popular thinking

You thought this was going to be a post about the Bush Administration, didn't you? Ha. We know why they're lying, though. People in power want to keep power.
The situation in Oakland is different.
While Texas Rangers pitcher Frank Francisco reported to court yesterday to hear charges of aggravated assault for throwing a chair into the crowd Monday night and breaking a woman's nose, said woman and her hubby were holding court with the press to lay the foundation for -- ka-ching! -- a civil suit. But their lies will betray them. To wit, Craig and Jennifer Bueno admitted buying season tickets to A's games specifically to heckle the opposing bullpens. And yet, Jennifer claimed to be "scared" for her life, adding: "I would never expect professional athletes to behave that way." She holds season tickets and doesn't know how pro athletes behave in the 21st century? Her hubby said: "I'm certainly not going to do anything that will endanger my family." And yet, if you watch the video evidence (as a jury shall someday), you'll clearly see Mr. Bueno gesturing to the Rangers before the chair-hurling, with Bueno's hands and lips just as clearly challenging the Rangers to, as they say, bring it on. That's not excusing Francisco for throwing a chair.
The press may be focusing on the chair-in-the-air for now, but once they press rewind and examine the footage more closely, they'll see that Mr. and Mrs. Bueno wanted an aggravated assault. And they got what they wished for. Let's hope they don't get rewarded for it.