Lakers fans: A photo essay
Former Daily Breeze staff photographer Branimir Kvartuc, who now freelances and does lots of other amazing things, was outside Staples Center last night chronicling fans' reactions to their favorite basketball team. It starts out harmless enough with the gold and purple jersey wearing smiling and pumping fists in the air. Police Chief William Bratton is even seen looking relaxed and smiliing.
Of course, as night falls and the team clinches its victory, the celebrating takes an ominous turn. Officers' faces, partially obscured by their riot helmets, look serious as they stand in smoke from small fires set by the crowd and hold back the group. The mini mart inside a gas station is trashed as people loot and someone else is captured hurling a trash can at a patrol car.
Yeah, good times. Woo-hoo. Way to go.
Losers.
When all was done, eight officers were injured and 18 people were arrested.
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About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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Laker FANS do not riot. We were all sitting in our homes or bars watching the game with friends and family.
These are not fans. These are people looking for an excuse for moronic behavior.
Gee, while we're at it, let's throw the Lakers a parade so the same group of knuckle-dragging miscreants get another chance to trash downtown.
For Los Angeles politicos, the taxpayers have money to burn.
I agree. What a disgrace to all Latinos, too. I hated seeing those dummies with their faces right in the cameras acting stupid and smiling about it! The jokes on you idiots - I hope you get prosecuted to the full extent of the law for vandalizing property! Keep smiling into the cameras, flashing gang signs, showing off tattoos and birthmarks. The easier to identify you my dears.
As I sat in front of the TV with my husband and my kids and we watched the so-called "celebration" of the mighty Laker victory -all I wished was that someone would drive by and shout with a bull horn "They WON idiots! They WON. You damn idiots are acting like they lost. Can't you read the score?!?!"