Althouse: Rioting...

June 16, 2011

Rioting...

... in Canada.

80 comments:

Clyde said...: I thought the Dudley Do-rights were better behaved than that! What's that all aboot?; 6/16/11, 7:17 AM
KCFleming said...: When adults throw tantrums, look out.

"Someone had better be prepared for rage."
Robert Frost; 6/16/11, 7:21 AM
Roger J. said...: It has been my pleasure to visit every province in the federation--and when I lived in the pacific NW was a frequent visitor to vancouver. To a person, I always found canadians to be helpful, courteous and just, well, nice.
The situation in Vancouver is just not the canada I have come to love.

Have no idea, but suspect alcohol was involved.; 6/16/11, 7:24 AM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 6/16/11, 7:28 AM
Calypso Facto said...: I watched the game with a Canadian expat last night, and he predicted as much. If they had checked Boston's 95% Canadian roster, maybe they wouldn't have felt so bad?; 6/16/11, 7:31 AM
test said...: "Television images and witnesses indicated that the police used restraint rather than aggressive tactics to control the disorder. "

I wonder how many articles on American riots you'd have to read before finding such an editorial. We can't have anyone thinking our betters in Canada allow their police to run amuk. That's an American problem.; 6/16/11, 7:36 AM
Anonymous said...: NYTimes: " ...Thousands of Vancouver fans had gathered downtown to watch Game 7 on large video screens ..."

They just mysteriously gathered there? Emerged from the mist?

Isn't that kind of a passive way for the New York Times to put this direct cause of the riot?

Look, the Vancouver city government installed huge televisions and encouraged the gathering of hundreds of thousands of types who believe hockey is a modern day version of the Roman gladiator.

Violence is the only aspect of hockey that attracts fans. Here, watch this out and out criminal assault that occurs right on the ice, as part of the festivities. No police arrested this player for his blatantly criminal act of a blindside assault.

So it's not surprising that if you gather together a bunch of neanderthals and fill them with gallons of cheap alcohol, bad things are going to occur. The city government in Vancouver is charged with protecting its community.

Instead, it facilitated this riot. Government and the elite are failing our communities and it's time we take back the reigns before it all comes crumbling down.; 6/16/11, 7:39 AM
Shouting Thomas said...: I thought Vancouver was the super cool capital of Canada.

It's where to go to smoke boutique weed.

This can't be true. Stoners rioting?; 6/16/11, 7:39 AM
Roger J. said...: The RCMP is a very professional police force IMO. was involved in an accident where the RCMP drove me to the rental office; have seen the RCMP handle a drunk (canadian) in Halifax; when I go on a wilderness canoe trip in northern saskatchewan I leave my itinery with the local RCMP--they are the epitome of a professional police force. While the vancouver situation is horrible, I would most certainly welcome the RCMP intervention. They are the finest.; 6/16/11, 7:44 AM
Steve Austin said...: Vancouver should have won this series. There is a ton of nationalistic pride in their hockey teams. It is their sport. Unfortunately for them, the Canadian teams are not able to dominate anymore as US based teams continue to win the Cup.

And let's face it, outside of New England, the world is tired of Boston sports teams and their fans entitled attitudes. I blame Romney.; 6/16/11, 7:55 AM
MadisonMan said...: Transplanted Chicagoans.; 6/16/11, 7:56 AM
gerry said...: Vancouver is such a beautiful city! When I visited there, everyone was friendly and courteous.

Have no idea, but suspect alcohol was involved

Roger J, the news story actually states that people watching the game on big screens downtown started throwing bottles at the screens.; 6/16/11, 7:59 AM
kjbe said...: Hey Canucks, what's the matter there, eh?; 6/16/11, 8:03 AM
Roger J. said...: have to admit i am a canadianphile

if I werent a citizen of the USA, canada would be my second choice (australia is too far away)

We are indeed fortunate to have Canada as our neighbor; 6/16/11, 8:04 AM
Unknown said...: Most Blackhawks fans know that Vancouver fans (and their team) have ZERO class.; 6/16/11, 8:06 AM
Curious George said...: nevadabob "Violence is the only aspect of hockey that attracts fans."

That's just stupid. Hockey is far and away the fastest paced professional sport. The greatest combination of speed and skill. The days of "goon hockey" are long gone. Fights are few. Look at the number of young girls at hockey games. BTW "illegal" hits don't just happen in hockey...they happen in football also.

