Your favorite RSL memory.

It would have to be either the last game of last year when we beat Colorado to win the Rocky Mountain Cup. More importantly it eliminated them from the playoffs. Also when we played DC United a couple of years ago here in Salt Lake. We scored 2 goals in the last few minutes to win or tie I can't remember. I just remember how excited the crowd was during that game. People actually stood for most of the game cheering RSL on.

 

I have a few memories:

Brian Dunseth's inaugural home game goal. That first home game was a great atmosphere, and that was all that was needed to turn this new soccer franchise to a drug for me.

China game. Thats all I need to say and everyone remembers what happened.

Robbie Findley on two different occasions.
- His first game with RSL scoring two goals against DC United (I think they were playing Nolly that game as well).
- His sliding shot against the Crapids to win our first RM Cup.

 

I would have to agree. That first goal by Dunny was sweeeet. Seemed like there was so much promise back then. Ah!

The Real Madrid game was pretty special too. Somehow I'm not sure that this next one will have quite the same lustre.

 

Best memory? Well there was that time when we beat......oh wait, that didn't really happen.

OK, what about the time when RSL made the.......uh, no.

OK seriously, mine is the first home game in 2005 vs. Colorado. While it was a good game and our first ever win (in dramatic fashion, no less), I remember just walking into the stadium, seeing the lines on the grass, and it finally hit me that we've got an MLS team in my little town. Still gives me chills.

 

My best memory is the Real Madrid game. It was the first game that my wife and I had ever attended. I always liked soccer before then, but going to that game made me fall in love with the sport.

 

Mine is the game last year against the KC Wizards.

I was going to be late to the game, but I got off of work earlier then I expected. I found the perfect parking spot, right close to the stadium. So I hurried to the stadium right and sat down right at the opening kick.

Right away, Beckerman blasts a shot and earns a corner. This game was looking good. Then Morales takes the corner, sending it right to Mantilla for a goal 40 seconds in. Later that game we see a great strike from Espindola for goal #2. Then we saw a superb finish from Eddie Johnson (even though it was against RSL, it was still world class). And just as things were starting to feel tense, Andy Williams puts a shot in from 50 yards.

What a game! Good goals, lots of action, crappy MLS officiating, and a W!

 

its a tie for me, the first game in 2005 was amazing and a great thing to be a part of. dunny's goal was saawwweeeeeet and him planting the corner flag was awesome.

a more sentimental moment for me was taking my dad to the WCQ game for a fathers day gift. it was a long fun game and i think that was one of our closest moments together as father and son, taking in a great game with good seats and some great soccer to go along with a couple beers. we really enjoyed the games (even though RSL sucked it up against dallas afterward).

another fun memory, beating the shit out of dallas 3-0 with mathis' 40 yard blast of a free kick in 2005. i also loved jordan cila throwing up the cow horns after his header in that game, right in front of ruiz. that was one of my all time favorite RSL victories.

 

The USA-Costa Rica/RSL-FC Dallas doubleheader. Never been to a game like that before or since. And the Boca friendly. It was awesome to be right down by the North goal when Martin Palermo tried to whip out a bicycle kick. Super sick. I hope they can bring another qualifier here with the new stadium 'n all...

 

May 14, 2005

2-1 win over the galaxy. Kirovski scored first. Pope and Kreis both scored to come back and win it (with a little help from the turf monster). My wife bought me tickets for my birthday. It was a great game.

Plus, I came sooooo close to getting a "kickin' for chicken" bucket.

 

Not the CHICKEN... anything but the CHICKEN... AAAAAaaaaaaarrrggggh!!!!!

My best moment was with my then 5 year old son - we were watching a friendly against a team from Jamaica with about 1500 other people... it was horrible weather and we were soaked through. My son was watching the game intently and he asked me:

"Dad, do you think if I practiced really hard, I could play for Real some day?"

(noticing on his face he was seriously wondering)

No team = No dream.

When we came from Sweden as kids we couldn't even pretend to play pro soccer in the U.S. - whatever RSL has done wrong, I'm glad they are here in my adopted home town.

Other GREAT moments?

- Opening day 2005 with the Dunseth goal!
- WCQ: 3-0 for USA ... awesome!
- Real Madrid ... heckling Beckham pre-MLS... nice!
- Talley GOAL... what a cannon!
- Williams half-field lob Goal... it still puts a smile on my face to think of it!
- Every goal at home! The only soothing relief to the pent up frustration that often is watching an RSL game.

 

I wish I could have been there. I had a school final that game if I remember right, and gave away my seat, but ended up catching the whole game on the radio. And I probably woke up the whole neighborhood when Andy won the game with his 50 yard goal. I know he didn't technically win it, but KC sounded like they were putting on tremendous pressure and real close to squeaking out a tie.

 

1) mine has to be celebrating behind the goal after Findley sent home the game winner in Colorado. Then having the opportunity to celebrate on the field with Eddie Pope and the RMC in his last ever MLS match.

2) A close runner up was taking the one photo of a Chivas USA player (I believe the player was Arias or something.) planting a cleat in the stomach of Brian Dunseth during an on-field fight and having that single photo cause the player to get two additional games added to his suspension.

3) Being on the field for the Real Madrid match and having one of the photos I took on the cover of Soccer America magazine.

4) Taking 5 of my college classmates on the field for an FC Dallas match in 2006 so they could experience shooting a pro sporting event. Thanks to RSL FO for allowing that to happen.


