When did going to a sporting event become gang warfare?

For years Europe has had to put up with hooliganism at soccer matches all over the continent. Now, in the USA, you can’t wear your team’s jersey in a rival’s city without risking life and limb.

Like wearing your gang colors while crossing into a rival’s turf.

The latest incident is the Flyers fans who beat up a couple of Rangers fans at a cheesesteak joint after the NHL’s Winter Classic. It brings to mind the savage beating a San Francisco Giants fan received outside Dodgers Stadium in April. More and more of these incidents are cropping up across the nation.

One of the victims in the Philadelphia attack is a Woodbridge, N.J.,  cop who served with the Marines in Iraq and was shot while over there. No one in the crowd stepped in to break up the attack or even call the cops, but someone had the time to video it all on his or her cell phone.

It’s just wrong. On so many levels.

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Who I like tomorrow: The Texans are on fumes heading into the AFC playoffs. Crippling injuries, none more crucial than the one suffered by quarterback Matt Schaub in November, make them extremely vulnerable at home. Even to such a young and unproven postseason team like the Bengals. Look for Andy Dalton to get the ball to his playmaker, A.J. Green, who will find his way to the end zone. Before the Schaub injury I liked the Texans’ chances to get to the Super Bowl. Now I like Cincinnati to put an end to Houston’ season tomorrow.

You just can’t go against the Saints in New Orleans right now. They’re a different team at home, one that will not be denied. The Lions can put up points against New Orleans, but Drew Brees and his gang are playing offense as well as anyone. Ever. Too many weapons on the Superdome turf. Detroit won’t be able to keep up. Take the Saints.

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Power-play layup: Did you ever have the feeling that you were outmanned on the court? Western Kentucky’s college basketball team knows how you feel.

Elfrid Payton hit a game-winning layup for Louisiana-Lafayette, a 72-70 victor in Bowling Green, Ky., last night. The trouble is, the winning team had six players on the court when the final basket was scored.

Wait. I take that back. The real trouble is that no one noticed at the time. Not the three officials or the scorekeeper.

Mike Wood, the Sun Belt’s coordinator of officials, watched the video of the final possession and could see there were six players who checked into the game.

The officials could be suspended for failing to stop the game and calling a technical foul on Louisiana-Lafayette. Instead, Payton took the inbound pass and dribbled between Western Kentucky’s players before getting to the rim for the winning layup.

“There are a whole bunch of times where there are six or seven guys on the court and it is technically a violation of the rule,” Wood told ESPN. “You can blow the whistle and stop the play. But you can’t go to the monitor and do it retroactively.”

“A whole bunch of times?” That’s what the man said.

So the next time you feel that the other team is playing so well that it seems as if it’s six against five, it’s worth doing a head count. They just might have an extra player in their lineup.

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New man on campus: Penn State is expected to name New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien as its next head coach, according to multiple sources.

O’Brien joined the Patriots in 2007 after 14 seasons coaching in college, including stops at Duke, Maryland and Georgia Tech. He played his collegiate football at Brown, Joe Paterno’s alma mater.

As far as I know, he had never even been to Happy Valley before yesterday’s job interview. A clear cut in ties. Soon we’ll find out how many changes will be made to the coaching staff. Unfortunate situation for some who were only guilty by association to one of the largest scandals in the history of college sports.

ESPN reported that the official announcement will be made tomorrow. O’Brien is expected to remain with New England throughout the NFL playoffs.