I'd love to start this post by using the tired analogy of "the light finally coming on" for the organization in question; it's not every day, unfortunately, that we see a marketing epiphany on the part of an MLS club, so the plaudits should be flowing fast and furious in the direction of FC Dallas after they announced their new "We Are Not Spectators" campaign.


But, while the concept is sound (market directly to the passionate supporter and those with the propensity to become one), the execution is, how can I say this, ineffectual. The light may have come on, but it's a very low wattage bulb.


FC Dallas, and by extension Hunt Sports Group, exhibit that most annoying of marketing traits when it comes to soccer in the United States; the dumbing and watering down of a solid message with hokey presentation. The site, wearenotspectators.com, is rife with problems, not the least of which is the posed "supporters" in the throws of passionate exhortation; none of them look anything like what a real MLS supporter should, and every one screams "fake" with their manipulated looks. Supporter passion is raw, spontaneous, and real. It doesn't look like a bad impression of a Mexican luchadore, it doesn't have perfectly coiffed hair, and it doesn't appear to be *ahem* "enjoying" the moment in a very special way.


The videos posted to the site include three of players (I can't tell which ones) dribbling and kicking a ball around various Dallas locales, as well as one (ONE!) focusing on the supporters sections at Pizza Hut Park. The videos are "cute", and the guerrilla nature of the players in the community is a nice idea; but there's no real connection between them and the concept of "we are not spectators" and do nothing to accentuate the engaging nature of passionate soccer support.


The language on the site might even be worse, if that's at all possible. There's no reason "We don't text during the game" should be included, even if it is, or should be, a truism. If the idea is to appeal to fans that actually care about the game by indirectly outing those that spend their time in the stands fiddling with their cell phones, then the language should work from the positive and not the negative. The rest of the text is okay, though none of it really conveys the message in an attractive way; better to use images (real ones) or video (of the supporters, and with the singing, chanting, and drum beats they produce) than any forced and potentially unintentionally humorous tag lines that do nothing but serve as weak "battle cries" that no self-respecting supporter would ever actually use.


Perhaps that bulb isn't even low-wattage. Maybe it isn't even a bulb at all. We might be talking candle power here.


Still, I'm not from Dallas, and I'm not and never have been an FC Dallas fan, so I wanted to get the perspective of someone who is and who was. Here then is what Zach Woosley, better known as Ginge, former FCD supporter and Dallas-area resident had to say:

The idea is good, FC Dallas has needed a concentrated effort to attract the younger, more hardcore soccer fans to help liven the atmosphere at PHP. The problem with this ad, much like everything else the club does, is that it's poorly executed. The copy is borderline dumb and the photoshop job with the actors posing as "fans" hurts the credibility of the effort. It just doesn't feel professional, it feels rushed and amateurish.

Leave it to Zach to sum up my thought in a fraction of the words. Right. Amateurish.


More MLS clubs need to push in the direction FC Dallas has begun to travel. For that small step, the club should be commended. But without proper execution, all they really do is hurt their cause, make themselves and the league look "minor league", and infuriate the genuine hardcore fan base that exists in their community.

The plight of Toronto FC and the frustration of its fans are popular fodder around the North American soccer community these days. The moaning angst of Reds supporters can be heard down here in the States; for some, it's sweet music that evokes a classic Nelson "Ha ha!". The rest of us are either un-bothered or are watching with interest as the self-examination north of the border begins.

At least one Canadian writer believes that missing the playoffs is a good thing, in the same way that an alcoholic hitting rock bottom and realizing it's time for AA is a good thing. I'm never one to wish pain on a passionate fan base (aside from Mexican National team supporters), and I'm not familiar enough with the management of TFC to know if there's anything to the theory; but if people I respect believe that club (and specifically Mo Johnston) have mishandled things, then I suppose it's probably true.

As the Sounders have proved this year (and yes, I know about the domestic player issues for TFC), there's really no reason that a newer well-supported team with a significant home-field advantage can't make the playoffs. The off-season and year four could be very interesting in Toronto.

There's a press conference shortly with the first act in the drama; the guess here is that Cummins is out.

• FC Dallas defender George John wants to play in Greece one day. I'm guessing that John is Greek, because it seems an odd aspiration for an American player otherwise. It's not that Greece doesn't have a very good domestic league, it's just that most young players here hope to make the jump to England, Germany, Spain, and the like. I'm not sure if John particularly impressed this season (not saying he didn't, I'm just unaware), but maybe he'll improve enough to get his wish one day.

• While some in the US decry the snobbery of soccer fans even while they reject the game out of hand, the Australians seem even more conflicted. The Aussie World Cup bid is a big, big deal Down Under, but not everyone appears to be on board. The idea that both rugby league and Aussie rules football should shut down if the World Cup goes to the country strikes at least one writer as soccer "evangelism" gone awry. What is most interesting to me about this story is that certain portions of it could have easily been written by an American lamenting the behavior of the soccer community in the United States. Perhaps most interesting is the implication that Australia's soccer federation (the FFA) is coloring resistance from the country's other major sporting competitions as "sabotage". I wonder, if Major League Baseball (who I can't imagine would be asked to shut down during an American World Cup and didn't in 1994) threw up concerns about the World Cup here, how the general sports complex would react.

• A typical clueless American has played FIFA 10, and given his review. It's a good review for the game, even if he feels the need to take shots at the sport in general along the way. I haven't played FIFA 10 (though I'm desperate too), but being familiar with the franchise, I can assure you that his basic premise is terribly flawed; even those oblivious to soccer can have a blast playing the game, and it doesn't matter if you completely understand the rules or not. Besides, how hard are they to understand? Oh, and please stop with throwing Beckham into every story even remotely connected to soccer in the US.

