Classy chanting, or Lemme hear ya say "Dale!"
by Martek on Aug 31, 2011 7:08 PM CDT
in Sights and Sounds
Email
Print
I just got the following e-mail from the American Outlaws, a group I wholeheartedly endorse, and I think it would be the basis for some serious discussion of what we all would like to hear at Dynamo Park. (See, I've already made the transition away from this year.)
AO Nation,
US Soccer is asking American Outlaws for help in giving U.S. fans a classy reputation by sticking to chants and songs that refrain from using foul language. US Soccer is not allowing banners behind the goal on Friday in reaction to foul chants during the Mexico match in Philadelphia (most likely from the "you suck a**hole" (YSA) chants following goal kicks).
Being a group of classy, passionate fans is a goal of American Outlaws. Gravitating to witty and passionate songs rather than aimless cussing yields a much brighter future for fan-dom of our boys in the future, and we ask that you please consider this when attending matches in the future. A recent poll on our website found 75% of visitors to our site would like our fans to do better than the "YSA" chant. While not the most scientifically accurate poll in the world, it does lead you to believe the majority of AO prefer thoughtful, positive, powerful songs to negative chants.
Thank you for continuing to make US fans proud by being above violence and racism, and help us to continue to exude class in the future.
------------------------------
Please join us for our events in LA for US v Costa Rica if you will be at the game:
http://www.theamericanoutlaws.com/events/us-vs-costa-rica-9211
See you all soon!If you can't make it to the game. please join and support with your local AO and US Fans at the local AO Chapter Bar:
http://www.theamericanoutlaws.com/chapters
XOXO,
AO
In a discussion on this very blog back in June (link here), there was quite the back and forth about the behavior of some US Supporters at the US v Panama Gold Cup semifinal here at Reliant (what Playtherapy and I saw with our own personal eyeballs). And then this whole issue took on new life after the reported mistreatment of some US fans at the hands of some Mexican fans at the Gold Cup finals. Then there's the Philadelphia experience to which the AO e-mail above alludes. Then for added spice, there's the whole disgraceful treatment of supporter groups by security in New England and Columbus about the same time.
Personally, I welcome this e-mail with open arms, if for no other reason than we all CAN do more than the YSA chant, and it's not so hard either. Heck, a middle schooler could do more.
So now I turn the floor over to you, the already=proven intellectual denizens of this blog. What say you about this?
21 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
That's censorship.
--
"You live and learn. At any rate, you live." -Douglas Adams
Managing Editor of Dynamo Theory
Yo si le voy, le voy al naranja!
Fair enough
I like it…I know I’ll get heckled for it but it reminds of yell practice at A&M before games. It was hokey and all but everyone was on the same page and all singing the same songs or chants. I’d like to see that at matches with organized supporters
I think that's why
people get so into college football games. You have the traditions and chants and a stadium full of people on the same page. And that’s how it is in Europe for soccer matches, heck that’s how it is in Seattle and Portland. I’m dying for it to get that way here. Maybe in the smaller confines of the new stadium we’ll be able to get that going.
I sure hope
I’m sure the Texian Army and El Battalion get together and work on stuff, it’d be cool though if they published that stuff (and I’m sure they do, I’m just being lazy and typing in between bites of BBQ) so that others in the stadium could join in.
Just please, dear Lord please, don’t let the place become like the Library on LaBranch (Toyota Center)…I LOVE the Rockets but hate going there only to be able to hear every conversation on the bench because its so quiet in there
Never supported it
I’ve never seen the reason for the YSA chant. Most hispanic supporters (if I’m not mistaken)
just chant “Futbol!” when there’s a goal kick and nothing else. I like that they are trying to show more class.
Unimaginative
I mean really, that’s the best we can do? I think of all the clever chants that are done at any footie game in England and YSA is our retort to any opponent? Ugly Americans indeed…
/Then again, this IS Philadelphia…need I say more?
Organizations need to police their own
Martek is being diplomatic- the behavior of the Outlaws in the supporter’s section was deplorable. I could care less about the YSA- if I had my druthers, I’d do away with it, but it’s not my fighting point.
Racism is. So being surrounded by screaming, drunk fans shouting at anyone looking vaguely Hispanic, “Go back to your own country!” or “How much for your sister?”
