Posted by Brian Beckner on Feb 4, 2010

Which Sport is Bombing its Player’s Vehicles? Here’s a Hint: it’s Soccer

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By Brian Beckner:

Look who’s at it again. A professional athlete had his vehicle FIRE BOMBED in front of his own home. Is there any question as to what sport this individual plays? Major League Baseball? Water polo? Jai alai? The CFL? Tennis? Okay enough with the games, everyone knows it’s soccer. Seriously Soccer, Tony Mandarich’s dog thinks this is an over-the-top reaction.

From the LA Times:

DaMarcus Beasley, the former Galaxy and Chicago Fire player and current U.S. international, was the target of vandalism this week when his car was firebombed and destroyed.

The incident took place on Monday night, when Beasley, who plays for the Glasgow Rangers in the Scottish Premier League, was at his home in the fashionable Dowanhill section of Glasgow.

It's downhill from here.

Only in soccer would they call a car bombing “vandalism.” In real sports this would be considered an act of terrorism or attempted murder. But for soccer, and more importantly European soccer, this is a ho hum, run-of-the-mill, everyday occurrence. Is there a European soccer player that hasn’t had his car fire bombed? Really, the night before games you can set your watch by the anticipatory car bombings. Remember this is a sport that tolerates overt racism from its fans, a sport where rival fans are literally caged into different sections of the stadium.

More from the LA Times:

Glasgow police said Beasley's car was the only one on the street to be targeted, but they had no immediate explanation for the attack.

The motivation could have been either sectarian or racial in nature, but could also be another instance of thuggish behavior that has become increasingly common in Britain.

Four other Rangers players have recently had cars vandalized.

What exactly is going on in soccer fans lives that they have the time and motivation to stalk and terrorize athletes? To think that this was likely planned and executed by multiple perpetrators truly boggles the mind. Sure, there could always be one insane person, but how does he find a willing accomplice? How is it possible that this event was the result of multiple human brains? MMA fan thinks soccer fan lacks culture.

Isn’t Scotland an alleged first world country? Glasgow isn’t exactly Bogota or Baghdad. Sure, they fancy an occasional whisky, but no one is that drunk. DaMarcus Beasley had previously played professional soccer in the US (breaking news: they play professional soccer in the United States) and never had these types of problems. Only in Europe or anywhere else they play soccer.

Hey Europe, you are aware that it’s just a freaking game, right? It might be hard to tell since most other games include, you know, scoring? But save that for another time. Sports are supposed to be a respite from real life, not a reason to commit capital crimes. Stop taking your “sport” so seriously. You’re not a member of the team. They don’t owe you anything. Sometimes teams win and sometimes they lose. It’s not life and death; don’t turn it into life and death. Are your lives that empty? Maybe a hobby would help? Here’s a better idea, find gainful employment. Get off the dole. People with jobs tend to have less time to plan vicious property crimes. Another idea, please don’t reproduce. Chances are you will pass this predilection for delusional violence to future generations. And most importantly leave the professional athletes alone, that goes for the soccer players too.