Toilet trip earns lifetime ban

By MARC TOPKIN
Published April 10, 2005

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ST. PETERSBURG - A Mets scout found out what happens when you go where Vince Naimoli doesn't want you to.

The Rays managing general partner kicked Howie Freiling out of Tropicana Field on Saturday for using the restroom in Naimoli's private suite, which is adjacent to the press box.

Naimoli told Freiling to leave the building before Saturday's game then banned him from the stadium for life.

Naimoli's suite is marked private, and there is a sign on the door that reads, "Authorized guest only violators will be removed from the building." It is not clear if the door was open or closed when Freiling entered.

Mets general manager Omar Minaya said Saturday night he had not heard about the incident but that Freiling was not the type of cause trouble.

The incident is the latest public confrontation Naimoli has had at the stadium. He ordered a Japanese reporter kicked out several years ago for a similar incident, threatened to revoke the credentials of an out-of-town reporter who brought a pizza to the press box (violating another stadium rule) and has often yelled at local media about coverage.