What Is The Meaning of Tradition, Honor, Passion? Please read the full article for further information and to read Andrew Hautpman's response.
What is the definition of 'T-H-P?' Ask Andy. He is re-defining just about everything associated with the club.
I'm not defending or attacking Hauptmann and I think all of the members of the ROF should have been there, but let's not forget that the Ring of Fire became the shitshow that it is because Peter wanted two fans elected before guys like Armas and Brown.
Andrew Hauptman chose not to shake CJ's hand in front of his fans and family. He wasn't busy. He wasn't meeting with Don Garber, who was in attendance, although you would never know it, since not a peep about a major league commissioner being in town was in local sports media. Where was he? How was he spending his time? He was showing off to a corporate partner in the supporters section, bodyguard at the ready.
It wasn't just Peter and CJ was still an active player. Of course, "facts" usually don't matter when people are tossing around crazy bullshit like this.
Not surprisingly, Hauptman is wrong yet gain. It's not about not having all seven TOF members at the game. I certainly hope no fans really expected that. I could be wrong, but I'll go out on a limb and guess that Piotr Nowak, for example, is probably just a wee bit busy with his current job. But to have a wildly popular ROF member there in attendance already and not have him on the field to congratulate a guy he spent years with in the Fire organization is just stupid bordering on enviously spiteful. Of course, it's not the only no-class douche move the team has pulled under Andrew. DLC, for example, should have run out of town the instant he refused to put CJ in for CJ's last home game. I mean, we had a sub to spare. Would putting him in for even just the last few minutes have killed anyone? If Hauptman had any clue what "tradition", "honor" or "passion" mean he would not have allowed that to happen, especially by such a crappy coach as DLC. It's not like things were always 110% peachy keen under AEG (especially after Wilt left), but man oh man, Hauptman and Posada just completely do not get it. This is why the Fire have already lost most of the identity (or, to use Andrew's beloved corporatespeak blather, "organizational DNA", if you will) that was built up from 1998 through Hauptman's arrival. What little traditional Fire identity that remains is rapidly dissipating, probably irretrievably, other than what we the fans retain. It shows off the field in things like "I bleed navy", our NE Revs away shirt, botched coaching searches, wasted off seasons. These things then show on the field as well in things like failing to make the play-offs for two years with panicked mid-season signings and coach firings. While it's true that we have a few successes under Hauptman (Quaker Oats, for example), the sad fact we need a new owner - one who will treat the team like a serious concern that is supposed to legitimately challenge for trophies more often than not and who will bring in people who know the game and respect the fans. We don't need more of Andrew's treating the team as a part-time play toy and ego boost.
I read his lame ass response. What complete and utter bullshit. He had Rmas on the field didn't he? I'll tell you what Andy boy, why didn't you ask CJ if he would like Peter to be a part of the ceremony. Excuse me now while I go watch tapes of every ********ing baseball, football, basketball and hockey hall of fame induction ceremony where all of the living inductees are on hand to celebrate the new inductees. Instead of pushing away all of the greats from our past, maybe he should hire a few.
Just to clarify, the selection of Brandon and Dan into the Ring of Fire was unanimous by the Ring of Fire members...and yes, CJ was still an active player.
You guys are correct in that C.J. was still active at the time...that was sloppiness on my part. And I said it in 2008 and I'm saying it in 2012, if the vote of the Ring of Fire members in 2008 was in fact unanimous to elect two fans over one of the most instrumental players in the team's history in Armas, it was a horrible decision. So I won't criticize Peter individually, I'll criticize them collectively as a group to appease everyone.
It was in fact a fantastic decision to add fans. The Ring of Fire wasn't meant to be a "Hall of Fame", and much of the unique character of the institution has been lost because of Andell. Now's it's become a run of the mill stupid wall of fame every major and minor league team has. As it was designed it was a tool to keep the entire Fire community relevant and connected. People here complain that the past has been lost and that decision to ******** up the Ring of Fire was instrumental in separating the present from the past. The Ring of Fire is now basically a joke like ownership.