A few days ago I lamented the generalizing of viewpoints when it comes to the US National Team: I called the two groups that people tend to be lumped into "Pollyannas" and "Chicken Littles".

Richard Farley of World Soccer Reader invited me on the Inside the Six podcast to discuss the divide in the US supporters, and whether or not it's a problem in American soccer today. It's an interesting discussion, and definitely worth a listen.

You can check out the podcast at World Soccer Reader or Richard's site, RF Football.

I'd love to get some feedback on the discussion, so feel free to comment here.

American soccer, just like the big professional sports in the country, follows a franchise model. This means that each club is wholly owned by an individual or group, whom are free to sell or move the team at any point; when relocations occur, there's always a fan base, passionate and loyal, left behind.

Rumors are circulating that the Cleveland City Stars, a USL club that just completed their first year in USL-1 (they finished bottom of the table) will be purchased by a group looking to move the team to Elkhart, Indiana. MFUSA reader Cody Vild, a loyal City Stars supporter, shares his thoughts with us.

Today started as any other day as a fan of the Cleveland City Stars. That was until I found the article that suggests a potential sale of the team. What compounds matters is that the new owners have the idea of moving the team to Elkhart, Indiana.

As a follower of the City Stars, this news is quite disheartening. After following an USL-2 team, which more or less dominated in its first two years of existence, and had an interesting year after there "promotion" to USL-1, it would be a shame to see them leave. They have just started to build a history with the city and it would be a travesty to see them ripped from us (not quite as bad as the Browns, but still upsetting).

The idea of moving this team to a city with 10x less people seems a little silly to me. I know that Elkhart claims that they can support an USL club, but one would think it would be more important to develop a fan base in a city with a much larger market. It is not like Cleveland is a wasteland of soccer. In a 2006 friendly versus Venezuela, Cleveland Brown's stadium drew a very respective crowd for a game with moderate importance (~30k for a 72k stadium). Also, the Cleveland area is home to Brad Friedel’s Premier Soccer Academies. Cleveland had one of the most popular teams in the NPSL in the Cleveland Crunch, which for me gave me my first nudge in loving the beautiful game. Depriving a large market with a rich soccer history would be truly detrimental to the state of soccer in America.

So hopefully in the end the Green Army has a team to root for. Cleveland cannot afford to lose another team, especially to a city where not only does it hurt Cleveland soccer, but America as a whole.

First, in the interest of full disclosure, let me admit that I may have written something extremely similar to this the last time the USMNT headed to a hostile environment to face off against an opponent they had never defeated on the road.

If I repeat myself, it's because the situations are so frustratingly alike.

The last time, it was Costa Rica. The United States was heading to Saprissa, with it's abomination of a football pitch, to take on the Ticos. We, as fans, believed that the Americans could finally slay the dragon and earn a victory; some of that was blind faith, some of it overconfidence, and some of it the simple belief that the US should beat Costa Rica, no matter where the game is played.

My how wrong we were.

This time around, I would like to think that we're just a little smarter; we won't discount the history, and we'll be sure to mute our over-exuberant assertions that a victory is in the cards.

But what fun is that?

How, as passionate and invested fans, can we sit back and defer to better judgement? If we're not going to be allowed to show confidence in our team, doesn't that suck some of the enjoyment out of the anticipation and buildup?

I'm a positive guy for the most part, and I usually like to believe that the best is possible. Being pessimistic seems like the lazy way out in this situation; if the US loses, those who gave them no chance get to crow that they got it right. Taking the chance that they might actually win can smack of blind homerism, I admit; but if done right, and talked about with the proper respect for the negative, predicting a victory actually takes more guts.

Kinda.

It's such a touchy issue. I refuse to let my faith get lost in the negative swirl of all that comes with a match at Azteca, and yet I realize just how improbable a victory tomorrow actually is. Several factors have conspired to cause some of us to lose sight of what happened in Costa Rica, and here we sit, ready to call an American victory despite mountains of evidence that says it truly is a 100-1 shot.

The United States beat Spain, the number one team in the world

Makes it tough to believe they're not capable of beating the 30th ranked team, now doesn't it?

Bob Bradley has stumbled upon a solid defensive lineup

Thanks to the South African sojourn, most USMNT fans believe that the defense is much better than it was in Costa Rica. Either Bob Bradley figured something out through trial and error (i.e. solid coaching), or he stumbled upon the best possible combination through sheer luck; no matter how you look at it, it would seem that the defense, if they play up to the standard they set against Egypt, Spain, and the first half of the final, gives the Americans a real chance in Mexico City.

On paper, that is. And we all know that games aren't played on paper.

There's just too many ifs for me to be completely comfortable (which isn't really possible anyway) with our chances.

If the back line plays like they did in South Africa
If the midfield can control the ball for extended periods
If no one loses their head and gets a stupid red card
If Donovan's current league form carries over

If, if, if.

And I haven't even gotten to those pesky external factors that have nothing to do with "if". They're certainties, and they kind of certainties that contribute to the record Mexico has at Estadio Azteca. Forty-three years, one loss.

ONE.

Massive crowd, smog, altitude, items being thrown, etc., etc., etc. Add it all up and it spells another disappointing trip to the DF for the USA.

