Now here's the way everyone really wanted to spend Christmas Eve... being beaten up at a Wal-Mart by ravenous wolves stressed out over holiday shopping.
Man beaten in checkout line disputeMatthew Baures loves Christmas, but he learned the hard way that there is very little holiday cheer while waiting in line at a Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve.
The 22-year-old Berwyn man was pummeled with a baseball bat and beaten by as many as four people after a dispute over a place in line at a Forest Park Wal-Mart.
The best line in the article is the compassionate quote from Forest Park Police Sargeant Mike Keating when he said, "I'm glad I got my shopping done early." Gotta love a civil servant with a heart!

December 27, 2003 12:18 AM
Oh-oh Joel, not another "tragedy while shopping at Wal-mart" story! The last one definitely raised some hackles! Hmmm, and I'm headed to Chicago for the New Year's Eve Blackhawks game, should I go armed or just stay away from the Wal-mart??
December 27, 2003 12:23 AM
I'm gonna have to say that you are probably taking a bigger risk going to a Blackhawks game than going to Wal-mart! Have fun, eh?
December 28, 2003 07:10 PM
thank you for posting the story from the sun times ...
heres a good one for ya ... A friend of mine who is a marine gave me a military helmet to wear next time I go shoping on x-mas eve... hek Im just glad Im still able to laugh, lol.....
have a happy new year
MB
February 6, 2005 04:02 AM
I have discovered through this experience with the press that sometimes a comment one believes is "off the record" will come back to bite you in the arse as a major mis-quote. This comment was taken out of context, "and i'm sure you hear that all the time". I think the reporter for the Sun Times was a newer guy, so I won't blame him. I did say that that quote, but it was not said as "a lack of compassion" but it was a reiteration of what the reporter and I discussed in the first place in an "off the cuff side-bar conversation" of the ridiculousness of last minute shopping for Christmas while I faxed him the village official press release. A sad comment to journalism, anything for a first page story.
April 1, 2006 01:31 PM
No need explain yourself the whole story was misquoted, the only ones who know what realy happend that night are the ones who lived it...
And even I thought it was a funny Quote; And I waish I also got my shopping done earlier...
Never trusting the press again MB