Sam's Army vs. American Outlaws... Who should I join and why?

I just hope the Sams Army/AO sections grow around each stadium so that one day we will have an entire stadium singing for our country. Have the groups ever thought of this, occupy first and last rows of different sections to try and get new groups of people to sing? There will always be the sit down you are in my way people, but who cares.

 

The comment got deleted, but I dont see the problem with it anyways.

The group I travel with to games is a group of 8-12 guys that are between the ages of 20 and 22. We like to shotgun beers, and play drinking games that suit our age, but also lead songs/chants, marches, and help organize tailgates.

Obviously people of different ages are going to celebrate and do things a bit differently, but I think that's the fun of it.

We come to these games and get to drink, sing and party with a bunch of other people who love the US just as much as we do. Thats awesome.

 

Eeh, just join both and use whichever group has the better setup for whatever games you intend to go.

 

Wow, Ok people.

AO Heads used a total of $0 of membership dues to pay for our trip to South Africa. I paid $4000 out of my own pocket, sorry our own pocket, now that I just got married. Truth.
Sorry we used some of the membership dues to help pay for the amazing game day events in South Africa that brought over 400 fans together and marched to World Cup games. Does that count?
Oh and we have not paid ourselves since we started this thing. Money we receive for anything goes back into the company and events, or to good use. We are a not for profit.
We both work every minute of our free time almost every night.
But people, talk, and you can't please everyone.
But would we like to do this full time so we can really grow US Soccer in this country and make being a fan even better. Yes maybe one day.

Membership dues go to-viewing parties, setting up chapters, giving chapters free banners, free websites, sending out free FSC merch, sending out Pint Glasses, scarves, bandannas free to chapters, or setting up game events, setting up flight discounts, hotel discounts, organizing, organizing supporter sections and tickets, big soccer discounts, giving smaller towns soccer power, charity work, doing podcasts, giving out free beer and food to our members at tailgates, oh I am sure there is a million more things. It helps us wanting to keep doing this thing for US Soccer fandom.

Just be good fans and include everyone, and don't pick fights, and that is all we can do. We just want to bring more fans in with an amazing time in and out of the stands. So that is what we want to do for this game.

We also don't care how you personally are a fan, but as long as you are a fan.

Thanks, and I hope this clears up any misconceptions of both me and Korey, who are just trying to build this thing the best way we know how, in what ever free time we have.

Justin Brunken, Co-founder
American Outlaws
jbrunken@theamericanoutlaws.com

PS. email me if you have any future concerns or questions, me and korey answer every email we can that we receive.

 

Amen to that! Haha

I remembered this video from Yahoo News - GREAT VIDEO backing our AO motto to unite and strenghten and interviewing Co-Founder Korey.

[ame="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/7733278/20433923"]American fans' sacrifices for the World Cup on Yahoo! Video[/ame]


http://www.theamericanoutlaws.com/


GO USA!

 

Re: SA v. AO

Wow. Just wow. C'mon Boom, you know more than most how wrong and stupid forum posts can be. If you *really* had a *real* question about whether this was happening, you know you can always ask me.

Justin has answered it better than I could, so hopefully that's the end of it. But jeez, why even take crap like that seriously?

As for the original question: I joined, and am still a member, of both SA and AO. I've been a chapter head for AO the past 2+ years, so I've had a much closer look at who runs that group and how they do things, and I highly recommend them.

My look at SA hasn't been as close, so I'm not nearly as familiar with their personalities and how they do things. But I do know that, at the matches, SA is there supporting the team in full voice. Also I know that, for the most part, nobody really cares about who's a member of which group, outside of forum discussions like this.

I join most supporter's groups to support the game if nothing else. It's really not that much money, and the more lists you're on, the better, especially if you want to get more and more involved. So join 'em both. And the USSSC. And your MLS team group(s). That's about $100 per year and you get it back many times over in discounts, fun, etc.

 

Re: SA v. AO

Since the rest of the AO guys here are taking the high road, I'll do the same. But God damn some of you Sam's Army people are fecking bitter .

 

Brunken summed it up, but I thought I might add...

The night we picked Brunken up from the airport I asked him why his wife of a week (who is very active in AO) didn't make the trip. He said they simply didn't have the money to afford both of them going. It all came out of pocket. I'm sure AO as an organization has a bankroll, and they could of easily used that money for personal use. Simply put, they don't.... and I'm sure they never will.

