Balloon Boy Sideshow: Neighbor Fistfights with Media

video

by Tommy Christopher | 8:25 pm, October 19th, 2009

» 5 comments

This was not my profession’s finest hour.

In a strange sideshow to the already trainwreckish main event that is the “Balloon Boy” saga, the Associated Press is circulating raw video of an altercation between a “Balloon Boy” neighbor and members of the assembled media.

Since no-one was apparently hurt, I think it’s okay to laugh at the media’s inability to contain the marauding civilian.

It’s hard to tell if the guy has a legitimate beef, but the animosity is clearly going both ways. What I love is the contrast between the guy in the yellow shirt’s decisive action, and how it works out for him. Also note how none of the scores of press people milling around come to his aid. There’s a reason these guys are covering the Heene driveway, and not Afghanistan.

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Department had no comment on the incident.

Tommy Christopher

ChrisNH

“There’s a reason these guys are covering the Heene driveway, and not Afghanistan.”

Best.Line.Ever.
Tommy Christopher

Heh, I was just laughing at that myself. Now, I don’t feel so bad.
craigsolve

The crusading professionals – the press and its stringers at their best, showing: no tact , cowardice, ineptitude, and taking three shots to the head. A real Norman Rockwell moment of Americana. No wonder the working press is loathed by so many, unless PRing a local fundraiser. Shame!
alexiaalline

I first time visited a blog of this kind of post of fighting. I had seen many posts on political fights, celebrity fights but I had never seen post of fighting of neighbors. It was fun reading it but could be more enjoyable if you post video also.green tea weight loss
sarainitaly

It appears the neighbor was totally in is right to be fed up, the media was blocking the road (why the heck are there hundreds of people there anyway? who CARES! the guy did this for the attention – QUIT giving it to him!)

He was right, too, about the guy jumping him from behind. And you can hear someone say, “Turn off the camera’s, we’re winning anyway” Turn off the cameras? A media employee attacks a person, and the media wants to turn off the cameras?

Skinny dude was totally right to be pissed, and the media was totally wrong.