Super Bowl 2013: Baltimore Police Respond to Riots Following Ravens' Victory

One of the dumbest "traditions" in sports was kept alive on Sunday night with fans rioting in the streets of Baltimore after the Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.  

According to a report from WKRC Local 12 in Cincinnati, police were called in to shut down traffic and prevent fans from overturning cars and looting stores. 

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Police in Baltimore shut down traffic on southbound I-83 at 28th Street as Ravens fans celebrated a Super Bowl Victory late Sunday night into Monday morning.

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Extra police, some on horseback, were called in to do patrols. Some fans were seen trying to tip over a car in the Federal Hill area. There was also reports of fans looting a 7-11.

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Ken Rice of KDKA TV in Pittsburgh posted a picture on Twitter of fans surrounding a car and getting ready to tip it over.

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Ravens fans trying to tip over a car in city's Federal Hill section, reports WJZ-TV #stayclassy twitter.com/kenricekdka/st…

— Ken Rice (@kenricekdka) February 4, 2013"

There are so many ways to celebrate a victory that don't result in people getting hurt or going to jail and property being damaged, yet for whatever reason, there is a constant need to go out and start causing chaos after your team wins a big game. 

Sports provide an incredible release from the doldrums of the normal world. It can be a galvanizing force that unites a vast array of people in a city and/or state who wouldn't normally associate with each other. 

Yet when you see incidents like this—and Baltimore is hardly the first city to riot after a win—it makes you wonder what is going through these people's minds.

It reflects poorly on the city during a time that is supposed to be about celebrating the efforts of a team and connection the fans feel with that particular group of players and coaches.