#Pinball petes ann arbor serve alcohol professional#

I saw a group of kids scampering up a stairway from an alley up to the roof of a building. Many cars also got used as trampolines if they choose the parking spots on the street right in front of the bars. About 20 fellows were around an unmarked television news truck. I locked my police car and walked to the command post for re-assignment. I was relieved at my post by a Washtenaw County Sheriff’s deputy sent to staff that traffic point. The disconcerting car rocking ended when I grabbed the reporter by the back of his trench coat and inquire if he and his cameraman might be so kind as to turn off the light and go elsewhere. It was all “good fun” until the joyous group started rocking my police car. Fans dove onto the hood and trunk deck of the police car to get their faces on camera.

The result of this seemingly innocuous act was to call wild revelers to the area. If you are an officer in a police car, you do not want a reporter standing outside your driver’s door when his cameraman fires up the spotlight and camera. The valuable lesson I learned there concerned television lights. In 1989, on the night Michigan won the National Championship, my first assignment was at Forest Court and South University in a car for traffic purposes.

#Pinball petes ann arbor serve alcohol professional#

The bases of the pyramid can be persuaded to abandon the cause with a few well places doses of mace or taps on the shins or knees with a baton (“Baton” sounds so much less threatening and more professional than nightstick, stick or club). Several times and in different years, I was one of the officers sent to topple the pyramid trying to reach the coveted red beacon. I’m not sure what the plan was for the top of the pyramid, but we blue suits present did not think pulling down the traffic signal or hanging from electrical wires and cables supporting it was a good idea. Students running from the fraternities and sororities across Washtenaw Avenue stop the four lanes as they cross after the game to get near the “action” of the bar area.Įach large celebration brought those that tried to reach the flashing red traffic signal at South University and Church using human pyramids. When the games are over the streets near the bars immediately fill. In both of those years, South University was a sea of celebrating fans. My recollections do not come from watching games and cheering on the Wolverines, but from the “celebration” turned “civil disturbances” (spelled R-I-O-T) afterward. Coach Steve Fisher’s team won the National Championship in 1989 and made it to the Final Four in 1992. The biggest celebrations I recall for Michigan Men’s Basketball were in 19. Those nights can be crazy on the streets. News of the campus area street riots were relegated to page A3.For those of you who have never been downtown during “ March Madness” celebrations, I thank you on behalf of the police department. The front page of the Ann Arbor News on April 4, 1989, after Michigan won the NCAA National Basketball Championship. There was little property damage and only the normal weekend number of alcohol and testosterone related broken teeth, noses, jaws and cheeks.

My compliments to the Ann Arbor Police Department and the other departments that assisted last Saturday night during the St. The cause might be celebration or protest, but mix good weather and alcohol as catalysts and the results can be disastrous. “Mob mentality” takes over and crazy, foolish destructive things start to happen when crowds feel they have anonymity and a cause. I’m sure Cedar Fest and Final Four celebrations in East Lansing must make East Lansing, State Police and M.S.U. Sometimes “celebrations” in the streets look more like a riot than a celebration.

Though there are many fans and merchants who are disappointed that the “M” hoopsters came up short-somewhere there are police and city officials drawing a quiet sigh of relief. It depends on your perspective.Ĭongratulations to the University of Michigan Men’s Basketball team, which had a good season, but unfortunately ended its Mad March early. “March Madness” means different things to different people.