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Streaker falls and gets concussion -
10-19-2002, 12:21 AM
Calgary streaker could face charges
[img]http://www.tsn.ca/images/stories/20021018/streaker_1011.jpg[/img]
CALGARY (CP) - It wasn't pretty when a streaker fell flat during his moment of glory at a Calgary Flames NHL game Thursday. With five minutes left in the game between the Flames and the Boston Bruins, the unidentified man, wearing nothing but a pair of red socks, climbed over the glass next to the penalty box.
But his landing was less than perfect. He wound up hitting his head and falling flat on his back in full view of fans.
"I felt bad for him, the poor guy. I thought he'd broken his neck," said Flames netminder Jamie McLennan.
The man, who was carried off the ice on a stretcher, recovered enough to give a series of fist pumps in the air before being sent to hospital.
"Once he started acting like a jackass on the way off, you really didn't feel that bad for him," said McLennan.
"It was more comedic relief for everyone. It's like a burglar who locks himself in the house with no escape."
The man was kept overnight in hospital and charges were pending Friday, said Insp. Peter Jackson of the Calgary Police Service.
"I can imagine the only one you'd really have is public nudity - indecent exposure," said Jackson.
Five years ago, a British visitor pulled a similar stunt at a Flames game but did so successfully. He took a lap around the ice before being arrested and later paid a fine.
"This guy was considerably more clumsy," said Jackson.
The incompetent streaker was the talk around water coolers in Calgary and even at the team's practice.
"It was weird. I mean everyone was in shock," said Flames forward Steve Begin. "What is this guy doing? I guess he had a few cocktails. It was funny."
But not everyone was laughing. A fan on the ice - naked or not - is still a security concern, said an angry head coach Greg Gilbert.
"Security around the National Hockey League's been bolstered, and it's a rare occurrence, but it's something we don't condone," said Gilbert.
"It's not only silly but it's dangerous, as was proved last night."
Last month, baseball coach Tom Gamboa of the Kansas City Royals was ambushed by a bare-chested father and his teenage son who ran out of their seats. The coach was cut and bruised after being tackled by the pair and before the Royals and Chicago White Sox rushed to Gamboa's aid.
"It's a touchy subject. I mean you want to feel like you're protected when you're there entertaining," said McLennan.
"You get some drunk fool or somebody who's whacked out on drugs or something. Who knows? It's too bad."
Management at the Pengrowth Saddledome is reviewing what happened, said Libby Raines, vice-president of building operations. She said it's difficult for 160 ushers and security staff to guard against the antics of 16,000 fans.
"Short of assigning one person to every individual in the building, it's difficult to protect against everything that people can come up with," said Raines.
"We check people coming through the doors for bags and things like that, but clothing is something we do expect people to have on when they come to the building."
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Streaker falls and gets concussion
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