G
Guest
·So I'm at the high school this past Tuesday watching still another basketball game my kid is in. This particular game was between two schools that have something of a rivalry going. There had been problems last season, so there was a very visible police contingent.
The gym was absolutely packed. Oh, and we were at the enemy school by the way. Anyway, the crowds were trading chants across the place, but thing were generally peaceful during the first half. By the time the third quarter was under way, the game kept getting held up by things being thrown onto the floor: cups, partially eaten hot dogs, popcorn, oh, and at least one bra (nice touch). In the fourth quarter the players started to get a little fiesty. It was a close, physical game. No actual punches thrown, but getting closer all the time.
So, the enemy team wins, and fans from both sides pour out onto the floor. My kids team was hustled into the locker room by several policemen. He didn't want to have anything to do with his lettermen's jacket, so I was wearing it. Probably not the best idea considering where I was at, but hey, I'm pretty much nuts anyway and I figured getting jumped by a bunch of kids would probably cheer me up. No such luck though.
So by the time the teams were emerging from their respective locker rooms and the crowd had moved outside. Then, as if on cue.........everybody started hitting everybody else. Didn't seem to matter who, just everybody started whapping on each other. Reminded me a bit of the good old days when I was in high school. Mostly a bunch of frustrated, testosterone heavy guys just letting off a little steam. I still think things would have settled down on their own if there wouldn't have been so many cops around. Oh, and maybe the best part was a woman, a mother of one of those involved in one of the fights - who had an absolutely enormous caboose by the way, reaching into the clump of wrestlers and grabbing her boy. "Cleon, get your skinny black ass outa there you fucking ignorant *****! I'm gonna take you home and whoop yo butt into tomorra." And she just hauled that poor kid out - by his hair, and dragged him off.
Turns out Cleon was lucky. In the story in the newspaper......"police estimated over 200 people were involved in the "melee"." Love that word. I counted 29 police cars, with more coming. We made it to the Cruiser just as one of the cops was lobbing tear gas into the frackus (another word I love, and hardly get to use). That stuff really is bad by the way. Totally messes up your throat and eyes, so I'm glad we were in the car and moving by then.
Final tally: 6 arrests, undetermined number "detained", numerous "weapons" confiscated (no detail given), but thankfully only one injury that required an ambulance. My boy said many, many students are now suspended, including two of his teammates who couldn't play in tonight's game (more time for my kid though).
The next game between these two teams is in February - at our school.
I will keep you posted.
The gym was absolutely packed. Oh, and we were at the enemy school by the way. Anyway, the crowds were trading chants across the place, but thing were generally peaceful during the first half. By the time the third quarter was under way, the game kept getting held up by things being thrown onto the floor: cups, partially eaten hot dogs, popcorn, oh, and at least one bra (nice touch). In the fourth quarter the players started to get a little fiesty. It was a close, physical game. No actual punches thrown, but getting closer all the time.
So, the enemy team wins, and fans from both sides pour out onto the floor. My kids team was hustled into the locker room by several policemen. He didn't want to have anything to do with his lettermen's jacket, so I was wearing it. Probably not the best idea considering where I was at, but hey, I'm pretty much nuts anyway and I figured getting jumped by a bunch of kids would probably cheer me up. No such luck though.
So by the time the teams were emerging from their respective locker rooms and the crowd had moved outside. Then, as if on cue.........everybody started hitting everybody else. Didn't seem to matter who, just everybody started whapping on each other. Reminded me a bit of the good old days when I was in high school. Mostly a bunch of frustrated, testosterone heavy guys just letting off a little steam. I still think things would have settled down on their own if there wouldn't have been so many cops around. Oh, and maybe the best part was a woman, a mother of one of those involved in one of the fights - who had an absolutely enormous caboose by the way, reaching into the clump of wrestlers and grabbing her boy. "Cleon, get your skinny black ass outa there you fucking ignorant *****! I'm gonna take you home and whoop yo butt into tomorra." And she just hauled that poor kid out - by his hair, and dragged him off.
Turns out Cleon was lucky. In the story in the newspaper......"police estimated over 200 people were involved in the "melee"." Love that word. I counted 29 police cars, with more coming. We made it to the Cruiser just as one of the cops was lobbing tear gas into the frackus (another word I love, and hardly get to use). That stuff really is bad by the way. Totally messes up your throat and eyes, so I'm glad we were in the car and moving by then.
Final tally: 6 arrests, undetermined number "detained", numerous "weapons" confiscated (no detail given), but thankfully only one injury that required an ambulance. My boy said many, many students are now suspended, including two of his teammates who couldn't play in tonight's game (more time for my kid though).
The next game between these two teams is in February - at our school.
I will keep you posted.
