What is it about sports in the OC that gets blood boiling?

It wasn't that long ago that we talked about racial taunts from the Servite High student section directed at a black player from Mater Dei at a recent boys basketball game in Orange County. And now we learn about this. There was a brawl between two rivals: Saddleback and Santa Ana. Both schools are in the city of Santa Ana. The games attract large crowds, and generally both teams are really good. My former colleague at The Register, Damian Dottore, caught all the action on his camera. He gives a recap on the Register's website:

I was standing right on the sideline, next to the Santa Ana bench when the fight broke out. I told another reporter who was there, I could tell that something like this was going to happen. Santa Ana and Saddleback are two of the biggest rivals in Orange County, and can make whatever bad blood that Servite and Mater Dei have look like G-rated stuff. And believe me, I know all about it from the Friars' side. I graduated from Servite in 1987.
From the start of the game, I could see an intensity that wasn't there when the Saints and Roadrunners faced off against each other in January. .... I must say that not all of the players are to blame. I saw at least one Santa Ana player, Jose Bahena, taking an active role in playing the peacemaker. And afterward, he was yelling at his teammates. I have read some comments that the CIF should bar both teams. That hardly seems fair. Judging by what Santa Ana coach Joe Penaflor said afterward, the offending players on his team will be punished. At least one will be kicked off the team. That seems like punishment enough for me. Let the two programs issue penalties to their own players.

I covered both these teams for four years and know both coaches well. Mel Silva is a good friend as is Joe Penaflor. The actions of those ill-tempered kids is not a reflection of neither coach who strive for nothing short of playing with class and dignity.