Anthony Rendon made headlines late last week after an altercation with a fan. Rendon was filmed grabbing a fan by the collar after a Los Angeles Angels game. The former World Series champ can be heard in the video stating the fan called him a name during the game. While Rendon's actions aren't justifiable, fan and player altercations are becoming popular. Bradley Beal has recently been involved in an altercation with a fan after a Washington Wizards game. As issues continue to grow, players will continue to take the brunt of the punishments.
On Monday, Rendon learned that he will be suspended for five games stemming from the incident. In the video, you can see that Rendon attempts to strike the fan. If Rendon would have connected with the strike, his issues would have been far more than a suspension. However, the fan altercation does bring up a more significant issue. Can players be better protected from harassing fans? While Rendon's actions aren't acceptable, fans shouldn't be able to be that close in that situation.
Anthony Rendon Can Appeal Suspension
Heckling has long been a part of sports. Sadly, it is what comes with the territory. However, there has to be a better way to protect the players and even the harassing fans. The situation with Anthony Rendon could have been a lot uglier. Though it was bad, thankfully, the situation didn't escalate. We've seen horrific situations in the past involving athletes and fans. "The Malice At The Palace" is the first incident that comes to mind.
Grabbing control of these situations is vital to the safety of everyone at the game. It is sad that these are situations that have to be thought about. However, plans must be in place to de-escalate situations like this. Players must be more aware of these situations. But at the same time, players don't have situations like this on their radar at an event. What can leagues do to protect players and fans in situations like this? Let us know your recommendations in the comment section below. As always, stay right here at HNHH for all the latest news in sports.
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