It is an age-old, time-honored tradition. Your team wins the Super Bowl, World Series, or Stanley Cup. Or, Athletic Cup. Or, your 6-year-old daughter’s soccer team wins their first game.
What’s next up on the agenda? Why, rioting and looting, of course!
The Super Bowl is upon us. Note to Police Departments in San Francisco and Baltimore . . . dust off the riot gear.
Years ago, when the San Francisco 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI (that is 16 for you non-Romans), my husband and I lived 20-ish miles from downtown San Francisco. We watched the game on TV and after the heart-stopping win we hopped in the car to celebrate the victory with our fellow crazies Niner fans.
There was dancing in the streets, one air horn per male, and joy and jubilation throwing up spilling out of every bar. San Francisco knows how to party.
The frenzied fans shouted, “We won! We won! Now let’s turn over a city bus!”
And they did.
I kid you not. My husband and I took one look at each other and, as my mother would say, with head up and tail up like a bedbug going to war, got the hell out of there.
The news reports were embarrassing. If my timeworn brain remembers correctly, cars were set on fire, storefronts were vandalized, and the drunk-tank had a waiting list.
I don’t understand it.
My idea of a celebration is popping open a bottle of champagne and having my husband drink Moet out of my shoe, not wracking a police officer over the head with said stiletto.
My husband and I have close ties to the 49ers of old.
~ My husband played under Coach Bill Walsh (stop giggling, you know what I mean) at Stanford.
~ Ronnie Lott’s uncle lived across the street from us.
~ Ray Wersching, the 49ers famed kicker, became an insurance agent after retiring from the NFL. He sold my husband’s company insurance until he was charged with four felonies for embezzling millions of dollars. Ray, not my husband. The charges against Ray were dismissed, but his business partner was sent to prison. Ol’ Ray is now a CPA. Charges dismissed or not, imagine hiring him to do you taxes.
~ We are proud owners of a regulation football signed by the 49er team that beat the Bengals. Too bad you can’t read any of the signatures, otherwise we could retire.
~ One last way we are best friends with the 49ers . . . my girlfriend once saw Jennifer Montana (Joe’s beautiful wife) at a shopping mall.
Don’t get me wrong here. I am not a football fan. I don’t hate it; I just don’t like it. However, I do watch the Super Bowl. I look at it this way . . . why read a whole book when you can read the last chapter to find out what happens? Why watch hours of grown men banging into each other, game after game. And they wonder why their head hurts?
I am one of those annoying women who talk during the game, walk in front of the TV on the way to refill the guacamole bowl, and look at my guests funny as they work their way through a keg of beer.
Sorry, football fans.
And yes . . . I watch the game for the commercials. You knew that was coming.
That is one super bowl! (Photo credit: sinosplice)
Click here for my famous bean dip recipe to put in your super bowl. Go Niners!
Even worse than sports fans rioting is “Devil’s Night” in Detroit. Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s it was absolutely horrible. Now “Angel’s Night” has actually gathered some momentum and Devil’s Night isn’t quite as bad. I still have to wonder about people who like to destroy things. The worst, though, was probably Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict. What did the rioters do? Why they burned down their own neighborhood and businesse, of course! Makes a lot of sense…………
Oh yes, the Rodney King verdict. That was ridiculous.
I must confess. I live in San Francisco, and I was relieved when the 49ers lost. I’m glad that they staged a comeback, and made it a “good” game, but was so relieved when it just wasn’t enough. With that said, I’m from Joe Montana’s era. I dated a guy from Notre Dame. Go Touchdown Jesus. Hail Mary, full of glorious passes…Just don’t destroy my city, please. Same with the Giants, although I’m really a Cubs fan. My father tried to live long enough to see the Cubs make it to the World Series, and I will probably do the same. The curse of the goat is just too much to overcome.
Ha! I forgot about Touchdown Jesus and his friend #1 Moses.
It was a bummer of a game but I’m glad San Francisco didn’t get trashed. I never heard if Baltimore had any post-game celebration issue. Did you?
Here’s a link, if you’re interested. The stupid tradition continues…
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1514966-super-bowl-2013-baltimore-police-responds-to-riots-following-ravens-victory
What is it with winning a football game make people want to turn over cars? Oh brother. Thanks for the link.
I don’t follow American Football. I tried it, it is too much start and stop, with too much of the stop, for me. Still this rioting thing is just plain daft.
I’m a Liverpool Fc fan and the games against rivals e.g. Man Utd can get silly between the fans. I never get that. I want to destroy them during a game, but afterwards, I might feel happy, or sad, but that’s it. No need to be crazy.
The TV timeouts for ads drive me crazy, so I’m with you on the “too much of the stop.” Even with the fun Super Bowl ads, they seem to go on forEVER.
A student asked me today what team jersey I wore, and I said the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. He said, “No, I mean pro team.” I said, “I don’t do pro-ball. I watch real football.” It is not for everyone. I watched for the commercials too when I wasn’t making appetizers.
