Post #427630 by ikitnrev on Wed, Jan 7, 2009 8:13 AM

It is a sad story. Lopez was on vacation with friends and family, including his 16 year old son, after being stationed in Afghanistan. Three years ago, he had been shot in the stomach and leg, I presume from combat during his Army service. To finally make it through that, make it back home, and then die on what started as a friendly night out is a real shame.

Other articles say that Lopez had selected Margaritaville on the jukebox, and two others in the bar started ridiculing the song. Those two later selected a Kayne West song, and Lopez and his friends returned with some ridicule against the Kayne song. The two groups became disorderly, and were asked to leave the premise by the bar owners ...... and the altercation resumed in the parking lot. The main trauma happened with a blow to the back of the head when Lopez hit the ground - it is uncertain whether he fell because of a blow or a slip on the ice. It is all under investigation.

It is foolish to blame either Jimmy Buffet or Kayne West for this incident - neither are known for violence in their songs. It is just as silly to blame Jimmy Buffet if one of his songs was playing on a car radio when a drunk driver crashes. If anything, blame the type of people who become loud and belligerent and initiate arguments in a bar ( I try to avoid these people anyway), get kicked out by bar management, and still feel the need to defend their honor and escalate things to fistfights.