Every once in a while, sporting events get interrupted by mouth-breathing morons who decide that the only thing missing from the game is a personal appearance from a walkin', talkin' rectum -- namely, themselves. Usually lubricated by healthy doses of alcohol, these idiots hold up play, distract the fans, tie up security, and all to feed their own senses of inadequacy. At one time, the interruptions had some humor to them, but that was before:

* A crazed Stefi Graf fan stabbed Monica Seles on court and pretty much ended her career (1993)

* Royals coach Tom Gamboa got attacked by a father-son duo and barely avoided being stabbed (2002)

* Houston Astros outfielder Bill Speiers suffered whiplash and an eye injury from an attacking fan (1999)

* Umpire Lan Diaz gets tackled by a Chicago fan (2003)

With this kind of track record, players on the field know that if fans get past security, the only protection they have is that which they provide themselves. Just because the person in question wears the team colors of a particularly hapless NFL squad doesn't make them any less potentially dangerous. Anyone who doubts that this type of behavior carries career-ending risks just hasn't paid attention -- and anyone who sticks up for the mouthbreather fans who pull these stunts should ask Monica Seles what she thinks about fans making themselves part of the game.

Wanna join the game? Welcome to the NFL, dipstick.

UPDATE: Here's the news story from the Post-Gazette on the picture:

With 9:17 left and the Steelers lined up on offense at Cleveland's 28, a roly-poly Browns fan wearing orange socks charged out of the stands, through the Browns' sideline and toward Verron Haynes, lined up in the backfield.

Haynes veered away from the fan, who continued toward the Steelers' sideline. He slowed, turned his back and Harrison grabbed him and slammed him to the ground, holding him until security could cart the man away. ...

"When he first came out he took off after V," Harrison said. "He started toward our sideline, he turned around and started backing up toward our sideline, so I don't know if the guy had anything on him or whatever. With his back to me, I thought I could take him down safely without risking injury to myself or my teammates and hold him there until the proper authorities came."

The idiot should count himself lucky that he didn't require an ambulance to take him off the field.

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