And countless others too numerous to mention.

 

Memories,
Light the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were

Scattered pictures,
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were

...sorry, somebody had to do it…

I have numerous memories from attending RSL matches. Win, lose, or draw, I have soaked in many positive and negative vibes.

Memories such as the sites, sounds and smells of Rice-Eccles on match day come to mind. In the blistering heat, sleet, wind, rain and snow, I have witnessed people from all ages, races and creeds flow into the stadium for a common cause. One cannot forget the sound of Samba Gringa as they march through the concourse while their hypnotic, thundering beats coat game-goers ear drums with magic and vibrate their pulsating hearts with excitement. The smell of cotton candy, cheap eats and faint wisps of cigarette smoke in the festive soccer air also take me back.

I took my mother to her first and only soccer match (besides my own when I was young), dragged my father to his first and only Reeeeal game of which he enjoyed immensely. Rolled with my brother to a handful of matches last season, (he had been in prison all the while that I had been writing him and telling him about the beautiful game in our own backyard) and chillin’ with my wife and her sister as they both evolved into true RSL supporters.

All those misty water-colored memories stirred in with shooting photos, meeting players, (most notable: Martin Palermo, Blanco, Razov, who invited me to dinner with his Goats (yeah, strange), and my very favorite: kicking the ball around with the Andy Williams (albeit for a brief moment or two) and riding the emotional RSL roller coaster that never ceases to thrill.

More memories are to be had, for the good and for the bad. Bring ‘em on, I say!

 

Breaking the drought of the North goal during our first inaugural season.

 

Cunningham's two PKs against DC United.
William's 50 yard
Beating Everton, embarassing them, in a pointless preseason exhibition.
Findley's two against DC
and as much as I'm celebrating him not being part of the team anymore, Chris Brown's goal against New York.

 

that has to be up there for me also, especial when Jeff leaped into my arms after the secound PK!!!

 

The obvious winner would have to be the April 2005 Home Opener against the cRapids. One of the coolest experiences of my life. We finally had footy in SLC. Dunny plants the corner flag, fans going absolutely nuts. It was like crack, man.

The second best moment for me was the Carey Talley goal from 40 yards out in '06. It came during one of our "relentless offensive attacks" (LOL) where the whole section was screaming "You can't score unless you shoot the ball". The ball somehow makes it to Talley's feet and he has about 7-8 yards of space in front of him and nobody pressing. We all shouted "SHOOT IT SHOOT IT!!!". Next thing I knew, the ball flew through the air, hit the woodwork, and bounced in. It was pandemonium. BEST. GOAL. EVER.

 

I would have to say Brian Dunseth's Goal vs the Crapids April 2005. The coolest part was hearing almost the entire crowd of 25,000 scream, "GOAL!", in unison as the ball hit the back of the net.

 

Mine has to be the Taley goal. What a rocket! Or Andy's 50 yarder. Or maybe meeting Andy at Baggios (great food there IMO). I also really enjoyed the strange looks from the people around me when I was mocking Beck at the Madrid match. It was great having 45k people for a soccer match.

I also really enjoyed the orange ball at the Fiji match and feeling so sorry for those guys that aren't used to the weather, and certainly weren't ready for it.

Maybe the best was when I finally 'bit the bullet' and dropped $400+ for my first ever season tickets, and the excitement I felt pulling the tickets out of that envelope and knowing I'd see our boys for every home game.

Sure we've had some heartbreaking and upsetting moments, but just knowing I can go to professional soccer here in Utah makes it all worth it. (Sorry I went on a bit. Can't wait for the season to start!)

 

wow, lots of good moments. Sadly, as IBIK says, more about having a team than the success of the team.

Carrying out the "big jersey" during pregame in '05.

Going to one of the first practices in SLC at the indoor facility. I couldn't believe how hard some of those guys kicked the ball. I was thinking I'd cry if I had to stand in the wall for a free kick.

Dunny's goal.

traveling to follow the team.

Having Cutler and Nolly get in line behind our family at Arby's after Culter's debut.

Turning dirt on a Saturday afternoon in Sandy with Bardguy.

etc. etc. etc.

 

Sadly. I had somewhere to go that night, and made my son pack up with about 5 minutes of regulation time left. He kept saying "Dad, we can still come back", and I smiled and patted him on the head. We heard the first PK happen as the crowd erupted while we heading out the corridor past the refreshment stands. I went back and glanced out the stairwell to see the pandemonium on the field, and then just turned around and continued on. We heard another eruption as we were about to our car, and I turned on the radio to hear what had happened.

Funny enough, we had a little bit of a similar game this season (I can't remember the game (NYRB maybe?) but it's where C. Brown scored in stoppage time). Just before that happened I told my son that it was over and let's leave. He said "Dad, don't you remember the DC game?" Needless to say this worked and we stuck around.

Ah...memories.

 

Leaving early? BLASPHEMY!!!!

 

I've been to every home game except one (my brother's wedding). And I'll concur with all of you. All those plays were incredible, the shots, the goals, etc. But my favorite memory was when the team walked out on opening day and I realized I was attending a professional (sorry Blitzz) soccer game in my hometown. I got pretty choked up when they walked on the field. My second favorite was when the stadium cleared its final hurdle and construction began. I stood on the Vine Street overpass and waved the RSL flag to passerbys, and I had goosebumps the whole time.