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the Russian march WAS provocative (I'm in Warsaw and was at the Strefa Kibiców (Fan-zone) yesterday) and on Nowy Świat. Didn't see any of the violence, but it was pretty minor -- no injuries, just bruises and the police cracked down quick and hard

the Russian fans were waving Russian Tsarist flags -- a pretty obvious provocation. And some kibicy were chanting "raz sierpem, raz młotem czerwoną hołotę" -- "a sickle,a hammer red" The march should never have been allowed.

But it was really not as big as portrayed -- the Polish fans were peaceful by and large and the atmosphere at the centre (Centrum) and the main streets in the heart of the older part of town (Nowy Świat) was festival like -- a sea of red-white (the Polish national colors) and the fans were delirious with joy when the Poles drew with the Russians.

Note --> 4 July is also the 402nd anniversary of the Polish-Lithuanian defeat of Muscowy when they conquered and entered the city of Moscow. Tsar Vasily IV was ousted by the boyars and Żółkiewski entered Moscow with little opposition.[1] Boyars then proclaimed as the new Tsar of Muscovy the Polish prince of the Commonwealth Władysław IV Waza

I was watching some younger guys play the soccer video game. Pretty amazing how life-like it is, announcers commenting on the plays, crowd noise, etc.

I asked if they ever show any of the rioting after the game. Glad it wasn’t too bad - just the “yutes” draining off some excess adrenalin. Sounds like a great match.

Russian fans arrive under heavy security prior to the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group A match between Poland and Russia in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, June 12, 2012.

Polish soccer fans shout at Russian supporters as they walk protected by Polish riot police in Warsaw June 12, 2012. Russia on Tuesday will play Poland in their Euro 2012 Group A soccer tournament in Warsaw. REUTERS

Polish football fans beat a Russian football fan during clashes in Warsaw. Police used tear gas and water cannon against brawling football fans in Warsaw on Tuesday as Poland geared up to play old foe Russia in a key Euro 2012 duel. AFP

A handcuffed Polish fan lies flat on the street prior to the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group A match between Poland and Russia in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Russian soccer fans clashed with police and Poland supporters in separate incidents in Warsaw on Tuesday, just hours before the two teams were to meet in an emotionally charged European Championship match. Several people were injured. AP

A Polish soccer shows a wound from a rubber bullet during clashes with police and Russian fans in Warsaw, June 12, 2012. Russia on Tuesday will play Poland in their Euro 2012 Group A soccer tournament in Warsaw. REUTERS

There’s numerous reasons that the USA doesn’t embrace what the rest of the world calls ‘football’, and these violent mutant fans are one of the biggest.

If the USA were ever to become a serious contender in World Cup/FIFA/Association Football (or however it is known), chances are that someday the United States’ turn would come around to host a championship event. That would mean that we’d have to allow hundreds of thousands of football fans from all over the planet to visit the USA, and that just isnt going to happen.

There is no goddamned way we’re about to let thousands of potato-headed Slavic mutant vandals from Russia come here and march drunkenly through the streets. That goes likewise for Portuguese and Latvians and Yemenis and Ecuadoreans and Khazakhis and Bulgarians and so on. The bastards would never ever leave once they got here. We’d host one world soccer tournament and instantly be sorry that we agreed to it.