Another "Sams Army"

[prk166]

Over the last few years I've noticed there have been folks unhappy with Sams Army (the ways it's ran and such). Are there any other US supporters groups out there that have been formed since WC02?

[rksehga]

Over the last few years I've noticed there have been folks unhappy with Sams Army (the ways it's ran and such). Are there any other US supporters groups out there that have been formed since WC02?

I mean, there is a sub-Forum of this very forum that was dedicated to that. It jsut never went anywhere b/c there isn't really a need. the status quo pretty much gets the job done but does have its drawbacks - as we are experiencing when we don't have established home bases such as in Birmingham.

Sachin had this idea for having capos in each city - the key here is we need massive local support - we just don't have it in Bham.

I'm guessing that this bullsiht regarding Guatemala and Alabama being sister states is why the game is there. And it's good too to spread the wealth, but we need to be prepared for these situations. There are other lists out there for people to be kept in the loop. I think we have a problem sometimes with too many cooks in the kitchen. Anyway, i certainly don't want to stand in the way of others - but this is a pretty demanding task. So if you have the time and you really want to help out, please pm me as I want to put together a new list.

[wonderman]

There are other lists out there for people to be kept in the loop. I think we have a problem sometimes with too many cooks in the kitchen. Anyway, i certainly don't want to stand in the way of others - but this is a pretty demanding task. So if you have the time and you really want to help out, please pm me as I want to put together a new list.

uhh...

I'm not sure I understand. a new list of capo's? If I were to volonteer, what would my job entail doing exactly?
would I get to wear the capo's armband?

[rksehga]

uhh...

I'm not sure I understand. a new list of capo's? If I were to volonteer, what would my job entail doing exactly?
would I get to wear the capo's armband?


Hey, I was just borrowing the language used when the idea was proposed - capo in the sense of the mafia - now that my brain is on - i realize the insensitivity especially considering the timing.

Anyway, if you were being more than a jackhole, the leaders would essentially take on the responsibility for coordinating the local efforts w/ the stadium and ussoccer and ideally - arranging hotel info and stuff of that nature.

The thing is, a lot of people say they want to help out but they don't realize the size of the job. Keep in mind that no single person needs to do everything - it just helps when there is a clear leader providing the info.

[Bob Morocco]

uhh...

I'm not sure I understand. a new list of capo's? If I were to volonteer, what would my job entail doing exactly?
would I get to wear the capo's armband?

It's not like you'd need to do the "Roman salute" or whack a guy, not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Chowderhead]

Cantona is Jesus? My word.

[jamison]

Who argues with how sams army is run? It has been run fine.

The majority of arguements I see (and, at times echo) are from the divisions that arise on gameday. For some people, gameday is a 90 minute chance to scream for the US. For others, it's a day long social event, 90 minutes of which is in the stadium, generally singing. That's not a problem with Sam's Army, it's a situation that one group can't be expected to satisfy the expectations of 1-3,000 different people. The 90 minute screamers are always going to bellyache about the imported beer tasting types not trying hard enough, and- regardless of your side- no one goes to get yelled at by their fellow fans. So, chill w/blaming sam's army- the disagreements are a fan thing, not a sam's army thing.

There was some talk about the Yank Army, but, mostly talk iirc. Administratively, it still all falls on sams army. As for the capo/consiglieri/don idea, I'm not sure that you can rely on a guy that might get one shot working a game every 10 years. Like, if the Portland guy was asleep at the switch, how would you know, until you knew? Just gotta wing it.

[nyrmetros]

I would just like a more involved SA webpage.... and bring the merchandise back....
And more well defined SA Brigades....

[Chowderhead]

At the Holland friendly a couple of years back, I barked some invective towards Jaap Staam. "Get the needle out of your arm," or something to that effect. Then I had a comment or two for the inept and imperiously didactic Mexican referee. The dope next to me, who along with his wife had their Sam's Army scarves and "aren't we so cool to be watching the exercise in correctitude" looks going, turned to me and said "We'll be going somewhere else now, OK?" By my standards, I had been rather calm. But I guess I didn't live up to his naive expectations of the spectator-ambassador. I looked at him and said, "************ off, putz." What did he do about it. NOTHING.

Our little citizenship award winner was Exhibit A of those who drag Sam's Army down and give it the wuss rep.

[yankiboy]

At the Holland friendly a couple of years back, I barked some invective towards Jaap Staam. "Get the needle out of your arm," or something to that effect. Then I had a comment or two for the inept and imperiously didactic Mexican referee. The dope next to me, who along with his wife had their Sam's Army scarves and "aren't we so cool to be watching the exercise in correctitude" looks going, turned to me and said "We'll be going somewhere else now, OK?" By my standards, I had been rather calm. But I guess I didn't live up to his naive expectations of the spectator-ambassador. I looked at him and said, "************ off, putz." What did he do about it. NOTHING.

Our little citizenship award winner was Exhibit A of those who drag Sam's Army down and give it the wuss rep.

Seriously, Chowd, what was the guy who you swore at supposed to do? Fight you? I wouldn't have fought you either but cuss me out and you would be pressing your luck because my first instinct would be to jump on top of your @ss and start swinging. Coz if you're gonna spit it then you had better be ready to bring it.

Fortunately, I've gotten a bit older and a lot wiser. I don't want to fight with people. Especially countrymen while abroad. It'd be like fighting with a family member in public. I'd try to avoid it at all cost. Even if you stepped over the line, I'd try to not throw down. It has nothing to do with being a "wuss", Bro.

A lot of us are proud to be Yanks, just like you. We also love supporting the team. We just have a different behavior code. Some of us like being "ambassadors". I actually LOVE it.

