News from out of left field: An O’s fan took a stand on the matter of the unending career of Alex Rodriguez last night.
As a ticket-buying Orioles fan, Tolbert Rowe exercised his right to stand up in his seat, and turn his back toward home plate last night each time the Yankees’ much-scandalized star stepped into the batter’s box.
This dude is refusing to watch A-Rod’s at bats: pic.twitter.com/12QGRaKAzs
— Tim Anderson (@TimmyWade94) April 13, 2015
Update: pic.twitter.com/JXQtj8PIaC
— Tim Anderson (@TimmyWade94) April 14, 2015
This went on throughout the game.
He may have blocked a few people in the rows behind him out in left field, but, like any good protestor, the Eastern Shore resident got some media attention for his work.
Turns out, Rowe is also a member of the Caroline County school board. The Washington Post caught up with him to find out why such a fan would engage in such an act.
“Because he’s the worst,” Rowe said. “He’s the epitome of all that was wrong about it. And he’s been so successful. Maybe it’s jealousy, maybe it isn’t. But I just don’t think that he deserves to be in the class with other players that have never had … and I mean, he lied about it. I’m sorry. He doesn’t deserve my respect.”
Rowe was of course referring to Rodriguez’s role in the Biogenesis PED scandal. The Post points out that former Orioles player Nelson Cruz was at one point caught up in the same scandal. But that didn’t matter to Rowe.
As he watched the bottom of the seventh inning, a reporter asked Rowe why he didn’t mind the Orioles signing Cruz. He paused. “It was different,” Rowe said. “Cruz’s record wasn’t anywhere near what A-Rod’s was. It would be similar to me finding out that Cal Ripken was on steroids during The Streak.”
Along with the attention, Rowe is found out for himself Tuesday that notoriety comes with haters. Vice called him a “maniac.” Deadspin catalogued him among “Bad Fans.” And, proving that mainstream criticism can be a little passive aggressive, NBC Sports called him “not at all a jackwagon.”
Same time tonight, Tolbert?
