Police in Boston are destined to endure plenty of scrutiny and criticism beyond what already has been experienced over the death of a 21-year-old college student in the aftermath of the Red Sox' defeat of the New York Yankees in the American League championship series.

It is right that a full investigation of the incident is being conducted.

The young woman in question died after being struck in the eye by a pepper-spray-filled projectile propelled from a device similar to a paintball gun. The plastic balls of pepper spray are intended to help police control large groups without injuring people.

The woman's death would have been tragic even if she hadn't been just an innocent bystander amid the post-game celebration.

But the Boston celebration, the death, the 15 injuries and the eight arrests following last Wednesday's game reiterated what has become a serious - and increasingly routine - problem in this country regarding professional sports championships - using the championship as an excuse for lawlessness and destruction.

A sports championship shouldn't result in fires, overturned vehicles, fighting, looting of stores, other forms of mayhem, bodily injury or death. However, many cities that have been fortunate enough - or, maybe, unfortunate enough - to be the home of a championship team over the past decade or two have had to endure those kinds of situations by fans supposedly jubilant over their team's victory.

That's not a proper display of emotional pride for their team's and community's good fortune.

In the case of Boston, which currently is leading the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0, city police faced the monumental challenge of containing an estimated 80,000 fans who poured into the Fenway Park area in the aftermath of last week's Game 7 victory over the Yankees. The incident in which the college student died happened after a few revelers set fires, vandalized properties and threw bottles at police.

Police Commissioner Kathleen O'Toole said police showed "great restraint" but believed it was necessary to fire the projectiles as the lawlessness heightened.

The police had to rely on their training, instructions and good judgment in carrying out their postgame mission. Tragically, a fatality resulted - although the firing of the projectiles might have prevented other deaths, had the violence been allowed to escalate markedly.

Professional sports are national pastimes - recreation - and they should be regarded as such. While celebration is an accepted product of a championship, lawlessness under the guise of revelry is not.

If the Red Sox go on to win the World Series - which would be their first championship since 1918 - Boston police will have another boisterous challenge to face. And, if the Pittsburgh Steelers, currently 5-1, would go on to win the Super Bowl, police in the Steel City presumably would have to face the prospect of a post-game frenzy similar to what Boston endured last week - although, hopefully, better judgment and behavior by fans would prevail here.

The Boston police officer who fired the fatal projectile erred in the aiming of the propelling device. However, the fans whose actions brought about what was to be the use of minimal force also seriously erred and, indeed, are most responsible for the young woman's death.

The Red Sox won the American League championship, but the lawless fans tarnished their city's image.

- J.R.K.