The attached story might make some of you sick or bring a tear to your eyes, but we need to take action and let the Chicago Cubs know how we feel about this.

Charlie


Osprey hit by Cubs prospect dies

The osprey hit with a baseball allegedly thrown by Cubs minor league pitcher Jae Kuk Ryu during a pregame practice in Daytona Beach, Fla., died Sunday, officials said.

Witnesses said Ryu, a 19-year-old South Korean pitcher for the Class A Daytona Cubs, tried several times during pregame practice April 21 to knock the osprey from its perch with a baseball before finally hitting it.

He was charged Thursday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with harming a protected bird. The second-degree misdemeanor carries a maximum fine of $500 and 60 days in jail.

Commission officials said Monday the death doesn't affect the charges.

Ryu was later demoted to the Class A Lansing (Mich.) Lugnuts of the Midwest League.

Ospreys are recognized by the state as a species of special concern, meaning their habitats are vulnerable.

The Associated Press contributed.

This Osprey had been a fixture at the ball park for over 15 years and was killed by this thoughtless 19 year old Korean pitching prospect who should have his green card canciled and sent back to Korea.

I am damn angry about this egregious act against nature!

Charlie

While I agree that it was a senseless act of cruelty, I dont feel that he should receive any more punishment than any other thoughtless teenager who kills one with a pellet gun. The punishment must be in accordence to the laws governing such actions.

Beat, in most cases I'd agree; however, he is a professional athlete and is cast in a different light. He is a role model (esp. to Koreans) and with it comes responsibility.

BTW, 19 year old are adults.

I'm with Charlie on this one. A stiff fine by the league is in order.

Lord! What a moron!! I'm a gun owner, but I don't kill animals. Before you start, don't. I support peoples right to hunt. However, not with baseballs, and not endangered birds. Wow, pretty amazing.

Very Sad!! I would hope that he was being a stupid kid, but I know that I never did such disgusting things when I was 19!! What's really sad is that you only get a $500 fine wor wanton cruelty, and to a protected species no less!!

Charlie, did you ever read Dominion, a book JR recommended? You should, it's a real eye opener about our treatment of animals, and it's written by a conservative!!

Maybe that is how he got to be a good pitcher. When he was a boy perhaps he practiced throwing rocks at what would later be dinner.

What ever the reason, my knee jerk reaction is to send him back home, but there are laws governing this and we should abide by them like it or not.

What needs to be done is make harsher punishment for animal cruelty. Laws in most states are worthless. You can set an animal on fire just to watch him burn and just get your hands slapped.

There is a dog here in the Dallas area that a teenager gouged his eyes out. I think the kid got off with a warning. People need to band together and get tougher laws on the books.

for, not wor...

... to hell with him I say and send his inconsiderate ass back home ... regardless of "fairness to all" in equal punishment for equal crime, I do not feel that that anyone that is not a U.S. Citizen should be afforded the same liberties as those that ARE American Citizens. Likewise, I don't feel they should automatically qualify for our financial aid packages either (i.e., Welfare, Free Healthcare, WIC, Social Security, etc).

- just cancel his VISA and send this dumb-ass back home as a lesson to anyone else that wants to come over here and be disrespectful.

We might not be able to get rid of the dirt-bags that we already have in this country - but we sure as hell ought to be able to keep new ones from entering.

(Just my own personal and humble opinion)

Just to clarify, I'm not saying that most conservatives are against animals, just that we more commonly associate animal rights or protection with liberals. Not trying to infer anything.

I think the little **** should, be made to stand on the plate, and let every pitcher, in the majors, throw their HEAT, at him until he is dead, then ship his remains back home.
Maybe I am being emotional, maybe not.
Dave

If you guys think this is bad you should look at what the "esteemed" members of the Safari Club International do in the name of conservation, they are even more cruel and disgusting!! They give all hunters a bad name!!

Not trying to threadjack, it's just that this thread has me going!!

....I am a member of The Safari Club......seriously

But, I'm a nature lover as well as hunter. Some give others a bad name.

Sonny - The members of SCI that hunt caged animals, drugged animals, or otherwise unfair hunting practices gain no respect from me. And the lengths that some members go to in order to hunt protected species is appalling. If you are not one of these members then I apologize for lumping you with them, but if you are then I have no respect for you as a hunter or a person.

Maybe he was hungry?

I am not a hunter and I am from a family that had many hunters and still does. I believe in the right to hunt animals, but not the right to destroy endangered species for a thrill or a trophy.

Who is the author of the book Dominion? I will read it and I am going to contact the Chicago Cubs about this idiot that they have in their minor league system.

Charlie

Dominion was written by Matthew Scully, he was the speech writer for GWB from 2001-2002

Libs support animal rights, most conservatives oppose "animal cruelty". The line is drawn with extremists at either end. Personally, I believe all extremists should be tortured to death...

Charlie, this is terrible! I will do what I can, maybe write to the Cubs and give them my opinion on this.

Once I tell my wife about this, boy, she & her Zookeeper associates will probably go after the Cubs to take action against this 19 yr old numbscull.

By the way. Who were the teamates that watched & did nothing? They are mature men & should have stopped him. There must be more than 1 loser in that franchise.

Mag

He should get the $500 and 60 days in jail. Period. If you or I did it, you can bet we'd prolly get both. Bet two primo sticks he didn't get the 60 days in jail. Judges have no "balls" these days. The league just hid him down in the minors; they have no "balls" either.

No frikkin use in putting laws on the books if you don't have people do the max stated in the law.

'scuse me, got my drawers in a knot...