Good sportsmanship

Jim Umber · 11-25-2004, 11:50 AM

Yeah. The RAF always had a little cheering competition with the opposing fans. One game, I remember, we actually ended up teaching the other teams fans to yell (by example). By the end of the game they were trying to out-yell us. It was a lot of fun. Of course, being rank ametures, they didn't have a chance, but they did make a lot of noise. They also had more fun, and so did we.

Quite often we had the opposing fans sitting near us, and introduced ourselves. It was all kept on a very friendly basis. I think that is the approach we should use, also.

Jose Luis Luviano · 11-25-2004, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Czar Jake

I'm always partial to the old "Hey player X! Celebrity X called, he wants his X back!" You know what I'm talking about!

"Hey, John Doyle! Farah Fawcett called. She wants her hair back."

Deuce · 11-25-2004, 05:49 PM

This is not England!

We don't all meet up behind the local pub for a nice friendly punch up before the match and we don't have drunken running brawls in the streets with the opposing fans. I have witnessed both of those types of events in the UK. Granted this was not prevalent at all matches, but did ocassionally occur in the strongest of rivalries, and in my opinion was far too often (Millwall fans were notorious for this type of behavior). .
I could never see the point of any of it...

It is always fun to give them a good, light-hearted, verbal thrashing but never good to start throwing down over it.

I think it should always be a welcoming atmosphere... I mean we don't have to invite them to our tailgating parties... but it wouldn't hurt...
If we see them outside the stadium it wouldn't kill us to offer up a dog or a burger... We can always out shout and sing them in the stadium... but we don't have to shout them out of the stadium.

We are all fans of the game and I, for one, will enjoy the opportunity to chat about it to anyone... especially opposing fans.

I personally feel obliged to be the best fan base in the entire league because we are the new kids on the block.
I feel we should show the entire league that we deserve this team and in doing all of that we prove the critics wrong on and off the pitch!

It is never a bad idea to be a good sport.

Neil · 11-25-2004, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deuce

We are all fans of the game and I, for one, will enjoy the opportunity to chat about it to anyone... especially opposing fans.

A man after my own heart, I love to argue. When I was in vegas I spent quite a bit of time arguing with two Barca fans as to why Real Madrid is the best team in the world. This was before the Kreis announcement and the draft, so now, of course, the situation has changed. 🙂

dysko · 11-26-2004, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montgjules

Didn't any of you actually read the article? :p

Are you kidding reading an article is not what we come here for... we come here to ramble about soccer. Reading something from a magazine was not on my agenda when I came here... :D

That being said, I broke down and read the blasted thing. I have to agree with the guy that, that would play games with my head big time. I think that is how they get into your head... they are really, really nice. Then you are all wierded out and forget you are at a game or how to cheer. 😉

I think that being good natured is a must though. Fans are just that... fans. Its the guy on the field getting paid thousands (most of them less than $50,000; this isn't the NBA, MLB or NFL.) to play a game that should get ribbed.

But... as for the official Loyalist code of conduct read here...Loyalists Mission Statement

Scilaci · 04-15-2005, 01:17 PM

bump... seeings how the first home game is tommorow.... :D

BroncsBomber · 04-15-2005, 01:58 PM

It would only hurt RSL's attendance if it became an inhospitable place to travel to see a match. I wouldn't dream of watching a college game in Fresno or of going to see an NFL game in Oakland as a fan of the visiting team. Rapids fan can roll in to RES and hate our team but they should respect and admire our fans.

Jose Luis Luviano · 04-15-2005, 02:54 PM

Back in 1997, at US - Costa Rica in Portland, I had a heck of a fun time hanging out with Clash fans.

And I have to imagine that we'll have fun hanging out with Rapids fans at this Episode of US - Ticoland.

If I think that Nat Borchers can hear me, I'm going to chant "Carlos Bocanegra, Carlos Bocanegra".

But I'm going to go out of my way to be nice to any Rapids' fan I might see.

Rover · 04-15-2005, 10:41 PM

Hey, let's face it. Any soccer fan is still a member of our tribe at that this point. It's still us against all those soccer haters out there.

Of course, that doesn't mean we can't dish out the stick (I know--mixed metaphor).

I'm especially fond of the clever heckler who makes you laugh regardless of the team you support. We need more of them, judging by the IQ-challenged Galaxy fans I heard at the HDC last Saturday. 😉

I'll say that looking through the Loyalist chants, we're off to a good start.

I can't be in RES tomorrow, so do us exiles proud! I'll be watching (and listening) for anything Loyalist.

Lucky13 · 04-16-2005, 07:50 PM

We met some Rapids fans who made the trip. They were totally decked out in their team's colors and gear. We talked with them for a while before the game and told them we were glad they have here with us. Even invited them to our tailgate party.
After the game, I ran into the same fans and we talked again for a few minutes. Despite having been forced to change seats because of some poor sportsmanship, they congratulated us and even said they were glad to see us get a win in our first game at home. They were happy to see the response we were getting here in Salt Lake and hoped for our future success.

Yes, we are all fans of the game first, afterall . . .

I hope future visiting fans can continue to have a great experience here in Salt Lake. (despite having to watch their team get pummeled by RSL)