Monday, June 15, 2009

Lakers win championship; fans riot, loot

While there is rioting going on in Iran, there was also some unrest going down in Los Angeles, but for a vastly different reason. The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Orlando Magic and the fans went around lighting fires and looting in celebration.

On one hand, I have to wonder what point it is for people to light things on fire when celebrating. On the other hand, I want to be in a city when they win the championship just to witness it.

But some people in the city surely wish they weren't in the city -- like this sneaker shop owner.
Torres and his girlfriend entered through the back door and saw the storage room all but empty. Fewer than 20 pairs of shoes were left out of the 800 pairs they had in stock. The floor was littered with receipts, price tags, tissue paper and crumpled-up shoe boxes.

Torres’ eyes grew teary at the sight. Neighbors told them the revelers had gone to the back of the store, and pulled and pulled at the white metal door until it broke open, all the while chanting: “We want shoes, we want shoes.” Glass display cases had been shattered. Two computers, cash, sunglasses and hats were also looted.

“It makes me not want to be a basketball fan,” Torres said, adding that he opened the store near the Staples Center in November 2007 because he was a fan and thought the post-game crowd would be the right clientele for his consignment sneakers.

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