Is the University of of South Carolina Gamecocks team a powerhouse on the field? I bet the team name is the butt of a lot of jokes. Am I correct?
What appetizers did you prepare? That is my favorite part of watching football . . . the food.
The commercials were pretty bizarre this year, weren’t they?
Very. The Go Daddy ad made me uncomfortable.
May I ask why? My colleagues and I have been debating this commercial all day!
It made fun of the nerdy guy.
But he got action from a hot, most likely brain-dead super model!
Yes, but as the butt of a joke. I saw him on the Today Show this morning. He really looks like that. I thought they made him up and put a wig on him.
Football or sporting victories or losses do not cause rioting.They are just the excuse. Some people are wanting, and waiting for, any excuse.They seek some justification for their vile actions. We all do. No one takes blame, everyone places it. HF
I don’t get the group mentality of violence.
Sure you do. Group think is all around us and leads to some horrendous outcomes. Put a “normal” person in a pack and see how they change. HF
I like to think I am above that. I don’t do packs.
I admit I did not watch the game, not even for the commercials. Don’t get me wrong, I love football. However, if the brothers Harbaugh could play each other and both lose, it would not satisfy my lack of respect for them. I’m just saying that sportsmanship is not in either of their vocabularies. Honestly, of the two, I would like to have seen SF win because I happen to like their young QB. “Okay Dennis, time to lighten up!”
Jim Harbaugh looks angry ALL THE TIME!
I am never gpoing to get the image of a blonde haired “head up and tail up like a bedbug going to war” out of my brain. Have I told you already, you are too funny?
I’m glad you think I’m funny!
My connection to the Niners is one generation older — my mom loved them when we were kids, so we always watched San Francisco games. Remember Y.A. Tittle, SF QB from 1950 to 1960? in 1966 or so, my mom bought us a turtle and named him Y.A. Turtle.
I don’t remember Mr. Tittle, but love the name of your turtle!
I don’t even watch the game for the commercials. I do, however, watch YouTube the day after the game for the commercials.
Did you have a favorite commercial?
The clydesdale. No question about it.
Mine too! I also loved the clydesdale ad from years ago where the horses are playing football.
Remember the donkey who led the clydesdale team? Every year they pull off something wonderful.
Their ad agency is brilliant.
The Coyles know how to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday the right way!!!
Yes we do!
Well, since the Ravens beat Denver, I’m fairly neutral about the Super Bowl. I’ll probably root for San Francisco since you have all those connections to the team, Robin.
Good girl. I knew you were smart! Go Niners.
I am to go to a SB party today.
I am not a big football fan. I promised KZ that I would root for the Ravens, but, in light of the Courtney Lenz mess, I think I may root for the 49ers (who are not my favorite team (sorry)).
Scott
Yes, but with Chris Culliver’s anti-gay comment, I am wondering who to root for. What a dumb-ass thing for him to say.
The Super Bowl is this Sunday eh?
I see you are a huge fan of football too.
What’s football?
A silly game where men run as fast as they can to crash into each other.
I remember that game. I lived about as far away from the losing team as you did from the winning team. I remember how superior we [as in the community] all felt here– even though we lost. We all knew that no way would our celebration have gotten as out of hand as your celebration. So therefore we were the better team! Great rationalization, huh?
I think your reasoning is spot-on.
I’ve watched the Superbowl for the last few years, though sometimes it isn’t on until the early hours here in the UK, so takes a LOT of effort to stay awake.
I must admit that my first thoughts, when my team wins, is not to overturn a bus!
I knew you were an upstanding gentleman. No overturning buses for my Pete!
I’d struggle with my back
I like the snacks
Then you must try my bean dip.
Well of course the Super Bowl isn’t of much significance to us over here in the UK, but we are no stranger to rioting after football matches. I don’t get it either. Does sport sometimes bring testosterone levels up to unmanageable levels do you think?
I’m the same with our football or other big sporting events over here, I’m really not a fan but I’ll watch major finals.
Testosterone and copious amounts of beer brings out the worst in sports fans. They win . . . they riot. They lose . . . they riot.
I’m celebrating my last Super Bowl on call. I’ve been called to work during two Super Bowls. Our team hasn’t done well enough to have buses flipped for them, just hostage taking.
Well then. Your job is safe. Do the fans take the kicker who misses the extra point hostage? Or is it the losing coach . . .
No Super Bowl party here. Rich will find a hockey game to watch, and I will write. We are fuddy-duddies. We’re not even using the game as an excuse to have snacks and bar food. Hope you have a fun day!
You sound like very sensible people to me! I should be writing instead of watching the game . . . but I will watch!
Go Bears! Oh wait, they’re not in it. Sigh. I’ll be watching for the commercials this time, because I’m not a fan of either team. But, boy get out of my way with that guacamole if the Bears are on. I dedicated a story to my love of the team in my anthology, which ultimately shared how it bonded my dad and me.
