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[VIDEO] Burning couches, flipped cars reported in Lexington riots after UK win

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As a college-aged person, I’ve got to ask the question: What are we doing?

Following Kentucky’s 69-61 win over Louisville to advance to the national championship game, reports of burning couches and flipped cars drew police and fire personnel to the area surrounding the University of Kentucky campus.

NBCSports.com took a look at the story as it developed last night, but now pictures and video are surfacing, including footage of a couch burning, embedded below.

The criticisms of my point of view will be “lighten up,” and “we were just having fun,” but c’mon guys. You’re making us look bad.

I’m not the teacher’s pet who wants to ride the high road so I can get a pat on the back, but I take issue with the idea that celebration must mean destruction of property.

As a realist, one must recognize that alcohol was probably involved, mixed with the mob mentality and a couple instigators in the crowd, and you’ve got yourself a problem.

Whether it was “as bad” as it’s being portrayed or some would like to place blame on the media for making it look worse than it was, I ask for a realistic view from those who celebrated, as well. One for one.

Realistically, that’s how cameras work. That’s how news is reported. On camera, it is impossible to make a couple hundred kids crowded around a burning couch with fire sirens blasting it the background look good.

To the students: I get you. I am you, actually. Go back inside, high five your buddy because your team is headed to the national championship, and crash on the couch for the night.

Oh, wait. You can’t crash on the couch because you just burned it. Enjoy the floor, I guess.

Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_