Fan Violence 8/13

clarette · 08-14-2005, 10:05 AM

The streamers never bugged me until now.

However, last night, a bunch of kids near me would wait until someone went out on the field and picked them up, and then threw five or six more onto the field as soon as their backs were turned. And their parents just sat there and watched them do it.

No, it wasn't dangerous, but I thought it was pretty disrespectful to the RSL staff.

When did the JD bottles get chucked onto the field? Everything on the North Side looks like big blobs of blur to me. I did see those mini soccer balls and a few soda cups make their way onto the field though. 🙄

Stucki · 08-14-2005, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clarette

The streamers never bugged me until now.

However, last night, a bunch of kids near me would wait until someone went out on the field and picked them up, and then threw five or six more onto the field as soon as their backs were turned. And their parents just sat there and watched them do it.

No, it wasn't dangerous, but I thought it was pretty disrespectful to the RSL staff.

When did the JD bottles get chucked onto the field? Everything on the North Side looks like big blobs of blur to me. I did see those mini soccer balls and a few soda cups make their way onto the field though. 🙄

I think it was towards the end when the Dasani bottles and coke cups were being thrown from near our section.

Scholesy · 08-14-2005, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Section 37

Don't blame the streamers.

It was a frustrating night, but let's stick to reality.

The streamers played no part in the game

Except to engage the crowd, so that makes them worth it.

It's really not about blaming streamers, I blame a certain person in the front office who encourages it by having staff pass them out. The bottom line is this, streamers are not a part of soccer, never have been, never should be and in the rest of the world never will be. Throwing them into the crowd, fine - if you can control everybody doing that and not throwing them on to the pitch.

The reality is this, most players hate it, coaches hate it, some fans hate it, it disrupts the game with players tripping, getting tangled and misplaying a ball because there are streamers all over the field. That's the reality, you are affecting the game negatively by throwing these stupid things on to the pitch - I have been saying that since the start of the season when some bright spark had the idea in the first place, I disagreed then and I disagree now.

When we were at New England the other night I sat in the booth and watched as DJ had to uncover his goal mouth every 3-4 minutes from streamers thrown at him directly - amongst other things I hasten to add (I kid you not). It distracted his game. Look if you want to scream, shout, sing, chant or even make faces at opposing players, feel free, it does bother them, sometimes it will distract them, sometimes it will motivate them to play better, but we'll win some and we'll lose some on that, that's fine. But distracting our own players and team? Hello how stupid and backward is that? Let me give you a clue right now how football works ... distract opposition - support your team. Nowhere is it written 'distract your team and give your home fans a bad reputation, whilst motivating the opposition and making the ref hate you even more than he does already'. (Now I do love a good song about the ref, and they expect that, they even say sometimes they like it, but throw thngs at them or distract physically from the game - they don't like it. Get as mentally involved in the game as you want, just stop with interference of any sort on the pitch, please.

DadOf8 · 08-14-2005, 01:38 PM

I'm watching a Campeonato Brasileiro (Brazilian Soccer) game on Gol TV right now and I noticed that they have a fence all around the stadium which separates the fans from the pitch and which, I assume, also prevents them from throwing things onto the pitch. If incidents like what happened last night continue, I would expect the league to require a fence being put up and I really don't think RES or the U of U will really want to accommodate soccer any longer if that happens. In fact, if events like what happened last night continue, I would expect that RES and the U of U will tell RSL to find a new home. I think we all recognize that this is a problem and I think by reporting offenders to security that we will be able to nip this in the bud before it becomes a larger problem. I have two rolls of streamers that I didn't use last night, they will not be used at a soccer game. I will use them for a birthday party or other similar occasion. I will continue to heckle opposing players and do my best to distract opposing players with my voice and taunts. I want RES (and our future home) to be a place where opposing teams dread playing but for the right reasons.

taytay33 · 08-14-2005, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DadOf8

I'm watching a Campeonato Brasileiro (Brazilian Soccer) game on Gol TV right now and I noticed that they have a fence all around the stadium which separates the fans from the pitch and which, I assume, also prevents them from throwing things onto the pitch. If incidents like what happened last night continue, I would expect the league to require a fence being put up and I really don't think RES or the U of U will really want to accommodate soccer any longer if that happens. In fact, if events like what happened last night continue, I would expect that RES and the U of U will tell RSL to find a new home. I think we all recognize that this is a problem and I think by reporting offenders to security that we will be able to nip this in the bud before it becomes a larger problem. I have two rolls of streamers that I didn't use last night, they will not be used at a soccer game. I will use them for a birthday party or other similar occasion. I will continue to heckle opposing players and do my best to distract opposing players with my voice and taunts. I want RES (and our future home) to be a place where opposing teams dread playing but for the right reasons.

I completely agree. The teams need to come here fearing us not because they don't want to trip over streamers but because we're so rude to them with our words. Being rude and telling the opposing players they suck is one thing, throwing things at them is another. There is a line, and sadly enough I think the streamers need to go. No matter how cool they look, they do give a lot of people the impression that it's ok to throw other stuff on to the pitch, and it's not. I love the streamers but if it's encouraging this kind of behavior I will simply say "so long!" and forget all about them.

Burninator · 08-14-2005, 02:57 PM

I think apologies from both sides are in order. I was listening to the game, and both commentators couldn't believe how crappy the ref got after the 75th minute or so. I don't think Jamie would have knocked Burciaga (it was Burciaga, right?) the way he did if Kreis' 101st goal had been counted, or if the penalty had been called. I think MLS needs to apologize for the poor officiating, and the object-throwing fans need to apologize as well. Then we need to get promises and proposals from both sides on how to improve the reffing in RSL games, and how to keep fans under control.

--Geoff :dontgetit

montgjules · 08-14-2005, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

I think apologies from both sides are in order. I was listening to the game, and both commentators couldn't believe how crappy the ref got after the 75th minute or so. I don't think Jamie would have knocked Burciaga (it was Burciaga, right?) the way he did if Kreis' 101st goal had been counted, or if the penalty had been called. I think MLS needs to apologize for the poor officiating, and the object-throwing fans need to apologize as well. Then we need to get promises and proposals from both sides on how to improve the reffing in RSL games, and how to keep fans under control.

--Geoff :dontgetit

We 😍 Collina. If only, if only...

Stucki · 08-14-2005, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montgjules

We 😍 Collina. If only, if only...

Why not, MLS is the place for has beens to come play, we may as well recycle their refs that are being forced to retire. MLS should at least consider him to come in and be head of officials or something.

Scholesy · 08-14-2005, 06:23 PM

Oh boy I have had that conversation sooo many times with MLS and team officials who constantly use the example of the has been Scottish ref who came here and was just awful. I argue my best with them but boy they fear one thing ... that they will be taken over by people from outside of the league and even from outside of the country. They fear, if truth be told, European involvement. I think what it really comes down to is this ... they would lose control if others come in with experience and see how they deal with things and the stupid decisions that are sometimes made in MLS. If they lose control they lose some things they really like to have right now.

Loyal1 · 08-14-2005, 06:24 PM

I haven't really cared one way or another for the shorter "celebration" streamers. I do have a big problem with chucking out big rolls that will clearly interfere with play and endanger players. Same for bottles and cups. It's the lamest form of protest available. I question if your $$ and "support" are worth it if your actions spread the wrong message about soccer.

It's not baseball or football with scheduled breaks every few seconds. Even basketball will stop for something like this. If you even pretend to like soccer then don't do this.