It’s been well-documented that the Los Angeles Lakers have been struggling this year. I mean, they’re 1-4 and their only win is against the winless Detroit Pistons; not exactly a dream season thus far. It’s understandable that their fan base, which is enormous, would be upset, especially with the high expectations coming into the season, but this would be what we like to call someone going over the top.
The Salt Lakes Times is reporting that a pair of Lakers fans were in attendance at the game in Utah and started talking trash about the Jazz. Some Jazz fans took exception to this (obviously) and started to talk back, when the Lakers fans challenged them to a fight. The Jazz fans declined and the Lakers fans ended up getting tossed from the arena.
Apparently though, the Lakers fans hadn’t had enough. They waited around the arena until the game was over and went looking for the Jazz fans that they had wanted to mix it up with.
“The Lakers’ fans spotted the Jazz fans standing on the corner of 100 South and 400 West and started trash talking again. At that point, one of the Lakers’ fans pulled out pepper spray fogger and let loose with it, police said.”
This is beyond ridiculous. It is to be expected that when you go to someone else’s arena that they aren’t always going to be kind and treat you with class, but to go into a hostile arena, starting to talking trash, then get ejected and wait for them to leave the game is absolutely absurd. In no way is this behavior normal or socially acceptable. It’s one-thing to challenge someone to a fight and have them say no, and it’s something completely different to then pepper spray them because they won’t fight you.
H/T: Pro Basketball Talk Image: Getty