The only challenge hockey has is that the puck is hard to see on TV. HDTV and lots of cameras, including in the net and movable cameras above the ice following the action help a lot.; 6/16/11, 8:12 AM
Curious George said...: @Brain: Sure do. I was thinking if the Hawks had taken game 7 resulting in the 'nucks blowing a 3-0 series lead...would there have been a riot? Or was the cause blowing the finals?; 6/16/11, 8:14 AM
Big Mike said...: Really? Canadians like hockey? Who knew?; 6/16/11, 8:21 AM
Fred4Pres said...: Wow. I did not think Canadians had it in them to riot. Must be all those Hong Kong Chinese--you know how they get when their hockey team loses...

Meanwhile, just a few arrests in Boston.; 6/16/11, 8:24 AM
kjbe said...: This was the first Cup, since 1995, that didn't have any Badgers playing in it...made it kind of hard to know who to cheer for.; 6/16/11, 8:26 AM
Fred4Pres said...: Obviously someone suggested the Vancouver Canucks powder their balls with lavender dust.; 6/16/11, 8:27 AM
GMay said...: RogerJ said: "have to admit i am a canadianphile

...

We are indeed fortunate to have Canada as our neighbor"

A true Canadianphile would have spelled it neighbour.

Just sayin'.; 6/16/11, 8:27 AM
Anonymous said...: "The days of "goon hockey" are long gone."

Methinks he doth protest too much.

How do you explain Rome's check that got him ejected from the game, and from the Stanley Cup? A blindside goon play by someone paid to do it.

He's a hired goon who is paid to do this and does it all the time. He's there to provide the fans with what they came for ... GORE. Listen to how excited the team announcers become when he begins his violent attacks and then replay it over, and over and over.

They're absolutely giddy with bloodlust.; 6/16/11, 8:29 AM
Anonymous said...: Roger J and Gerry,

I will agree that most Canadians are very nice and courteous. That's certainly been my experience. But it's also been my a personal observation that Canadian "niceness" is overblown and overstated to the point of caricature. Quite frankly, I don't think your average Canadian is nicer than your average American. Traveling in younger days I was quite shocked to discover that, contrary to reputation, New Yorkers and Chicagoans were almost universally gregarious, helpful, and proud to show off their cities (though TOURISTS were quite rude), while Montreal and Vancouver were filled with condescending, abrasive pricks.

You find all kinds everywhere.; 6/16/11, 8:36 AM
Anonymous said...: Nevadabob,

If violence is the only aspect of hockey that attracts fans...why was Rome ejected? Shouldn't he have been a Conn Smythe candidate instead?; 6/16/11, 8:41 AM
ndspinelli said...: Vancouver has a reputation as a great city. We took a trip there a few years ago. Both my bride and myself were not particlarly impressed. It has great food. But, there is a huge problem w/ drug/alcohol abuse and related street crime. And, being "progressive" it coddles miscreants ala San Francisco. So..this is no surprise. The drive to Whistler was much more pleasant.; 6/16/11, 8:45 AM
Curious George said...: nevadabob:

Protest too much? No, your position is stupid. First, nothing wrong with the hip check you showed. You can't differentiate between physical play and violence. I could post clips of the fans and announcers getting absolutely giddy over a great save, or a goal, or of course a nice check. Your position that violence is the "only aspect" is stupid. The exact same thing could be said about football. Big hits are celebrated. But certainly like hockey it is not the "only aspect" that attracts fans to football.

As far as my comment of "goon hockey"...those days are gone. Dirty hits bring big suspensions...like football. Sure they occur...like football. But they are rare. I wouldn't call Boston a goon team, nor were the Blackhawks last year...far from it. Highly skilled fast pace offensive teams. Lot's of goals. Fast transition from their zone to the offensive end. Pens before them...same deal. Fast break hockey.

Rule changes promote offense and penalize thugs.

You really must not watch a lot of hockey.; 6/16/11, 8:59 AM
Dopey said...: Gee, I'm sure glad that I have Nevadabob here to tell me why I like hockey so much. I thought it was because the game is fast moving and exciting.

For the record, Rome was ejected from the game, suspended for the rest of the series, and will probably be fined. On top of that, the hit probably cost Vancouver the series as Boston really turned it on afterwards.