And yet, many of us still believe that they boys can win tomorrow. Some are even giving lip service to those ifs and certainties, acknowledging that the deck is once again stacked against the Yanks. "Discounting" might be the wrong word this time around, but when the net effect is the same, what difference does it really make? American fans are still, in large numbers, predicting a historical victory.

Good for them. Far be it for me to rain on their parade. If the US does somehow escape Mexico with three points, they get to scream from the rafters that they believed all along. If the US comes home with nothing, a result we're all too familiar with, then all they've done is supported their national team as any good American soccer fan is supposed to do.

Dos a cero? We can only hope.

Me, I'm a fence sitter. I'm calling it a draw, 2-2.

David Beckham has been fined $1000 for his run in with a Galaxy supporter at halftime of Sunday's Home Depot Center friend with AC Milan.

Commissioner Don Garber's statement:

“We support our players interacting with fans, whether it is at clinics, charity events or by high-fiving their supporters in the stands while celebrating a goal,” Garber said. “However, our players should never engage in conduct that can be interpreted as encouraging fans to come out of the stands and onto the field, regardless of the reason.”

The league came under fairly significant pressure from fans to fine its highest profile player; after several days without a statement from the commissioner's office, some wondered if Beckham would get away with his transgression.

While the fan's actions are inexcusable, and I completely agree with his lifetime ban from the stadium (fans should never leave the stands, for any reason>, Beckham clearly escalated the altercation, and therefore deserved some form of punishment.

The fine may seem paltry in light of Beckham's salary, and a suspension might have sent a clearer message; but I'm comfortable with this action, as it seems in line with other punishments dished out be MLS.

Do you agree? Is Beckham's punishment sufficient, or would you have preferred he received a suspension?

The potential of Major League Soccer coming to Portland (it remains "potential" as long as the stadium issue is unresolved) has some questioning the prevailing (and long standing) supporters culture. On OregonLive today, a column appeared which includes a letter written to the Timbers front office; in the letter, a family decries what the writer calls "a bunch of angry white guys tanked up on liquor", "dropping F-BOMBS in their chants all night long".

The writer goes on to declare that the Timbers won't fill their newly renovated stadium if the Timbers Army is allowed to continue their dirty chanting, determining that the club will be dependent on "the large family willing to drop a couple hundred bucks on tickets and then fill up on concessions and gear".

Ugh. Where to begin.

I suppose the writer presents, inadvertently, an interesting question: Does the move to MLS behoove the Timbers to shift their focus from a counter-culture hard-core supporters model to a more family-oriented soccer-mom one?

Of course not.

The Timbers, despite the beliefs of one parent, can absolutely succeed by staying true to what go them to where they are (on the verge of MLS). In fact, it would be a crime if Paulson pointed marketing efforts in a different direction, or did anything to reduce the influence of the Timbers Army. Portland is exactly what MLS needs because it is not the staid, bland, boring fan culture that so many clubs around the league possess.

Could the Timbers Army cut down on the swearing just a touch? Sure. But any family attending a match should know what they're getting into going in; supporter culture is part of a club's identity, and shouldn't be artificially restricted for any reason short of violence or abuse. Language is too often censored unduly while parents receive a free pass, either because they're unwilling to speak frankly with their children regarding its use, or because those parents believe it is the responsibility of others to dictate its use. We're talking about words here people.

I suspect that if enough people complain, or if the Timbers see a hit to their bottom line, that they may ask their supporters to scale back on the four letter words. While there's nothing wrong with that, and I would hope the TA would be receptive to the needs of the club, it unfortunately speaks to a misstep on the part of professional soccer teams in the United States. Long term growth and entrenched cultural resonance will not be built through the family-friendly atmosphere, not matter how tempting it is to go after those dollars.

In a country where professional soccer will remain fourth or fifth in the competition for entertainment dollars for at least the time being, it's the passion of fans like the Timbers Army that will drive new interest from those yet unconverted.

My favorite part of the letter, one that speaks to the ignorance of the writer, despite their claims of a history of supporting soccer clubs:

"Do they really believe that chanting obscenities from 75 meters away impacts what happens on the pitch? Fat guys leading cheers laced with foul language is rather silly isn't it? Don't believe me, go sit down there next game."

Like I said, I don't know where to begin. To say he (or she) is missing the point would be a gross understatement.

You stay classy, Portland. I like you just the way you are.

*UPDATE*

There is now a response to the letter from the Timbers Army, which you can find here.

Steven Goff reported through his Soccer Insider twitter account that the Union Ultras, a Chivas USA supporters group, displayed a "Keep United in DC" banner at the HDC Saturday night during the Goats' home match versus DC United.

Dare I hope? Could it be that this humble blog inspired another team's fans to join in the campaign to keep United in their rightful home?

Maybe not, but it's certainly possible. MFUSA has more than a few readers in the Southern California area, and perhaps one like my idea.

I have yet to get my hands on a photo of the banner, and I missed the live shot during FSC's coverage on Saturday night. If you have a picture, know of someone who does, or better yet know the origin of the Union Ultra's inspiration, please PLEASE let me know.

A bit of discussion about the movement after the jump.

Originally, the "United Movement" was intended to coincide with the supporters march taking place in DC on May 9th; it never occurred to me that it could extend beyond that date. It makes sense though. United's struggle to remain in DC won't stop, and so there's no reason the fans' solidarity campaign should stop.

Whether they got the idea from me or not, the Union Ultras should be applauded for what they did. Maybe it will spawn copycats around the country, everywhere that DC United play.

