You may recall last year when a Red Sox fan was kicked out of Yankee Stadium during the seventh-inning stretch for leaving his seat as the patriotic song was playing.  He has since sued the team and a settlement was reached in Manhattan federal court yesterday.

Signing off on the deal were the Yankees, the New York Civil Liberties Union, and Bradford Campeau-Laurion, the Queens resident who was ejected from the game by security.  Campeau-Laurion will also receive $10,001 in a separate deal with the city of New York because he was kicked out by two uniformed cops, with one telling him to “get out of my country.”

I was always under the impression that the seventh-inning stretch was intended to give fans an added few minutes to hit up the washrooms.  Don’t we pay enough respect to our countries prior to the game?  I’m sure A-Rod would agree with that one.  And besides, making fans hold it in will only entice more incidents like this one.

[The New York Post]

At last night’s game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays, Matsui hit a hard lining shot in the fifth that headed over the wall in right field.  Luckily Officer Courtney Cozart was on duty right there and then as he snagged the home run ball.  After receiving approval from all the fans (and a couple who got a little to aggressive perhaps) he found a young boy in a Rangers jersey to give the souvenir to.  When asked about his decision on what to so with the pall, Officer Cozart said the following:

“I saw a kid with a Rangers jersey on and I thought he might be sad because the Rangers just lost. I thought that might cheer him up a little.” (NY Daily News)

A kind and caring gesture from the man in uniform who is reportedly no stranger to the baseball diamond or basketball court.  In fact, it has been reported that the 17 year veteran NYC Police Academy instructor is no pushover on the court or field.  I think a few GMs may have taken notice last night.

To check out the video, click here.