As an aside, if I were Roberto Luongo, the Canucks' sorry loud-mouthed goalie, I'd be looking to join the Canadian equivalent of the witness protection program. How much do wnat to bet he'll be playing for Winnipeg next year? Or in the ECHL?; 6/16/11, 9:29 AM
Curious George said...: nbob:

Where is the violence here?

http://tinyurl.com/3thgppb

That's all artistry.

And although there were riots outside, the fans IN THE ARENA showed a lot of class...thanking the Canucks for a great season, and being respectful to the Bruin celebration. There is a history of that in the NHL. The Cup is like nothing else.; 6/16/11, 9:34 AM
ndspinelli said...: Curious George, Have you ever been to a Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup final? Of course the fans in the arena were civil. They are people who can afford the tix!! Their crimes are white collar, not rioting.; 6/16/11, 9:51 AM
Unknown said...: Curious George,

You can't talk about artistry on the ice without talking about Pavel Datsyuk:

http://youtu.be/6g4q2ciqbT8

Listen to the cheers of the fans and the excitement of the announcers, and he didn't even decapitate anyone.; 6/16/11, 9:54 AM
madAsHell said...: The Seattle Times ran a series of pictures from the riots. In one photo, it shows a fellow jumping into the fray.

In the next photo, it shows the same fellow being pulled out of the fray....unconscious.

Poor bastard, but I had to laugh.
Been there.
Done that.; 6/16/11, 9:56 AM
Original Mike said...: Oh, those frisky Canucks.; 6/16/11, 10:05 AM
Original Mike said...: I was rooting for Boston, being one of the original six. But the game wasn't very exciting. Stopped watching (though it was still on the TV) midway through the 2nd period.; 6/16/11, 10:06 AM
Original Mike said...: "Violence is the only aspect of hockey that attracts fans."

Idiot.; 6/16/11, 10:09 AM
Penny said...: "If they had checked Boston's 95% Canadian roster, maybe they wouldn't have felt so bad?"

Well, that made me feel bad.

How many federal employees would you estimate it takes to make sure that these players get their H1B work visas from Immigration and the Department of Labor in time to play when they're needed?; 6/16/11, 10:12 AM
Anonymous said...: And although there were riots outside, the fans IN THE ARENA showed a lot of class...

Wha? Huh? Did you watch the same broadcast I did?

I couldn't even hear Bettman's presentation of the Conn Smythe or the Stanley Cup because of the classless boos of the crowd. That's even discounting the crap that they threw on the ice during the post-game ceremonies. I know they hate Bettman - with good reason, IMHO - but did they have to crap all over the Cup presentation?

Seriously, do you realize how badly you have to behave to make us Boston fans look classy? Vancouver's your new model.; 6/16/11, 10:16 AM
ricpic said...: The only thing that might discourage future rioting would be serious jail time for those caught on camera burning cars and looting stores. Will it happen? Almost certainly not. Such are the wages of tolerance.; 6/16/11, 10:19 AM
edutcher said...: No sweat, I know what happened.

Time warp.

For a few hours, the invasion led by Benedict Arnold, Daniel Morgan, and Richard Montgomery in 1775 succeeded and those 10 provinces became US States, so they started acting like Americans.

(which also explains the 60 states of you-know-who); 6/16/11, 10:22 AM
traditionalguy said...: Obviously they read Ann Coulter's new book...and Ann Coulter is like Sarah Palin, so it was Palin's fault again.; 6/16/11, 10:24 AM
Trooper York said...: Hockey is by far and away the worst of the four major sports. It isn't even within shouting distance of the others.

Hockey is mainly for racist white guys who hate the NBA. I can't tell you how many times I have been in a bar where they insisted that they change the TV's from the NBA to hockey or curling or lumberjack races or some other shit and we had to beef over it.; 6/16/11, 10:24 AM
Trooper York said...: What do you get when you have 32 hockey fans in the same room?; 6/16/11, 10:25 AM
Trooper York said...: A full set of teeth.; 6/16/11, 10:25 AM
Trooper York said...: And of all the hockey fans the second worst of them all are Bruin fans.

Of course no one is as bad as Philly fans. They are the dregs of the earth hands down.; 6/16/11, 10:27 AM
Original Mike said...: Best sport evah.; 6/16/11, 10:28 AM
Pastafarian said...: nevadabob, you need to stick to subjects you know something about.