Again, if you're a member of the Union Ultras or have insight into their motivation for the banner, please get in touch with me at matchfitusa@gmail.com

Don't forget, new podcast tomorrow.

**UPDATE**

Thanks to a heads up by Alejo in the comments, we now have picture of the banner.

by Jason Kuenle

From marching to keep a team in DC to throwing flares in the stands; from fantastic support in Seattle to terrible attendance in Dallas; supporters of MLS teams have been in the headlines more this year than in any year I can remember. For soccer fans, like me, who don’t live in an MLS market, its tempting to think that none of these stories really matter. But supporting a side or more generally MLS does more for soccer in the US than you might imagine, and the pace of growth of the MLS fan base will largely dictate when the US becomes a true soccer power.

The next 3 years in Seattle may predict the overall direction of the league for the next decade and beyond. Seattle is the first of at least 3 USL teams to join MLS. The excitement of Seattle’s inaugural season in MLS has resulted in an average attendance of nearly 30,000 per game. When Seattle was a USL team, they averaged around one-tenth of that. However, if Seattle’s support dies off in the next few years and returns to anything near their USL numbers, the same is likely to
happen in Vancouver and Portland as they enter and mature in the league, leaving MLS with additional teams that drag down the financial state of the league.

The financial success of the USL-to-MLS converts and Philadelphia will determine where the league is ten years from now. Because of the single entity structure of MLS, the more teams that are financially successful the more the league as a whole succeeds. The income that Seattle’s ticket and merchandise sales have brought in could not have come at a better time for the league. And Philadelphia looks like
they will have the same kind of following in their first year that Seattle has had. As a relatively young league, the current financial climate could have hurt the ability of MLS to continue their slow steady growth plan if not for the revenue that these clubs will create. If these expansion clubs, with their grassroots
organizations, come into the league profitable and remain so, MLS may have a bright financial future.

As more teams move toward profitability, it will be important for fans to demand that the league use those profits to better the level of play in the league. This starts with the CBA that Jason has been following on this site. More money in MLS should mean better players, especially with the financial troubles of some European teams lowering worldwide demand and players’ market values. A higher level of play should mean better competition and more fans in the seats. Therefore, if you want to see MLS become a better product and you are economically capable, be a better fan: go to a game, buy some merchandise, or if you don’t live in a MLS market get MLS Direct Kick, but don’t just sit there and complain that MLS is not the EPL.

But the final way that supporters can help the development of US soccer is the most fun; by creating intimidating places to play. The first game in Seattle was unlike any MLS game that I have watched. The US is notorious for playing poorly in hostile environments: World Cup games in Europe, any game in South America, games in the Azteca, even games in El Salvador. I believe this is, in part, because of a lack of exposure in MLS to hostile environments. Keep things civilized. No flares, pee bags, or racist slurs please, but dress in your side’s colors, chant, sing, or bang the drum. Do your part to develop young American talent by making a game in San Jose, California, feel more like the upcoming game in San Jose, Costa Rica. Perhaps then the US would be in better position to feel like they should come away with all three points.

As fans we have rights and responsibilities. We have a right to demand quality soccer, but that comes with the responsibility of supporting the league. 15 of the 18 players that have played in qualifiers for the US this year spent time in MLS. The national team will continue to depend on MLS. And MLS will only ever be as good as its fans are.

Shamelessly piggy-backing on my MFUSA co-host's morning post, I'm taking note of the supporters groups ever more than usual recently. While historically (relatively speaking) relevant groups like DC United's La Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles were front and center with last week's stadium march, the Sons of Ben have captured headlines this week in light of the new Philadelphia club's colors, badge and name announcement.

Throw in the moving of Seattle's club-sanctioned band away from the supporters section at the request of the group, and suddenly Major League Soccer is awash with high-profile coalitions of fans who won't hesitate to make themselves heard.

Which is exactly how it should be.

Now, there is a danger of supporters groups wielding a little too much influence; in the extreme, issues like clubs in Argentina are facing occur. But the other extreme is just as bad; without at least one supporters group, clubs are left with free-reign to dictate stadium atmosphere, often to the detriment of the match day experience.

The Sons of Ben have proven what a strong, well-organized group of fans can do. Philadelphia Union might now exist without their efforts, and the club rightfully acknowledged that fact by including a dedicated SoB section and entrance in the design for the club's stadium. SoB also received a nod in the colors of the club, and it seems clear that Union management will be in constant communication with the supporters group's leadership. As long as management resists the urge to manipulate the group and does not attempt to use them to the club's advantage rather than maintaining a reciprocal relationship, Philly will be a model for the rest of the league.

Not to discount other clubs that are doing it right. Seattle appears to get it, as does Toronto (for the most part; I get the feeling the relationship is sometimes testy). Unfortunately, plenty of clubs get it horribly wrong.

Even the league office is coming around, having recently expanded their staff to increase focus on "core fans".

Unfortunately, there are plenty of examples on the other end of the spectrum. The Chicago Fire have a notoriously bad relationship with Section 8. Columbus, despite benefiting from an atmosphere that was organically fan-created, chose to trademark the name "Nordecke" out from under those fans, a move that smacks of corporate greed (yet is status quo for Hunt Sports Group). Dallas' issues with its supporters in light of the team's recent struggles are mounting, and the team has even taken to censoring its message board.

For some clubs, supporters group relations seems to come naturally. I would argue that it's mostly an issue of common sense, however, which makes the poor relationships all the more frustrating. Why would management forsake those groups of fans most passionate about the club?

