Pyrrhic Victory: Five Worst Victory Induced Riots

Every once in a while a city earns the right to call themselves a champion.  And what better way to celebrate than ripping a little piece of that city apart. With New Orleans on the verge of winning their first championship for anything at anytime in the city’s history, we could be on the verge of one of the most drunken, fun, and disastrous sport riots of all time. Here are five of the worst/best sport riots induced by the glorious achievement of winning.

Number 5 – Detroit and the Curse of Bubba Helms

The 1984 Detroit Tigers beat the San Diego Padres for their first World Series title in 22 years, and fans celebrated by tearing the city apart. Fires were lit, bottles were thrown, and riot police were employed. But what makes this riot special, is the picture of Bubba Helms holding up a pennant in front of a burning car. Rioters tend to leave their fan paraphernalia in the stadium when they start flipping cars, but not Bubba Helms. He proudly posed in front of the overturned, flaming vehicle, never forgetting why he was rioting. The Tigers won the world series! And they haven’t won since.

Number 4 – Boston, Baseball, and Burning Stuff

If anybody deserved to riot after winning a championship it was the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox waited 86 years before they won they won the pennant in 2004 and could riot again, (yes, the royal rooters rioted at the 1912 World Series). In fact, rioting seems to be the only way that Boston knows how to celebrate. They flipped cars in 2004 when they broke the curse. They threw rocks at police after sweeping the Rockies in 2007. But Boston is bigger than baseball. They also rioted at the Celtics championship in 2008 and the Patriots win in 2002.

Countless arrests, injuries, and even a few deaths have made Boston one of the most dangerous places for anyone to win anything. Could you imagine what would have happened if the Patriots had gone 19-0?

Number 3 – Montreal Wins a Meaningless Game

In 2008, the Montreal Canucks looted stores and burned cars, cop cars actually, in celebration of a first round playoff win. But the 2008 riot was nothing compared to the Montreal Stanley Cup riot 15 years earlier.

Nearly 1000 police offers had to be deployed to take control of the crowd as rioters were in the process of causing 2.5 million dollars worth of damage. The riot damaged 50 cop cars, totaled 10 of them, and put 170 people in jail.

Number 2 – Soccer – Take Your Pick

Truth be told, The United States and our effeminate cousin Canada don’t know the first thing about rioting. Win, loss, or draw football fans are in it for the blood. Americans might throw bottles, chairs, or anything else that is near by, but Europeans come prepared. Using flares, weapons, and fireworks, they set fire to the stadium and use their numbers to fight back against police.

Thousands of fans have died during soccer riots, and one goalie was coldly murdered days after scoring on his own goal.

Number 1 – Bowe vs. Golota – Boxing below the belt

This riot takes the number one spot because it had just as many dirty hits during the fight than it did afterward. Andrew Golota wasn’t known for his right hook, or his uppercut, he was known for his nut shot. On more than one occasion during this heavyweight battle, Golota took aim for Bowe’s balls. The fourth nut shot caused a disqualification and riot.

Months later, Golota got the chance to fight Bowe again. He made it to the ninth round this time before he was disqualified again for boxing below the belt.