'Like Lord of the Flies': Thirty-two years ago, Toronto won the World Series — and then Saskatoon rioted

"By the time it was done, everybody was looking at each other like, 'What the heck just happened?' "

A switch flipped; light turned to dark; celebration to riot. It was fast and stunning and expensive.

Rob van Meenen was an 18-year-old university student in 1993, the year Saskatoon rioted on Eighth Street after the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series. He — like many of his peers — was there, on site, as things turned from happy to menacing.

A Globe and Mail story in the aftermath of the Oct. 23 victory talked about how well-behaved fans in Toronto were. The headline read: ‘Jubilant fans party peacefully in Jays’ honour.’ Further down in the article, the reporter noted: “The celebration, however, was not so peaceful in Saskatoon.”

Let us count the ways . . .

It was North America’s o