world cup tomfoolery

While taking a nice stroll down Commercial Drive to get some breakfast this morning, I was greeted with oh so pleasant horn honking that seems to coincide with every World Cup victory no matter what the team. Here is the scenario, a team wins a game, a group of yokels hop in their cars and proceed to drive up and down the street waving flags and honking horns. People look around in bewilderment and wonder what the hell is going on.

As I went on up the street I noticed that traffic was partially stopped as well. Idiots from all corners of the drive were dancing in the street waving Italian flags. The road was basically shut down. When I exited the cafe about an hour later after a wonderful breakfast, I saw police cars and uniformed police officers. I thought to myself, finally, some law and order. Nope. The police had blocked off the road and were allowing the celebration to continue. On down the street six public transportation buses were grounded. The buses cannot simply go around because they run on electric power and cable lines are only on Commercial. Thank God I didn’t need to go to work or anything.

So what happened? Italy beat Australia.

Now as a sports fan I’m all for fan celebration. I’ve done my fair share of storming the field or taking to the streets after a big victory. Usually this activity is done near a place of importance for the team that won (on campus). I would not consider Commercial Drive the Vancouver campus for Italy or any other team for that matter. I also only take part in this type of extreme celebration after a big victory like I said. If Italy had just won the World Cup I would have no issues. They beat Australia. When I think Australia, I think kangaroos, boomerangs, and Paul Hogan driving a Subaru. I don’t think soccer.

I think the following pictures do more than enough to illustrate the idiocrasy of this situation.

world cup tomfoolery