I suspect we'll see strong connections in both Portland and Vancouver in the coming years, as both of those clubs have rich histories of support, something which their owners will be keen to continue.

I've long argued that MLS needs to shift it's marketing focus to the young and urban rather than the suburban family; it appears that shift it taking place, even if a few MLS markets lag behind. Strong and mutually-beneficial relationships with supporters groups, who tend to be in the former group rather than the latter, is crucial to that shift. It's passion and commitment that clubs should be fostering, and it's heartening to see that effort actually happening.

Feel free share your experiences or knowledge on SG-club relations, good or bad. Which clubs do it right, and which clubs are stubbornly lording over their SGs, rather than working with them?

Letting this speak for itself...



Click to enlarge.

Just a little more news on the "Keep United in DC" front.

I've spoken with an elder of the Barra Brava, and everything looks be a go for the march on May 9th. Permits are in hand and the group is meeting with the front office today ahead of printing up 15,000 fliers to be distributed at the FC Dallas match this weekend.

While the effort is being led by the Barra Brava, the march effort is all-inclusive. The group hopes to have as many participants as possible, and that includes families, youth teams, and anyone else who is sympathetic to the effort.

A lot of time and effort is going into the march, and those responsible should be applauded for getting it together so quickly.

The other aspect of the "Keep United in DC" campaign, the one that I suggested could include a gesture of solidarity from fans around league, has gotten some good run since I first posted the thought yesterday.

Bloggers around the country have picked up on the idea, and if the momentum continues to build, we could see something fairly special on May 9th.

If you are a fan of an MLS club, plan on attending your team's game on May 9th, and respect what the Barra Brava and United fans are doing, get involved. Spread the word and let Garber and Co. know that United calling anywhere but DC home will not stand.

Sorry about getting a little melodramatic.

If you don't care, don't plan on supporting the cause, or see any sign of camaraderie with another club's supporters as sacrilege, that's fine. I can respect that viewpoint. Please be aware that no one if forcing you to do anything, and if you prefer to stick to your guns on being for your club and your club only, I (and I'm sure most) certainly won't hold it against you. This also goes for for traveling TFC fans who will be in DC on May 9th; if you don't want to march, don't march. If you don't want to display a sign, or hang a banner, don't. But I don't think it's too much to ask for you to respect the effort. May 9th is not the time for antagonism (I'm not trying to insult TFC fans or imply anything would happen; I would be saying this no matter which club was in town on the day of the march).

I will have interviews with the Barra Brava leadership on Monday, and may soon try to do a roundup of those around the country that have promoted the cause.

If you can't tell, I'm a little wrapped up in the "Keep United in DC" march efforts, planned for May 9th. I view the march as a perfect example of what makes soccer such an amazing sport; the passion of its fans is unrivaled.

If you missed it, Barra Brava has taken the lead on coordinating a show of support for the club's efforts to remain in DC. Washington is where United should be, and the recent setbacks the team has faced to find a proper home have many supporters, both of United and around the league, just a little worried.

In the spirit of the movement, I have a thought.

Despite the animosity that often comes with our club allegiances, there remains a certain amount of solidarity across the MLS spectrum. The league is young, the margins small, and to an extent, we're all in this together.

No matter how much you might hate United and their fans (I'm looking at you Red Bull), it would be impossible to argue that a relocated United would be a good thing. Who would New York fans have to hate if DC moved to say, St. Louis? It's just not the way things should be.

So why not make May 9th "Keep United in DC" Day across the league?

"Keep United in DC" Day would work like this: fans attending matches all over MLS, in that aforementioned spirit of solidarity, would display signs or banners showing their support for the march efforts in DC. No matter if you're attending a match in Columbus, Chicago, or Houston, show your support for Barra Brava and all of the other United fans as they rally for their club. If it was your club being threatened, wouldn't you feel better knowing that fans around the league have your back?

Maybe a chant or a song could even break out in those other stadiums...

Okay, so that's probably too much to ask. But a few signs sprinkled among the crowd at MLS stadiums across the country would be a fantastic sight.

Let's be clear: I realize that what people in other cities do will have no effect on DC and their stadium issues. Local politicians aren't really going to care if a few fans in Columbus wave around "Keep United in DC" signs.

But that's not the point. Attention needs to be paid to the United's plight, and the wider the message goes, the better. Don Garber has made statements indicating that the team could be moved, and while many people believe those statements were idle threats (for the time being), the fact remains that United supporters feel the need to rally in support of their club.

What do you guys think? Does the idea have legs? Should we start a campaign to get the "Keep United in DC" movement spread across the league?

If anyone else thinks this is a worthwhile idea and wants to help spread the word, don't hesitate to do so. I'm not necessarily worried about credit for me; it's the idea itself that important. If you want to link back to this post, I certainly won't stop you, but if you just want to let other bloggers and soccer people about the campaign, that's fine too.

KEEP UNITED IN DC!

A little while back, I mentioned the possibility of DC United fans organizing a march in support of the team remaining in the District. United's stadium plan issues are well-documented and well-publicized, and the march would be a grassroots example of soccer fans uniting behind their beloved club.

I have a brief update on the matter, after the jump.

Desperate times call for a show of force, and that's exactly what the march is intended to be. DC United'a prominent supporters groups have taken the lead on the idea, and are currently in the process of obtaining the proper permits from the District of Columbia. I've been assured that those permits are forthcoming, and that it's just a matter of the process running its course.

