1. The Zards seem to be working well as a way to encourage a greater sense of ownership and belonging among younger fans. It also seems to be working well in terms of getting people involved at the game, even if the reason they got involved seemed to have nothing to do with the Zardmeister. 2. The crowd as a whole was pretty boisterous last night, by our standards. The kids around us (in The Yard, the Junior Wizards Girls, some others) really got involved. As usual, the season holder portion of the non-TV side of reserved seating stood at appropriate moments and got into it more than anywhere else other than the Cauldron. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. 3. I can't figure out why the MLS brass don't make it a *point* to make crowds look good for TV. Maybe they figure that if you're watching MLS, you're already in for the long haul. Order the Wizards to move GA to the camera-facing sideline. Do something. Think of all the people who had those reader reward tickets last night. Imagine those numbers on the TV side. Imagine how much better than would have looked, rather than vast stretches of orange with the sudden line of people that came to the edge of that section. Bah.
A giant tool. The only person on the planet who is more of a tool than the Zardmeister, is Carson Daly.
1. I think the Zardmeister is a very bad idea. At least to me, it made a mockery of all the things we try to do in the Cauldron. This is something Kevin should discuss with Curt Johnson and give us an update. Because when little kids are making fun of the guy, you know its a bad idea. 2. I was disappionted with the "chant sheets". They took an idea that many of us had wanted to do for over a season, and made it a Yard advertisement and only handed them out to kids?? Basically it went from us requesting they were handed out at the gates, to them telling us last week they were going out at the tollbooths, to being handed to kids at the top of each section by uninterested fan assistant workers. Not exactly my idea of "spreading the word". Yes, they paid for it, so they can do what they want. But they told us not to pay for it because they would take care of it. 3. I dont think the GA is going to be moved. Those tickets are sold at a higher price because they are better seats. I also dont think anyone cares what the crowd looks like on TV, except for BigSoccer posters looking to rip on KCs attendance.
Zardmeister is the biggest joke in sports today. His chants are gay, the kids were laughing at him and he looks like Richard Simmons. Like everytime the Wizards have these great brainstorms I wonder whose idea this one was?
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/5621756.htm This is an article by Mr Boyce talking about attendance and the new found atmosphere at the Head. I know that it is amaising to the players that the fans can be loud but that is what happens when you get 20000 people at game.
Oh, I almost forgot and Spoon reminded me. For over two years I swapped emails with Boyce about the Wizards and his coverage. I mentioned the Mystics and Cauldron at least 1,000 times and he never took me up on the invitation to visit during a game or a tailgate. On the first night of the Zardmeisters career, Boyce mentions him in his article about the great attendance and crowd. This shows me one of two things: 1)Boyce is totally incompetent and too stupid to realize that the Zardmeister was ineffective and had nothing to do with the large/loud crowd Or 2) Boyce is a puppet for the Wizards organization and pimped the Zardmeister because he was asked/told to do so.
Everyone in the section I was sitting in, 119, was yelling for the reZardedmeister to shut the hell up. Once again, this proves that attempts at "increasing crowd involvement" (and why is this always presented in soft, neutral language?) are lame at best when coming from PR and Marketing people. Fanaticism has to be emulated. From fellow fans. I cheered the Wizards and heckled Etcheverry all evening (“Marco, cut your mullet!”), and the people around me laughed and were catching on by the second half, heckling the ref, heckling poor plays by DC players, etc. I’m going to write a letter to the Wizards front office on this very subject. Any suggestions as to whose attention I should send this letter?
dboyce@kcstar.com http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/contact_us/contact_list/newspaper_staff_np1/
sack the zard tard I along with my boss and girlfriend, all of which are season ticket holders have called in and emailed the wizards demanding that the zard tard be fired and that more support be given to the mystics who are the heart and soul of the fan base. The Wizards have also been informed that if the Zard Tard continues to be a part of the "Wizards Atmosphere" we will promptly be asking for a full refund of our season tickets. It might not be the best way to go about it but maybe if they see this marketing screw-up hitting them in the pocket book they might reconsider. Anyone else call in or email yet?
I agree with emails. I must say though, if you want to endorse the Mystics go right ahead. But, only endorse, no one should speak directly for the Mystics. Kevin, this is where you come in. You've heard our feelings, and I'm sure you have your own. Now Mr. President, pick up that red phone, turn the secret key and fire those nukes at the front office.
Thank you... Join with the Mystics and help us spread the Cauldron's atmosphere throughout Arrowhead. http://members.cox.net/imaginationforhire/ChantSheet.pdf Print this out, take it with you, and join in with the Cauldron. Start at the top.
About the Zardmeister... He was a trainwreck in his debut. But does anyone here honestly think the organization is going to sweep him under the rug after one outing? I don't. Whether he will last the season is another matter. So in the meantime, here are the silver linings I've found in the situation: The Zardmeister's weak chants make the Cauldron's chants seem louder and more organized by comparison. The surrounding crowd, the Yard included, chose to join in on the Cauldron chants as an act of defiance towards the Zardmeister. e.g. "The yellow team sucks!" Because the Zardmeister is acting the fool, the Cauldron is seen as cool. So what is the main objection towards the Zardmeister? He is embarrassing, right? This franchise has survived other embarassments like lifesaver roll kits and charlie brown kits, our logo, the WIZ, a 7-0 shellacking by Chicago in front of a huge crowd, etc. The point is, the fanbase has grown steadily despite these embarrassments. I believe it will continue to grow, despite the Zardmeister. The Zard program is a great concept, and is Mr. Hunt's desire to give the Wizards the equivalant of the old Huddle Club the Chiefs used to have. I don't believe that the position of Zardmeister is inextricably linked to the Zard program. Afterall, you don't see the Zardmeister on any of the billboards do you? Will the Zardmeister be around for the next home game? More than likely. Will he be around next season? Not as likely. In the meantime, I honestly believe all of the silver linings I wrote above. I think this will have a positive effect on the Cauldron.