The problem with Tradition, Honor and Passion right now as they apply to the current Fire is that none of the three really exist. These words do not exist in the players. There are no players on the team right now (nor have there been in the past few seasons), that appear to be Ring of Fire worthy. There is no one who really bleeds the Red and White of the Fire (or, Red and Blue, but a bit about that later). Of players who have arrived in the past six years, I don't think any have really had it. The only possible exceptions would be Blanco and, possibly Rolfe (but we'll see about that). I don't see Pause ever being in the Ring of Fire. Longevity alone does not cut it (Kubik only played 3 years for the Fire and I think Hristo should be in the Ring of Fire). I don't see it in Pappa. We had hopes for Segares, but not so much any more. This is not a criticism of their abilities, it is an observation that there is something missing from ALL Fire players over the past few years and that “something” that is missing is Tradition, Honor and Passion. If you look at someone like Zach Thornton or Jesse Marsch or, even, Eric Wynalda, they just seemed to “get it” in a way the players lately do not. Perhaps a bit of it (and probably more than a bit) is that in 1999-2001 or so, the Fire were new, the Fire were a great team, we invested more into our players than, perhaps, they exhibited and we were a bit naïve. However, talk to any player from that era (and I have been fortunate enough to have spoken to a few over the years) and they all say how much playing for the Fire meant to them. I do not know if the players lately would say the same things. Tradition, Honor and Passion do not really currently exist for the fans. Yes, there are fans who have been around since Day 1 (myself included) and try to uphold (honor) the Tradition of the Fire. I think Section 8 does an awesome job trying to maintain the Passion on a game to game basis. However, for many of us (myself included), the Passion is waning. There have been multiple threads here on BigSoccer about this issue and they have been around for the past several years. The constant in-fighting among the Fire fans on BigSoccer is most troubling. While it demonstrates that there is “passion” among the fan base, the divisiveness is more anger than passion. Anger is a problem. Personally, I now find going to the games a bit of chore, which should NEVER be the case. Yes, I am getting older and busier and that plays into it. That being said, I still look at the Fire’s website daily, look at BigSoccer daily, read the Fire stories on the daily list (thanks, once again, Fanaddict, for your tireless service), and I cheer when the Fire play well. However, there are fewer of those experiences recently. Tradition Honor and Passion are words that do not exist for the management. With the obvious exception of Klopas (which is one of the reasons why many of us wanted him back to lead the team, despite his limitations), there is no one in the management of the team that seems to really give a crap about the team, its history or the fans. From the sterility (and isolation) of the stadium, to the lack of inspiration in the team, to the changing of one of the two constants on the team (the name and the colors), there is a demonstrated lack of understanding by the ownership and management, from Hauptmann on down, of Tradition, Honor and Passion. From Hauptmann to the season ticket sales staff to the game day people, no one seems to really care. Of the changes that have taken place, the cumulative effect is so troubling. The Fire and the fans have watched other teams change their names (San Jose, Dallas, KC, NY), change cities (San Jose/Houston), change colors (almost every team), new teams come and go, and the Fire stayed steady. The Fire have also watched once proud franchises (DC United, and, to a lesser extent, New England and Columbus) tumble, but the Fire stayed put…until the past couple of seasons. The change in the colors is not in and of itself that big of an issue (at least they kept the red for the most part), it is the fact that there was no reason to do so that is troubling. Unless Quaker wanted the red and blue (and others have stated that this is not the case), there was no reason to mess with the Red and White. We weren’t Kansas City, with the rainbow jersey, after all. Finally, what does Tradition, Honor and Passion mean? Right now, they (unfortunately) have little meaning. Perhaps when “Tradition, Honor and Passion” was adopted as a slogan, it was a bit premature. Perhaps a team that has only been around 15 years should have adopted a less emphatic slogan. However, when the Fire began and they were so good and we were so passionate, we thought it would never end. I think our success in 1998-2006 (especially 1998-2003) went to our heads. Every team has ebbs and flows, few teams are consistently great (the Lakers and, perhaps, the Yankees are exceptions, even the Celtics and Galaxy have had really bad stretches) and maybe our expectations were too high. I don’t believe that, though. I believe that one of the great things about MLS is that any team can become good quickly. The "worst to first" has happened several times. In fact, the Fire are just one or two players away from being a contending team. I hope the Fire are able to turn it around and I hope that the Fire can reclaim the Tradition, Honor and Passion that they had.
I tried calling lubos and asking him about tradition,honor and Passion and the wilt snub .but for some reason sergi daniv kept answering.
We brought a few banners out of storage for the KC match. The Chicago Fire Soccer Club must embrace it's own history. The Fire fans cherish our memories, our traditions, and our heros. Nothing will ever change that. Ignoring, dismissing, downplaying, or disrespecting our memories, traditions, and heroes, just isn't acceptable. It's not only a horrible business plan, it's a departure from the values outlined in our Club Charter. It really doesn't make sense to draw a line in the sand when it comes to Fire history....on one side of the line there are FIVE Championships on the other side..... nothing.....yet. CF97 // 98 Double // Traditon. Honor. Passion. // Ring of Fire // Stand and Deliver // Four Dewar Cups // The Chicago Way // Our City Our Club // We celebrate our entire history.
Please consider repping this post before we all end up following the Chicago Dodgers in their dark blue and white uniforms. Very well said, xtomx.
