After a year inside removed from our sports teams, this summer was meant to be a joyous reunion inside the cathedrals to the sports we love.
The vaccines rolled out, our stadiums filled up, and incidents of sports fans acting like children began to spark up again. It started in the NBA playoffs, with stars like Russell Westbrook and Trae Young having popcorn thrown and spit rain down on them from the stands.
On Saturday night, the return of America reached a new low in all-too-familiar fashion.
At the end of the sixth inning of the Nationals-Padres game at Nationals Park, gunshots were fired and at least four people were shot outside the third base gate. The sounds of gunfire sent panic throughout the stadium as the game was paused.
Announcements over the PA system encouraged fans to stay inside the stadium, and they scrambled into dugouts, suites and bathrooms trying to take cover. Players ran into the stands to grab their families and take them back to the clubhouse to stay safe.
Patrick Corbin, the Nationals starting pitcher for the game, was seen roaming the concourse talking on the phone with his family as people ran for cover.