If you read LaPresse, they quote a criminologist who claims this falls into classic Hooliganism. Holligans are not “uber fans”, they are people looking to cause a riot. To profit from a situation. LaPresse also quotes a sociologist who agrees entirely with this point of view.

In regards to what went on inside the Bell Center, I’ve been to several matches and I have been to matches in other cities. Montreal is by far the town with some of the most respectful fans. There were no signs of Hooliganism in the Bell Center during Game 7. So that myth bust, falls flat IMHO.

I also take issue with the argument that it was not a handful of rioters. A full out riot in where a large number of people took part, as opposed to a handful, would have caused A LOT more damage.. Think 1993 or better yet, Rodney King.

But the real question is WHY WAS CHANTAL FONATAINE TREATED SO BADLY BY RAD-CAN!?! ;-) ;-)

I can tell you that there were no molotov cocktails used by the guys i saw trying to light their shirts on fire (to torch cop cars). When I left the no looting had occurred yet so alcohol bottles were not used to start the fires.

Also, I think this is a pretty good analysis except for a few things. I did not once see a homeless person doing any damage to anything! What I saw was people with bandanas over their faces, dressed in 100$ Gangstaa shirts and drunken habs fans doing all the damage.

Also, I highly suspect that a few individuals did have this planned. The majority of rioters were not going their to riot I agree, they just got caught up in the stupidity, but I sincerely believe that there were a few idiots who ceased the opportunity to start this. Nobody carrys toilet paper in their pocket, yet there was alot of it all over the trees and streets.

I’m disappointed that the media took this severe law and order stance, it’s frankly not their job. All we have had from the media is OPINION, how about some facts? How about having some psychological experts on the air? What about examining and understanding what happens to otherwise normal people in a mob.
I think i’m expecting too much from commercial media really.

And as for the police, for once I’m on their side. They did the best they could, sometimes things go wrong no matter how you plan things.

@ Montréaliste: So the kneegrows are to be blamed for the riot?

Were the cop cars burning before or after the break-in at the SAQ? Booze could, sort of, be used as a Molotov cocktail, although it doesn’t burn nearly as readily as people think.

But there’s no way just throwing burning matches or paper into a car will cause it to burn like that.

montrealiste. it has more to do with beer and alcohol than wu tang clan concerts. we have all seen guys with Habs shirts kikcing the police cars. the molotov cocktails were also improvised.

I heard that the riot actually started at the Wu Tan Clan concert. Is it possible ?

And the car burnings occured at 11h30, which indicates that the idiots probably left to go downtown AFTER the game. They had Molotov cocktails, thats what police is saying. I don’t think fans took their cocktails at the Bell Center…