whine about how Carlos Quentin should be suspended longer because someone from THEIR TEAM instigated a stupid brawl. How violence should be condemned in sports. Good that you now know why violence should be shunned in our soceity.

Two sides people, TWO SIDES.

Carlos Quentin AND Zack Greinke are BOTH TO BLAME. Bottomline is, Zack Greinke started the whole thing. Had he not been stupid enough to hurt someone, try to take someone's career out and run his foul mouth, he would have not suffered a broken collarbone at this point. I would not be blogging at 3 in the morning about some unfortunate incident that occurred all because of wrong and not so smart game play decisions made by Zack Greinke.In other words, I am so sorry to say, but he is also to blame for his own misfortune. Not just the guy who got his collarbone broken because he was bigger.

DO keep in mind, Zach Greinke, also tried to brawl and hurt Carlos Quentin as is evidently shown on the videos. If Carlos Quentin was the one who suffered a broken collarbone, would they feel that Zack Greinke should not play for as long as Carlos Quentin is not back on the field yet? I personally and honestly, dont think so.

So there. Watch AND listen. Don't just say things based on what you hear or read about. As they always say in baseball, keep your eyes on the ball and the prize. And as a San Franciscan, REMEMBER BRIAN STOW.

I do not condone violence at all. I do not like watching people get injured while watching sports.Seeing someone go down means money and precious opportunities taken away from the athlete. Food is literally taken away from the table. Oftentimes, with so many mouths to feed.Sometimes, an injury means someone's career is over - senselessly - just like that.

 I work on special projects on my own dime and precious time to bring sports outside the country to developing countries to share and promote it - not violence. I do not wish to name my personal experiences of violence, personal charities I have and been actively participated in to raise awareness and prevent violence so telling me and putting words into my mouth that I condone violence is the most disgusting, vile and hurtful accusation one can ever hurl at me.

There's always two sides to the story. In every battle, an instigator and a defender. In this case, two people. Carlos Quentin is not the only one to blame for Zack Greinke's misfortune. Zack Greinke was the cause of his own misfortune. I wish him safe and speedy recovery and hopeful that he learned his lesson this time around.It is never smart to instigate fights. Period.

One Love. Peace from my heart to yours - we all love the game. For sure.

Toodles.

xoCH