Originally, discussion revolved around two DC United home dates: May 2nd, when United faces FC Dallas, and May 9th, when the DC club hosts Toronto FC. Each date has it's benefits. The May 2nd match provides a national television forum, as FSC will broadcast the game. May 9th comes with it the possible aid of traveling TFC fans, who United supporters might ask to join the cause. The thought that TFC fans could get along with another team's fans might elicit a chuckle from some, but the feeling is that all MLS fans should join together to help keep United where they belong.

Neither date has been announced, and I'm unable to pin down which date is currently being targeted. May 2nd is obviously only a few short days away, and without time to properly publicize the event, that date makes little sense. My feeling, and it's only a feeling, is that those involved are planning on May 9th.

I have been assured that the front office fully supports the march. My concern prior to that confirmation was that United's ownership might consider the march counterproductive; if the fans demonstrating were vocally derogatory to the city's leadership, hurt feelings could hamper any remaining efforts to come to an understanding on a stadium. Obviously McFarland, Chang, and Payne have no such concerns, and it's great to see them encouraging their supporters groups to do what they do best.

I'll update further as events warrant. I hope to have confirmation of a date, as well as an interview with one or more of the parties responsible for the efforts, in the not-too-distant future.

**UPDATE**

I've received confirmation that the march is planned for May 9th. The following is a statement from the team provided by Doug Hicks directly to MFUSA:

'Supporters of D.C. United are planning a march on May 9. The group is in the process of planning an event fully sanctioned by local authorities that will result in a peaceful and meaningful demonstration. As the best fans in Major League Soccer, we look forward to a large group, representing the interests of United fans throughout the region, gathering in a positive show of support for a proper stadium solution for their club.'

Today, I start on a new journey. As I've resolved to give significant attention to USL this year, I think it's necessary that I choose a team to follow. Over the next week or so (deadline still TBD), I'll be sharing with you both the process and my thoughts as I go through each USL-1 side, hoping that one stands out enough to become my USL side.

I'm going to need all of the help I can get, and I'm hoping that this will be both a great way for me to get drawn into the league, and a way to educate people who might not know much about USL.

I'll lay out my plan of attack after the jump.

In 2009, there will be eleven USL-1 clubs.

Austin Aztex
Carolina Railhawks
Charleston Battery
Cleveland City Stars
Miami FC
Minnesota Thunder
Montreal Impact
Portland Timbers
Puerto Rico Islanders
Rochester Rhinos
Vancouver Whitecaps

I realize that this process is taking place just a bit too late for me to start the season with a declared club; I think, though, that a week of games will give me even more information to aid me in my decision. Maybe I'll see a style of play or a player on a particular team that will grab me, and it will make my choice that much easier.

In fact, I would almost prefer that something like that happen, if only because I find the manufactured "selection" of a club fairly distasteful. That's not the kind of guy I am; my other sports passions come with deeply held connections, and I don't want have the stink of "fair weather fan" anywhere on my person.

Still, I don't want to wait for something organic to occur (mostly because that could take awhile), and it will be fun and informative to take an in-depth look at USL. If nothing else, it will probably only reinforce my belief that the longer it takes for MLS and USL to get together in some form, the longer soccer in the U.S. will be held down by completely unnecessary competition (and/or petty disagreements).

Without further ado, on to my methodology:

The process will likely be fluid, since I don't think being held to a rigid system is the right way to do it. But I have come up with a few categories on which to judge each club, just as a way to ensure I lean toward making the most appropriate choice.

Categories

1. Geography- I won't mind choosing a club that is not close by, so I'm not sure how weight this one will have. Still, it would be nice to choose a club that I have some kind of local connection to, even if it's not the closest club to my home at the current time.

2. History- It's hard for any club in the U.S. to have a significant history, though there are a few in USL who more than almost any others here (including MLS). I'm not sure a brand new club would bother me, so once again we have a category that might not mean much in the long run.

3. Name/Colors- Not the most valid reason for choosing a club, though I would be lying if I said it didn't matter. I care less about colors than I do about names, though if I'm given strong reasons for ignoring a particularly poor name might make this one worthless as well.

4. Supporter Passion- This might be the first category that actually means something; I'm a big fan of supporters who create unique atmospheres for their clubs, and strong evidence of that from any of the USL stadiums could be the tipping point for my decision.

Those are four quick categories off of the top of my head, though I reserve the right to add more at any point in the process. Each club will be scored from 1-10 in the four categories, and while the club with the highest score might not win my allegiance, it will certainly have a leg up.

As a bonus, and because I am unfamiliar with the fan cultures of these clubs and cannot actually visit any of the locales, I am soliciting for fans of each and every USL club to present their reasons as to why I should support their team. I don't want to be a man on an island in this process; I want to know what makes each team special, why the fans love their clubs, and how becoming a supporter might enrich my life. More than likely, these fan messages directed towards me will be the most important factor in my decision.

Over the next week, I will consider one or two clubs a day, with scores give for the rated categories, my gut feelings on each club, and any testimonials I receive from their fans.

By the end, I hope to be a proud and passionate supporter of a USL club, one I can follow for 2009 and into the future.

*****CALL TO ACTION*****

I must stress the importance of your help with this process; not only with feedback on my thoughts (perhaps even questioning my methods), but also with the supporter-testimonial aspect. I know there are quite a few USL supporters that come by here, and while I am positive I will get messages from fans of certain USL teams, I'm worried I may miss out on others. If you know someone that supports a club in USL, let them know about my project and ask them to shoot me an email.

