123 dead after Ghana soccer stampede

[Marc]

Found this terrible story on SportsLine (http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/ce/multi/0,1329,3879377_5,00.html). Apparently, soccer fans at a packed stadium stampeded after throwing bottles and other materials onto the field.

They should have known better to do this, fans in America wouldn't do this.

[NickHammy]

From what I've seen, they pack those stadiums until they almost burst. Didn't this also happen in Brazil or somewhere recently also?

[lmanchur.]

Yeah, it did, Nick.... like you said, the stadium was too paacked, riot broke out 'cuz people couldn't get in.

...as for Marc's little side comment there ("fans in America wouldn't do this")... maybe not... but what about the '96 bombing (or something like that) during the Atlanta Games?... USA Hockey team at the '98 Nagano Games? How about riots and fires in LA after the Lakers won the NBA Championship last year?

But how did this thing in Ghana start? Fans throwing objects onto the playing surface!... as if that NEVER happens in American sporting events.

Two words -- Roger Clemens.

At least it wasn't the fans. :rolleyes:

[iFroggy]

Lee,

Its Roger! (You nitpicked about Gretsky lol)

[lmanchur.]

Roger Clemens isn't the greatest pitcher of all time, though.

[iFroggy]

Lee,

To be honest, there are people that could argue that Gretzky is not the greatest hockey player of all time and that Clemens was the best pitcher. Cy Youngs, 2 20 K games, 2 World Series rings, plus all of the other stats. He does have a very strong case.

(Just don't try to discount the fact that you spelt a name wrong, after you nitpicked on me!)

[lmanchur.]

..sure, I spelled Roger Clemens' name wrong... now I know better... and I'm never going to spell it like "Rodger" ever again (unlike SOME people I know, Patrick!!!)

...and there's a very good case that Gretzky isn't the greatest hockey player of all time... how do you not think I know that!?... however, there's only one other player that could possibly be a better hockey player... Bobby Orr... In fact, I started a thread about this (http://sports-central.org/community/boards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=980)... even you voted that Gretzky was the best, though, Patrick! :)

Besides.. this wasn't a thread about a riot in Ghana turned to a thread about the incorrect spelling of Roger Clemens' name.... it was a thread about a riot in Ghana turned to a thread about how Americans always start riots during sporting events even though Marc says America is juuuusssstttt perrrrrrrfect.

[PeterDewar]

Its sad to see these things happen but what can you do to stop the fans, they just love the game.

...and Orr would be the only person I would say could beat Gretzky for the #1 spot IMO.