Sacked: Steelers Fan Tweets That He Would Rush Field . . . Steelers Security Rushes The Fan

Like many others, I watched both NFL games yesterday. However, the Cowboys/Lions game proved far more exciting than the Ravens-Steelers game. It was only because we could not get a good view of the stands. Steelers fan Jake Berlin was also a bit bored and decided to tweet that he was going to run onto Heinz field. Among his frenemies on social media was Steelers’ security which promptly located him and threw him out of the stadium — leaving him with these before and after selfies.

Berlin first posted the selfie below with “Screw it, #Steelers are losing anyway. 400 RTs and I’ll run onto Heinz Field.”

The next selfie showed him 20 minutes later in a security vehicle being escorted out of Heinz Field with the note: “SOMEONE TAGGED THE STEELERS AND SECURITY CAME TO TAKE ME AWAY. OH MY GOD.”

It raises an interesting question of the basis for removal for a future offense. It is true that he was threatening to disrupt that game, which is likely sufficient for the stadium to act. However, I assume that he assured security that he was just kidding. If that was the case, was he being removed simply for making what he considered a joke?

We have seen the dubious no joke policy enforced by the TSA as if it were a federal law (which it is not). I certainly understand the need for the Steelers to intervene, though the Steelers’ security showed more speed than the Steelers’ defense in the sack. However, unless Berlin said that he really intended to rush the field, the questioning would have been enough to send a message. On the other hand, the team likely views such tweets as something that quickly build, like a flash mob, into a serious disruption. What is most interesting, as we have seen in other circumstances, is the speed with which businesses now see such tweets and postings.

Source: CBS and LA Times