Columbus is burning ... err, not really.

Apparently some Columbus Crew supporters decided to engage in some aggressive taunting at friendly match between the MLS side and West Ham United in Ohio last night. According to reports in the media, about 100 Crew supporters scuffled with about 30 West Ham faithful, resulting in approximately one (1) arrest, so far as I can tell.

The reports want to suggest the West Ham supporters somehow incited the brawl by entering the section of the stadium where the most dedicated Crew supporters congregate.

I find this dubious at best. Much like in other parts of the world, security at North American sporting events check tickets of patrons who want to enter a particular section before they are allowed to enter. However it is possible, at some stadiums, to walk in front of a given section to get to another section of the stadium. It's more likely the West Ham supporters were coming back to their own seats with a beer or hot dog or empty bladder and were taunted by the Crew contingent, and things devolved from there.

Where things have really devolved are on the message boards of the websites posting these stories.

If one were to take a look at ESPN Soccernet's story on the incident, scroll down to the bottom and open the link to the ESPN Conversations section of the story, you'd see a dizzying array of accounts from supposed eyewitnesses, a bunch of people who want to boast about their city's mostly collegiate sporting tradition and people who hate football (soccer, not American football, which many of them thump their chests about). Some of it is really funny, some of it is typical American arrogance.

Over on The Times' site, people seem to be a bit more composed, a bit more accurate with their commentary. One post, (which can be viewed via the link provided) by a gentleman named Graham Bunting of London, sums up who likely incited the brawl. Or at least I find it the wittiest explanation:

"I assume that the West Ham fans were dedicated members of the official supporters club, Americans with a passing interest or family link and holidaymakers, rather than a wealthy faction of the ICF, on a transatlantic tour of ultra-violence.
What is really depressing is the knee jerk reaction here."

Indeed.