This might sound like a bit of troll question, but I'm looking for an honest answer, because every time I see the club motto I think, how can "tradition" be part of the motto for a brand new team (when the team was formed)? I wasn't a Fire fan back when MLS was just started, so I don't know if it was explained or what, but obviously, a brand new team has no traditions. And I don't think the Fire were meaning that they were going to continue the tradition of "Chicago Soccer" set by the Sting or whatever. Did they mean that they thought it was important to create "tradition" as part of the club going forward? I'd be interested to know anyone's thoughts on the matter.
Yes. Tradition binds the past, present, and future into a single, universal state. So long as the traditions are maintained, the values are eternal.
Well, after the CJ Brown RofF induction game where those values were openly and publicly trashed, it means little more than a convenient marketing slogan for the current FO.
I understand. I was responding to the single universal state that you defined. If it is a single universal state, then does it really matter WHEN it is trampled on? For what it is worth, there was a feeling of "tradition" that developed pretty damn quickly in 97 and 98. From the ties to the city and the launch on the anniversary of the Fire, to a group of veteran players who demanded respect for the traditions of the game, the "expansion" feel was pretty short lived, and I think your definition of "tradition" actually explains that whole phenomenon quite well. Now, 15 years in, when you would be expecting tradition to be firmly entrenched, it doesn't. Sorry if that is outside the scope of the thread. Oh, and by the way, I don't think the front office (here or anywhere) gets to "interpret" tradition. They either recognize it and accept it or they discard it. They don't get to mold it to what they would like it to be. Armas, Marsch, Brown, Nowak, Kubick, they are all off pursing their careers in other places. Some of them could and SHOULD be here and they are not.
A whole bunch of things. Starting with the fact that CJ Brown was wearing Spain colors to begin with. He should be here as an assistant and working with the academy teams. Point one. Second, RofF member and legend Peter Wilt was in the stadium but was not welcome on the field for the ceremony by the FO. I suppose that might have made some sense if he didn't really get along with the current owner and it would have been uncomfortable for the owner accept that . . . our beloved owner was also in the stadium but couldn't be bothered to actually be on the field to honor CJ and shake his hand. To be honest, I still wouldn't know most of the FO staff if they came up and kicked me in the balls, so I don't know who was actually on the field other than Chris Armas. But I do know that neither Hauptman or Wilt were on the field to honor our longest serving player. One was not invited on the field, the other couldn't be bothered to be on the field. And as a final slight, I heard that the framed jersey CJ was given was a replica and not even a real shirt. I'm not sure of that one, but if true, it says a lot about the class-factor of the organization. And then to Bunge's point. It should have been special, and it just wasn't. It was not exactly a memorable tribute.
I seem to recall that the Tradition, Honor, Passion tag line was instituted at the opening of the new stadium, at which point the Fire had a tradition of making the playoffs, defending a solid home record, having players called up the USMNT, and showing extremely well in the USOC.
Thanks for pointing this out. For the life of me, I could not remember when this term started to be used. I truly dislike the phrase. It sounds like a Sh...ty marketing campaign and cheapens what the club once stood for, i.e. actually taking positive actions on & off the field (my opinion). Chris, in my opinion, did an excellent job of articulating the feel of tradition during the 1st few seasons. I wish a number of you whom were not fans or part of that experience then could get a feel for it. It was really something special and there's no need why it can't be that way now. It damn wasn't all peaches n cream and you can ask PW about the mad discussions we had from the perspective of supporters clubs et al...but there was a since of tradition during those early years that's a bit mind boggling when you look at the short period of time the club had been playing. Things evolve and hopefully for the better but aside from Cups & Titles and Winning all types of stuff a since of authenticity seems to be missing from this club.
"T, H, P" predates Toyota Park by a while. It started when Peter Wilt made a sign with a message for the players before a non-league game (CCC I believe) over ten years ago. Since that time it was shortened to Tradition, Honor, Passion.
That's because for a long time it was only Section 8 continuing the message. It was only in recent years did the club begin increasing its presence in "official" things.
The term "Tradition" has been especially useful. I've had numerous conversations when it was brought up, by either party. it's a centering point in a discussion.