 

Re: SA v. AO

Petty bullshit and high school level rumor mongering is pure poison to burgeoning, grass roots efforts like these.

We're all in this together, guys. Let's not let infighting undermine the cause.

 

Re: SA v. AO

Aren't rumors normally based on nonsense, paranoia and speculation though. Like I said, I had no clue if it was true or not......and its not.

As someone who has taken and spent time organizing trips and watch parties, I know the efforts these guys are putting into AO. They are doing a whole hell of a lot more work than I too, so I can only imagine how many hours they have spent. And the more people that joing AO, the more work there will be. If it's in the bylaws or whatever that getting $4k (which is only $1k a year) to fund their trip to World Cup so they are there in person to head up and organize events is their "reward" for spending countless hours working on AO, I have no problems with that.

 

Re: SA v. AO

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this all that these guys do its the least they deserve. shit they put out free beer at tailgates and only ask for donations what more can one ask for.

 

Re: SA v. AO

Relax bro, I was just wanting more info. You're taking lessons from Kevin on overreacting to message board posts I make.

I could give a crap which group anyone is with as long as you're supporting the stars and stripes. Anyone who would get mad at someone else for being a part of a USA supporters group is an idiot.

 

Re: SA v. AO

qft.

Korey, Brunken, and everyone else involved in AO have done huge amounts of work for supporters all around the country, and they deserve a lot of credit.

 

Re: SA v. AO

You're interpreting all the responses to your posts as agitated. Relax bro, you don't disquiet me at all.

Generally, there's no need to legitimize stupid, bitter forum rumors with questions. You know as well as anyone how stupid rumors gain momentum. Like I say, if you *really* had a *real* question, there are plenty of AOs in town that can answer them. No need to empower a bitter rumor, least of all from someone like you who genuinely loves the game and wants support to grow no matter what group.

That's all I'm sayin'.

 

Re: SA v. AO

Join both and you shall Live free or die.

Join neither and those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

 

Re: SA v. AO

And posts like this help?

No offense, but both the AO and Sam's Army need to get on the same page. The NY chapter should have come together a long time ago. MLS BS aside, I have no idea why there haven't been discussions about this in the NY area.

The whole group mentality thing is borderline stupid anyway. It's like competing frats (and I say this as a former fraternity brother) who always try to one up each other.

Work together, cut the bullshit.

P.S. At RBA, Row 1 seats 11,12 are mine. No AO even think about taking them vs. Polska.

P.P.S Sam's Army founder is a douche.

 

Re: SA v. AO

A convention is a good idea but make sure not a giant bitchfest like the MLS supporters Summit usually turns into.

K

 

Re: SA v. AO

it's hard not to speak up, when one of the main guys from the other side insists all AO members are rich frat boys.
But I agree with you, we do need to put all of this aside...
but it has to start with the ESC and RedBull fans letting go of the fact that
the AO NYC was started by the Borough Boys...
We certainly don't care if RedBull fans join or group..in fact..we had quite a few of you guys at Jack Demsey's for the World Cup.. the more the merrier. If we consolidate our groups, and sing with one voice, we can be the largest group of US fans in States.

 

Re: SA v. AO

The posts that don't help are on the first page, me I was just stating facts.

I've been trying to do the same thing for 3 years now, I've talked to Onionsack, Metro's11 and at the last game Kirwin came over to us to talk. YES we need to start organizing the whole tri state area. We have about 10 young guys from NJ who are in the ESC, who come to every game with us and watch the games at Jack Demsey's. We are NOT the problem Greg, if you want to be the point man for your side, cool. I'd be more then happy to work with you or any other SA, ESC, NJB or whoever . This petty shite has to stop

As far as the seats at RBA..first come first serve

 

Re: SA v. AO

I agree that we need a unification of the NJ, NYC USA supporters....
I've always wanted a NYC Brigade, but most of the USA people I know are jersey based. Combining the 2 would be mega fu@ken awesome

 

Re: SA v. AO

speaking of which... I am heading up the project in starting up an AO New Jersey Chapter

We are right about at 25 members but are in the process of finding a good home based bar around RBA.

There are so many groups around the NJ/NY area that unifying them would be near impossible (AO, GSS, NJB, Sams Army, Borough Boys)... but I'm new to this...
why are their so many rifts? We all support the same shirt