Gosh you would think we are dealing with the fans of Lazio or something with that SENSATIONAL headline in today’s Chicago Tribune. Sensationalism at it’s best…nothing like writing about tonite’s Fire vs. Wizards game, you wouldn’t want to do that would you. Eddie Johnson in town after a great game against DC and finding his form that could make him a figure for the national team hopefully, Jimmy Conrad who played in the World Cup, Wizards new owners and new optimism led to a stunning 4-2 win over DC United last weekend. Why would you want to write about your home town Fire since their playing at Toyota Park…not much creativity here and when you can’t find a true angle about the game do what many do ……use the HOOLIGANISM card! When in doubt, you don’t know about soccer go HOOLIGANISM….
Ok Texian Army and El Battallon check this out in the Chicago Sun Times online but for now I will briefly give you an overview.
Before I do I think I am fearing for my life going to Toyota Park tonite because of these hooligans and wild fans according to the headlines of the article..should I re-consider calling the game and send my color commentator Marcelo Balboa on his own to risk his life against the hooligans? Do we need bodyguards? You would think so after that headline. OK Time to get serious.
The article talks about Fire Supporters Group “Section 8″ who will now have new rules as all ticket holders in 118 aka section 8 now will have to enter the stadium through a designated area where security will pat down fans.
“We found prohibited items in section 8 following the home opener, ” said Fire Spokesperson Dan Jankowski. “Things like smoke bombs and alcohol in containers. We want to eliminate that and provide a safe environment.” “For concerts, anyone entering the park gets searched. It’s not uncommon.”
Fans leader Ben Burton see’s it another way.
“When you target a section you send a bad signal,” says Burton. “Your’e punishing a whole section when it’s just a few people. It doesn’t address the issue. If your’e not going to search everyone, why bother?”
Ok this is a sticky issue but here is the problem and I don’t have the answer except that supporters groups must police themselves unfortunately because all it takes is one rogue-wanna be fan and it can be ruined for all.
The Texian Army and El Batallon are doing a huge service for soccer like supporters groups in other cities and having a good time doing it. THEY ARE GROWING SOCCER, THEY ARE BRINGING ATMOSPHERE, THEY ARE MAKING MLS GAMES UNIQUE TO OTHER PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (for sure in Houston where other sports teams are borrowing from these groups and soccer) and they are MAKING THE PLAYERS FEEL APPRECIATED AND MORE PROFESSIONAL. How would you have liked to played in Colorado over the years or KC? The Wizards players are feeling more appreciated because finally they are being treated like pro’s and new ownership is trying to make the environment better and are succeeding so far.
The flip side is supporters groups have to take responsibility for their own groups because with the forming of these groups comes accountability. The Texian Army and El Battalon are becoming more than just a supporters group they can be a community asset and an extension of the team and the organization. The numbers continue to grow, lets not let one rogue spoil anything because one day you will have your own soccer specific stadium.
And by the way to see you guys roll in high definition is amazing…….thanks to you and all Dynamo supporters Robertson Stadium is a “true home field ” advantage in MLS which is not easy to come by.
Fire Gets Tough with wild fans-Chicago Tribune
April 21, 2007 3 Comments
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Saw the Dallas-Colorado game today, and it was entertaining. At times I thought the Rapids were on their way to a victory, but Dallas got the win in the end. The fans at the game were having a good time, especially when the goals came.
The Dynamo look decent, but from what I read, it seems they lack some motivation.
Glen,
The oddest concept that MLS league head honchos have handed down to our U.S. sporting culture is that MLS, as a men\’s Div-1 pro league, has leaders who have decided to market their product as two different angles. Each angle is likely to conflict or at the least rub the wrong way the other.
One being the true nature of pro men\’s association football as a very urban game that bleeds passion and culture with supporters who need no coaching in how to organize songs, chants and devotion to their players! Then on the other side of the U.S. soccer coin there is MLS\’s second angle for pro soccer as a suburban passtime to be enjoyed with prawn sandwiches, soccer mom chit-chat during the 90 minutes and the occasional applause for good play. This duality creates a tennis match on steriods effect. Us Northend HINCHADA TEXANA guys even took some beef in our first season last year from a dude that didn\’t have a clue as to who we were. He blasted us about \
Glen,
The oddest concept that MLS league head honchos have handed down to our U.S. sporting culture is that MLS, as a men’s Div-1 pro league, has leaders who have decided to market their product as two different angles. Each angle is likely to conflict or at the least rub the wrong way the other.
One being the true nature of pro men’s association football as a very urban game that bleeds passion and culture with supporters who need no coaching in how to organize songs, chants and devotion to their players! Then on the other side of the U.S. soccer coin there is MLS’s second angle for pro soccer as a suburban passtime to be enjoyed with prawn sandwiches, soccer mom chit-chat during the 90 minutes and the occasional applause for good play. This duality creates a tennis match on steriods effect. Us Northend HINCHADA TEXANA guys even took some beef in our first season last year from a dude that didn’t have a clue as to who we were. He blasted us about “how we sing” or “what we do for charity in the community?” 6 months into our being and some of the prawn sandwich men had to have their say. Oh boy.
Look sports fans, MLS needs the ticket sales from both sectors of ticket buying customers, as a Houston die hard I understand this. This is not a charity but a business. However, there are massive mixed signals sent to men like me and my buddies from the Northend with news like this coming from Chicago’s front office. Our FO and as well as Chicago’s and others in MLS make money with our images, our ability to make the MLS game day expereince different from other U.S. leagues and not to mention how much a supporters section/hinchada adds to the players performance as professional soccer men.
Chicago has a tremendous relationship between its supporters in Section 8 and the Fire players. Why would their FO want to put a dent in their own players advantage at home? Patting people down is done in Argentina, not MLS. Let’s see how this situation developes around our league.
Glen, the reverse is also true…what if the “other” sections at Toyota Park where equally searched or went thru a pat down. Yet the FO was looking for streamers, ballons or scarfs. If the people outside of Section 8 DIDN’T have these items on them then they couldn’t get inside to watch. Wouldn’t that be meeting in the middle. Take away the die hards smoke bombs but make sure to compensate that with demanding the other ticket buying customers bring in streamers, scarfs and the like to add to the home ground atmosphere. Food for thought.
DALE DYNAMO!!!