(This column was written April 11, 2011)

 By Shelly Saltman

"Honey, what do you want to do this weekend?"

"Let's take the kids to a Dodger game!"

That was a typical decision on beautiful Los Angeles weekend day.  That, however, was a long time ago.  That was before I gave up my four reserved seats which I had for over a decade.  Quite a few years earlier, I had let my annual renewal application for my Raiders  50-yard line reserved seats go unfilled.

Let me tell you why:  my son-in law, Danny, had taken my daughter and  my two granddaughters to a Sunday afternoon game.  We had planned a barbecue at my house for 5 o'clock that evening.  I was surprised when Danny and the kids showed up slightly after two. After all, the game started at 12:30.  Danny very wisely decided,  based on the foul language and the obvious high level of intoxication, it was not a place where he and his family wished to be.  The kids, 11 and 8 at the time, as well as my daughter were visibly shaken.

Violent incidents at sports events  are not uncommon.  However, in most cases, an irresponsible media and an obviously uncaring management do not goad them on. There in lies the plight of Los Angeles and its once-beloved Dodgers.

However, it goes deeper than that.  It is to shake our heads and ponder what has become of our young people;  however, a better question to ask is what have we taught our young people.  The message we communicate to our young people is muddled and hypocritical.  We give lip service to values:  love they neighbor, be truthful, and be responsible. Dishonesty reaps rewards until you get caught.  When you get caught you go to prison, but when you come out you write a best seller and make millions.

I do not think the thugs who beat up an unsuspecting Brian Stow this past week , will suffer that fate.  They are out-and-out "no-goods.  Ironically, Brian Stoy, father of two, a paramedic, wearing a San Francisco Giants jacket and trying to enjoy his first-ever game at Dodger Stadium, had sent a text to his friend back home in San Francisco that he was afraid of the crowd around and how they were acting. The limited security and the ushers were doing nothing to help the situation . 

There have been over the years many nasty incidents and not just confined to Dodger Stadium.  But what will the Dodgers actually do about a stadium careening out of control.  In the Dodgers case, unlike the halcyon years, they appear to have an owner who in response to this horrific attack gave what I would call a Marie Antoinette response.  At the height of turmoil in France when Napoleon was told that the populace had no bread, she replied "let them eat cake." That statement only enraged an unhappy populace.

Apparently unfeeling, Dodger owner Frank McCourt has responded with words. Yes. He has brought in the cop from Boston who once headed up the police force to review and beef up security.  Hopefully, he is not locking the barn door after the horse has been stolen.  We all respect to the First Amendment and the media's right to express its voice,  good broadcasters urge fans to support their teams.  Unfortunately, there a lot of these so-called "shock jocks" who actually advocate violence and retribution against visiting fans. 

One way to stop this rabble rousing is for the various station ownership to become responsible and not only read, but respect the charter that gives them the right to be on air in the first place.  It very plainly has a paragraph that distinctively calls for broadcasting for the best interest of the listener. In Los Angeles, this goes lacking. I urge the FCC to take heed and appropriate action. Then, of course, look at the overall media featuring and exalting reality shows that prey on the prurient interests of the listener. But then again ratings mean money and money means success ... BUT AT WHAT PRICE?  Here , an innocent young man from San Francisco lies in an L.A. hospital fighting for his life.

When the O'Malleys built Dodger Stadium they were there as a family supervising every detail.  Nothing was too small to check. They took pride in what they were building.  They knew the fans and the fans knew them.  They were neighbors and in constant high profile.

Fifty miles down the road, Artie Moreno, the owner of the Angels, shows how he cares for the fans.  He mingles with the people, asks for suggestions and tries to follow through.  He wants a fan-friendly atmosphere.

When I worked for Jack Kent Cooke, I learned a lot about him and his care for the community.  In this case, it was Inglewood, Calif.  Jack supervised everything from the menu to be served to the cleanliness and neatness of the Arena.  On the day of every game, he would personally check the cleanliness of the rest rooms, the dimness of the Arena and each  day before game time, he had me walk the perimeter of the parking lot to see if there were  any apparent potential problems. After all, as Chick Hearn was quick to point out, "The Forum ... the house that Jack Built."

Each week, I would meet with then Inglewood Police Chief Jay Stroh and check out all safety measures. If the Chief saw something wrong, it would be rectified before game time. If not, I would have my head served on a platter.  Mr. Cooke, who drove himself relentlessly, put the fan above everything else.

Now, there have been incidents elsewhere in the sports world. The Philadelphia Phillies have had their share of problems as have the Chargers, Padres, Steelers and Pirates, but in all instances, their ownership answered forcefully and with authority. Words were not enough in all cases, unruliness was met with the force of law.  However, in all cases, the fans respected the owners.  This is not the case in L.A.

After a Dodgers-Giants baseball game last season, a dispute over team loyalties  left one man dead in the Dodger Stadium parking lot. Experts say the assaults show the danger associated with being a sports fan in America. Behavioral expert Tom Carey says when a sports rivalry occurs, fans can easily convince themselves that the opposing team is the enemy. Carey says it is this type of environment that leads to unprovoked assaults.

The Dodgers have a dichotomy.  On one hand the have the most respected voice in sports in Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully and, unfortunately, a voice that is neither believed or trusted in the person of owner Frank McCourt.  Vin, the most persuasive spokesman any sports entity could have, no matter how good he is, cannot overcome the dalliances of Mr. McCourt.

After all, "All the King's Men could not put Humpty Dumpty together again."