VIDEO: UConn, Kentucky fans get violent after NCAA Championship game
Climbing lamp posts, flipping cars and jumping through fires are all the ingredients for yet another cookie cutter riot.
Win or lose, it seems that riots are a recurring problem for any city with a team in a major championship game or series.
Even though it brings shame to a fan base, one can begin to see the logic of rowdy fans gathered in the street, pissed off after a loss in the championship game, but the images that came out of Storrs, Connecticut seem nonsensical.
As the national championship became a reality for UConn at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Monday night, hundreds of fans were gathered outside Connecticut's home court at the Gampel Pavilion to "celebrate" a fourth national title.
Shoutout to uconn for hosting my first riot. pic.twitter.com/FWoCh3E8tC
— Childish Daltino (@DMaurice11) April 8, 2014
In what should have been scenes of jubilation, instead turned into scenes of chaos and the world woke up to images that have become common in the world of sports, amateur and pro.
[Courtesy: Kami Mattioli]
From a photographer for our CT partner @WFSBnews MT @KallMeKG #Uconn fans going CRAZY ON CAMPUS ! https://t.co/Y02T8xJYNV
— CNN Wire (@CNNWire) April 8, 2014
UConn fans right now https://t.co/dZktx5e4s2 #NCAAChampionship #UConn
— Ridiculousness (@WeLoveRobDyrdek) April 8, 2014
UConn students are approaching full-on riot mode. They're flipping cars in Storrs. http://t.co/M859jz6xvi / pic.twitter.com/ja31mtMEQ8
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 8, 2014
Sure, alcohol played a big role in the overreaction and the destruction of property after a championship victory, but the UConn fans got out of control after an elite victory and Kentucky fans were rioting after a Sweet 16 win! Whatever happened to the old "act like you've been there before" mentality?
So it's no surprise to see how some of the defeated Kentucky fans acted Monday night.
People hurled beer cans at those climbing utility poles at Elizabeth and State Street (after #Kentucky's loss.) #BBN pic.twitter.com/QlD9r6yGdk
— HLpublicsafety (@HLpublicsafety) April 8, 2014
The scene at one of several fires in the #StateStreet area where people gathered after #Kentucky's game. pic.twitter.com/6jFxW5yvxm
— HLpublicsafety (@HLpublicsafety) April 8, 2014
Police just fired tear gas into the crowd on State Street. Fans are jumping through fires. #LexStreets #BBN pic.twitter.com/c7XekfIY1S
— HLpublicsafety (@HLpublicsafety) April 8, 2014
And without going too far back (because there's tons of similar incidents), Louisville, 2013 NCAA champions, celebrated in the same violent fashion.
Many will consider these actions to be ludicrous, but what can we really expect from a bunch of kids living on their own for the first time, with an excuse to drink and party on the street?