Look – I get it.
Some people just don’t like clowns. There’s an actual psychological phobia associated with them – coulrophobia – and modern horror writers coupled with the endless budget of Hollywood have given some of us examples of our real-life walking nightmare.
Things have come a long way since Pennywise.
But are they bad enough to warrant the social media phenomenon that is sweeping the nation as I write this?
I remember reading the story about a month ago about how in South Carolina some kids reported a group of scary-looking clowns trying to lure them into the woods, and I thought to myself, “that’s more than likely a joke – but a creepy one at that.”
I had no idea that story would blossom into a nationwide debate over the merits of clowns and whether these people are actually dangerous or just a bunch of menacing idiots that are liable to end up catching a bullet before it’s over and done with.
Yesterday there was a clown outside of the Vintage Faire Mall menacing people. A group of kids at Beyer Park – they don’t play around in Beyer Park – chased another clown who showed up. And according to Instagram, a group calling itself Clowns in Manteca posted that you’d be able to find them at Sierra High School tonight at the intracity football game between the Timberwolves and the Manteca Buffaloes.
The skull and crossbones at the end of the message – and the menacing picture – was a nice touch.
I’m all for people having a little bit of fun around Halloween, but as somebody who has been threatened over the phone by somebody around this time of year –“I’d be careful because the masks come on and you don’t who’s coming after you” – it’s a little bit unnerving.
Here’s to hoping a law-abiding gun owner doesn’t have a run-in with one of these people. Stupidity isn’t a good enough reason to die, and I have a feeling that’s what is going to happen before everything is all said and done.

Yes, it is officially an even
 year ladies and gentlemen
I work with A’s fans who are also sports fans, so when I would bring up the fact that the Giants have the team and the aura to take another World Series title this season, they simultaneously laughed at me and grimaced at the fact that I wasn’t blowing smoke.
And on Wednesday Madison Bumgarner showed exactly how real the Giants are with his amazing four-hit shutout that put the Giants on a collision course with the Cubbies.
Do they have what it takes to put another trophy in the case?
I do have to admit that it would be pretty awesome to be able to recount to my son that just months after he was born, the San Francisco Giants – who will undoubtedly become his favorite baseball team because, well, they just will – won their fourth World Series Championship in seven years.
I’ll recount that I had to wait 28 years before I got to see that, and while he won’t remember it, the year of his birth will coincide with the year of the Giants.
I think that’s pretty cool for a lot of reasons. The year that I was born the 49ers had won their first Super Bowl nine months earlier, after my father waited literally his entire life for the team to be something more than a steaming pile of garbage. There’s something about the next generation of Campbell boys bringing about championships (settle in though buddy, when the cosmic train slows down you’ve got a long way before the next stop).
Time will tell whether it’s going to be just a continuation of the dynasty run or an October heartbreak, but I’m looking forward the drama of it regardless of the outcome.
The picks of the Prideful Pack Week 3
So after two weeks (pops collar) I sit proudly at the top of our trash heap of local sports enthusiasts with a 9-1 record while Mark Condit is close on my heels with an 8-2 record, Eric Wohle brings up third with a 7-3 record and Chris Teicheira – known affectionately in our group text message as “brick boy” since his name is forever going to be engraved in East Union’s Ring of Honor thanks to his 6-4 record – isn’t faring so well.
But alas, fair readers, we have another chance at redemption for those of us who have had a run of bad luck, and a chance for the mighty to fall from the heavens like the mere mortals they are. Here are our picks for this week, for better or worse:
uCampbell – I have to go with Manteca High over Sierra because I think the Buffaloes will run the table all the way to a Section Championship this year and maybe even make a run at a State Bowl game. Unfortunately for my alma mater, they happen to be next up on their list. I also think that East Union will beat Weston Ranch, Oakdale will beat Lathrop, Arizona will beat San Francisco and Oakland will beat San Diego. Looks like a 14-1 score after three if I’ve ever seen one.
uCondit – My closest competition agrees with me on Manteca, Oakland, Oakdale and East Union, but took the 49ers against Arizona because he’s content with second place (we picked before the Thursday night game began). I think congratulations are in store for Mr. Condit who is the proud father of Manteca High School homecoming queen Makenna Condit – who was crowned last week. Congratulations sir.
uWohle – The East Union continent takes the same picks as Condit – Manteca, Oakdale, East Union, Oakland and San Francisco – so there’s no real chance of advancement for either of them. This race will be a lot closer than I thought it was going to be.
uTeicheira – The resident bricklayer is making moves this week, taking Manteca, Oakdale and Weston Ranch (something none of the others did) and will be taking both Oakland and the 49ers in his Sunday picks. He’s content to stop at nothing to prevent that brick from being laid with his name on it, and may stop at nothing to remove it once it is in the ground.
Until next week everybody.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.