Vancouver Canucks Lose: Riot Brings Shame on Canada and Competitive Sports

Following a lost opportunity in Game 7 to bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada for the first time in nearly two decades, loyal ‘Nuckers are left to grieve over what feels like the emptiness of a lost season. 

In retrospect, Vancouver’s postseason run may eventually draw pride from the faithful community, but today is not for acknowledging the “finer side of coming so close.”  Not for Canucks fans.

The beauty of sports lies in the gamut of emotions.  Bitter losses make victory all the more sweet, and the fires of teams’ trials often temper a steely resolve that leads to greater accomplishments down the road.  In other words, not all hope is lost in British Columbia, as empathetic fans in cities such as Pittsburgh and Boston can attest.

Nevertheless, the loss evoked the ire of a small contingent of fans, and bad decisions by incensed radicals will reflect poorly on the larger whole.  At a time when most loyal Canucks fans are left to wonder “what if,” an immature band began rioting in the streets of Vancouver. 

A night of shame fell on the NHL, Canada, Vancouver, and all of sports.

Cars were flipped, fists flew, and fires blazed, giving the night air a red glow that reflected not only the anger caused by years of frustration, but the immaturity of sports fans that give the larger crux of loyal followers a bad name. 

Taking it to a new level, hospitals received patients with stab wounds.  Granted, no comatose patients wearing San Francisco Giants jerseys were reported, but it seems British Columbia had quite an embarrassment.

In another shame, derelicts tainted the perception of a largely well-mannered fan base, causing many people to say: “Bunch of idiots.  They deserve it.”  In truth, most of them do not.

Yet it’s not just Canadian fans left with a soured reputation after the ill-will of more immature brethren.  Sports fans in general are judged by such despicable actions.  Riots lend unfortunate evidence to notions of non-enthusiasts that sports are an entertainment circuit largely geared for the immature.

Most of us understand that this interpretation is flawed.  We are able to separate our loyalties to our teams from the rest of our living. 

From perils to parades, following a team leads to an emotional connection.  Decent fans treat this forum as communal bonding for a vicarious cause.  The cause is success or failure, which mirrors life with its highs, lows, and unscripted “truths.”  Improving on the greatest tales of high fantasy, we pick our own heroes and villains, and their tale is played out on grass, dirt, and clay. 

For a sports fan, the competition is entertainment at its highest form.  Most people realize that humans have a natural compulsion to “win,” and the majority of fans understand their role in ensuring sports are a healthy outlet for the vanity and aggressions that accompany all men.

Most fans do not lack this sense of reason.   Those not drawn to sports often judge the cultural phenomenon against the minority, those who lack the skills to keep a game in perspective. 

I have often been drawn into contention about sports culture with a peer.  My argument notes the small percentages of unruly fans; it should also be considered that in all forms of entertainment, the impulse to violence and unruliness exists.

How many times do we blame video games for violence amongst our children?

The peer that engages these conversations happens to “ghost hunt” as a hobby.  It stands to reason that this activity showcases intrigue for the supernatural.  While it represents a small portion of time and culture, focus on supernatural events and causes has not always led to desirable outcomes.  See: Salem, 1692.

In other words, for every good intention and well-meaning craft, there’s a group that taints and carries things too far. 

In Vancouver, a large number of well-meaning fans grieve.  They deserved to celebrate their heroes’ names being engraved into the Stanley Cup as much as anybody.  Yet the region is being judged by an unruly, anarchist rebellion. 

Aside from the damage to people, followed by damage to property, the bad reputation this gives the city of Vancouver and sports in general makes their actions an inexcusable shame. 

The finest fans live vicarious, but they know where to draw the line.  In spite of their emotions, they are not societal menaces. 

The renegades that took part in the over-night riots in Western Canada don’t deserve the Stanley Cup.  They deserve to sit in a padded cell, have their season tickets revoked, lose their claim to allegiance to the team that drives them to such unnecessary recklessness, and to answer for their idiocy.

In a day where the focus should be a lost opportunity to return the Stanley Cup to the people that most covet it, the sports world judges Vancouver for images of infernos and blood.

To those involved: Shame on you!  Losers deserve to lose.

And for the rest: Congratulations on a fine season!  And better luck next season.  Winners deserve to win.