Doesn't warrant what happened. Philly fans time and again show their is serious class lacking in a lot of them.
You also know, as well as I do, that the media blows everything into a sensational crapstorm.
"Iraq vet ATTACKED after hockey game!!!!"
"Jersey cop ASSAULTED at local restaurant!!!!"
How did the attackers know this? Was the guy wearing a sign?
Who knows what was said? They could have been talking crap as they waited there in line. The lines can wrap all the way around the block at Geno's, sometimes, especially after a big game. Who knows how much any of them had to drink. Who knows how arrogant, mouthy or belligerent the Marine/Vet/Cop had gotten after he got sprayed by the homeless guy. For all we know, he could have completely lost his military/professional bearing and started spewing all kinds of garbage from his pie-hole.
From the video it looks like they were just as ready to throw hands as the Flyers fans were. It looks like they lost...
I'm not defending anyone here, as I don't think that there were any "victims". It is clear in the video that words were exchanged, then it escalated from there.
I see no need to keep pounding a guy once he is already on the ground, unless he continues to be a danger, though.
What I do know is that if I travel to another city for a sporting event wearing my teams colors, in the dark, in a local neighborhood (i.e. not at the venue where the sporting event was held), I mind my own business and keep my mouth shut, regardless of what happens to me.
I don't care what people say, these types of things happen more often than the press would like to admit to. It just so happens that they have a hard-on for Philly.
Look at how the Yankees fans treated Cliff Lee and his family. It was bad enough for him to turn down a big chunk of cash offered by the Yanks and take Philly's offer instead.
Honestly, none of this was necessary, but as a Marine AND a police officer, he should have not let the situation evolve into violence.
It's just too easy...