As a hockey fan, I was pretty surprised by the way this series played out -- the officiating early in the series was heavily in favor of Vancouver, but Boston's defensemen were dominant throughout the series.

And one of the greatest goaltending performances in history doesn't hurt either.

And as a hockey fan I wasn't surprised at all to read of post-game riots in Vancouver. Their team, their organization, and their fans are the biggest bunch of cry-babies in pro sports.

At least we Red Wings fans have the class to riot only after we win.; 6/16/11, 10:30 AM
edutcher said...: Trooper York said...

Hockey is by far and away the worst of the four major sports. It isn't even within shouting distance of the others.

Hockey is a major sport?

BTW, Gotham has had a NHL team since before WWII. You guys are honorary Canucks.; 6/16/11, 10:44 AM
B said...: 'nevadabob "Violence is the only aspect of hockey that attracts fans."'

I have played hockey all my life, and been a fan all my life. My lids have played at the college level. However, I will take your definitive analysis of what drives hockey fans to heart.

I have been through Nevada. So I can definitively say that legal whores are the only aspect of Nevada that attracts visitors...though I've never used a whore there or elsewhere.; 6/16/11, 10:46 AM
Trooper York said...: Hockey is just a space filler between the end of Super Bowl and the begining of spring training.; 6/16/11, 10:52 AM
B said...: BTW:

One of those 'lids' (kids) who played college hockey is a girl.; 6/16/11, 10:52 AM
Original Mike said...: "Hockey is by far and away the worst of the four major sports."

Four? Pro sports? Hockey, football, baseball. I count 3 major sports.; 6/16/11, 10:54 AM
Trooper York said...: It's like one of those out of work actors who sit in the seats of the Oscar ceremony while the real stars are taking a piss.; 6/16/11, 11:00 AM
Anonymous said...: Vancouver has a big gang problem with all the immigrant communities.

Note the preponderance of stabbings; even in gun-free Canada, there is a way to kill when you really want to.; 6/16/11, 11:01 AM
Trooper York said...: Hockey is the domestic abuse syndrome of sports.

All they do is circle around each other and then they start fighting and pull the shirts over each others heads and start punching each other.; 6/16/11, 11:04 AM
Original Mike said...: Yeah, stabbings? What's up with that? I guess that's what you do when you lose. When you win, you burn things.; 6/16/11, 11:04 AM
Trooper York said...: On of the teams in the finals is named after one of the most perjortive rank outs you can call someone in their town.

It would be as if you had a team called the New York Yids or the Baltimore Boogies or something.; 6/16/11, 11:06 AM
Trooper York said...: Typical douchenozzle hockey fan.; 6/16/11, 11:09 AM
Original Mike said...: I don't think Canucks is a perjortive. I could be wrong (but then you knew that already).; 6/16/11, 11:10 AM
Trooper York said...: It's like cheesehead. It doesn't mean what you think it means.

At least to the rest of America.; 6/16/11, 11:11 AM
Cedarford said...: Trooper - Hockey is mainly for racist white guys who hate the NBA. I can't tell you how many times I have been in a bar where they insisted that they change the TV's from the NBA to hockey or curling or lumberjack races or some other shit and we had to beef over it...

======================
All people are racist in the sense that they like a sport they could visualize themselves or their kids playing at a higher level if they were just a bit better. When one race dominates and closes the door, effectively, to dreams of others not in that race group..a certain part of the potential audience peels away.
You want to see racism? Go to an all black gathering and suggest they change the channel from an inconsequential lackadaisically played Negro Basketball Association scorefest game to the Shanghai Table Tennis championships 400 million people are watching. Or the exciting FIFA quarterfinal between Argentina and Germany being watched by 1.2 million. Or the Stanley Cup final. See what the opinion of the blacks is about a channel switch.

Of course, there is a category of white person that has nothing but black sports idols. That weren't that athletic or their kids weren't - so they have no personal connection to a sport other than as a fan.; 6/16/11, 11:17 AM
Original Mike said...: Like we care about the rest of America? I mean, just look at you guys.; 6/16/11, 11:21 AM
Original Mike said...: Until they increase the size of the court and raise the basket to 12 feet, I'd rather watch paint dry than watch pro basketball. Hell, I'd rather watch baseball.; 6/16/11, 11:22 AM
Trooper York said...: I am just about the last guy who would find racism in something because I think about 99% of the racism complaints is just pure unadulterated bullshit.

