Boston Needs to Be Kept in Check

The Boston Red Sox proved me wrong when they upset the Yankees in one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. I thought they were done, but they sacked up and pulled out a huge won. What happened after the game, however, was inexcusable, pathetic, and downright embarrassing.

Following the Game 7 win over the Yanks, fans in Boston went overboard. Cars were overturned, fans started fires, and then fans began throwing things at the police. Fifteen people were injured and during the post-game craziness, a 21-year-old young woman was killed when her eye was struck with a pepper spray bullet.

USA Today's Jon Saraceno said in his column today that those moronic fans that celebrate by rioting should "think about Victoria Snelgrove and what she represented: youth, vitality, the future. Then envision a young woman lying dead on a sidewalk with blood streaming down her face. Then imagine it was your sister or your wife."

That would be a chilling picture for those fans, but the biggest problem with them is that they don't think; period. A Red Sox win is suddenly all the justification they need to act like complete idiots. What the hell is happening when people think it's acceptable to celebrate a win by starting fires, overturning cars, vandalizing businesses, and throwing things at police?

There are too many people who think that this is just the nature of the beast; that vandalism and physical harm will always accompany great wins in sports. This is just not true. For example, take the city of Calgary. This is an excerpt from a column I did on their Stanley Cup run last June.

"This Stanley Cup run has changed that city for the better. When the Flames win the entire city goes crazy, fans flood 17th avenue and transform it into a Mardi Gras-style celebration. That's about as bad as it gets. After the Flames win, there is no vandalism, no mass murders, no raping, pillaging, or plundering. Unlike Americans, Canadians don't feel the need to sack their cities after big wins. The only thing that happens in Calgary is a high number of girls flashing. And the cops, following the spirit of the law, let it go (this could be the greatest police force ever)." - "Hockey is the Law in Calgary", June 2

What is so hard about this concept? When your team wins, it can be a great thing to bring the city together. It can be a team to celebrate with strangers and revel in the newfound glory your team has won. It doesn't have to be a time to board up your windows if you own a business. It shouldn't be a time to stay off the streets because you are afraid of rioters and alcohol-enhanced morons. It never should be a time you have say goodbye to a loved one, all because of shockingly irresponsible fans.

We all know that Boston is going to win the World Series. They have a 2-0 lead on St. Louis and Pedro Martinez on the mound tonight for game three. There is no doubt in the minds of any sports fan that Boston will win it for the first time since 1918. But, when they do win it, I hope God has mercy on the city of Boston. If there are any more incidents like the last time, I hope it's another 86 years before Boston wins it again.

I know Boston hasn't won like this in a very, very, long time, but it is still unacceptable. I also know that Boston isn't the only city to have things like this happen, but that doesn't make it any better. Remembering how Calgary was able to win with class just makes me miss the NHL that much more.

There aren't many defenders of the NHL these days, but I think everyone can take a page from the Canadian city. No fires, no deaths, no looting. Just celebrating with strangers-turned-friends and, if any girls feel so inclined, an expression of their team pride.

The city of Boston will soon be celebrating their upcoming World Series win, and rightfully so, but I think it's heartbreaking that they will be doing it minus one female BoSox fan.

Mark Chalifoux is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Tuesday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Mark at [email protected].