I'm glad there was a national audience for the tribute to Chico tonight. I'm especially glad that #13 got a hat trick for a guy we knew online as CHICO13 and that everyone was joyous in their remembrance of our friend. There will be sharper pictures later, but I found this shot from the quiet side:
After explaining Chico and the reason for the moment of silence, the announcers went quiet for about the second half of the 12th minute. That's pretty great that national announcers did that and thought to do it at all. Props to them/ESPN and whoever's idea that was.
Yes, that was very well handled by Adrian Healy and Taylor Twellman. Kudos to them for that and for a great broadcast otherwise.
I'll just add my own two cents of those years ago a timid young man miles form home was made so welcome by La Barra Brava with people like Oscar and Srdan, and of course Chico being so friendly welcoming me in a way never experienced anywhere at any point of my life. I try to explain to people that DC United is not simply a soccer team, that what it is a collective of the culture of the club. At the center of that are people like Chico with wry smiles and drink in hand ready to sing for the club all 90. This is how I support United and will always love this club. Thank you Chico, for making this better by gifting us all your humor, kindness and industry. Thank you.
I just wanted to put in that obviously Chico struck many hearts throughout the years. As one of the newer, younger members of DC United's following I clearly missed out on meeting a unique personality that defined the team. Tonight's 12th minute was something special. I honestly hope the DC United Supporters' Groups will continue the tradition of being quiet for that minute for no other reason than to honor the many fans that have passed. Sometimes we tend to forget that it is only a game and that other things, such as friends and family are much more important. I think this would be an excellent reminder. Call it the "Chico Minute."
This is a very. Very. Very. Very. Good Idea. I heard something similar expressed in the stands tonight. This would be an excellent DC United tradition. This is something no one else can copy or match.
If there's another minute of silence Chico's going to lightning bolt our collective asses He wasn't bight fan of silence at games I think United supporters who have passed are best honored with loud, loud noise
also a good idea. and easier for my drunk ass to remember every time. but the standard 12th minute of silence that we get visiting supporters and national broadcasters to (mostly) respect is pretty cool.
Agreed. In terms of a more permanent honor, though, I wonder if the team would give favorable consideration to a nomination for induction into its Hall of Tradition.
I'm a realist. Eventually it would break down. The more permanent honor I'd like to see occur, which someone else mentioned, I think in the perpetual Stadium thread: if and when this team ever gets a stadium around here, I'd like to see a stand named after him.
I honestly think both of these are great ideas. Every game is, I'm sorry to say, a bit too much. People outside the supporter culture are going to think that's weird. I'm just telling it like I see it. Besides, eventually someone is going to score in that minute, and then what? Once a year at a particular game though (each home NY game just as an example), is a fine idea. The memorial stand is the best idea, in my humble opinion.
I love the memorial stand idea as well. What's to stop the SG's from just declaring their areas to be so now? The team would eventually follow the fans lead on that I would imagine. *cough* supporter's sheild *cough* When the minutes of silence were announced, I did have the passing thought, "What if the guys score during that minute?" I could just imagine Chico in a booming voice from above, "MAKE NOISE YOU IDIOTS!"
I agree. I suspect Chico would tire of regular moments of silence himself. ************* One of the things he and I had in common was a love for the Bitches Brew-era "electric" Miles Davis. One of the times I gave him a ride from Kilroys to RFK I played a disc from the "Jack Johnson Sessions" boxed sets, which he'd never heard before. We talked about how much that era meant to Carlos Santana, whom I don't have to tell any of you Chico was a BIG fan of. When I drove to the Montreal game Wednesday, I realized I hadn't listened to any Davis in quite awhile, so I brought along "It's About that Time", the double album of his working band recorded live right when Bitches Brew was recorded. Listened to it on the way to the game and back, as well as a little while during the tailgate when I just didn't feel social. That CD case comes with one of those cover-slips; when I got back home from the game, I put the game ticket in that slip. For the rest of my life, whenever I listen to that album that ticket is going to fall out, and I'll remember Chico. It ain't flowers in a bible, but it'll do.
Maybe Chico has a bunch of stock options waiting to be cashed in that he left in his will to be used to build a stadium. Hey, it could happen.
I was really hoping on Wednesday that DC would score right at the end of the 12th. That would have been one of the best moments possible.
Dammit. So much for not tearing up at work today. I don't go to games at RFK anymore so I don't really get a vote but I can't see Chico thinking that always having a minute of silence is a good idea.
Supporter stand named after Chico would be great, and really can't think of any other more appropriate name. Also it would be much classier and cheaper to do it that way than deal with us renaming it with spray cans. Just sayin'