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Why riot?
by: Shawn Griffin from SportsTerminal.com
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Writing a couple columns a week is a tad harder than you think. After a while, you start to think, "Didn't I just write about that last year, week, or month?" But, thanks to you people out in the real world, I rarely get stuck in a funk (that sounds like it would be a good title to a hit song, doesn't it?).
Ninety-nine percent of the e-mails I receive from you guys (and, on rare occasions, girls) are very well-written and thought-provoking. This week was no different.
Jeff e-mailed me the morning after Maryland beat Indiana to win the NCAA Championship on Monday night.
He wrote, "A thought now regarding the recent NCAA tourney...What's up with the fans in Maryland and Indiana? It makes me regret that Duke (as much as I love to see them lose) choked like they did. At least their fans have some class."
As I read this, I had not yet read any reports on what happened after the game. Without even knowing it as fact, I just assumed that there were riots and mischief by the fans of Maryland. You see, this is becoming the norm and is totally expected these days after your team wins a title -- you have free reign to riot and throw rocks at the police. Now, for the life of me, I will never understand the logic behind rioting if your team wins a championship. Unfortunately, my favorite teams have yet to win a title. (It hurts, it really does…but that's a column for another day.) If, God-willing, they ever do win a title, the LAST thing in the world I would do is throw rocks at the police or start a fire. Yes, I would probably drink two or three or 12 beers…but I would be a happy drunk, hugging everybody in sight rather than feeling some type of need to throw a rock and start a fire….
On the other hand, the Indiana fans caused some trouble. This, I can at least understand. Condone? Of course not. With the way Indiana played in the first half, it would have made Mother Theresa mad. But just because your team loses a title game, you shouldn't act like a criminal. (How's that for pointing out the obvious?)
You can't just blame this on criminal elements in the city, either -- this happens at fine educational institutions like Michigan State, Indiana and Maryland. I don't have enough time or space to go over every time this has happened the last 10 years, but it seems to occur every time a team wins a title.
Another thing I will not do is assume that every fan of Indiana and Maryland agree with this behavior -- the overwhelming majority, I am sure, are as embarrassed as anything about it.
Let's go over the damage from this game…Maryland fans set off bonfires, tossed bottles, and climbed onto the roofs of local businesses. Ten people were arrested. In Indiana they seemed a little bit more pissed, and rightfully so, especially after that sorry first-half display. The damage? Thirty people were arrested as the angry mob torched couches, toppled street signs and threw beer bottles at police officers.
What should be done about this? I would put an early curfew on every bar around campus and make sure that this is strictly enforced. And if some punks start trouble, the full billyclub force of the police department should come down on the perps. None of this tear gas garbage -- beat the crap out of these punks so they don't ever even think about rioting, starting a fire or throwing rocks at the police again. Remember the Chicago Democratic Convention in 1968? Neither do I, but I've read about it. Mayor Daley knew how to handle social miscreants.
The fact of the matter is that these punks, for the most part, are probably spoiled little jerks who were never properly disciplined by their parents. Since their parents didn't do the job, it's time somebody did. I know that's harsh, but who cares. In this mamby-pamby, politically-correct world we live in, it's about time some semblance of order was restored.
Congratulations to the overwhelming majority of Maryland and Indiana fans -- your teams did a great job. As for those arrested for causing problems, do society a favor -- grow up and start acting like a productive member of the human race….
See more of Shawn's columns at SportsTerminal.com,
and feel free to e-mail him at shawng@sportsterminal.com!
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