PETA Slams NBA's Manu Ginobili for Swatting Bat During Game
by Amanda Schinke
On Saturday, a bat found his or her way into the San Antonio Spurs game. (Some speculate that the animal didn't just fly in by accident.) The bat, of course, did what anybody would do in such a terrifying, unfamiliar situation—try to get the heck out of there—which, naturally, delayed the game. Until, that is, Spurs guard Manu Ginobili smacked the bat out of the air and slammed the animal into the hardwood court. Sports blogs across the 'net have been replaying the video of Manu in action as they celebrate his quick reflexes.
Here's our take on it: To bludgeon a 4-ounce animal to death, it takes either a small man or a totally unthinking one—with no respect or consideration for lives humbler than his own. This is a time when athletes in particular need to be on their best behavior around any animal and show that they have brains and a heart, not just reactionary brawn.
Bats always try to avoid contact with humans, and there are plenty of easy ways to keep bats out of a basketball arena (or your home). We hope that the next time someone's life is on the line, Manu Ginobili will take just a few seconds to think before he acts.
Read more on OpposingViews.com: Spurs' Manu Ginobili Catches Live Bat During NBA Game
PETA Slams NBA's Manu Ginobili for Swatting Bat During Game
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So...
That was like the coolest thing I have ever seen, shows how much of a badass Manu is, I usually hate the Spurs but that was awesome, Go Manu!!!!!
- Jonny Quest
November 2, 2009 2:15PM
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Bat
No suprise that someone with the calling himself "Jonny Quest" would use both "cool" and "awesome" in the same sentence.
- Larchmont
November 5, 2009 4:25PM
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Different view
Some news reports, as well as the Spurs, are saying that the bat was merely stunned. So perhaps PETA should be thanking Ginobli for saving the bat which would have ultimately met its demise in the Alamodome. Instead, it is out flying free with all its bat friends and is saying (in bat language), "Thank you Manu!"
- pm88
November 2, 2009 2:51PM
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Bat killing-Not cool
I am no fan of PETA but it is not likely that the little bat survived the smackdown it got. While it is amazing he was able to catch it in mid-air, what transpired was not very cool. The poor thing was frightened out of it wits and should have been captured in a humane fashion-oh,wait, that might hold up the game! So what if we kill one bat-that's only allows for thousands more bugs to be flying around out there-some carrying West Nile Virus.
Someone needs to clarify if the bats was killed or not.
- batwhisperer
November 2, 2009 3:32PM
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The Bat
Um...seriously, who cares? The bat is dead or its not. Mother Nature will have a replacement on the way soon enough if it is, and if it survived as reported, it's out there eating insects as I type this. Get over yourselves. We have two American wars going on, killing people daily, nations in economic recession which impair or destroy the lives of thousands, man and animal, on a weekly basis, racism , aggression, inequality, discrimination , damage to our ecosystems, religious and class strife daily and you're worried about the outcome of ONE bat vs. an NBA player? Come back to the real world. Why don't you reactionaries try and be activists for something that actually benefits the world. We've got the Humane Society, PETA is unnecessary and nothing more than a sound-bite chasing organization. You want to help animals , then start trying to find ways to end mandatory euthanization of impounded animals. Fund animal rescue/rehab facilities for victims of maltreatment like Michael Vick 's animals, and for the love of pete, stop proselytizing like a bunch of tent preachers.
- badkarma989
November 3, 2009 2:57AM
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Seriously...
^^ What (s)he said. ^^
- SolarSanitizer
November 3, 2009 8:45AM
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Wait a minute...
Are you really comparing Michael Vick to this? (I am referring to "no respect or consideration for lives humbler than his own" link)
Perhaps you should take a step back and think about what you are saying.
Michael Vick tortured and fought dogs. After he got them done fighting, he would pull their teeth and use them for breeding purposes. That is a sick human being, and completely wrong.
Ginobli reacted to a bat flying at his him. Key word being: REACTED. Any normal human being tries to swat away high velocity objects rocketing towards them. Not everyone is a bat expert and knows that the animal tries to avoid contact.
Of course it is sad that the situation ended like that, but to compare it to what Michael Vick did is completely asinine.
My favorite quote on this so far has been:
"I normally have some ill-will-filled feelings towards PETA , because I tend to think they rely too much on publicity stunts and less on 'actually helping animals '."
- jayhog71
November 3, 2009 3:13PM
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wasting time on small things
I agree, there might have been a way to get the bat in a net or something and release it. A bird flew into a department store and employees were screaming as if it was some kind of monster and wanted someone to kill it. My son and I tried to catch it to release it but couldn't. But still, does this really need to become such a big issue? It was ONE BAT! Millions of animal around the world are having their habitats destroyed. Why don't the animal rights people fund some wildlife rescues instead of putting so much effort into unimportant things like this!!
- dancetoday
November 4, 2009 11:19AM
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What?
We're killing babies --- with souls and someone's worried about killing a bat? Wow... Great job Manu!! Your skills deserve a raise.
- frmrlesbian
November 4, 2009 11:13AM
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Realistically Speaking.....
We just lost a 14 year old here due to a bat bite(rabies). What would have happened if the bat was infected with rabies and had bitten Manu? You can't find out until you catch or kill the bat to find out if it was infected....and then it is too late.
Would PETA step up and pay for all of Manu's medical bills and/or funeral expenses - probably not.I understand that PETA's goal is to protect the animals - but I think they should be smart in picking their battles.
- TexasGurl
November 4, 2009 1:30PM
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TexasGurl for the Win
Bats are very much known to be potential carriers of rabies. For one to have died in a reactionary way is in no way a bad thing considering it COULD have been carrying rabies, bite a person and then that person could have potentially died from it.
- sfgiantsfanmike
November 4, 2009 4:15PM
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PeTA and HSUS want to end all animals
You are wrong regarding the goals of PeTA and HSUS. Both organizations have the same people in each organization at various times. HSUS is busy using the money you gave them to help homeless animals on passing laws that will make owning animals impossible. Wayne has said many times it is time to end the use of all animals and he doesn't care if there are no more animals for food , companionship, or medical research. These two groups are led by animal rights zealots who insist that the only way is to make all domestic animals extinct. That is their goal not animal welfare. They are out of the closet with their goals and you can no longer pretend they are anything but zealots who want your money to live high while causing the deaths of thousands of animals across this country. Giving money to HSUS or PeTA kills more animals yearly than any shelter in this country. MSN increases shelter deaths by the thousands and PeTA runs vans filled with volunteers who trap and kill any animal they can get their hands on. The German High court convicted PeTA of doctoring videos and hiring people to skin animals alive for their fake videos. These two groups should be banned for duping the pubic.
- Rosset
November 5, 2009 3:53AM
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This would not be tolerated in Transylvania
What the heck was Manu thinking?
- Count Dracula
November 6, 2009 6:10AM
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PETA please...
Seriously, why are you picking on Manu? His actions are trivial, when you consider what was being sold at the game. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and other animal products. The fact is hundreds if not thousands of animals died just to feed the fans at that game. And you are complaining about Manu smacking one bat! Please.
- FredTheViking
November 6, 2009 7:20PM
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