Is your Fault Only

Good thinking Jamie. Let's all stay home and maybe the whole sport will dry up and then we can watch the Red Sox for excitement. Or maybe NASCAR, I hear that's really popular now.

Strangely enough, a lot of people are taking your advice, given that attendance has been declining every year. So what about the changes that will happen? Nothing of substance has changed. If your house is falling down you can paint it and it will look OK from a distance, but the only way to solve the problem is to either make the structural repairs or tear it down and build a new house.

This is like the waning days of the Ceaucescu regime in Romania. Things have to get really bad before they can get any better. Of course, if things get that bad, we may not be able to recover at all.

Tom

 

That is the worst idea I've ever heard. Not going to the games!? If you like the sport, you go to the games. NOt going wouldn't change anything, or at least very little. It may even make things worse, if fewer people go to the games, then the team will get less revenue, therefore having to cut costs. That is a bad thing, because we will have to drop players and other staff members.

Worst idea ever.

 

Jaime,

You sound like a guy who's never experienced a team actually folding or leaving town. I remember the Tea Men who were here for 3 years and then left for Jacksonville and finally folded.

I remember the "dark ages" of US pro soccer (1984-1996) between the NASL and MLS. I don't want to go through that again, and I doubt many others who remember that era do either.

There is a major fallacy to your logic, namely you assume that because you and your friends stay away that you are "sending a message" to the Krafts that you want better soccer.

How do you know that's the message that they are receiving?

A much better approach is to challenge their assumptions, explanations, performance, etc. and get them to have a dialogue with the fans, the people who are paying their salaries. This is what Todd Smith suggested he wanted, so I hope that we hear from him soon.

Questioning authority is one of the things we do here. Sure, I was inadvertently the lightning rod for Todd Smith, and clearly shouldn't have made a reference to his health, but I think the thing that really started this major discussion about the structure of the Revs was Gus Martins' article in the Herald the other day. Finally, someone in the media started to ask questions publically that virtually anyone who cares about pro soccer in the US was asking of this club starting in May of 1996.

In other words, if we just stay away and don't say anything, the Krafts and anyone else would likely conclude that this isn't much of a soccer market.

On the other hand, if we show up with bags over our heads, demands for a youth/reserve system, a new GM, a new coach, or to bring back Cate or Andy Williams, or even signs demanding the head of Sunil Gulati on a stick (n.b. this just a satirical figure of speech), or that Sonny Kraft wear a Revs cap to a Revs game not a Pats cap, etc., then we are stating in no uncertain terms what we DO want to see from this soccer team.

In other words, we shouldn't be quiet and roll over for the Krafts, we should actively demand an explanation for why under their regime thay have had the worst soccer team in the history of MLS and what they are going to do about it.

 

hmmmm....doing something by not doing anything? wow! i could do work without actually going? or, get groceries without making a big trek out? next time the missus asks me to walk the dog....i'll just say "i am...can't you tell?". this is great...sign me up.

please, include your toll-free number with the next post.

seriously...do we have to have this same exact argument under a different thread heading every single week? please, go did up a older thread...read it...and add something that hasn't been said before if you find some gaps.

 

JAIME1 may I suggest some summer reading?
Pick up Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby.

 

Are the old threads around? I thought that this was the brave new world at bigsoccer. As for the topic, I certainly feel as frustrated as anyone else, but you start off the post blaming the fans for supporting the team. You then state that if we stop going to the games the Revs will "get the message" and change things. You later claim that "Attendance used to be in the lower 20s K I think today is in the lower 10k". Why didn't they get the message then? I guess the last 10k didn't matter, but the next 2k will get their attention?

Also, this arguement is heard on the radio a lot, generally about the Red Sox and the Bruins, both of whom (as far as I know) are profitable. It's probably not the case for the Revs, where the Krafts don't care about the Revs because they're making enough money off of those who go to the games anyway that they don't bother to improve the team.

Again, I feel you frustration, and if I could think of something we could do to improve things, I'd also suggest it. I just don't think that whether or not I attend the games will influence the team in any way. Besides, I already paid for the tickets...

 

Go to the game

But stick a nice big paper bag over your head - be sure to cut eye holes so you can see the game

Or better yet - stand up and turn your back to the field.

Bring newspapers and have everyone start to read one at kick off

The soccer moms might not do it but I am sure you get the real Revs fans to go along with some mass form of protest

 

first off, the revs havent been in last place all 7 season, remember they did make the playoffs twice. And what kind of fan are you to say that if we don't go, we will help the team. If we don't go, contracts wont be able to be payed, thus our big players (Ralston, Twellman, Llamosa) would be shipped out for cheaper talent.

 

Would anyone notice? I've recently sat in a few different areas of the stadium and I never have trouble hearing conversations that are rows away. It's almost as loud at a high school game.

 

The only message the Krafts will get by the crowds shrinking is that there's no reason for the m to support the team and they'll get out of MLS and help bring down the whole league.

This isn't Major League Baseball, which is here to stay ... Montreal's fan's don't show up? No problem, move then franchise to DC and average at least 25,000 a game.

And Jaime, you MUST read 'Fever Pitch'.

 

Jaimie--I think your idea is dead wrong for all the reasons posted already by others.

My wife and I are season ticket holders that travel 800 miles each way to see the Revs play. We both love soccer and enjoy the connections we've made with other fans, Rev Staff and the players. As Americans we have all been conditioned to demand that our team win. Fortunately for our peace of mind, as two people who are older and less trapped by such expectations Sue and I only insist that our team show up and give their all on the Pitch. Such has not always been the case. Fortunately, under SN the team has show full effort if not consistant consentration and execuition. As long as the Revs field a team I will be in attendance, win or lose. To not show up as a way of showing my dis-ease at their poor record would be akin to just shooting myself in the foot.

Better we all keep coming.

 

please, as i've stated before the truth lies somewhere between "staying home" and "showing up b/c its the only game in town". people have to keep on the revs organization. i hardly think we have much of an effect....make that no effect on player and staff hiring and firings. we can let them know, in no uncertain terms, that we don't want to be gouged in trying to do our part to make this endeavor succeed.

and....there are enough old threads on page 2 and 3 that this whole conversation could have piggy-backed on.

as for "fever pitch"....its summer and all, so a light appetizer like that is fine. just make sure you follow it up with "offside: soccer and american exceptionalism" if you really want to delve into the uphill battle that we call supporting soccer 'round here.

amazon link incl book excerpts:
Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism

 

So, on the third Saturday the management gets the drift that the fans are pissed? They bring in which new players for this third weekend? They bring in what new coach for this 3rd weekend? Thet bring in what new management team for this third weekend?

No, they are other ways to voice your disapproval. Staying away is like slitting your own throat. We just lost 17% of last year's teams. No need to add to that number.

 

I agree with Soccer Doc. In the 80's, when the footie bug bit me hard and terminally, I used to spend 4 to 12 weeks a year in the UK. I got the habit of going to Upton Park regularly and following West Ham in person, or via BBC when I was back in Boston. They went up, they went down, they got to the finals of the Open, er, FA Cup to lose, etc. etc. In other words, I've been there before. This Revs story isn't new. I, too, just ask that they try as hard as they can, players, staff, etc. and keep at it. Things WILL get better. Yes the Krafts aren't much interested but if there are 20,000 bums on plastic every week they will loosen up some cash to fund better scouting, youth development (I know some great players on the U16-18 Bulldogs), etc, etc.

Staying away does no one any good. Keeping up the pressure does, for certain.

JIM DOW