But I have to admit that time and again when it comes down to an argument about changing the TV from the Knicks vs the Nets to the Canucks vs the Flamers there is a lot of it on display. Just sayn'; 6/16/11, 11:27 AM
Trooper York said...: I get it though. Hockey is a sport old out of shape white guys can identify with. I mean how old was Gordie Howe when he retired. 76?; 6/16/11, 11:27 AM
Trooper York said...: The only thing more boring on TV than Hockey is golf.

Oh and politics.; 6/16/11, 11:29 AM
Original Mike said...: And I'm just sayin' pro basketball is boring. Painfully boring. College basketball is OK, but the game is not challenging enough for the pros. One hundred points??? Yawn. Play some defense, already.; 6/16/11, 11:38 AM
Trooper York said...: You just don't follow pro basketball. In fact it is the defense and the holding that make it boring. The Detroit Pistons destroyed the game with their style that Riley copied and now everyone plays.

Back in the ABA days it was a lot more fun. They need to let the players play.

But Stern is too much of a tight ass.; 6/16/11, 11:45 AM
Original Mike said...: Too many points. They should just play the last two minutes.; 6/16/11, 12:03 PM
Michael said...: In Atlanta the Hawks would play basketball to a majority black crowd one night and the Thrashers to a majority white crowd the next. The whites are mostly yankees who live north of the city out in the lily white suburbs. And thus did Atlanta lose a professional hockey team. For while the yankees love hockey the sport was played downtown and yankees are afraid of black people and didn't show up in sufficient numbers to validate a team . Very humorous actually.; 6/16/11, 12:22 PM
Known Unknown said...: Somebody horked their Stanley Cup!; 6/16/11, 12:24 PM
Curious George said...: "ndspinelli said...
Curious George, Have you ever been to a Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup final? Of course the fans in the arena were civil. They are people who can afford the tix!! Their crimes are white collar, not rioting."

I didn't say civil...I said respectful. The fans respect the Cup presentation, each player having a chance to hold the Cup, skating with it. The teams also line off for handshakes at the end of every series.

I have no proof, but the Stanley Cup playoffs I believe would havethe highest percentage of "regular fans" than other sports, where it's more of a corporate crowd. This would be most certain with the Super Bowl, which is not held in a partisan venue and most of the attendees are neutral.; 6/16/11, 12:54 PM
Trooper York said...: "I have no proof, but the Stanley Cup playoffs I believe would havethe highest percentage of "regular fans" than other sports, where it's more of a corporate crowd."

That's very true. Because nobody cares about hockey except for the 20,000 or so fans in every city. If there is a bad run of moonshine and enough of the fan base dies off they have to move.; 6/16/11, 1:21 PM
Jose_K said...: The only thing that might discourage future rioting would
British did it after hooligans killed 39 in Belgium.
The prices in soccer stadiums is high to keep poor people out of there. Even if many hooligans are middle class and nice people until they drink and root for their teams; 6/16/11, 2:09 PM
ndspinelli said...: I heard Trooper York was ass raped by a hockey team.; 6/16/11, 2:39 PM
Bayoneteer said...: Sheesh. I hope we'll not get anymore sanctimonious lectures from progressive types about how stuff like this never happens Canuckistan, where they have progressive income taxes, gun control and universal healthcare.; 6/16/11, 2:41 PM
BarryD said...: Canada!

On strike!; 6/16/11, 2:55 PM
ken in tx said...: B, You never hired a whore? I don't understand. You don't like women? You hate free enterprise? What's up with that. Are you gay?; 6/16/11, 5:44 PM
nbks said...: RogerJ said: "We are indeed fortunate to have Canada as our neighbor"

Look, I'm no Canada-hater, but if anyone is "fortunate" in this border relationship, it’s the Canadians. With the world's most powerful military force next door, they can afford to spend zilch on defending themselves. And having a large country separating them from the 3rd world horror that is Mexico means they never have to get their toques in uproar about an unlimited supply of labor competition willing to work for sub-minimum wage flowing over the border.; 6/16/11, 9:25 PM
Trooper York said...: I heard ndspinelli was ass raped by George Steinbrenner.; 6/17/11, 1:20 PM
Jose_K said...: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/news/4964295/story.html?tab=PHOT
Love in the threnches; 6/17/11, 8:48 PM