Randy (Big Unit) Johnson murders a dove

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When doves cry: Johnson kills bird with pitch

March 25, 2001

CBS.SportsLine.com

TUCSON, Ariz. -- A pitch by Randy Johnson hit and killed a dove flying in front of home plate.

The lethal pitch came during the seventh inning of the Arizona Diamondbacks' 10-5 victory against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.

The bird flew over catcher Rod Barajas' head and landed a few feet from the plate amid a sea of feathers.

"I'm sitting there waiting for it, and I'm expecting to catch the thing, and all you see is an explosion," Barajas said. "It's crazy. There's still feathers down there."

Johnson, the NL Cy Young winner and perhaps the game's hardest thrower, was not amused.

"I didn't think it was all that funny," he said.

In 1983, Yankees outfielder Dave Winfield killed a seagull in Toronto with a warmup throw. Police charged him with animal cruelty, although the charge was later dropped.

"This was a little more dramatic," Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. "I can honestly say I have never seen that before."

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), March 26, 2001

Answers

This is an outrage. Let's pass a law against fast balls.

-- (oh_no@Mr.Bill), March 26, 2001.

accidents happen

what's sick is to have a good laugh about it

-- (cin@cin.cin), March 26, 2001.


The dove was posthumously awarded first base and Randy given a warning for coming inside.

-- Major (le@gue.heat), March 26, 2001.

I agree, Lars is pretty sick. I'm suprised Uncle Boob didn't beat him to it.

-- when doves cry (not funny @ at. all), March 26, 2001.

I'm suprised Uncle Boob didn't beat him to it.

Me too...losing my touch.

cin...Julia Roberts is still a dog...

-- Uncle Bob (unclb0b@aol.com), March 26, 2001.



Yeah, but what was the ruling on the pitch? Did Johnson get the call, or did the umpire call it a no-pitch?

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), March 26, 2001.

Season on Doves isn't till September. Bet the little mother carried unborn now murdered. This guy's lucky he's in Arizona.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), March 27, 2001.

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