How sad about your BIL.
Along with a mean bean dip, I make killer guacamole. I went to the store today (yes, WinCo) and the chip aisle was decimated!
My brother-in-law being killed by the drunk driver left my sister a widow with five children. Worse yet . . . she was 7 months pregnant with their sixth child. The entire family was in the car on their way to see their oldest son perform in a concert. All of them sustained injuries. So sad.
Oh my God, this is such a tragedy. So sorry your BIL and entire family had to endure it.
It was a dark time in our family.
Your husband played for Walsh? The guy’s a legend.
I guess I can understand you not liking football. It’s a stretch for this no longer limber mind, but I’ll work hard at it.
Yes, he played for Walsh. Pretty cool, eh?
I don’t dislike football. I just can’t find much to like about it. Sorry to disappoint.
Oh yes, I KNOW, I’m not a Montrealer, but a bunch of crazies took over that city and trashed it. I will never understand how victory translates into fires, destruction of property (not your own) and turning over cars.
Yeah . . . why is it that looters and rioter never destroy their own stuff?
We only watch if the Packers are playing—my husband grew up near Green Bay. Honestly, I couldn’t even tell you where the game is being played! But the so-called “celebrations” show so many people at their worst. Thank heaven we don’t live too close to Baltimore!
I thought about you when I wrote this post. Stay home. Stay safe. On a somber note, my brother-in-law was killed by a drunk driver on Super Bowl Sunday about 20 years ago. They guy who hit them was leaving a bar after the game ended. He did a ton of jail time.
Oh, that’s terrible. I have no sympathy for anyone who drives over the legal limit. If I found myself on a jury in that kind of case, I’d be going for the maximum sentence possible.
The driver left my sister a widow with five children and one on the way. It is a miracle they all weren’t killed. The children had minor injuries but my sister was hospitalized for quite some time. Because she was pregnant, they had a hard time managing her pain. The bastard.
I might catch the last five minutes of the game (if we get it in Australia) and I hope the 49s win
I’m not sure why people get so ‘riotous’ after sports matches. Must be all that pent up energy. Maybe the fans should be made to run around the field ten times before they open the gates to let them loose on the streets
Excellent idea! We used to take the kids to the park and stage races. “Okay, girls! Run to the swing set and back 10 times to see who wins!” The result? Exhausted children. And peace and quiet in the house. Win-win.
That is downright sneaky. Those poor kids.
I bet you wish you thought of that!
When we were young and dating, we had an English friend who dubbed the day of the Super Bowl “Outback Sunday.” Because no one was there, and we could go and not wait an hour for a table! ; )
Now, our kids want to watch the Super Bowl. How weird is that? My husband and I go along with it, even though… we’re really only watching for the commercials.
Our Outback was like that too. You had to wait hours for a table. Now? You could shoot a canon off in it an not hit anyone. I’m surprised it is still open.
Coming from France and having watched soccer games that last exactly 45 minutes x2, I don’t understand how Americans manage to make a game of four quarters last 3 hours!
I only used to watch the Super Bowl for the commercials, but there was a little of interruption (the game part). Then the internet came on and all the commercials were available on YouTube. And now I don’t even have TV service so I can’t watch live TV. I figure I have better things to do with my time. That time slot is also a great time to go somewhere that’s usually crowded because it will be empty.
And I agree with you, if you really want to know who wins, just watch the last 5 minutes of the game!
My point exactly.
The TV timeouts make a long game longer! And while amusing, for the most part, the commercials go on forever!
They say the best time to go shopping is during the Super Bowl…no crowds…mostly women.
And stay away from sports bars!
Mmmmm ok here it goes. I love football. I love baseball more. I am the one in the living room watching the game with the men folk and getting pissed because you talk during the game
But this year I could careless because I don’t like either team.
You don’t like the Niners? Well, then. I must un-friend you. It has been nice knowing you, Audra.
this after you send me such mean pictures?? oh you are breaking my heart Mrs. Coyle
Okay, okay. We can still be friends.
as long as you are NOT a Yankee fan we can be friends. I have to draw the line somewhere
Nope . . . San Francisco Giants all the way.
I don’t even watch it. Not a fan of football, am I. But it’s a nice chance to get a few hours to myself while the men in my family are locked away in their smelly, TV cave.
I’m not a fan either. It is more fun this year for me since the Niners are in the Super Bowl, being the California girl that I am.
I don’t get the “celebrating” some fans do….maybe more beer so they can’t walk after the game is over? (shaking head confusedly)
The battle of the commercials! So many leaked early this year.
I’ve only seen the VW ad where the guy speaks with a Jamaican accent. I guess it has caused quite a stir.
You’re sharing “the recipe?” How could you? Now I have to give you credit when I bring it places and claim it to be my own….
Sorry . . . you can still claim it as your own. Your secret is safe with me!