What's wrong with people?

Yesterday, I read online about the guy in suburban Rochester, NY who after playing a somewhat contentious softball game replete with alleged trash-talking, cold-cocked one of the opposing players in the back of the head as the two teams lined up to shake hands after the game. The report went on to say that the victim later died of those injuries. The suspect had fled the scene, but was eventually caught. It was later determined that the suspect had a felony criminal history and had served a four year prison term from 2003 to 2007.

I found the report disturbing for many reasons. First off, I'm no stranger to violent crime, as I have been a practicing attorney specializing in criminal defense for the last twenty-two years. Nevertheless, this particular crime, under these particular circumstances, seems to me to be just a little more reprehensible than most.

What could the victim possibly have said during the trash-talking that would warrant such an act of violence? Was it worth taking the man's life? I don't know if the victim had a wife or kids (the report I read made no mention of it), but I'm pretty sure he left behind some family that will be devestated by this for the rest of their lives. And the suspect undoubtedly has some family or relatives that love him who will now endure the pain of watching their loved one vilified, referred to by the media as some sort of monster, and prosecuted for this venal, horrific act. And for what? Some comment that the victim may have said that insulted the manhood of the other guy? Whatever happened to that old mantra, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me?"

And what a cowardly, ugly way to exact revenge. The guy waits until the teams are lined up to shake hands at the end of the game, an act of good sportsmanship that is as traditional and revered as the games themselves. It's a time to put all the intensity and conflict of the game itself aside, and participate in the good feeling of sportsmanship. To pick that particular time to hit the victim is horrific enough, but to cold-cock the guy from behind in the back of the head, when he has no idea what's coming and is unable to defend himself is simply reprehensible.

What in the world would push someone to do something so venal, cowardly, and senseless? Is this who we are as a society? Is it always so necessary to be right, to exact a measure of revenge if someone insults your manhood or trash talks you in some other way? Frankly, I find the whole episode disgusting. And if this is indicative of what we are as a society, then I fear for us.