Latest brawl at Dodger Stadium once again puts LA at forefront of troubling topic
When you're considered among the most loyal fanbases in all of sports, expect the spotlight to be on you as much as humanly possible. It's why New York Yankees fans are dragged through the mud constantly by their detractors whenever the opportunity arises, no matter how minuscule the occurrence.
It's something Los Angeles Dodgers fans have had to deal with over the last decade or so, too. For 10 straight seasons, the Dodgers have led MLB in attendance. It was always a dedicated fan base, but life was bleak for the Dodgers from 1989-2007. Then things started to pick up and eventually propelled the team into one of the undisputed marquee franchises in the modern era. Every year it feels like it's a neck-and-neck race between the Dodgers and Yankees.
While Yankees fans are regarded as spoiled, entitled, ruthless malcontents because of their success over two decades ago, the Dodgers have entered dangerous territory as many have viewed them as reckless and callous, mostly due to the fact their fans are so often involved in physical altercations that are well-documented.
It all goes back to 2011 when two Dodgers fans, who eventually got sentenced to prison, assaulted a Giants fan and left him brain damaged and disabled. Ever since, any fight that occurs involving a Dodgers fan and/or is located in or near Dodger Stadium is magnified.
In 2023, it took less than two months for the first troubling viral incident to cross our timelines on social media. A fan was knocked out during the Dodgers-Twins series this past week in LA, reminding everyone of the troubling reality of this type of perpetual toxicity in the sports world.
Dodgers fans brawl outside Dodger Stadium after game vs Twins
This isn't limited to Dodger Stadium, either. It happens on the road, too! We're not going to sit here and say no other fanbase finds itself in these types of situations at or away from their home stadium, but Dodgers fans are uniquely known for this.
At this point, you'd think the collective would be fed up with the stigma and violence because of all of the bad press and trauma it's exacerbated over the years. But we can almost promise you'll see at least two more of these unsettling incidents before the 2023 campaign ends. And that's not even being pessimistic -- it's simply knowing your history.
It's especially bizarre, too, because if you've ever been to Dodger Stadium, you'd know it's one of the most tranquil, majestic environments in all of sports. Yet both within and outside its confines, there's some of the most vicious and aggressive behavior you'll ever witness.
Here's to better days ... whenever they might arrive.