Shannon Stone's widow worried for son

ESPNDallas.com ^ | July 8, 2011

[ConservativeStatement]

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan says he spoke by telephone with the widow of the firefighter who died after a fall at Thursday night's game.

He says Jenny Stone told him that "she's very concerned about her son and the impact that this is having on him."

Shannon Stone, 39, fell over a railing in left field during Thursday night's game in Arlington, Texas, as he reached for a foul ball tossed to him by outfielder Josh Hamilton. Stone was at the game with his 6-year-old son, Cooper.

Jenny Stone, through Ryan, asked that the news media stop showing videos of the incident out of respect for her son. ESPN and MLB.com are honoring the request and have not posted video of the accident.

[TruJess]

A deliberate act? Hamilton deliberately threw it just out of this guy’s reach, thus deliberately sending him over the rail? Seriously? This was a freak accident and it’s completely unnecessary to claim that Hamilton deliberately did anything. As far as I know, the Rangers have no policy prohibiting tossing balls into the stands.

My thoughts and prayers are with ALL involved in this incident, including Mr. Stone’s family and friends, Josh Hamilton, and the Rangers organization.

[Pontiac]

When I watched the video of the accident I thought the chief cause was Shannon Stone’s choice of foot wear.

I noticed that Stone wore the very popular these days flip-flop or as they used to be known shower tongs (because they were used by soldiers in communal showers to prevent the spread of athlete’s foot fungus).

Flip-flops simply do not have the grip or provide the stability to your feet if you need to make quick moves. Had Stone been wearing athletic shoes have might not have went over that railing and he might be alive today.

[Moonman62]

Freak event or not, it happened because of a deliberate act by a player enticing a spectator into a precarious position leading to his death.

From what I read, Shannon Stone was yelling at Hamilton to throw him the next foul ball.

[ConservativeStatement]

The promotion that always concerned me was when items were shot from the playing surface into the crowd. Usually at indoor games like hockey and basketball. The shot item (a T-shirt wrapped into a ball, for instance) would be propelled into the second or third level. I have seen patrons reach and jump trying to get at one of the giveaways.

[TruJess]

True. But that can be said for almost anything. Life is fickle and our time is limited. My heart just really goes out to that little boy.