Toucher & Rich: Fred Toucher and Joe Murray clash on proper seat etiquette at sporting events
During yesterday’s highly rated juggernaut known as the Toucher & Rich radio program, Fred Toucher shares an incident where he and his son were booted from seats multiple times while attending an event. Joe Murray, newly appointed night time guy on the Sports Hub, questioned why they were sitting in seats that weren’t theirs in the first place. Fred admits that he sat in someone else’s seats because he wanted better seats than the ones he had initially. Joe argued that if someone is rude when asking them to leave their seats, it’s partly Fred’s fault for occupying someone else’s space.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 13: Starting pitcher Kutter Crawford #50 of the Boston Red Sox throws against the Colorado Rockies in a general view of Fenway Park on June 13, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Fred Toucher: I was there yesterday. My son and I only got kicked out of seats five times. Some people are very rude when they kick you out of the seats that aren’t in my family’s seats. Get out. All right. You know, you control the cards here, sir.
Joe Murray: Did you sit in someone else’s seats that weren’t yours?
Fred Toucher: Yes.
Joe Murray: Yeah. So if someone’s rude, that’s on you. No. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Fred Toucher: There’s a way to say it, which is just like, Hey, dude, these aren’t your seats. And you go, go and you leave.
Joe Murray: What gave you the right to sit in someone else’s seats that weren’t yours?
Fred Toucher: What difference is it to just go? Hey, these are my seats.
Joe Murray: It doesn’t matter. Why did you sit? Do it, L.Z.?
Fred Toucher: Because I wanted better seats than I had.
Joe Murray: But then you sat in someone else’s seat. They were rude to you, and then you were upset about it.
Fred Toucher: I don’t think I’m upset. I don’t know if I’m saying anything to them. I just wouldn’t. All right. All right. I mean, I thought it was kind of funny. Well, what do you do when someone is?
Joe Murray: I don’t know. I mean, like I said, I’ve had season tickets for a long time.
Fred Toucher: Okay, So how do you say?
Joe Murray: Bro, these are my seats. See you later. Okay. Yeah, I probably have a jerk like those people were.
Fred Toucher: Yeah, but why? When you.
Joe Murray: Because I don’t domain. It’s my spot. It’s my yard.
Fred Toucher: That’s how you look at it.
Joe Murray: It’s your yard. It’s yours.
Fred Toucher: Seat. Right. So it’s yours? Yes. So you just go. Just go. Hey, these are my seats.
Joe Murray: Yeah, I could put you in my yard. It’s kind of you know, it’s kind of like hopping in someone’s backyard all of a sudden. It’s like “Hey, get off my yard.”
Fred suggests that people should simply ask politely for their seats back, but Joe maintains that it’s disrespectful to sit in someone else’s seats in the first place. Fred seems amused by the situation and claims that he wouldn’t be upset if someone was in his seat, while Joe firmly believes in asserting ownership of his seats.
The conversation turned heated as the two disagreed over how they would handle such situations. Fred disagrees with Joe’s approach of being assertive, while Joe emphasizes the importance of respecting personal space and property rights. Fred feels Joe is being too aggressive and accuses him of trying to act tough. In the end, they both express different viewpoints on how to handle confrontations over seating arrangements at events.
According to multiple sources, the following is proper etiquette from this situation:
Seat Occupant (Person in the Wrong Seat):
a. Be aware of your seating assignment and double-check your ticket or reservation to ensure you are in the correct seat.
b. If you realize you are sitting in someone else’s seat, apologize politely and move to your designated seat without hesitation.
c. Avoid arguing or becoming confrontational if the rightful seat owner approaches you. Be understanding and respectful of their request to vacate the seat.
Rightful Seat Owner (Person whose Seat is Occupied):
a. Approach the situation calmly and politely. Avoid using aggressive or confrontational language.
b. Politely inform the person that they are sitting in your assigned seat. They may not be aware of their mistake, so approach the situation with understanding.
c. If the person refuses to move or becomes confrontational, seek assistance from venue staff or event organizers rather than escalating the situation yourself.
d. If the issue is not resolved immediately, try to find another available seat nearby or seek assistance from event staff to find a suitable solution.
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Nick Gemelli is a Producer for the Toucher and Rich program and contributor for 985thesportshub.com. you can follow Nick at @NickGemelli on Twitter.
Follow @Toucherandrich on Twitter, @Toucherandrichofficial and @fredtoucher on Instagram to keep up with the show!
The greatest brawls in Boston sports history
Boston’s championship-winning ways is marked by intense rivalries and unforgettable brawls. These memorable fights not only showcased the competitive spirit of Boston’s athletes but also solidified their place in sports history.
Over the years, numerous iconic brawls have captivated fans and fueled rivalries throughout the city’s sports history. One such unforgettable incident occurred during the 2004 Red Sox season when they faced off against the New York Yankees. With the legendary 3-0 ALCS comeback and the mission to break the infamous “Curse of the Bambino,” emotions reached a boiling point. In the heat of the game, Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek confronted Alex Rodriguez after a tense exchange of words, forcefully shoving his glove into Rodriguez’s face. The ensuing bench-clearing brawl intensified the historic Red Sox-Yankees rivalry and etched itself as a defining moment of that remarkable season.
BOSTON – JULY 24: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees gets into a fight with catcher Jason Varitek #33 of the Boston Red Sox after Rodriguez was hit by a pitch by pitcher Bronson Arroyo in the third inning on July 24, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Both Rodriguez and Varitek were ejected from the game. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
In the 1984 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, another legendary brawl unfolded when Celtics forward Kevin McHale aggressively pushed Lakers’ Kurt Rambis at the rim. This moment epitomized the intense competition and physicality that characterized the Celtics-Lakers clashes during that era.
Moving ahead to 2018, the Red Sox were once again part of a memorable brawl. Pitcher Joe Kelly’s high fastball against Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin triggered a fierce altercation that united the 2018 Red Sox team and became a rallying cry for their eventual World Series triumph.
In addition, one of the most notorious brawls in Red Sox-Yankees history occurred during the 2003 ALCS. In a highly charged game, Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez found himself at the center of a memorable Fenway Park brawl, where he threw Yankees coach Don Zimmer to the ground, further intensifying the rivalry between the two teams.
Similarly, during a heated Celtics-76ers rivalry game in 1984, NBA legends Larry Bird and Julius Erving engaged in a physical altercation that led to both players being ejected. This incident perfectly exemplified the passion and competitiveness that defined the rivalry between these two great teams.
These brawls have become an integral part of Boston’s sports legacy, symbolizing the city’s unyielding spirit and the unwavering determination of its athletes to achieve victory. Boston sports fans cherish these moments, celebrating them as part of the city’s rich heritage of championship triumphs.
