E.C. Bahia [R]

[MIGkiller]

I've just seen on TV the scenes of Bahia supporters rioting after the game that sealed their relegation to the 2nd division next year. No wonder since they got spanked by Cruzeiro at home (7-0) in their last shot to avoid relegation.

There were lots of supporters being busted by the police. Let's hope that trmbrasil wasn't among them. ;)

[PsyKoh]

post screen caps of the carnage!! ;)

[Ronaldo+10]

Oh common, you would think that Bahia fans would be used to the segundona already ;)

[JJ Mindset]

Of course, MLS doesn't have relegation/promotion. However, to point out the cultural differences between the two countries, the reaction of the fans here would be "Ah...second division? Screw that! I'll go root for the L.A. Lakers." ;) :D

[trmbrasil]

Unfortunately, I was at the game....but, it's important to suffer with the torcida. O Bahia certainly deserves relegation, but the torcida did not deserve this team. The leadership of Bahia has a lot to answer for and they have abused the faith and support of thousands. Despite having a horrible team, the Bahia torcida showed tremendous loyalty and faith. Unfortunately, faith doesn't score goals and play 1st division defense. As one locutor pointed out, if prayer and ritual alone mattered in futebol then Bahia and Vitoria would win every campeonato. I'm so emotionally spent after this last month. The only positive from yesterday was that the ass-kicking left no doubts.

First of all, it's important to know that riot reports are greatly exaggerated. There were definitely many agitated people in the stands. Watching Bahia concede 4 penaltys in the first half (that's not a typo) was ridiculous. From the Bahia perspective, the best part of the second half was everyone encouraging the ref to mark a penalty every time Cuzeiro got within 10 meters of the area. It was morbidly hilarious.

There was a huge police presence at the game and most potential violence was stemmed before it could escalate. I saw the following happen inside the stadium:

1) some kids shot fireworks at the policia militar and gathered mob-style to jump, scream and complain. the proximity of police batons kept anything else from really happening.

2) At one point, the Vitoria song rose from the "Cruzeiro" section, and a group of 100 or so fired up fans headed that direction. The policia militar made a quick and effective line in between the two groups and nothing happened more than the typical exchange of insults between Bahia and Vitoria fans.

3) Occasional fights broke out between two people here and there. Typically one of the combatants was a Cruzeiro or Vitoria fan, among a sea of Tricolor, who chose to rub salt in the wounds. Take note, don't get drunk and belligerent in the midst of a group of fans watching their team go down the toilet. I have no sympathy for a fool that would do that.

4) There were plenty of families with children at the game, in both Bahia and Cruzeiro jerseys and they had no problems. Obviously the Cruzeiro fans were a little happier. I heard plenty of Bahia fathers lecturing their sons on the problems with Bahia.

I wasn't close to arrest. My friends and I smartly relocated for the second half in anticipation of problems that never really materialized. I'm not surprised if cameras picked up a few fights here and there outside Fonte Nova, but hey, that's how journalists attract viewers and sell papers. These were isolated incidents and not full riots. I think the majority of people were like me and wandering in a daze. We all entered Fonte Nova hoping for a miracle, but expecting defeat at the hands of a worthy champion. However, we figured the defeat would be respectable (1-0, 2-1) and that Bahia might demonstrate some courage. After the third penalty was signaled by senhor happy whistle, the wind was out of the sails. Merry Xmas Alex! You probably didn't expect 4 goals handed to you to go along with one fine effort you actually created.

This is my first full season living in Brazil and the first relegation game I have ever been part of. It was tough to see, and I've never seen so many grown men crying in one location. If you haven't been through it, you can't understand.


p.s. Ronaldo+10 I'll send you my sweaty cuecas from yesterday so you can gag yourself with them.

[Ronaldo+10]

Originally posted by trmbrasil

p.s. Ronaldo+10 I'll send you my sweaty cuecas from yesterday so you can gag yourself with them.

Thanks but no thanks man. I'm having a hard time already finding space for all the calcinhas you're mom forgets here every time she passes by. ;)

[PsyKoh]

Originally posted by Ronaldo+10
Thanks but no thanks man. I'm having a hard time already finding space for all the calcinhas you're mom forgets here every time she passes by. ;)



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[trmbrasil]

Originally posted by Ronaldo+10
Thanks but no thanks man. I'm having a hard time already finding space for all the calcinhas you're mom forgets here every time she passes by. ;)

Wow Ronaldo+10...Good mom joke. Now I know what the 10 stands for in your really cool and original screen name.