All correspondence can be sent to:

jbdavis1@gmail.com
or
matchfitusa@gmail.com

Let the project begin!

Today brings yet more news out of Seattle on the Sounders scarf campaign. A group of Sounders fan blogs have combined forces to sponsor an "Bring Your Scarf to Work Day"

If you haven't been paying attention, the Sounders have guerrilla-marketed their way into the civic consciousness of their fair city with a "Scarf Seattle" program that has the items showing up all over the place (I particularly love the "Scarf Your Cat" suggestion).

How great is that?

Dave Clark, a blogger of ultimate esteem at sounderatheart.com, sent me a message last night, obviously excited about "Bring Your Scarf to Work"; and I say rightly so. Is there another city in America (not you Canada, we know you're different) where this is even conceivable? Obviously we'll have to hear about how it goes on Friday, but early indications reveal a city completely geeked up for Major League Soccer.

Newness is a factor in all of this, and the hard work for the Sounders marketing department will be to keep the momentum going; but I'm heartened by the early returns. Even the animosity being thrown at the Sounders and their supporters is good for the league, as rivalry breeds passion, which attracts converts.


The American Church of the Soccer Revelation is always accepting new congregants.

By the way: if you happen to have an extra of either of the scarves pictured, Match Fit USA is always accepting gifts...

Today is an MFUSA snow day, as I've decided to avoid the debacle that is the DC area's attempts to deal with a little snow, and stay home. Luckily for you, this means as many posts as I can muster and progress towards the release of a new podcast by the end of the day.

Let's start with a small collection of links that have caught my eye this morning:

GOALSeattle has a look at what Qwest will look like on Opening Day (sorry, I just can't make myself call it "First Kick"), and it all sounds pretty impressive. If the momentum rolls in the Emerald City all season long, it will set the standard for new clubs in MLS. I just hope they make a lot of noise up there in the Northwest; Qwest is notoriously loud as an American football stadium (partly due to the fans, partly due to the intentional acoustical design), so Sounders fans have a chance to set the bar.

As a follow up, Kyle McCarthy at Goal.com wonders if the instant success of Toronto and Seattle will shine a harsh light on the rest of the league. It's possible, and perhaps outside observers will spout negativity about the less successfully marketed clubs, though the overall effect should be a positive one. Every marketing head in MLS should be taking notes from TFC and SSFC. Although the resonance of Toronto's sell-out success is mute in the States because of the Canada-factor (not fair, just the truth), Seattle's ticket sales bonanza could conceivably trickle down to other MLS clubs around the country. Hopefully, some of the mainstream sports media starts to pay attention in the coming weeks.

I'm now of the opinions that Rio Ferdinand is a jackass. How about a little respect for someone who took a chance, Rio? While we may all be turning on Beckham now, and the grand experiment has petered out, just the fact that Golden Balls had the, well, balls to come here with a hope to grow the game is commendable.

DaMarcus Beasley might be wasting away in Glasgow, but at least Mo Edu is making progress. With the U.S. midfield seemingly stacked, the development of Edu would seem less important for the Nats, and more important for the developing rep of American players. Not true for me on the first point, as I think Maurice will be a big time part of the team in South Africa next year.

On the expansion front, the Timbers Army held a rally on Saturday (using this link because Duane's comments are always a worthwhile read). It may not be a foregone conclusion with the vote still to come (March 11th), but I'd be betting on Portland for one of the two slots (if American books took bets on that type of thing). The other spot seems like it could go any of the remaining suitors, including Montreal; while I'm not convinced that the Quebecers are back in the mix, it's hard to believe that Garber & Co. didn't get a little starry-eyed over the CCL match attendance.

Today is roster compliance day for MLS teams, although in the Kyle McCarthy article I linked to earlier, he explains that there's not much bite to the deadline. All it really means to me is that we're getting closer to First Kick (okay, so maybe I will use it; just seems hokey for some reason). With my NFL football team falling apart, I need to keep my mind on the good stuff: MLS soccer in 17 days.

Picture grabbed from Off the Post, who I'm sure got it somewhere else.

It's a fairly obvious statement: MLS is desperate for a little love from the mainstream sports media. Nothing the league or its teams seem to do are enough to get on the map in the U.S., and it might just be about time for desperate measures.

To that end, I've cooked up a few ideas for how MLS can artificially get itself a little attention from all of the soccer-hating no-nothing caca-brains in this country.

1. Run an ad campaign declaring baseball "dead"

Okay, so this one might piss off a few people. Still, the juice is worth the squeeze if even a few ex-baseball fans open up their minds to soccer, or if the national media picks up the story (no matter their angle, though it's guaranteed to be negative). All is fair in love and war, and I'm of the opinion that it's time for MLS to fire up the Shermans and get all Patton-in-Sicily crazy. Of course soccer won't supplant baseball in the American sports consciousness, but any possible opportunity for publicity should be seized upon like it's the last bottle of Smithwick's at a frat party kegger. Grab that thing and enjoy it, because you know you'll be drinking Red Dog for the rest of the night.

2. Create a massive bonus for cup winners

The U.S. Open Cup stinks. In it's current format, and with fixture congestion always an issue, MLS teams have treated the competition like reserve league. Though the idea might be a non-starter in the current economy, the creation of a sizable bonus for the MLS clubs involved could jump start things; add in a salary cap exception for the dollars awarded, and now we're talking. If your team had the opportunity to increase the money available for talent by $250k or so (random number), wouldn't you want them to go all out for the trophy?

