I agree with Colin. After teaching 8 year old kids in public school for 34 years I have been able to observe the results of thousands of "parenting" styles (and to compare that with what those parents ASSUME their own results are), and this does shade my opinion somewhat. I'm not asking for outside censorship, just hoping the Ultras consider Colin's points. Also, Ultras sometimes ask why other fans don't get behind them like they (in the Ultras view) "should", as if anyone who does not appreciate/support Ultras style are not soccer fans or are inferior EQ fans without whom we'd all be better off. It could be that the F-bomb turns off many of those fans. When the Ultras began leading "Earth"..."Quakes!" chants I got the impression lots of fans got into it. That isn't a particularly "clever" cheer, but it is a great ice-breaker and fans enjoy (and I think appreciate ) Ultras doing that. The inventive things Ultras do much more of are also attractive and bring a positive response. But the "F" chants make it a case of one step forward and one step back. IMO making that one change would change it to two steps forward. I have stood with the Ultras several times, and when I did I noticed at times (when the stands were not full) kids and parents being attracted towards the Ultras. Then, when the effs started, the family got up and moved away, or, as some have told me, got seats at a future game far away. The Ultras didn't seem to notice or care, of course. To me it seemed like wasted opportunities to increase Ultra influence and bring more of a "Club" feel to the place where everyone could participate in the passionate atmosphere. If deleting f**k from their chants is too much to ask, so be it, it is up to them. If, on the other hand, it was able to increase Ultras influence on and off the field with fans (and, I suppose in disputes with the Front Office) and make them perceived as the game-day leaders of the entire new stadium, it might be worth it for them. Maybe FQK's use of German is a way forward here. Dan can teach the Ultras some Romanian equivalents of "F*** Beckham" to use instead, and perhaps finesse the whole issue. Just my opinion, the Ultras (and you) are free to ignore it of course.
We're still alive and kicking, if our style better suits anybody. There's the 1906 Ultras, the Casbah, and any others if any fans want to form another SG or two.
Wow. You really were trying to tell me how to be a parent. Or are you joking? I can't tell. Somebody who knows better help me out.
So the "drawing false equivalencies" post by Quietype went over your head, I see. I'd be interested in seeing some Youtube clips of organized fan groups of each group yelling "********" loudly and in unison so that the whole stadium can hear it, and then them NOT getting kicked out of the stadium
My dad swore to and at me every day of his life in 3 different languages. It was called discipline back then though.....
'We ******** LA' and 'We don't give a ******** about LA' are a couple of the most retarded, facepalm-inducing chants I've ever had the displeasure of hearing. They sound like a bunch of 10yo boys who just learned how to say the word '********' and decide to use it all the time because it makes them feel older. I like the idea of profanity to pepper some chants. But for God's sake find some creativity or risk sounding like petulant douchebags. Here's an example for you: "Tim-timminy, tim-timinny, tim-tim-teroo... We've got Tim Howard and he says '******** you.'" Same sentiment, expressed far more eloquently. Edit: I don't have parenting advice but I do have a great story. My 2yo daughter once greeted me with "daddy, please get me some ********ing water." What could I say? I chuckled and complimented her perfect grammar.
Adding "f*ck" to chants doesn't make you cool. It's weak sauce and drives off families with small children for zero benefit. One can be more edgy and effective without profanity.
I'm not saying I swore or swear at a game or at anyone else when I am at a game but how is Don Gabrber going to prevent swearing at a professional sporting event? You have adults smoking (outside) and drinking inside and everyone gets agitated at a call or at a ref or at a player or their girlfriend or someone else sitting next to them or the food they are eating or whatever, so we are going to come in and say stop swearing? I mean are you serious? How in the world can this be prevented and who exactly will put a stop to it? I mean what can he do , kick out the entire Ultras section? I don't think so.
Individual swearing would be tough to ban, but coordinated fan group obscenities that get broadcast? I actually don't think it would be that hard. You know, the Ultras could have fun with coming up with alternatives, just to tweak the league. Flogging the four-lettered warhorses is sooo uncreative.
On Christmas Eve, many years ago, my wife surprised me with a Kawasaki Ninja - key under the tree, bike in the garage. I opened the garage door and in stunned disbelief blurted "what the ******** is that?", my two year old daughter, pacifier in mouth, repeated the same question. Put about 60K on that bike and still have the wife.
Alternatives? I propose ********. It's really offensive. Perhaps the most offensive word in American English. It could replace ******** and YSA on goal kicks. Yooooouuuuuuuuuuuu ********! While not as flexible as ********, which can be used as a noun, verb, adjective, ... it's strength lies in it's sheer shock value. It sounds Euro too!
On our side are the San Jose Earthquakes Good looking and perfectly fit Over there are the Los Angeles Galaxy Ugly and they play like Shaving cream Be nice and clean Shave every day and you'll always look keen.
I was thinking the same thing while watching the Liga MX final last night. No one seems to have a problem with it in their league. Of course at half their stadiums the fans are behind chain link fences with barbed wire...
Because is part of been fan, I'm sure that if I will understand or speak any other language and watch their (any) sport league, there will be a lot cussing going on.
Cute and all, but I don't know if you guys know, the majority of the Ultras chants DO NOT HAVE ANY CUSSING WORDS !
My six year old and I are big fans of the "San Jose Earthquakes, you are my team, until the day I die" chant. He knows all the words and sings along in the stadium.