"Perhaps those who wonder whether the dynamics of European style soccer brawls would ever hit the US have their answer. Either the NBA is going to end up installing draconian mechanisms of fan regulation, or I think something like this is going to happen again."
This was yesterday.
Today, the SC-Clemson game ended in a brawl with less than 5 minutes to go. Benches cleared, and fans moved in from the stands.
I expect more events like this, particularly during rivalry games in whatever sport. Football's come to the US.
(edited to add)
I know I'm tired, but damn if a doh! moment didn't just hit me.
Nationalist sentiment typically increases during times of conflict. This takes two forms usually--strong knee jerk state support, and strong anti-"other" intra state resentment (think Japanese internment camps, and general anti-black racism). In this case where we have at least two conflicts going on--the War on Iraq, and the Culture War within the states--we can expect to see a rise of three forms of nationalism.
One state based. One based on xenophobia. One based on local attachments.
Local like crip-blood. Local like Michigan vs. Ohio State. Like SC vs. Clemson. Like Detroit vs. Indiana.
If this is right, then I expect to see an increase in inter-athlete violence (player on player, team on team), an increase in violence between players and fans.
And while I expect to see security increase as a result, I do NOT expect to see a decrease in beer availability.
Posted by at November 20, 2004 03:24 PM | TrackBack