It's very interesting to me to read the discussion you are having of the
riots. It makes me think about the Vancouver riot in a different light.
On the one hand, riots happen in Canada after big hockey games, often, like
I suppose it happens concerning big football matches in various countries.
Political? Well, yes and no. When it happened here, it certainly highlighted
the politics of hockey. In the sense that here was a situation where there
were a hundred thousand or more people downtown for a celebration--it's hard
to drum up that sort of interest for anything, but there they were for the
hockey game--hockey is hugely popular here. And the values of hockey, as
promulgated by the NHL, are in many ways quite congruent with criminal
violence. And there were many rioters wearing Vancouver Canucks jerseys. The
many images of young people wearing Canucks jerseys participating in the
riot, of little street-version Vancouver Canucks doing violence, were
unescapably symbolic. And the Canucks's organizational response was very
disappointing. "Those aren't Vancouver Canucks fans!" they proclaimed.
Disavowing all responsibility for the riot. And saying nothing they do or
stand for encourages this sort of thing.
The Canucks' profit soared this season to $45 million dollars. They are the
most popular entertainment in town. They are so much more popular than art
that it's ridiculous. And, say what they will, they do stand for criminal
violence. Thuggery, in a word.
And that was very clear to more or less everybody, I imagine, after the
riot. After the Canucks lost game 7 in a blowout and the riot ensued, the
subject of the Canucks themselves simply disappeared. People talked about
the riot, but the excitement about the Canucks themselves went to absolute
zero.
I played a lot of hockey as a kid and I've been a hockey fan all my life,
but seeing the riot up close has changed my attitude. The Canucks do good
things for kids' hospitals and similar causes, but the culture they're all
about is revolting.
ja
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