Thugtown, USA ... A Continuing Series

Remember the old days, when the Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals were known as the biggest thugs in sports?
Ah, those nostalgic days when Chargers and Bengals players would show up on the police blotter on a nearly daily basis.
Well, all of a sudden, there's a new thug in town who's gaining quick on the outside, looking to make this a three-horse race.
Ladies and gentlemen, your San Diego Padres.
That's right, your beloved little Padres are quickly becoming the new Bengals, or at least baseball's version of an NBA squad.
On Sunday night, while you were drowning your sorrows over the sudden end to the Chargers' season, new Padres second baseman Marcus Giles was spending the evening in handcuffs. (And no, wise guys, there were no females involved).
According to reports, Giles was handcuffed, detained and escorted from Qualcomm Stadium after getting into a fight on the club level during the Chargers' playoff choke job against the Patriots.
This latest incident comes just 10 days after Jake Peavy, the alleged ace of the Padres' staff, was arrested in Mobile, Ala., after a "situation" with airport police.
Padres management, namely CEO Sandy Alderson, has talked often about the club's preference for players who are "good character guys."
And whenever Alderson or general manager Kevin Towers, who answers to the colorful nickname "KT," ramble on about this, the implication is clear -- they don't want a bunch of guys who conduct themselves off the field like Charger players.
Well, Sandy and KT, congratulations. Because right now, that's exactly what you've got.