On the eve of our final regular season home match, 10 observations of year 1

[fuegote]

Thought 1: Match 1 @ MetroStars
Gosh our uniforms look pretty cool. The whites were out that night as well as the wind. I watched the match tape delayed and enjoyed every second of it. The wind was playing all sorts of havoc on the ball and the players. RSL scores their first point and optimism ensues.

Thought 2: Match 2 @ the Galaxy
Kreis scores RSL’s first goal of the year. We lose the match but we got to see a living legend score the very first goal for our team.

Thought 3: Match 3 with the Crapids
Thanks HotTicket and Bill Riley for the tickets (I was going to buy some anyway). Alianza and I watched the match from the western bleachers and were immediately hooked. We knew where we wanted to sit. We wanted to be with the clowns with the flags and drums. The match was fierce and that goal from Dunny was an experience etched in my brain. We win our very first match.

That night I sign up to be a member of the Loyalists and rsl.org. The next day my child is born.

Thought 4: Match 5 against San Jose
Alianza and I bring the Bardguy and trumpet man. It’s our first match sitting with the Loyalists. It’s a party and even though the match ended in a one-sided tie, the Bardguy is converted to soccer as well. We didn’t know any chants or songs, but we yelled the entire time and bent a bench in the process.

Thought 5: Match 7 and 8 against LA and Chivas
We dominated the Galaxy, the best team in the division at the time. The next match we got back at our real rivals, the cheetos. Optimism was at an all time high. We were on a two match winning streak and heading to the tops of the standings. Then we met the Crew the following Saturday which also started the scoring draught.

Thought 6: Match 11 and CAP 1, the WCQ and F*C* Dallas
I’ll always consider the WCQ the best sporting event I’ve been to…that’s including the all day experience being on college game day and destroying the cougars on the way to the undefeated season. The WCQ will always be the best sporting event I’ve been to. I met Ska (daaa daa daaaaaaaaaaaa!) and we cheered the US to victory in an almost packed crowd.

It was amazing hearing the US team talk about the SL crowd. I was a part of that…we were a part of that, establishing a home field advantage for our US team here in the Rocky Mountains. Come on back now, you hear.

Soreless streak continues.

Thought 7: Match 14 vs LA
The scoreless streak broke the record and we threw black streamers. This was one of the funniest moments of the season for me. We did end our losing streak as well by ending the match with a tie.

Thought 8: The supporter’s club rivalry
By this time, we were “outted” by people on the board. What’s really funny is those who we looked at as the initial instigators are now amongst some of (what I consider anyway) my best friends, friends who aren’t my wife’s friend’s husbands or friends who aren’t blood relation. What started as a battle turned out to be very beneficial for both groups and the founding of a new supporter’s club.

Thought 9: Match 19 against Dallas, aka Mrs. Fuegote’s first match
Mrs. Fuegote’s first match and she finally realized why I become so passionate for soccer. Thank you RSL for giving us a 3- nil shellacking of the hated divers from Texas. I loved watching Ruiz dive, not get a call and then cry.

No fireworks for me. I don’t need your funky fireworks, I’m here for the game.

Thought 10: Match 20 aka grudge match against the cheetos
The scarves and black shirts made their first appearance, in 99 degree weather no less. It was hot, but it was fantastic. The match ended up being 10 players vs. 10 players but we won it with a PK late in the match.

Williams was fantastic and this match really showed me why he is on the club and why I hope he returns next season. He tried the jump into the corner, but alas, when you only jump 6 inches, it’s hard to pull you up.

Alianza is made fun of in the post game show.

This match is also famous for the pre match fireworks. Good times, had by all…..almost.

And now we are approaching a couple more memories: the announcement of our very own SSS, the final game of the initial Rocky Mountain Cup.

Thank you RSL for the best summer I can remember. Thank you Dave and MLS for believing in our little metropolis. Thank you Loyalists for being there to start and for allowing us to become our own group as well. Thank you RCB! What a fun bunch of guys (and some gals) you are! Ska....I just blame you 😉

What a fun first year, regardless of the record and fighting. I’m looking forward for the super draft, the 2006, for the stadium in 2007 and for many years of MLS soccer.

[Aerick]

Well done Fue! You get one of those banana thingies.

To add a couple of mine:

Thought 1: Match 1 @ MetroStars
Very excited to have a team here - haven't really been all that involved in it, though, to this point. Had a church meeting to attend that evening so only got to see a few minutes of this match.

Thought 2: Match 2 @ the Galaxy
Got more into the team during this match. First match I actually got to watch all the way through.

Thought 3: Match 3 with the Crapids
Holy crap!!!!! Took my two kids, bought an away jersey before the game, sat on the west-side bleachers too - Corner section. I was ecstatic to see so many people there! Also saw the Loyalists, and thought to myself "I gotta gimme some of that". That goal from Dunseth, like you Fue, will forever be etched in my memory! The crowd went nuts, and I got chills! (Still do when I think about it). That night I looked up the Loyalists and joined the next day.

Thought 4: Match 5 against San Jose
My wife was admitted to the hospital just a few days earlier for premature labor, and so I listened to parts of the game on 1280 while she had labor pains.

Thought 5: Match 7 and 8 against LA and Chivas
Purchased my mini-plan tickets at this point, and only the Galaxy game was part of my package. I loved that game though. Attended with my son and left euphoric.

Thought 6: Match 11 and CAP 1, the WCQ and F*C* Dallas
Also the best sporting event I ever attending - a close second being the inaugural home game. Absolutely phenomenal!

Thought 7: Catholica Match
Sorry Fue - this is a match that I have over the LA match. Rainey day. Horrid field conditions (grass still left over from the WCQ). We got behind 0-2 in the first half, and then Ellinger puts in a bunch of reserves for the second half and we pull out with a 3-2 victory - thanks, in large part, to Watson. I go out of my mind screaming at the Catholica fans (which had all gathered in the North section) with each successive Real goal. First time I experience scream headaches (you know when you scream so loud you feel like you're going to pass out, so you have to take a minute for all the blood to leave your head (or come back into it - not sure which one))

Thought 8: The supporter’s club rivalry
This had to be the most dramatic time for the fans. However, this helped, in a strange way to solidify some friendships for me - on both sides of the fence.

Thought 9: July 4th Game against MetroStars
First game my wife comes to (because of the fireworks). She's hooked! Asks about getting season tickets for the whole family. Thank you RSL!! We pulled out an amazing come from behind tie too!!

Thought 10: Match 20 aka grudge match against the cheetos
Hot. SO HOT!! My wife and kids had to leave half-way through the match leaving me stranded at RES (thanks to Remus for taking me home). Andy's goal in the north end and number 5,000. 3rd sweetest moment for me this season!

I'm looking forward to tomorrows game a great deal! And I need to echo Fue's gratitude for the team and season. This has literally been one of the best summers of my entire life! (Yes, even better than those years up at scout camp)

[Loyal1]

I enjoy this and a similar thread that started a couple of weeks ago.

I have a bunch of thoughts that are not as organized as those listed here. Someday soon I hope to clear my head and contribute.

It's gonna be hard. Some of my thoughts are game day stuff and some are off the field stuff. It's been an incredible ride seeing a team formed and now a Stadium!

One random order thought to start my list:

Pregame in LA in June. Visiting the press box and seeing my family in the stands with the Loyalist banner. Asking DJ during warmups where Pope was and getting a response. The LA fans seethed that he spoke to me but ignored all their weak heckling. Sitting in the north end of the Home Depot Center watching Dante's header rebound off the crossbar. Rep from the good people of LA in the parking lot afterward.

[prk166]

Deserves rep.... if I could give any.