Ashamed to be from Vancouver

I was sayin all day that Vancouver would be chaos one way or another tonight. It's really a shame how crazy a crowd of Drunk fans can get. I must say that was a poor performance after making that far, but you could see it happening earlier in the series. Guess we'll see what happens next season.

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Originally posted by nocando Thats when the Nazis click in checking all and sundry for alcohol.

Generally speaking, I expect that the "Nazi" behaviour wouldn't be necessary if a small faction of the fan population didn't feel the need to wander around after the event drinking from open containers while being way over the limit due to imbibing during the event.

I don't know how it is in Oz, but at various American events there have been instances of people setting fires, turning over cars, and climbing the girder structure of the stadium and hurling bottles or urinating on the crowds below. A little personal culpability would go a long way to being treated like human beings.

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Originally posted by Coolbreeze I have lived in this great country since 1977 and consider myself a proud Canadian, However after watching the riots in Vancouver after the game I can honestly say for the first time ever, I am embarrassed and ashamed. Once again the behavior of a few immature a$$ holes will be what the rest of the country if not the world takes away from the game. The repercussions of this will be felt for years to come due to the short sighted immaturity of a few. what makes it worse I'll wager the culprits don't even live in Vancouver and this was more than likely premeditated. I truly believe that the majority of the fans were law abiding.

Sadly, I expected it wasn't premeditated. It just takes very little from a small numbers of miscreants in a mob situation for things to turn ugly. Most of the time the majority of the population is just trying to get away from the mayhem but it makes police navigation impossible and in manys cases its not possible for the police to determine who is causing or will cause trouble and who is just trying to weather the storm until they can leave for some place safer.

I was honestly oblivious of the Vancouver riots until you brought it up and for the most part had no interest in the Stanley Cup one way or another, even though I live a little bit South of Boston.

So here's the final tally:

• Thousands of Canucks fans vent their frustration in closing minutes of match
  
• Several people treated in hospital for stab wounds
  
• Two police cars among burnt out vehicles as dozens are arrested
  
• Shop and bank windows are smashed as rioters go on rampage through the city
  
• Bridges and roads closed off as riot police try to take control
  
• Vancouverites vow to stage a mass clean-up to reclaim the streets
  

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Control: Police held crowds back as flames continued to burn and upturned portaloos littered the streets


Thousands of people had gathered to enjoy the game in central Vancouver but things turned nasty in the closing stages


As a car is engulfed in flames after being attacked by rioters, two police in riot gear watch the movement of ice hockey fans as darkness falls


People gathered around two burning police cars and took pictures as the fire took hold of the smashed up vehicles


A fire starts to burn inside a car with smashed windows as Canuck fans try to tip it over


Riot police guard an overturned car in Vancouver to prevent it from being set on fire like so many others


Police pin a man to the ground to arrest him as the rest of the crowd stands back and looks on


Fans dice with death as they leap over one of the fires that was burning in the middle of a street


Many shop windows were smashed in the rioting and looting was reported across the area


Clean up: Police on horses patrol the streets as other officers look on amid the litter strewn streets with fires still burning


As the remains of a burnt out pick up truck continues to burn Vancouverites have vowed to take back their streets and clean the streets

I honestly don't know why I am posting all this or why it bothers me so much, except that if any Boston fans had a part in anyof this, then it mean that we have learned a damned thing.

Snippet describing riots that have broken out after Boston Sports events:

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"Hooligans? What a trite word from the 1930s. Try FELONS. One idiot smashed an office front window and did $50,000 worth of damage. Others were urinating outdoors, overturning mailboxes and trash cans, setting fires, and oh, my personal favorite, attacking RIOT POLICE. Great idea, that.

During the 2004 Red Sox win, the crowd was so unruly that police shot a “non-lethal” pellet into innocent bystander Vanessa Snelgrove, killing her. Remember that tragedy? She was beautiful and had her entire life ahead of her. Dead. Because of a celebration that a TEAM won a GAME.

That same night, Boston sports fans, you overturned cars and set a motorcycle on fire.

In 2004 a New England Patriots fan was struck on celebration night by a fellow Patriot fan that was driving drunk, killing him instantly.

When the Boston Red Sox advanced to the ALCS against the Yankees, students at UMass Amherst lit fires, flipped cars, and attacked university police officers.

Boston sports fans: Thousands die in a war and you do nothing. People are being shot seemingly constantly in and around Boston, there’s gang violence and you do nothing. But a SPORTS TEAM wins a GAME and you see it as LICENSE to go on a rampage in city streets? Why is that? We celebrate First Night and Independence Day and Harborfest and millions pour into the city and everything goes fine. But a stupid GAME is a license to riot?

You violent reveling sports fans are dangerous felons and if the city finally bans such celebrations I am sure you will whine about your right to free speech. Guess what? Freedom of speech and freedom of expression ends when public safety is endangered. We have no “right” to yell “bomb” at the airport and no right to “celebrate” by smashing property and starting fires and attacking police.

Please, Boston sports fans: Grow up. Stop committing acts of violence and destruction over what is ultimately a game.'"

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Really, really, sorry for the rant. I guess part of it was that one of the casualties listed above, Vanessa Snelgrove, was a co-worker. I didn't know her well, just enough to say "hi" in passing. She seemed like a sweet young girl that always had a smile for others and it amazes me how quickly and senselessly her life was snuffed out... for attending a sports event. Humans really are un-fricking-believable.

ATB,
Sam

The photos and videos remind me of what happened in Egypt not too long ago, except they (the Egyptians) had a real reason for their protests. I'm not picking on Canada either, as you'd see the same thing down in Ft. Lauderdale during Spring Break. Hopefully the police have enough video and photos so they can arrest each and every participant. This kind of stuff is really uncalled for. Reminds me of just how lucky (and spoiled) we N. Americans are.

this guy takes the cake, I guess the police be knocking on his door shortly

Chalk me up as one ashamed to have lived in Vancouver for 10 years.

You should all just move to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan... no riots lately and lots and lots of wind

awesome country, great city, climate and people..............disregard a few idiots and keep your heads high

Ditto what tridude said. I've been to Vancouver as well as most of the E. provinces. Loved every minute there and the people I met were the best. I'd live there in a heartbeat if it didn't snow 9 months out of the year.

I just don't get all that eh ...

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Originally posted by kiteboyza I'll make sure to give Vancouver a miss and rather go somewhere safe....lol

Every cloud has it's silver lining .

That Richard comment and your lol

You were never invited.

I am very sorry a few folks gave our town a black eye but nobody I know from Van takes pleasure in others pain quite like you can. Glad I am here and you are not.

I thought riots after a game is what us Brits did. I remember completely destroying Vancouver in a game called Challenger on the Commodore 64 back in 85, along with Deli and Seattle. Sorry, that has no relevance whatsoever.

I've not seen the riots, not that it interests me. Vancouver is a great place. I'd like to return there someday.

Tom