DETROIT, MI (AP)--Eric Davis gained conciousness last night in a Detroit
hospital, but has little recollection of the attack.
"I don't remember the warmups," says Eric Davis. "I don't remember going
out on the field. The only thing I remember is Greg cracking up a joke
about Big Daddy."
Meanwhile, the team's lockerroom has been silent since the attack. They
have to play the Madmen again today, but obviously the Outlaws are not into
it. "I understand the importance of winning today," says Stottlemyre, "but
the importance seems small when our friend came this close to losing his
life."
"Some things are higher on my list than winning," says Fryman.
Detectives are further investigating the attacks made on Cecil Fieler and
Eric Davis. After the attack, the two masked assailants managed to escape
as they got lost in the crowd. It is suspected they escaped by exiting
through the backdoor to an Italian restaurant within the stadium.
While Cecil Fielder and Eric Davis are unable to describe the attackers, a
hot dog vendor believes he saw the attackers. "They were both carrying
baseball bats, and they said they were going to them signed by Eric Davis
and Cecil Fieder," said the witness. "As I recall, one of them said, 'do
you accept Canadian bills?'"
Royals Owner Issues Statement
The Royals' owner and GM Peter Carbonetto held a press conference to
discuss various matters, but most notably the attacks on the two Outlaws
players, Cecil Fielder and Eric Davis. Only yesterday an article from the
Toronto Sun hinted that the owner of the Royals franchise was involved in
the attack, but Carbonetto made no reference to the article.
"First of all, I'd like to say on behalf of the entire Montreal Royals
organization, I wish best of luck to Eric Davis, Cecil Fielder and the
entire Deadwood Outlaws team.
"The loss of Eric Davis for the rest of the 1998 season will be felt not
only by his team but by the rest of baseball. Eric is truly a class act,
and several of the Royals players can attest to that.
"We have been competing with the Deadwood franchise this entire year, and I
want to say that if I had a choice of a team to lose to, it would be the
Deadwood Outlaws. Philip Raisor and his entire team is a model franchise.
"No question, the loss of Cecil Fielder and Eric Davis will be a serious
hindrance to their drive for the pennant. We cannot avoid the fact that the
two franchises are enemies on the field. But nevertheless, I and all the
players wish the best of luck to the Outlaws in their pursuit of the
pennant from the bottom of our heart."