[trmbrasil]

Originally posted by PsyKoh
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

What's this??? A Paysandu fan talking smack?? I tried to watch the highlight film of your campaign this year, but blinked and missed it. I admire your ability to laugh in the face of the hatchet that will fall on your neck next year. The real race will be to see what other three teams go down with you. Bahia has a better chance next year of getting back to the elite than you ever will in the future.

[PsyKoh]

Originally posted by trmbrasil
What's this??? A Paysandu fan talking smack?? I tried to watch the highlight film of your campaign this year, but blinked and missed it. I admire your ability to laugh in the face of the hatchet that will fall on your neck next year. The real race will be to see what other three teams go down with you. Bahia has a better chance next year of getting back to the elite than you ever will in the future.


Oooohhhh.... I wasn't talking smack. I was laughing at the witty reply you received, it was funny. You could have gone to bed without that one.

Now about your other comments:

1. If it wasn't for the cartel that is STJD, Paysandu would be ranked 16th this year.

2. Paysandu is a 2-time Brasilian champion on the second division. How does that give bahia a better chance to go back to the elite than us?

3. The hatchet will fall next year, but on Gremio's, Fluminense's, Vasco's, and Ponte Preta's neck if they don't get their act together.

4. We shoved no less than 4 goals down your throat this year (and that was just a single game), just a few days after we lost those 8 points to the cartel. How 'bout them apples?


The second division is Paysandu's backyard. We already proved twice that we own that place. The elite is now our porch and soon it will also be our podium.

Mark my words.

[PsyKoh]

Wonder how many "pai de santo" Bahia's president will call next year to escape from relegation to the 3rd division. :D

[trmbrasil]

Originally posted by PsyKoh
Oooohhhh.... I wasn't talking smack. I was laughing at the witty reply you received, it was funny. You could have gone to bed without that one.

I'm glad that I understand your sense of humor better now, and am not surprised at how well-cultivated it is considering you have lived in Belem and Richmond.

1. If it wasn't for the cartel that is STJD, Paysandu would be ranked 16th this year.

You sound like the Bahia President who said that outside of Santos, Cruzeiro, Flamengo and Sao Paulo, the elenco of Bahia is equal to the rest of Brazil. Guess what? They aren't, and you didn't finish 16th. By the way, how did Bahia product Robson work out for you?

2. Paysandu is a 2-time Brasilian champion on the second division. How does that give bahia a better chance to go back to the elite than us?

Let me be more clear. With 4 teams dropping next year and the year after, the 2nd division will be more competitive. Bahia had better get their act together and get out next year, because it only gets more difficult for everyone.

3. The hatchet will fall next year, but on Gremio's, Fluminense's, Vasco's, and Ponte Preta's neck if they don't get their act together.

I honestly hope you are right. The Northeast has very little going for it in 1st division and I'd hate to see more teams drop from the region.

4. We shoved no less than 4 goals down your throat this year (and that was just a single game), just a few days after we lost those 8 points to the cartel. How 'bout them apples?

Uh...Those 4 goals were the only goals you scored on Bahia (and that was just a single game). I like apples, try these - You lost to Bahia 2-0. That puts you in a small, select group of teams who not only lost to Bahia, but were shut out as well. That was also one of the few games I was able to watch and think, "man, Bahia is making the other team look bad."


The second division is Paysandu's backyard. We already proved twice that we own that place. The elite is now our porch and soon it will also be our podium. Mark my words.

I've noted your words, you should mark them down in your Sandy & Junior notebook so you don't forget them either. I'm just glad to know that Paysandu will be comfortable when they get home to their backyard.

[trmbrasil]

Originally posted by PsyKoh
Wonder how many "pai de santo" Bahia's president will call next year to escape from relegation to the 3rd division. :D

First of all, Bahia's president needs to be tied to a raft and sent to meet Yemanja. Once they find a new president, then maybe they can pretend that they are actually managing a professional soccer team. After getting some players who will compete (maybe need to promote half the junior team who are warriors) and a coach that has the balls to make some decisions in spite of bad management from above, the president should then call all the pai de santo necessary. He also should consider sacrficing many goats, reading all the bones he can and hedge his bets with God by giving heavily to the catholics and evangelicals.

