This is not an April Fools in August joke. I don't even know where to begin on how this is a bad bad idea: http://www.massivereport.com/2013/8/28/4666340/editorial-an-american-outlaws-power-play
I wrote this on a Facebook post about the story.. So since this broke I've been on the fence about the decision. If it's strictly them using Seattle's experience to consult with the local chapters then I think I'm ok with it as long as it remains the local chapters doing the work and implementing their own ideas. If it's Seattle coming in and dictating what is going to be done, then absolutely not. At that point there's no reason to have local chapters because there is no uniqueness to each regions support.
I think if AO National was an elected leadership, this would have been an elected committee in the case of the former and everyone would for the most part be on board. Since a) it's a shove-it-down-the-throat affair and b) seems to be the latter with non-agreement (and possibly non-compliance) at the local chapter level then I definitely see an exodus from AO as an organization to other avenues.
Geez, how did soccer ever exist before Seattle?!? Ugh. I haven't joined the AO at USMNT game in quite some time, as I've preferred to sit elsewhere. This type of strong-arming and Seattle licking just further cements my decision to not give AO any of my money.
What a bunch of elitist bullshit. This is indicative of a larger problem across MLS and American support though, the idea that there is a "proper" way for supporters to do things and we should all be striving to be the same. ******** that. I've been crying for years now about the lack of originality. Why is it so damned hard for people to find their own goddamn way of doing things? Why does everyone want to be like everyone else? If I was part of Philly AO, I'd tell national to ******** off.
It's shit like this why I bring a pocket full of D-Cell batteries to games. Bounce one off of the head of "Capo Brah", this shit stops.
I've read on Twitter that there's more to this story than is being told here. Apparently AO Colombus was given the opportunity to select Capos from their ranks and not enough were presented for the number of supporters expected to be in attendance, and that's why they subcontracted Capos from Seattle. I've no idea which story is actually true because both sound completely ridiculous to me.
Dan Loney and Bill Archer to the rescue with the details: https://www.bigsoccer.com/soccer/dan...-are-outlawed-only-outlaws-will-be-americans/
They're still around and attend games (sometimes alongside AO), but their visible influence has diminished quite a bit since the mid-2000's. From what I've read, the Outlaws membership strategy and how they have greatly grown in combination with SA leadership/management has led to what we have today.
Agreed. I did not even realize that you were a homosexual. Actually no problem if you are or not! I was just laughing at you implying that you smuggled batteries in the hard way. No harm intended.
I'm not, and of course you confirm your homophobia. Just sad. Clearly you and I have different definitions of what the "hard way" is. Perhaps it's time you free your self of your self loathing and come out of the closet.