MLS Fans

[honeychile]

Has anyone else heard the news about the Chicago Fire?

Possibly the most beloved, and one of the most successful GMs in soccer, Peter Wilt, has been given his walking papers - AFTER he trains his replacement, John Guppy, formerly of the Metro Stars.

I have been stunned by team moves in the past, but this has to be an all-time BAD MOVE!!!!

Peter Wilt - the GM who goes on message boards to explain moves and encourage fans.

Peter Wilt - the GM who is available to talk to Fire fans at almost any time.

Peter Wilt - the GM who has inspired soccer fans from all over the league as the consistent GM of the Year, got the ground literally broken on a soccer specific stadium, and is the running for for the 2005 PRISM Award for overall excellence by a major league sports organization.

Peter Wilt - the GM who, when the Fire got their franchise, personally sought out those fans who applied for positions, thanked them for applying, and explained why they weren't hired.

etc etc etc

Saturday's game is going to feature Section Eight boycotting a portion of the game, fans wearing black, and heaven help any AEG Associate stupid enough to show his face!!

Check out:
"Wiltgate" Stinks to the Highest Heavens

Fire fans support Peter Wilt; S8C statement on the week's action by AEG

Wilt Ousted from Top Fire Post in Shock Move

How the Fire got Burned

[DeltaSigStan]

Anything that'll get the Galaxy closer to another MLS Cup is fine by me

[honeychile]

Then you are not truly a fan of real soccer - you are a fan of corporate greed.

Seriously, there are pages of people from all over the world who have signed in support of Peter Wilt, Fire Fans and non-Fire Fans.

[docetboy]

There's a proffessional soccer league???

[DeltaSigStan]

I'm sorry to the 50 MLS fans out there, but as much as I love soccer, MLS can wither and die for all I care.

Soccer will never be accepted as much as most American soccer fans could hope. The Tony Cornheisers and Jim Romes of this country are far too critical of the game, and far too many "true Americans" buy into their perception of the game (That "true Americans" are supposed to loathe the sport and be glad we're not one of the best countires at it).

MLS is a second-rate league that has failed to catch on as expected. When the United States did so well in the 02 World Cup, most of the roster played overseas. Now that we're concentrating on our domestic league and our top talent is playing lesser competition (I dare you to name a Euro league that MLS is better than), I have a feeling we're going to bomb in Germany. Plus, we never do well when the Copa is played in Europe anyway.

Remember in 98 when we finished 32 out of 32? What had just came out two yrs earlier? MLS!

Don't believe me? See Mexico. All their players get paid millions to stay in Mexico and play in their shitty league instead of getting experience overseas, and do they ever do well in the World Cup?

I'll stick to the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Dutch Entrevista and even the frogs' League 1

[honeychile]

Okay, so that makes it a good thing to get rid of one of the few guys who was successfully changing things?

As for the 50 fans, prior to the announcement about Peter Wilt, there were already 20,000 tickets sold for tomorrow's game. Frankly, I can probably name 50 people who don't MISS a game in each city!!

And just because this country would rather see steriod-sucking baseball players and have the nerve to call it "the World Series" doesn't mean that no one likes soccer.

[DeltaSigStan]

I'm not saying no one likes soccer. Hell, it's the #2 most played sport amongst kids. But, I've also ran into a lot of soccer fans in this country who feel the exact same way I do.

I'm also not saying there isn't a lot of people who also feel the way you do. I'd love for soccer to take over hockey as the #4 major sport. But I think it's better off as the niche sport it is.

I guess it sucks that he got fired, but I mean, he's bound to get a job somewhere else in the league, so I'm sure his effectiveness, while diverted, won't stray that far away.

MLS has dropped the ball so many times, this just doesn't surprise me.

[CSUSigEp]

The Tony Cornheisers and Jim Rome's of the media are MORONS when it comes to soccer. People always hate what they dont understand. Its painfully obvious how little ESPN knows about soccer from just watching the (rare) soccer highlights on Sportscenter, they dont know what they are talking about...

but back on topic, i dont really pay attention to the Fire per se, but would agree that their franchise is going down the tubes, i can honestly say i can't name more than 2 people on that team, and I watch mls quite a bit...

[DeltaSigStan]

True, but these ESPN cats are the some of the biggest figures in sports media, and as long as they stay ignorant, the majority of Americans who have those negative stigmas about soccer will also be ignorant.

[navane]

I've always wondered about why I never picked up on following MLS. I mean, I avidly support no less than THREE English sides across three divisions. In international play, I'm all about the England, USA and Poland national teams. I am a frequent poster on a football ("soccer") forum hosted out of the UK. Yet, I have absolutely ZERO interest in watching MLS. One would think that I'd at least be trying to pick up a Galaxy game here and there or something. I think it possibly has to do with that fact that I see MLS as being so detached from the rest of the world. I feel a greater comraderie with my fellow Bristol City fans than I do American supporters of MLS sides. There's got to be some reason why MLS isn't pulling fans from those who are already soccer supporters.


.....Kelly

[hoosier]

Originally posted by DeltaSigStan

Soccer will never be accepted as much as most American soccer fans could hope. The Tony Cornheisers and Jim Romes of this country are far too critical of the game, and far too many "true Americans" buy into their perception of the game (That "true Americans" are supposed to loathe the sport and be glad we're not one of the best countires at it).

Who cares what they think.

It's a great sport throughout the world, and lots of Americans enjoy it.

Unfortunately, it is low scoring and not too hot on TV, but it is growing in popularity.

Both MLBaseball and the NHL are subsidizing youth leagues, to promote interest, while youth soccer's biggest problem is finding enough fields for the hoards of players. In Atlanta, a recent newspaper article was moaning about a high school coach who had to recruit boys who had never played baseball for his varsity team.

When you have a chance to see the USA MNT va Guatemala, and enjoy the atmosphere of 15,000 screaming Guats, it's great.

[DeltaSigStan]

I think part of the media problem is that these particular journalists only address the game when something bad happens: flares thrown on the field, riots in the stands, etc.

I've talked to a lot more people who are getting into watching soccer at the international level (clubs and national temas).

I'm very happy that a lot more people are getting into the game, but I've never heard a sport bashed and crticized as a whole in American Sports media.

As a loyal member of Sam's Army, I hope I can make it to Germany next year. How awesome would that be?

[honeychile]

Originally posted by DeltaSigStan
I think part of the media problem is that these particular journalists only address the game when something bad happens: flares thrown on the field, riots in the stands, etc.

I've talked to a lot more people who are getting into watching soccer at the international level (clubs and national temas).

I'm very happy that a lot more people are getting into the game, but I've never heard a sport bashed and crticized as a whole in American Sports media.

As a loyal member of Sam's Army, I hope I can make it to Germany next year. How awesome would that be?

Seriously? I'm also saving for Germany, AND am a loyal member of Sam's Army! I've only been with them in four different cities, but once you've been with Sam's Army, you're hooked!

Edited to add:
Since it wasn't carried on tv outside of Chicagoland, not a lot of people know this, but Section 8 of the Fire Fans all refused to go into their section - until the 8th minutes. Then, they marched in, all wearing BLACK instead of red, chanting for the Fire and carrying banners & signs for Peter Wilt. The cameras even showed Peter sitting (well, standing) in Section 8, with the announcers commenting on the situation. This got a LOT of local coverage for the protest that it was!

Say what you will about fans, but it's going to be hard to name ANY other MLS team's fans as the best of the year after this display!