Angels Fan Dies

An Angel among us, Brian Powers, 27, from Buena Park, California, died after reportedly being struck in the head on Monday night's opening day at Angels Stadium. The Internet is buzzing with "details" of what happened or might have happened. Tragedy, that is what happened. I am guessing that there is definitely enough blame to go around, whether it is police, security, opposing fans or Brian himself, but the real problem is not any of those, it is what happens when you bring alcohol into the mix...same old song and dance every single time!

Believe me, I am the first one who enjoys a tall cold beer from the Bud stand and one of those big tasty dogs to go along with it...but the fact remains that if they want these events to stay family friendly, they need to remove the beer, plain and simple! I am a security officer who knew Brian Powers and can honestly say that if alcohol had been unavailable to fans that day, tempers would have not ran so high. I have worked many events that start out cool and end up with riots, fights, words and fists, from alcohol consumption.

I know most of you have heard the term, "One bad apple, ruins it for all." This case is no exception. Most people can enjoy a cold one while watching the game, but it is a proving, scientific fact that people become more aggressive, bold and "mouthy" after consuming only 4-6 beers. If you introduce beer into a game that lasts approximately just even three hours, the average male can consume up to a 12 pack or more during that time...I say average loosely because I know of people who easily could consume more than that!

This entire ordeal is a tragedy, no longer for Brian, but for Brian's family and friends who loved him. If you want to be real here, I bet it will be a tragedy for the other guy too, once he sobers up and realizes that a life was lost over something very trivial I am sure. The real losers here, was not a baseball team, not the on-lookers, not Angel's stadium, but the families involved, the young man who lost his life to an argument.

Brian was a great young man with tons of life ahead of him, he was a friend to many, a son to two, a co-worker to several and a baseball fan for life. I really hope that this brings different rules to baseball, hell, sports events in general! I will miss my beer at games, but the after parties at home can be just as fun. I for one, do not want to take my kids to a baseball game, put them at risk to knocked down a flight of stairs, pushed over a bleacher or soaked down with a spilled beer from some drunk guy, not my idea of a family outing!

The media and stadium officials want answers, they want witnesses, well have they ever thought that maybe some of those witnesses were frightened or traumatized kids? If I was some 10 year old who just witnessed a guy die in front of me, because of a brutal fight in the stands...I'm probably not going back to another baseball game again, unless it happens to be little league (even those get ugly at times)!

The family would like to put this behind them if at all possible, move on with the mourning process and put some kind of closure to their loss. If you have any information that you feel would be helpful, the Police are asking the public to step forward. Anyone with information on the assault was asked to call Anaheim police at (714) 765-1944

Brian, you will be terribly missed and your loss will affect many. Life will not be the same but may you be at peace buddy.