If you think that's what is "drag(ging) down Sam's Army"... then we come from two totally different points of what it means to be a supporter and maybe even a Yank and the responsibilities that come along with that honor.

You love the team and the country. I love the team and the country. We just show that love differently.

[metroflip73]

At the Holland friendly a couple of years back, I barked some invective towards Jaap Staam. "Get the needle out of your arm," or something to that effect. Then I had a comment or two for the inept and imperiously didactic Mexican referee. The dope next to me, who along with his wife had their Sam's Army scarves and "aren't we so cool to be watching the exercise in correctitude" looks going, turned to me and said "We'll be going somewhere else now, OK?" By my standards, I had been rather calm. But I guess I didn't live up to his naive expectations of the spectator-ambassador. I looked at him and said, "************ off, putz." What did he do about it. NOTHING.

Our little citizenship award winner was Exhibit A of those who drag Sam's Army down and give it the wuss rep.

A bit over the top, but yeah, not fond of those types myself. Especially if they're standing there in silence.

[Chowderhead]

His mistake was that he presumed to judge and he had naive expectations. I was rather calm that day. Jeez, a couple of comments and this guy responded as if I puked in the law library or something.

Metroflip did a great job, as usual.

Maybe I messed with the guy's hash buzz or something.

[Chowderhead]

The other irony is that through my intensity I end up making more friends among the opponent's fans. It happens every time. My wife and I entertained about twenty Mexicans at Giants back in 2000.

So, my intensity and partisanship does not exclude or preclude diplomacy.

[metroflip73]

His mistake was that he presumed to judge and he had naive expectations. I was rather calm that day. Jeez, a couple of comments and this guy responded as if I puked in the law library or something.

Metroflip did a great job, as usual.

Maybe I messed with the guy's hash buzz or something.

No, people in the USA section can operate quite nicely after considerable amounts of THC consumption.

[pweakland]

I looked at him and said, "************ off, putz." What did he do about it. NOTHING.

good job, tough guy. you showed him! he should know that being at a soccer game means being ready to fight at the drop of a hat. especially with other fans who don't like your style...

[Adam Zebrowski]

too many of these suburban yuppie type soccer fans think a football match is an opera.......

no noise while they're contemplating the fine art of football, please...

[The Magpie]

I would just like a more involved SA webpage....

Involved in what way: more regular news content, multimedia, regular columns... what would you like to see?

... and bring the merchandise back....

Sincere efforts have meen made by several individuals associated with Sam's Army (including yours truly) over the past few years, but they haven't come off for a number of reasons: lack of money being a big one, and difficulty in working with Mark Spacone (current owner of the Sam's Army trade and wordmark) being another.

And more well defined SA Brigades....

I can appeciate the potential benefits of that, but ultimately, anything would have to go through Mark S. on this. There are certainly defacto equivalents of these -- mostly a number of MLS supporters groups who act in a capacity similar to what an "SA Brigade" might resemble -- but don't necessarily have explicit sanction to be referred to as such.

I've heard rumors that some changes might be forthcoming, but at this point, it's really become a case of "the boy who cried wolf." Even if good news were to emerge, how many would notice, let alone believe it?

The Magpie

[yankiboy]

too many of these suburban yuppie type soccer fans think a football match is an opera.......

no noise while they're contemplating the fine art of football, please...

That's true AZ. But the flipside of that is a lot of losers like to use going to a game as an excuse to try and be a bad@ss... So that cuts a few different ways...

[AndyMead]

I, for one, can't wait to find out who this summer's pro-US "firm" is. It's just not American soccer without a bunch of tough-talking "we won't start it, but we'll finish it" hoolie-wannabees who claim to want to see stadiums of red cheering on the U.S., but instead seem to take every opportunity to belittle and ridicule other supporters of the team.
----------------------------------
Sam's Army® ceased to be a viable organization after World Cup Qualifying ended in 1997. Since then, it has presented as many roadblocks to any organization of US supporters as it has facilitated. And frankly, the majority of work done in the name of Sam's Army® has been free work done by various MLS and USL supporters groups. I like Marc Spacone as a person, and he is a huge supporter of the team, but organizationally speaking he has neither shat, nor got off the pot for the last seven years.

For that reason, I stopped wearing any Sam's Army® logo merchandise after the 2002 World Cup. I got tired of waiting. I've got plenty of red to wear that doesn't advertise Sam's Army®.

[Thomas Flannigan]

I, for one, can't wait to find out who this summer's pro-US "firm" is. It's just not American soccer without a bunch of tough-talking "we won't start it, but we'll finish it" hoolie-wannabees who claim to want to see stadiums of red cheering on the U.S., but instead seem to take every opportunity to belittle and ridicule other supporters of the team.
----------------------------------

Some good thoughts from Andy. The people who attend national team games seem to get along pretty well. We have Republicans, Democrats, Nader people and those who are not political. We get people who drink a lot and people who don't drink at all. Unbfortunately, there are people who stand in the supporters' section and refuse to cheer at all, killing the unity of the effort. I am exasperated by this but it usually gets worked out without any hard feelings. People get along. But here at Big Soccer and in other places there is so much hostility on the part of some of the "fans" it is a wonder we have any fans left at all. (I am not aiming this comment at Chowderhead. His posts are often funny and very perceptive).
Even 3 years ago, at the March, 2002 game in Seattle, there were literally dozens, perhaps hundreds, of people wearing Sam's Army gear. The number has dropped prrecipitously, so now you may see one or two. Not having any gear on sale for 3 years may have something to do with it, but I think something else is going on. The static-or shrinking-fanbase no longer identifies with Sam's Army and nothing has come along to replace it as a unifying force.