Then came the anti-Obama shouts, all centered around race.
Later, a flare was lit and the police came. They got to visit us several times.
Put it this way, I came to support my team and got this kind of idiocy. This faction of the Louisiana Outlaws (and I’m tired of hearing what do you expect from fans from there) were exactly what US Soccer doesn’t need and to borrow from Dom- most of them were uneducated and unrealistic about the game. Being there wasn’t about the game, it was about a drunken, racist high five in a mob setting.
A few weeks later at the Final, the Mexican fans were even worse. These incidents need to be stamped out- we don’t need fascists pretending to be soccer fans here, we’ve already seen what it can do in Holland, Italy, England, et. al.
I don’t want prawn sandwiches or tea and crumpets. But I do want a positive supporters experience. The setting at the Semifinals was simply abusive and a very negative representation of the support for the USMNT.
While YSA isn’t my fighting point, I’ll support an organization attempting to prevent over the line behavior, even something as light as YSA. On the spectrum of taunts like “how much for your sister” or “get out of our country, wetback”, YSA is pretty insignificant.
Yet after the Semifinal, I resolved to never ever ever have anything to do with the American Outlaws.
Given this email, I may reconsider.
I should clarify that shouting racist, sexist type comments is of course completely unacceptable.
For me though, cursing is acceptable and punishing groups on any kind of that is stupid and counter-productive. There’s a fine line that US Soccer and MLS clubs are trying to walk but I would rather them let more go that trying to throttle what’s been chanted.
AO has the toughest job of any supporters group. MLS SGs are at least organized groups with regulars and leadership that is familiar with the members. AO is a nationwide undertaking and even with the regional chapters, it’s a near impossible task to police a group that could include whoever can get hold of a ticket and walk in to the section. It’s easier for MLS groups to notice obvious outsiders there to be asshats.
--
"You live and learn. At any rate, you live." -Douglas Adams
Managing Editor of Dynamo Theory
Yo si le voy, le voy al naranja!
I completely understand
And hope there is a middle ground between extreme (racism trying to provoke) and passionate (I have little problem with vulgarity).
"The game is enough."
I don’t really like the ban on banners, and in no way do I endorse a ban against cursing. I mean, come on. Be realistic.
But racism is beyond the pail. A drunken high five fest is also beyond the pale. I remember playing golf with my dad when I was a kid. I once asked him why he never drank beer on the golf course, or played the various sets of gambling games that so many others seem to do during a round. He just said simply to me, “The game is enough.”
His focus was on the game he was playing and what he was there to do. Playing any game, and playing it well, involves a level of concentration. But more than that, if the game is not enough to occupy your attention and challenge your enthusiasm, then what are you doing there anyway?
Spectating at games is like this to me. While certainly no one in the stands is playing the game on the field, you have to ask, what are they doing there? Why are they there? We are there to support the team, support our team. You want to go shout racist slogans and cause trouble, then go somewhere else. We are here to support the team, and if what you’re doing does not further that goal, then leave.
And no one will miss you.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Agreed
That’s why baseball and American football are boring without alcohol- the game is not enough.
Baseball in particular
sorry, I know I’ll offend with that one but its just my take. I’ve never cared for baseball; watching it live of course is better, but only if I’m given tickets. American football is fun to watch with others, but to me I love watching footie either alone or with friends/family. I’m gonna go nuts no matter what :)
And added to this
Unconfirmed, I just heard that FIFA fined the USSF and the FMF for the puto and YSA chants at the Gold Cup and Philadelphia. Does anyone else know if this is true? This just sounds like it’s either untrue or there’s more to the story.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Uncle Sepp
perhaps he’s found a sense of decency (THIS IS FOR JACK) and respect (GIVE US MONIES) and wants to send a message that FIFA member nations should be about tolerance and respect. (ahem)
And coming from a group as classy and upstanding as FIFA, this really means something.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
(Just trying to get you to swallow your gum.)
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Mission accomplished
FIFA: an organization that could’ve been conceived by the staff writers of The Simpsons
/Still don’t understand how they seriously expect to host the premier footballing event IN THE SUMMER IN A DESERT
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
