Is nothing sacred anynmore?!

This rant is something of an update to my prior post. Like all holidays, Crewsmas (Columbus Crew home opener), has drifted from it true meaning. Just as Christmas has morphed from a celebration of the Savior's birth to an occasion to sell "executive gifts" (i.e. dollar store toy mini pool tables with a particleboard casing) and the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln (and MLK to an increasing extent) have ceased to be about celebrating the lives of great Americans as much as about getting a good deal on a mattress, Crewsmas has ceased to be a celebration of the massiveness of the Crew, and has become an excuse for Canadians to riot. But aren't Canadians a peace-loving people? As a rule, yes. But one needs look no further than the supporters' groups of Toronto FC to find the exception. Throwing flares ans smoke bombs on the field, destroying South End seating, and antagonizing Columbus' finest. As if that wasn't enough, there are rumblings that they want to sue the Crew and the City of Columbus. I'm no expert in the American legal system, but I'm pretty sure it's the ones who were attacked, intimidated, and had their property destroyed that have standing to sue, not the perpetrators. Crew matches often become spirited affairs, especially when DC United or Chicago Fire is visiting, but the wannabe-hooligan antics of Pyromaniac FC have raised the crap to the level that I feel comfortable breaking out a four-letter word that makes the US soccer establishment uncomfortable: riot. There I said it. Toronto's supporters incited a full-blown soccer riot on Saturday. For that, they should be placed under a complete travel ban. Harsh, you might say. Thus it is, but flagrant violations of the law and general order deserve harsh punishment. If they can't keep their shtick to nonsensical chants of "This is our house!" (memo to TFC fans: It's not even your country.), they shouldn't be allowed to travel around MLS stadia looking for a fight.

On a brighter note (almost anything would be), the IndyCar Series will have 22 entries for its opener Sunday in St. Pete and 23+ (I'm hoping for and predicting +) at it's second round two weeks later in Long Beach. Both races will air on the Versus network (check your local listings for times).

Until later, good bye from the Woodchuck Hole and remember: chanting - good, throwing flares and destroying seats - bad.