Powell's Blog WWE security goes overboard in confiscating fan signs, removes a fan from the building for holding up a sign with a PG version of a top wrestler's phrase By Jason Powell Oct 2, 2008 - 05:05 PM CLICK FOR BIO Email This Article | Printer Friendly Page Send Us News & Results | Back to Main Listing Thursday, October 2 – 5:05 P.M. (CT) It's a small world. Earlier this week, I listed some of the notable fan signs that were held up at the WWE Raw show at the Target Center in Minneapolis. It was later pointed out to me that one of the signs I missed read, "Urine Sample Please," which I mentioned in an audio update. I went to my softball game on Wednesday night and recalled that one of my teammates telling me that he was going to the show, so I asked him what the thought of it. He mentioned that he enjoyed what he got to see of it. My first thought was that he got stuck sitting behind a fan who held up a large sign all night. Rather, he and a friend brought their own signs to the show and that's where the problems started. Yes, you guessed it, my softball teammate, Ben Loney, was one of the guys who held up the "Urine Sample Please" sign during Batista's match. Security approached Ben and his friend Jonathan Minks and took the sign from them. They warned the duo that they'd be kicked out if they held up controversial signs. Loney and Minks laughed it off at the time. Ben later conceded to me that he knew this particular sign was pushing it and he didn't want to get kicked out, so he and Minks complied with security's request and only held up the tamer signs they had in their collection. Apparently, even those signs were not tame enough for WWE. Later in the show, building security members approached the duo again and removed a sign that read, "Cup Check That Chick" during a Beth Phoenix segment. The sign wasn't controversial enough for security to remove Loney and Minks. However, they figured it was obvious they were being watched, so they were even more cautious about which signs they displayed. Nevertheless, WWE security took offense to the "Butt Clown" sign that the duo held up, which is the PG version of Chris Jericho's "Ass Clown" saying. Ben noticed that WWE security was talking to the local security forces and he saw someone point in their direction. Sure enough, the security crew approached Loney and Minks and took their signs. Minks told me that Loney asked why they couldn't hold up their signs and was told that they were showboating. Security decided to remove Loney from the building, and Minks followed. In the concourse area, Minneapolis police officials examined Loney's driver license, took down all his information, and told him that he was not allowed to reenter the building. All this for a "Butt Clown" sign. Loney was laughing it off at softball on Wednesday night, but Minks, a WWE shareholder, was still upset about the situation and decided to contact WWE Headquarters for an explanation. Minks said he spoke to Amin Seirafi of WWE community relations and was told the signs they held up were offensive. When Minks noted that Jericho used the "Ass Clown" phrase routinely on WWE television in the past, he recalled Seirafi told him that it's different when wrestlers say it and it appears on fan signs. Minks also recalled Seirafi objecting to a remark he made regarding WWE selling sex and violence. "He told me WWE promotes entertainment and Divas," said Minks. Seirafi eventually agreed to bring the incident to the attention of his superior, Sue Aitchison, WWE's community relations manager. When Aitchison failed to call him back, Minks left her a voicemail on Wednesday. As of an hour ago, the frustrated WWE shareholder has yet to hear back from Seirafi, Aitchison, or anyone else at WWE Headquarters. BOOKMARK DOT NET AND ADD US TO YOUR RSS • HELP DOT NET: TAKE OUR ADVERTISER DEMO SURVEY CLICK TO RETURN TO MAIN LISTING OR SELECT A LINK BELOW FROM THIS CATEGORY Powell's Blog Latest Twelve Articles WWE's latest talent cut, no room for managers in pro wrestling, Brock Lesnar vs. Fedor, the newest wrestler on the ECW roster, traditional Survivor Series matches Brock Lesnar is the new UFC Heavyweight Champion, but he faces an uphill battle in a quest to earn the respect of MMA followers Thoughts on UFC 91 at the box office, the Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar main event, and the weak undercard WWE cuts five wrestlers in four days, Jeff Hardy shows a mean streak, lame duck Ring of Honor pay-per-view event WWE cracking down on marijuana use, internal frustration over a TNA cut continues, Vladimir Kozlov fan reaction, one week away from Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture I lost my precious sticker, more on WWE Raw including thoughts on Stephanie and Shane McMahon, Vladimir Kozlov, the same old Jeff Hardy, and the strangest voter ever