Sensible Solutions to Curb Irrational Rioting After Sporting Events

Violence after sporting events has started getting out of control. Two incidents over the past few days have spotlighted a problem that has been slowly growing in recent years, making it more dangerous than ever to attend a game.

The first came on Sunday night when, following a Los Angeles Dodgers game, a man was removed from his car and beaten after a minor car crash, according to KABC. He was treated and released from the hospital, and four men were arrested.

Bryan Stow was also mentioned in the report. He was assaulted after an Opening Day game last year at Dodger Stadium, suffering brain damage in the process. The incidents have made fans think twice about going to a game there.

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Authorities increased security following the incident in hopes of preventing other attacks. But some fans say security at the stadium doesn't appear to be getting better.

"They need to do something about it. I mean, it gets a little scary," said Landon Vivian of Hollywood. "I go to Dodgers games every now and then, and it gets rough."

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Things continued to spiral out of control after the Oklahoma City Thunder eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers from the NBA playoffs as at least eight people were struck by gunfire, according to The Oklahoman. Another woman, who is pregnant, suffered blunt trauma.

It's still unclear what role sports played in the incident, if any, but once again it's an example of a problem occurring at the same time a sporting event was letting out. These are times when the local authorities need to take every precaution necessary.

The result of a game doesn't change that. Violence has been happening outside of major sports arenas and stadiums far too often regardless of the circumstances, whether they involve the event itself or not. Safety should always be the top priority.

It isn't just a problem in the United States, either. After last year's Stanley Cup finals, there were riots in Vancouver. There have also been several high-profile soccer clashes overseas, including the one in Egypt seen below that killed nearly 75 people, based on an Al Jazeera report.

So, it's clear there's a problem that must be fixed before things get even worse. Nobody should have to live in fear when leaving a sporting event.

The first step that should be taken is increasing the police presence at every event. That includes both the local police force and stadium security, which will make it blatantly clear to everybody that unruly behavior won't be accepted.

And it must be a long-term plan. A lot of times there will be an instant rise in security after an incident, but it eventually fades back to prior levels after a while. That's not fixing the problem; it's just putting on the back burner for a couple weeks.

If fans know there will always be help within shouting distance, the feeling of safety increases in a major way.

Secondly, crimes after sporting events should have their own category of charges. Whether it's starting a riot or hurting another person, the odds of other criminal activity rise when thousands of people are pouring out of a stadium as opposed to a random street in a city.

When people understand the likelihood of punishment is high, they are going to think twice before causing any type of problem. It's just common sense.

One other idea would be having superstar athletes film some public service announcements about the subject, reminding fans to respect each other before, after and during an event.

Hearing it from Kobe Bryant, Derek Jeter or Peyton Manning will have a more direct impact on people than other methods.

All told, the problem needs to get addressed by all the major sports leagues, teams and local authorities to ensure incidents like the ones over the last couple days are few and far between, not a common occurrence.

Going to a sporting event should be fun. It shouldn't force people to worry about making it home safely after it ends.