[PsyKoh]

Originally posted by trmbrasil
First of all, Bahia's president needs to be tied to a raft and sent to meet Yemanja. Once they find a new president, then maybe they can pretend that they are actually managing a professional soccer team. After getting some players who will compete (maybe need to promote half the junior team who are warriors) and a coach that has the balls to make some decisions in spite of bad management from above, the president should then call all the pai de santo necessary. He also should consider sacrficing many goats, reading all the bones he can and hedge his bets with God by giving heavily to the catholics and evangelicals.

Wow... I actually agreed with every single word you posted. Differences aside, I hope you guys get out of this mess. I mean The north and northeast need more representatives to balance the scenery. The rio-sao paulo teams keep trying to survive on their past history and we keep getting the short end of the stick.

Best of luck to you guys (the fans, not the cartolas). Oh, and Robson was great... shame he had to leave and didn't finish the season with us. He probably would have been contending for first place in the scoring ranking.

Maybe he comes back... who knows?

[trmbrasil]

Yes, northern solidarity is important these days. Since I can't pull for Vitoria in all good conscience, Paysandu will be the northern team I root for next year in the 1st. Maybe I'll actually have to go to a Vitoria game to root for Paysandu (and maybe Santos and Cruzeiro too).

If Robson doesn't go back to you, I hope he comes back to us. However, Bahia seems to burn some bridges with everyone but coaches and Preto, and it looks like he will be in Japan next year.

In other bad news, my radio alarm woke me with the news that the Bahia president isn't going anywhere, nor the general manager of football operations. We're f_cked.

[PsyKoh]

Originally posted by trmbrasil

In other bad news, my radio alarm woke me with the news that the Bahia president isn't going anywhere, nor the general manager of football operations. We're f_cked.

But I read that the bank that owns most of the investments in Bahia is going to make a fuss about it and try to change things. Hope is not lost yet.


LANCEPRESS!

O Banco Oportunitty, parceiro do Bahia, prometeu fazer mudanças na administração do clube. A intervenção deverá ocorrer nos próximos dias e a ação do banco deverá atingir em cheio o futebol do Tricolor baiano. O treinador que será contratado para comandar o time em 2004, terá de passar pela aprovação da diretoria do Oportunitty. O contrato de parceria assinado em 1998 prevê que o presidente do Bahia S/A seja apontado pelo presidente eleito do Esporte Clube Bahia, Marcelo Guimarães, e o diretor de futebol uma indicação do banco.

O Oportunitty já é dono de mais de 70 % das ações preferenciais do Bahia S/A., tendo investido no clube o equivalente a R$ 9 milhões em ações. Jorge Goldenstein, conselheiro do Bahia S/A, foi indicado numa reunião realizada na sede do banco, no Rio de Janeiro, na última quarta-feira para ser o responsável pela tarefa de reformula o futebol do Bahia.

Porém, Jorge Goldenstein, gestor do Bahia S/A, não tomará nenhuma atitude antes de consultar conselheiros do Esporte Clube Bahia. Dois profissionais que sejam especialistas em administração esportiva serão contratados para gerirem o futebol do clube baiano.


AR


http://lancenet.ig.com.br/noticias/minuto/idx.asp?c=12&p=/noticias/03-12-18/FUT/BAH/169590.htm

[Lono]

festa de xango today, festa de iemanja tomorrow, other than that, what hopes are there in the second?? think they ca nmake it a short stay, or are they there for a while?

[PsyKoh]

Gonna be there for a while.... If saints and orixás made any difference in soccer. Bahia x Vitória would always end up in a tie.

[trmbrasil]

There is always hope for the Tricolor! Marcelo Guimares (the president) is somehow still in power, the principal owners (Banco de Oportunidade) are being investigated for money laundering, and I haven't heard of significant player movements or a new coach yet. Seems like the conditions are perfect for a miraculous turn around.

But hey, today is their first day back to work and they have 17 more days until the first game of the state championship. Let's see what happens and I'll try and keep my sarcasm in check.

[MIGkiller]

You know what? I'll merge these threads to make the official E.C. Bahia thread of the Brazil forum. Enjoy.