Gamboa's hearing impaired since attack

Kansas City Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa is not planing any legal action. AP

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The hearing in Tom Gamboa's right ear has been impaired since two men attacked the Kansas City Royals' coach at Comiskey Park last week.

Gamboa plans to see a hearing specialist but hopes the condition is temporary. He had an MRI Monday on his sore neck.

"My neck feels a lot better," Gamboa said Tuesday. "They wanted to check my cervical spine, but I think it's OK."

Gamboa was standing at first base during the ninth inning of the Royals-White Sox game last Thursday night in Chicago when a man and his son jumped out of the stands and attacked him. They were quickly engulfed by Royals players, who rushed to Gamboa's aid.

William Ligue Jr., 34, is being held on $200,000 bail. His 15-year-old son also faces a felony charge. If convicted, the father could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

Gamboa first noticed the hearing loss several days ago.

Teenager remains in custody The 15-year-old who ran on the field with his father during a game and attacked Kansas City Royals coach Tom Gamboa will spend at least two more weeks in custody. When Fans Attack From Chad Kreuter's foray into the Wrigley Field stands to 10-cent beer night, review the history of fan violence at sporting events. • Photo Gallery: The attack

"I was on the phone and kept thinking I had a bad connection. Then I put the phone in the left ear and I realized the right side was where my face was all swollen up when I came into the clubhouse (after the attack).

"When I was on the bottom of the pile, the right side of my face got compressed into the ground. Our team doctor thinks (the hearing loss) will go away. But I'm going to see a specialist."

Gamboa has been contacted by several lawyers who told him he could get money from the White Sox, but the coach doesn't plan legal action.

"The fault is with the two people who did it," he said. "I'm not one who looks to place blame. It's nobody's fault but the two idiots who did it."

He's also heard from many apologetic Chicagoans.

"I've gotten a lot of letters and calls from White Sox fans that I don't even know. They all say the same thing -- "I'm a die-hard Sox fan and I'm ashamed and appalled at what those two guys did to you and please don't take it as a reflection of our city or our fans cause that's not how we feel.' And I know it's not."

 

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