Mexico beating the U.S. men’s soccer team was a really big deal for the people of Santa Ana, and of course a lot of our residents came out into the streets to celebrate.
The O.C. Register reported that “Nearly 50 police officers spent hours on Saturday night dispersing a massive crowd on one of the city’s busiest streets following Mexico’s come-from-behind 4-2 win over the United States in the final of the Concacaf Gold Cup in Pasadena.”
Apparently, “more than 4,000 people flooded Bristol Street between Edinger Avenue and McFadden Avenue, cheering and celebrating Mexico’s win and waving Mexican flags,” according to SAPD Cmdr. Steve Colon.
But you know what? There were no reports of arrests or violence.
Contrast that with what happened when the San Francisco Giants won the World Series last year – the mayhem surrounding the San Francisco Giants’ World Series victory burned up on Twitter, Facebook, Twitpic and Flickr. It even had a mayor on Foursquare, and it had two Twitter hashtags. #SFRiots and #SFRiot, according to the Los Angeles Times.
And when the L.A. Lakers beat Boston last year, another riot erupted, according to the Christian Science Monitor.
Of course many of the Register’s readers erupted with racist comments. And as one would expect, Thomas Gordon showed up to. Who is Gordon? He ran for Santa Ana Mayor a few years back, and failed to qualify for the ballot last year as a City Council candidate in Ward 6. Now he is part of former Santa Ana Council Member Tom Lutz’ anti-soccer coalition of NIMBYs and Usual Suspects.
Here is what the O.C. Register reported with regard to Gordon: “Later, between 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., police wearing helmets and carrying batons used bullhorns to disperse the crowd at McFadden and Bristol, said Thomas Gordon, a Santa Ana resident who took the photo below. Some in the crowd were setting off fireworks, and more than two dozen patrol cars were at the scene, Gordon said.”
The best part of Gordon’s lame “reporting” was the on the scene picture he took, of two cops talking and NOTHING GOING ON. Click here to see the Register’s article, Gordon’s picture and a slew of racist comments by the Register’s readers.
(Note to Gordon: I have the day off today so please don’t bother filing another complaint with my employer).
But they Register’s readers weren’t the only racists to attack Mexican soccer fans. Dozens of white sports columnists ripped the fans who attended the match between the U.S. and Mexico, because the fans cheered for Mexico.
How crazy is that? Of course the Mexican soccer fans cheered for their Motherland. Yankees fans always cheer for the Bronx Bombers when the Yankees visit the Angels. So what? Folks will cheer the team they love – and the U.S. soccer team just plain sucks.
Bill Plaschke, at the L.A. Times, was one of the few columnists who got it right, “How many places are so diverse that it could fill football stadiums with folks whose roots are somewhere else? How many places offer such a freedom of speech that someone can display an American flag on their porch one day and cheer against the flag the next?” Bravo Bill!
Mexicans should be proud of the Mexican soccer team. And Americans who don’t like that should push for the firing of the American team’s coach – and wholesale changes to the team. Recruiting more Mexican American players would be a good start.
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I'm glad you pointed out that there were no reports of violence or arrests. And do you know - there were lots of Mexican-Americans rooting for the U.S. to win too - but no one wanted to point that out.
As an American I was rooting for the red, white and blue on Saturday night. I however do not begrudge any of those who chose to root for El Tri (the Mexican national team) because of the connection they feel towards their Motherland.
My friends from England, who are naturalized citizens, loudly rooted for England over the US in last years World Cup and nobody batted an eye. My father, also a naturalized citizen from Canada, would root for Team Canada in hockey. I never heard anyone complain about that.
I am quite sure that most of us, including those complaining, would continue to root for the USA if we moved to a foreign land. We are proud of where we are from and so are the fans of El Tri.
The U.S. team doesn't "just suck" It could have gone easily the other way. i thought that you said U.S. Coach Bradley was the U.S. Chiva's Coach?
Just referencing what I read elsewhere. Most sports columnists felt that the U.S. team most certainly did suck when it mattered.
Me and the others gals out on Harbor wondered where Tommy was on Saturday. I guess he has taken to hassling Mexican soccer fans in his free time.
Good question. I doubt he was there to celebrate Mexico's victory!
So Gordon isn't a news photographer but he was still an eyewitness to bottles being thrown at police.
One bottle, by a youth, from what the Register reported. I can only surmise the young man was aiming at Gordon but missed.
Chivasfan,
How do you know what Gordon was an eyewitness too? It does not say that in the Register article. Is that you hiding behind the name "Chivasfan" Tommy?
Would not be surprised if it was. This is the modus operandi of that crowd to give the appearance of a broad base of support.
"Mexico beating the U.S. men’s soccer team was a really big deal for the people of Santa Ana, and of course a lot of our residents came out into the streets to celebrate."
MQ says:
There they go again, screwing immigration up for the rest of us in the world!!!
Do you NOT think that Americans are going to be a wee bit peed of at the fact that thousands of stupid Mexicans from Mexico were booing at the US in the US???? Do you not think people form other countries wonder why the US is not busing you lot out ASAP?
I swear, if you want to know why Mexico is a dump you only need to look at the actions of its people....FYI..Mexico is a dump and YOU dear Mexicans came here to get a way from the dump and the place that you are parading up the streets in demanding immigration reform, you then boo the VERY people who's vote either mean you stay legally or you don't....
I swear there has to be a joke out there about how many Mexicans does it take to screw in a light bulb....Thick is not the word for it! And don't think that Mexican Americans thought it was cool that you booed and acted stupid while they played the American national anthem...No they thought "What A Wholes?".
And please leave out the race thing, you can only blame stupid on the brain, not the color of the skin!
OMG..Lol
Michelle Quinn, Where you been cupcake? Man, we need some fierey debate around her. it's been flacid without you.
There is nothing you can do about Gordon and company. They are swimming against the tide when it comes to this.
As for the US vs. Mexico I hear Cleveland calling!!
Yeah, Sean, we like to cheer our home countries on, but we are not thousands booing the American national anthem...Complete disrespect and these are the same idiots who are trying to jump the immigration line!!!