If you’re a baseball fan or not, I’m sure you are aware and have the knowledge that Padres fans and Dodger fans do not really get along as their teams are division rivals. I have been a Padres fan all my life and that means I’ve been to games between these 2 teams at Petco Park, the Padres home field, and the entire stadium is filled with Dodger fans. It was always a devastating sight to see as the home team was under represented.
During these games against the division rivals, it never fails where fans from both teams will get into an altercation that leads to a fight. You can look across the field, in the section next to you, above you, and you’ll most likely see something happening between a Padres fan and a Dodger fan. I’ve seen so many punches thrown, bigger, drunk guys falling down, and many spilt beers at the games against these 2 teams. It’s gotten so bad to the point where my mom won’t go to Padres games when they play against the Dodgers because she knows fans can be very violent and she would rather not see or deal with this kind of behavior. Oftentimes, from personal experience, it’s always the dodger fans I see who start the fight whether it’s verbally or physically. It’s sad that it’s gotten to that point before and I’m really happy to say that now that San Diego has had an amazing team these last 3 years with big name players, our stadium is always packed with Padres fans and sold out games almost every night. Our fans have always been classy.
However, the Padres and Dodgers have been facing each other in the playoffs the last couple of years and the stakes and fans are at an all time high. It gets crazy and everyone is so full of emotions. There was a game where the Padres won and there is a viral video of a Padres fan flipping off a Dodger fan and people went crazy. Padres fans have always stayed calm and relaxed and “classy” most of the time, but this video was blowing up as now we finally had our revenge and this Padres fan immediately acted out on the win by flipping off this LA individual.
I don’t hesitate to call that art because it’s art in its truest form. I’ll say it again, I am a huge, diehard fan of baseball, especially the Padres, and we for once, had every right to throw this win in their face. We kicked them out of the playoffs and it was this man’s creative and beautiful way to portray every Padres fan’s emotion at that moment in time. It was very expressive and very emotional to all fans, truly a piece of art.
Areli Nava
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I am also a big baseball fan but for the Yankees and can’t say that I particularly like the Dodgers due to their arrogant fanbase. However, you may possibly be seeing your own team and fans through rose colored lenses as I am sure they are not all as innocent as you have claimed and have Padres fans have likely picked their fair share of fights with the Dodgers fans. Especially considering that the Dodgers tend to win against the Padres, I doubt that the Dodgers fans are the ones in a sour mood. Again, I am not a supporter of either team, and would root for the Padres over the Dodgers, but I am just playing Devil’s advocate.
I remember when I first saw this video on social media. I thought it was funny and not something to take too seriously. I know sports can be life or death for so many people, but I think everyone can agree that it is also just a fun, child’s game played by grown ups. I do also agree that sports are also a form of art that take years and years to perfect. Something as aggressive as a middle finger to the face can feel like such a criminal act that defiles the art of sports, but I think this is very cool.
I am a die-hard Dodgers fan but this picture is just a picture to me. I do understand the emotions that the Padres fan must be going through because I experience it often when watching a Dodgers game or any sports match, especially when in-person. I can see how this one picture could have circulated around as a work of art.
As a big Padres fan myself, I feel the need to agree with most of the statements in this article. Yes, its been great the past few years that we are now competitive with the Dodgers organization, especially after our playoff run last year. However, because of that, whenever the Padres and Dodgers play, I usually at least see one fight during or after the game. However, I might say that the Padres organization might encourage this in some ways. The last home series, the first game on a Friday was beer-fest and Cinco de Mayo. So discounted alcohol and Dodgers fans equal a disaster. Fights also equals press and as many people say, there is no such thing as bad press. I hope the Padres organization addresses the uptick in violence during Dodgers games, but I doubt much of a difference is going to be made.
I’ve heard stories where Dodger fans go to extreme measures to show support for their team, often times leading to physical altercations. The Padres fan must feel a sense of pride and responsibility to stand up for their team. But I think it’s interesting because that could be the nicest Dodgers fan ever but because they’ve been labelled as a “Dodger” and so they get that treatment from the Padres fan.
I love sports, and while this shows an action that isn’t within the norm of a casual life encounter, I can view it from a passionate athletics perspective. We all know how competitive sports teams are, and I personally love to see how invested people become to teams. It brings feelings of joy to see fans so
committed and passionate towards a team. I am originally from LA…so I’m a Dodger fan and honestly I am not upset at this photo. I get it. This piece of art depicts the true display of deep emotion towards sports.
I love sports, and while this shows an action that isn’t within the norm of a casual life encounter, I can view it from a passionate athletics perspective. We all know how competitive sports teams are, and I personally love to see how invested people become to teams. It brings feelings of joy to see fans so committed and passionate towards a team. I am originally from LA…so I’m a Dodger fan and honestly I am not upset at this photo. I get it. This piece of art depicts the true display of deep emotion towards sports.
It’s interesting in the way that people are fighting for things they love and their identity. Usually, emotional responses will only be triggered by things people care about. In this case, the author, as a Padres fan, loves the team and treats himself as part of the community of Padres. With the communal goal of achieving success, his sense of identity empowered him to be against the rival Dodgers, leading to a sense of belonging as well. And his delight towards the picture of the Padres revenging back Dodgers is therefore understandable.