LA has NO extra money, yet the parade went on. It reminded me of the family
with a house being repossessed, everyone out of a job, and no money in the
bank. BUT, somebody offered the family half off on a trip to Disney in
Orlando...so they went.
Way to go Villiarigosa...play that fiddle.
1.When do you think the repeat of the 1992 riots will start?
2. Will welfare actually be cut-off to the riff-raff?
3. Do you think the cops can handle the situation or possible National guard
will need to be called = martial law in the future
4. What are the safest best cities in LA County to ride out the upcoming
unrest financial collapse.
What are you and others doing to prepare for this 24/7 potential riot.
"Wayne" <mygarb...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:h1dk8r$2m6$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
No riots expected but I can say if I ever have the displeasure of meeting
you I'll just sock you in the nose and be on my way. No riots but lots of
cheering for a job well done I'm sure.
<tripe snipped>
I think you are confusing last year's "celebration" in Boston with this
year's.
--
"This was so much fun."
- Sarah Palin speaking at a turkey slaughterhouse
Most of the money was put up by well heeled local bigshots/philanthropists.
Lakers riot: Walking through downtown Los Angeles after the NBA championship
See, downtown? This is why you can't have nice things.
You didn't have a real supermarket for 50 years until Ralph's opened in
2007. It's so nice; there's a dry cleaner and a Coffee Bean inside. And
you know what's next door? Another Coffee Bean. Literally -- the next door.
Maybe having two espresso machines 100 feet apart made Lakers fans
jittery after the team won its 15th NBA title in Orlando. A metal trash
can went through a window of the coffee shop immediately east of
Ralph's. Something else broke the glass door of a smoothie shop
immediately west.
Most people don't realize it, but downtown is so full of wine bars these
days that you can throw a rock and hit one. Somebody did, breaking
another window. The owners of a different wine bar locked the doors and
stood in front until late into the night. They didn't seem to be
celebrating.
Shortly after the big win, revelers gathered outside Staples Center and,
uh, trimmed trees to make kindling for a fire in the middle of the
street. I know times are tough, but if you're trying to survive these
cold Southern California summers, it's easier to put on a T-shirt.
I was standing between LA Live and Staples Center within an hour of the
Lakers' victory. I was walking the streets a little further east as the
LAPD struggled to chase the last of the knuckleheads from downtown. What
should have been a proud moment for the redeveloped area was anything but.
LA Live is supposed to be our version of New York's Times Square. When I
drove by on my way home, there wasn't a soul visible -- just some squad
cars belonging to the officers who had run everybody away. It wasn't
even midnight yet.
This reaction is nothing new. I was staying in the Radisson Hotel at
Figueroa and Exposition when the Lakers won a title over Indiana on June
20, 2000. Born in L.A., I was just about to move back and thought it was
cool that the hotel parking lot became the turnaround for an impromptu
parade that spanned 25 blocks from Staples Center, back-and-forth for
several hours.
Later, I found out that two cop cars were set ablaze and that 11 people
had been arrested.
Early reports from this year's mayhem indicate at least twice as many
arrests. I didn't see any cruisers on fire, but I watched the LAPD try
to put out blazes in a pair of dumpsters. Thick smoke choked the street
about half a mile east of Staples, and I couldn't help but wonder if
something you don't want to touch is even worse when you're breathing it in.
The Lakers have done a lot for this city. It's not just bragging rights
for their 15 championships. It's the Staples Center and, as a result, LA
Live. It's hope for a downtown area that used to have none. They deserve
this parade. But do we?
Let this moment be a reminder to treat downtown a little better. If
you've got money, spend some at one of the eclectic restaurants or bars.
Help them stay open late, so people have somewhere nice to gather. If
you're broke, support the community and check out a free event like an
art walk, organized bike ride, or special museum night.
Or at least stop throwing metal trash cans at everything.
-- Adam Rose
for example:
http://ballhype.com/video/boston_celtics_riot/
http://ballhype.com/video/celtics_championship_2008_6_17_08_boston/
http://www.video4viet.com/watchvideo.html?id=MMHyq79itj0&title=Boston+Celtics+Championship+Celebration+Riot+Nba+Finals
(many more, just google or youtube search)
More importantly, did you post to Usenet asking about it?
--
Gary Collard
SABR-L Moderator
gmcollard at yahoo dot com
http://sarcastipundit.blogspot.com/
LAKERS 16 Time World Champions
1948-1949-1950-1952-1953-1954-1972-1980
1982-1985-1987-1988-2000-2001-2002-2009