NEW RULE

Sports are not life.

On Wednesday, shortstop Jose Offerman was charged with assault. On Tuesday, Offerman charged the mound. He attacked two players with a bat. Offerman’s actions were deplorable. They were not criminal. Assault, murder, and robbery are criminal. Anger is not a justification. Offerman was wrong. However, we cannot microscope sports. Consider the ramifications. Trash talking. Menacing? A bean ball. Attempted murder? Sports are unique. They are not societal. They should not be a jurisdiction. Between the white lines, what happens, stays.