Explain to me why a sports victory calls for riots in the street?

[nobodyspecial]

Oooo, my team just won. I think I'll go turn over a car and burn a couch.

[Cirque du So-What]

1. It's a volatile cocktail

of testosterone, alcohol, and mob mentality. The followers take their cues from the most boisterous members of the mob.

On edit: when the team wins an important game, it fuels their aggression for having trounced a powerful enemy.

[demosincebirth]

2. They are

expressing themselves, some would say.

[magical thyme]

18. agreed

Haven't sports/athletic games historically served as a place for young men to gather and burn off their testosterone during peace times? Not surprising that they erupt into violence. As pathetic as it is, I think it still beats sending them off to war and slaughtering everybody in their path. Fewer deaths, less destruction this way.

[ananda]

3. Explain to me why the police treated these destructive rioters...

... much better than the way more peaceful OWSers????

[Zax2me]

11. Because there is a difference between a couple of hours and a couple of months

You would be shocked at how little police care if it is basketball rioters or OWS protesters in front of them.
They just want to finish work and go home.

[nobodyspecial]

15. They used pepper spray and arrested 13 people

[Renew Deal]

4. Explain to me why it doesn't.

[nobodyspecial]

8. Seriously?

I don't approve of lawlessness or destruction of property.

[tridim]

5. There was no rioting in Lawrence, just heavy partying.

?

[nobodyspecial]

7. It was in Kentucky this time

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/sports&id=8603412

And it has often happened in the past.

[tridim]

12. Yea, I know. I was just disproving the generality you made in the OP.

Why doesn't Lawrence ever riot? There have been many opportunities.

Good vibes seem to be the norm at KU, it's one thing I really love about Lawrence.

[nobodyspecial]

14. Never said all teams everywhere

And I wasn't limiting it to Kentucky because it has happened in other cities and other years at many levels and many sports.

No offense intended to the cities and fans who celebrate their victories in winning style.

[leveymg]

6. Because sports make money for Vegas grifters and mobsters, whereas OWS threatens American "freedoms"

It's not the destruction, it's who does it. Just like Zimmerman.

Ah, come on, they're just nice college boys blowing off a little steam . . .

[kiva]

10. Leave Vegas out of this one.

Rioting sports morons have always been allowed their "boys will be boys" moments - it has nothing to do with betting and $$, and everything to do with who they are - not hippies, not protesters...no, they are just 'regular guys' who got a little excited about their team winning.

I mean, it's not like they're protesting poverty or social injustice or any of those scary things

[Zax2me]

9. Youth plus Alcohol?

These two combined can account for all sorts of unexplained behavior.
Other times nothing noteworthy.
Strange brew.

[JohnnyLib2]

13. I asked my (reserved) self: might I have been involved during the long ago college days?

Ummmmmmmm......

[Speck Tater]

16. Stir up ANY emotion in the human animal

and the thin veneer of civilization falls away. Above all we are members of the animal kingdom and this thing we call "civilization" has a very weak hold over us. At times of high emotion our true animal nature shines through.

[saras]

17. Your explanation is the best and most accurate.

"Oooo, my team just won. I think I'll go turn over a car and burn a couch."
"I'm with ya, man. What team? What sport? Here's a couch."

To look for more is to see whatever you're looking for.

Haven't you ever wanted to turn over a car just because they're so ugly and stupid? They define so much of our lives, and so badly. They're ridiculously delicate, and we're so neurotic about how shiny and smooth they are. OF COURSE it's fun to roll one over. The same goes for fire, but a hundred times more so.

The interesting question is - why are sports the official reason to get away with it? New Years isn't, not really.

[provis99]

19. because it's bread and circuses.

In Constantinople, city-wide riots were common when chariot races were run.