UM Sigma Chi Sued For Firing Cannon At Old Man’s Face

Dillon Cheverere12 years ago

I know that sounds like a dramatic, trumped-up title only worded in a way to get clicks, and maybe that’s partly true, but it is a fact that members of Sigma Chi at UM fired a cannon at a 62-year-old man’s face. They fired a blank, of course, and they used “Touchdown Tommy” during a football game at Sun Life Stadium, a cannon used to signify points scored at a University of Miami football game as has been tradition since 1945.

Steven Murphy, a photographer working the Miami-USF game on November 17 of last year, was walking the sidelines when he strolled directly in front of Tommy Touchdown as it went off. It turns out a cannon, even while firing blanks, can still do some serious damage to a human head, especially one atop an old-timer like Steven Murphy.

Look at the above photo of Tommy Touchdown. He’s just a little guy, isn’t he? But that’s quite a blast he’s got there. There’s no mention in the article of exactly how close Murphy was to the muzzle at the time of the blast, but apparently it was close enough to rock his world.

From Miami New Times:

…according to a complaint filed November 15, the bro life didn’t agree with Steven Murphy. While photographing a game against USF last year, he was shot by the cannon and severely injured. The 62-year-old is suing the fraternity for damages in excess of $15,000 because the blast caused him hearing loss and “loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life.” He claims that the bros weren’t properly trained to use the cannon and that they didn’t warn him to move out of the way.

“the bro life”…sick. Some writers just can’t help themselves.

Just 15 grand, or “in excess” of 15 grand, for hearing loss and “loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life”? That’s a bargain. Write the check and be done with it, guys.

[via Miami New Times]

Image via HurricaneSports