3. Give supporters' groups the bully pulpit

The future of MLS is young, male, and possibly a little tipsy. There's nothing wrong with alcohol at a sporting event; that's why you pay security (I'm half-kidding). Short of validating any violent hooligan wannabes, the league should let their best supporters' groups speak for themselves. Buy a little time on ESPN or FSC and throw Barra Brava, the Riot Squad, the Nordecke rowdies, or any of a number of others into the spotlight. There is nothing in American sports like the nuts that make up soccer supporters' groups, and their passion might just rub off on some of the unconverted.

4. Fill a stadium or two no matter what the cost

As we've recently seen in Montreal, a bit of creative marketing and some cut-rate ticket prices can go a long way towards packing in the fans. With just a little more pride-swallowing, MLS could find ways to fill large stadiums for a couple of big matches each season and create the kind of atmosphere so many American soccer fans want to see. Forget Beckham; the league should do what it takes to get 50,000 in RFK without any Golden Balls-took-his-shirt-off shenanigans. It can be done; they just need to find the way.

5. Give promotion/relegation a little lip service

It can't hurt, right? The soccer public constantly clamor for it, and while it's unlikely to be instituted in the modern sports environment with owners unwilling to risk lost revenue, there's nothing that says Garber can't drop a hint or two that the league is "discussing" the idea of promotion/relegation. Giant tease? Of course. But would it get some attention from Bristol? I'm guessing it would. A concept as foreign and unique as pro/rel in the U.S. might make the heads of Tony Kornheiser and Jim Rome explode in a glorious fountain of deep red idiotic-soccer-hater juice. And we're all for that, right?

Most of these ideas are way out there, I know. Still, it's out-of-the-box thinking that's needed when all of the conventional methods don't seem to work. With me? Or not?

Give me your ideas. The wackier the better, just try to keep them within the realm of possibility.

Post number four, no one here (cue the empty room echo sound effect), and I'm already reevaluating my approach. There's a chance I was just a touch dry (water...*cough*...I need water) with those first couple of posts. I had strong opinions on the subjects involved, though, and the voices get mad if I don't get them out every now and then.

So with this improved spirit (hard to be NEW and improved when the whole blog is new) in mind, I've decided to dedicate post four to one of the aspects of the beautiful game that intrigues me the most: supporter passion. It seems odd to me that our American sports don't spawn the type of fervor we see at soccer/football/futbol around the world. The most obvious possible reason is the stop and start nature of our big sports; it just may be that this type of action is inconducive to singing/drumming/chanting (yes, I'm aware that we chant on occasion, it's just that they're never particularly good). Football, baseball, basketball: sure we cheer and scream, sure we jeer and boo, sure we MAKE SOME NOOOOOIIIIIISSSSSEEEE when instructed to by our masters the jumbotrons (which, by the way, will be the mouthpieces of the oppressors when the machines take over), it just doesn't seem to have the same heart to it, does it?

Luckily, we Americans A. learn well, B. let the futbol cultured around us lead, or C. just give it the old college try when it comes our MLS and national team supporter duties. I've gathered up a small collection of supporter videos in a effort to illustrate the point. Bear in mind that these are my personal favorites for each of the listed teams-if you have any particular beefs with the one I've chosen for your club, just shoot me an email or point me in the direction of a better representation.

I've also tried to list the supporters group responsible for the madness if it's clear who that might be.



Love this video, Section 8 is fantastic. Gave me chills the first time I watched it.



Not a lot of selection of action videos for Chivas, and specifically the Union Ultras. Not bad, though.



Very little for the Rapids, and the Centennial Firm. This weak effort is the best of the bunch.



The Nordecke (and the supporters groups that reside there) has gotten much love recently with the Crew hoisting MLS Cup. Like them or not, its hard not to put them up there with the best in MLS (I was almost tempted to post the brawl with the Hammers fans, but thought better of it). There are probably 50 videos I could have picked for Columbus.



La Barra Brava, with the usual help from La Norte and Screaming Eagles. Again, I could have put up a hundred different videos. Still the standard in my opinion.



Tried my best for FC Dallas, and ultimately I'm a little disappointed. Nothing too exciting.



Houston Dynamo's Texian Army. Just okay for me, although there may be something out there I don't know about. Seems the Texian Army likes to upload videos of the supporters section with music added. Not a big fan.



This video is from before the Wizards left Arrowhead; not sure how the change of venue effected the Cauldron. I was actually expecting to find more than I did (although that Jimmy Conrad "Crashing the Cauldron" video is pretty funny).



Best of what I could find for LA Galaxy's Riot Squad. Ehh.



Very tough for New England's Midnight Riders ultras to make a difference with that stadium.



Like the Midnight Riders, the Empire Supporters Club isn't helped much by their stadium. At least they've got a new one on the way.



This was the only video I could find of Rouge Cavalier's Brigade in action. Come on you lakers, step it up.



1906 Ultras, doing the job for San Jose. Nice.



Definitely my favorite TFC supporter video. The audio is fantastic. I'm pretty sure this is the Red Patch Boys and U-Sector.



Emerald City Supporters when the Sounders played in USL-1 last year. I'm anxious to see if they'll get a major bump with their boys moving up to MLS.



Wasn't sure if I wanted to include this, but what the hell. I have no idea what the Sons of Ben will be like as a supporters group in their own stadium singing for their own club, but they sure are organized as hell.


So there you go. Supporters groups for every MLS team and two future one. Maybe it's just me, but I love that stuff.