Originally deemed flu-like symptoms, Brian O'Nora's reason for departing the Phillies-Mets game in the bottom of the first inning was
inaccurately reported as : "the press box said that O'Nora swallowed his chew" before MLB Public Relations
set the record straight and upgraded the initial report of flu-like symptoms: "Umpire Brian O'Nora left Fri.'s PHI-NYM game due to serious medical condition. Despite many reports, he does NOT use any tobacco products."
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| Umpire Brian O'Nora |
Though discouraged by MLB, dipping and chewing tobacco are still authorized for use in professional baseball, though many players, coaches and umpires have replaced the practice with chewing gum.
UPDATED: This story initially cited erroneous reports from NBC Sports and Yahoo! Sports alleging O'Nora's use of tobacco products. As announced by MLB_PR, those claims were false.
Swallowing chah has been known to cause esophageal irritation and induce nausea and vomiting.
There was a nine-minute delay as umpire Adrian Johnson exited to the dressing room to don the plate gear; O'Nora did not return.
Video:
O'Nora runs off the field in the first, Johnson summoned to replace him at home (NYM)
Larry Barnett swallowed his chew on more than one occasion. Durwood Merril wrote in his book Barnett did it in Oakland in 1982 and there was a big brouhaha on the field with only three umpires to handle it.
ReplyDeleteWhen you do something this doltish and it affects your job performance, it is my personal feeling that there should be repercussions. Again MY OPINION. Players and coaches and managers and umpires doing this should be ashamed, with all of the kids watching. Yes, it is their right, but it is MY OPINION that it is not very pragmatic, scrupulous, or even worth the effort. Chew gum or eat sunflower seeds!
ReplyDeleteAgain, because I am anticipating the liberty loon-led backlash, MY OPINION. Not a "fact" or a fiat or edict. Just personal feelings.
ReplyDelete"Daddy, what is he chewing on, and why is he spitting?"
"Oh, umm, he's got herpes."
"What is that?"
"You get it from sitting on a tractor. Don't you watch Seinfeld?"
I've never understood how people can chew tobacco. What a disgusting habit.
ReplyDeleteI want to challenge this ejection on grounds of stupidity!
ReplyDeleteI completely disagree. Chewing tobacco is a bad habit for sure and I would not use it myself but this was just a freak accident.Tobacco isn't illegal and he is not the only Umpire who uses it. And I wouldn't really say it effects his job performance because he worked the World Series last year and is one of the best balls/strikes guys in the league. Hopefully swallowing dip will get him to stop using it because I can't imagine how nasty that made him feel. But you can't penalize him for something that is legal and used by other Umpires. If you penalize him, you should penalize Mike Everitt, Alfonso Marquez and Marty Foster among others because they can be seen every game with wads of this in their mouth and I'm sure there are others that hide it better.
ReplyDeleteYes, Russ, but if I walked off my job right at the beginning of my shift, I wouldn't be paid. Some people would be fired. I'm not saying O'Nora deserves a hook, but there should be some repercussions for it.
ReplyDeleteI certainly can penalize him, and if I were his boss he'd be read the RIot Act. I don't care if he fucked the Queen of England. Not sure what working a WS has to do with him missing work because he is a DUMBASS. For today, his "habit" caused him to miss work. Not an injury. Not the flu. But because his DUMBASS swallowed tobacco. If he is not bright enough to chew and not swallow (I've seen hookers on TV with better mouth control) then he needs to stop doing it. ONE OCCURRENCE IS TOO MANY.
ReplyDeleteAgain, not sure what the disagreement is about, this is purely my opinion, which is only based on common sense and scrupulousness (not baseball history). Trust me, I've watched REEFER MADNESS!
Like someone mentions above, it is legal. But it is STUPID. And if you miss work because of it you are, good sir, a DUMBASS! For his next assignment he should have to wear a dunce cap and a grass skirt.
ReplyDeleteYes but at work you probably get "sick days." Remember, these Umpires get 4 weeks off every season so missing 2 games is hardly a big deal. Yes he is stupid for doing it but you cannot penalize him because he did not break any rules. The only thing you could possibly do to him is take away 2 of his days off that were scheduled for later this year, That would certainly be fair.
ReplyDeleteLet me rephrase. It is a big deal that he is missing these two games especially since it is his fault. But you still cannot penalize him for it.
ReplyDeleteHey Gil: Check this out. Every player on the field ejected. This deserves its own thread!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.app.com/article/20130427/NJNEWS/304270061/Baseball-fight-at-Red-Bank-Regional
I cant believe you guys are taking the word from "the press box" that O'Nora swallowed his chew. This cannot be further from the truth. So before the public lynching takes place, I'm here to tell you this is absolutely false, because O'Nora does not chew tobacco! I've known Brian for 20 years and he is one of the nicest individuals you will ever meet. He never puts himself first....that's why you never hear his name on any of the sports channels. So rest assured my friends, no discipline is needed. Maybe a little compassion for a guy trying to work when he is sick as a dog, is in order.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, this is an inaccurate story and should be removed immediately.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/MLB_PR/status/328524706561007617
ReplyDeleteThat's what we get for believing Yahoo...
ReplyDeleteONora has left before, could it be related to this mysterious medical condition? Hope he recovers, David Rackley worked in his place over the weekend
ReplyDeleteAnd if he really WAS ill (unrelated to the tobacco insinuation), I retract my criticism!
ReplyDeleteDid you read my post.....O'Nora does not chew tobacco! You can now change your tune.
ReplyDelete