If you have been to enough sporting events (professional, college, high school) then you probably have had to sit by that guy. The guy that is constantly screaming profanities, spilling drinks, or is just looking for a fight. He’s every spectator’s worst nightmare; the guy that you wish would just go away, the definition of an obnoxious fan. I’ve come across more than a couple of these types of spectators in my life but none of them have ever acted as crude or foul as 21 year old Mathew Clemmens did on April 14th at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

Clemmens and his friend sat behind off duty police officer Michael Vangelo and his family at the Philadelphia Phillies-Washington Nationals game. From the very first inning the two men were not acting in a family friendly manner. The two gentlemen sitting behind the family began cursing and heckling, but they were not cursing at the Washington Nationals players or even at their own Phillies but rather they were heckling Vangelo and his family. Clemmens and his friend continued harassing the family until Vangelo’s fifteen year old daughter asked the men to stop cursing around her younger sister. This of course prompted the two young men too heckle and scream even more.
The already bad situation got worse later in the ballgame; the family rose to cheer a Phillies homerun and were promptly showered with beer. The two gentlemen didn’t stop there though; Clemmens friend was later kicked out of the game after Michael Vangelo told security that he was spitting on Vangelo and his family.

The situation still had yet to hit its ultimate tipping point though, that would come later in an action by Clemmens that is really hard to fathom.
After Mathew Clemmens’ friend was ejected prosecutors say that Clemmens answered his phone and said "I need to do what I need to do. I'm going to get sick," After making that comment; Mathew Clemmens stuck his fingers down his throat and “projectile vomited” Jerry Vangelo said. Clemmens then punched Jerry Vangelo several times. Clemmens punches caused Jerry Vangelo’s ear to start bleeding and Clemmens didn’t stop throwing punches until he was tackled and restrained by neighboring spectators. Finally, after the profanity, the beer shower, the vomiting, and the punching police arrested Mathew Clemmens.

On the day of Clemmens sentencing the boy’s parents and grandfather made the ride up from Florida to testify on Mathew’s behalf. They told a story of a far different man then the one that was sitting behind Jerry Vangelo and his family on the night of April 14th. Those who traveled testified that Clemmens is a good person who volunteers in his community. After that testimony was given a crying Clemmens read his own written statement “"I'm working every day to clear this black mark from me and my family," Clemmens said. “Give me the opportunity to show you who I am and not who I was that one afternoon."

The stories of good will and the show of emotions by Mathew Clemmens on the day of the sentencing didn’t impress family court judge Kevin Dougherty who sentenced Clemmens to three months in jail, two years probation, and fifty hours of community service. When judge Dougherty read his verdict, Clemmens broke down crying. I would like to think that his crying is over the realization of just how awful his behavior was on the April 14th and not over the realization that he will be going to jail for three months. You’re going to have to forgive me, but in this particular situation I am not going to give this guy the benefit of the doubt.

When asked about Clemmens’ apology judge Dougherty commented that presenting yourself in a certain manner on the day of sentencing doesn’t reveal anything about a person’s character.

"Superficially you present yourself one way, but outside of the home you present yourself another way.”

As for the Vangelo family, they have been offered tickets to future Phillies games in the future by the Phillies organization and Phillies fans. Those offers do not do much good though, Jerry simply says that “"she does not want to go," referring to his daughter Mikayla. Jerry Vangelo hasn’t returned to Citizens Bank Park since that night either.

I probably made a mistake by earlier referring to this guy as simply a very obnoxious fan. His behavior on the night of April 14th was not just crude, or mean spirited, it was inhumane. I could ramble on about my opinion on Mathew Clemmens, but judge Dougherty said it best when he suggested that Clemmens should serve his community service by cleaning ballpark toilets and trash. I think he would feel right at home in that environment.

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