Dude, you brought 40 people to a game featuring probably 15,000-20,000 drunk Englishmen and women and you're worried about profanity at a Fire game that happens probably 5-8 times a game. Did you put in earplugs and not hear the profanity used throughout the stadium before, during, and after the game? That's got to be the only explaination for why they won't come to a Fire game but will attend everything else... Bring them and put them in Section 101, you can't hear anything down there.
I don't think anyone in five pages here has ever accused the capos or anyone in Section 8 of orchestrating it. But, Section 8 is the section that participates in it and many members don't discourage it. Section 8 has asked for the right to police themselves in other aspects . . . I don't see why this should be any different. That said, your suggestion to bring people in to add to the flavor and drown out that one particular chant is a good one.
Any chance of the capo starting some OTHER chant when the goal kick is about to be taken. I've read numerous times on here in other threads about how the hardcore Section 8ers don't care about MLS, just the Fire and that's all that matters. Building the fan base doesn't matter, they are just there to support the team. Unfortunately, JUST the support of Section 8, heck JUST the support of the season ticket holders ISN'T enough for the Fire to survive. "Who cares if people don't like what we say? Who cares if they don't want to come back?" These are a perfect way to help end the Fire.
I don't mind the YSA chant or profanity at all, but the fact is that most parents that came with their kids understand that individuals will use profanity at games, but they wouldn't appreciate ORGANIZED chants using profanity. I thought the chant is heard throughout the stadium and others have said so also. But I'll sit in Section 101 for a half and see if you're right. People have very strong feelings on both sides of this issue. I couldn't care less whether the YSA chant existed or not. What I don't understand is why the S8'ers wouldn't try to discourage the chant and encourage another instead. It's pretty obvious that it affects attendance... whether in a major way or not doesn't matter. Since the A in the YSA affects attendance, and since abandoning it wouldn't take away from the atmosphere S8 creates, I would think it's a no brainer.
But individuals standing in section eight are the vast majority of those who EXECUTE the chant. It is audible throughout the stadium, and it comes from behind the goal, so any comments that Section Eight is not responsible for it fall on pretty deaf ears for those who continue to find it offensive. Honestly, if the Klan was having a rally, and then after it happened, without any official provocation from any leadership, some members went out and lynched someone, would it be fair unreasonalbe conclude that the KKK was a group of bad guys, just because some of the people who go to their rallies can get out of hand? I know shouting A-H in public isn't on the same level as murder, by the way. Why not add the keeper's name, instead. Ries, Hartman, Garlick, Cannon, Walker, Meola, Guzan, Oshiyoni, Busch, Brown, Countess, Onstadt... None of these is too complicated a word to pronounce, and all of them will be written right there in front of Section Eight to read on the keeper's shirt. Maybe if the leadership did this, all the pouting would stop.
But it's not our job to worry about attendence. And like Jay said, you come and try to stop it. Outside of a goal, it's the loudest thing in MLS right now...
What is the matter with some parents today? No matter how much you try to protect your kids they are still going to hear swears on tv, going to get pornos from their friends, see fights at school and on the streets, get introduced to drugs and beer sometime in early in life, hear how their teacher ********ed one of the students, hear how the kid at school jumped in front of a train or overdosed, ect........ You are never going to be able protect them from everything no matter how hard you try, so how is "**************" at a soccer game so ********ing bad that it is going to alter their future from being a lawyer to a ********ed up serial killer? Answers please from people complaining.
Let's keep score: - YSA keeps people from games. - YSA has no effect on the opposing teams players. - YSA is stale and not clever. - Some people think it is funny to yell it. Yeah, section8 should risk its reputation as an original and pioneering supporters group to accommodate those who shout it. It is surprising that so many people here are happy not to be in control of how a group to which they belong is perceived.
I thought you guys were a supporters group. It is supposed to be entirely about the team. You think the players would rather have more fans in attendance or that one dumb cheer?
This country has a lot of very religious people. About 40% of people go to church weekly, compared to 10% in England.
I'm pretty sure Section 8 also doesn't give a fcuk what you think, if you're keeping score... As for your other comment: it is entirely about the team. It's not about some whiny parents and selling tickets. Yes, blah blah, without them there would be no team, but publicity isn't our job. We're there to sing for the team and make noise. If some (most) members feel like supporting the team by doing YSA, even though it ain't "cool," then they'll do it. If the Fire tell us to stop doing YSA, we might try to stop. It's not like they can't have noticed. But as for censoring ourselves because of some perceived complaints, I don't think it's gonna happen...
But, uh, 352, now you're entering a vicious circle. Yes, it's not your job to worry about attendance, it's Fire management's job. If Fire management perceives the use of ************** is a problem, and they might if they've apparently started making announcements that use of profanity will lead to an ejection, then they will crack down on you. Then you will wonder why security is being harsher than before and why management won't listen to your concerns. These aren't out-of-towners, uptight parents, or Fire management in this thread suggesting you stop using it. These are your fellow Fire fans. Some of them who sit in the section with you. If you, or others, want to dismiss the suggestions out of hand, that's fine. But given the shift in AEG philosophy evident over the last few months, if I was a betting man, and I'd like to think I am, I'm betting there will eventually become an edict to cease from above.
are you saying we should adjust our behaviour based on other peoples irrational, unfounded worship of imaginary creatures, or whatever it is they get spoonfed in church. good luck.
Hey, if they want to kick out everyone in S8 who does YSA, that's their decision. It would be a bit silly to do it without warning S8 about it, since they know who to talk too. If they want S8 to try to suppress the chant (since we don't lead it), they should ask and we'll do what we can. I'm just saying, a few people with anecdotal evidence on an internet message board is not going to change things as far as the people starting the chant are concerned. But they probably all heard too much profanity as kids to be reasonable human beings at this point... I'm not a huge fan of YSA either, though it's a great release when we're down a couple goals. I have a friend who I brought to S8 for the first time this year, and that's her favorite part. So there, there's my anecdotal evidence that YSA SELLS tickets. Now all this typing is hurting the finget I sliced open today, so I'm gonna stop.
1. Says a few people. Back in 2001 we were drawing great crowds and we had the YSA chant. I blame the crowd problems on Naperville. 2. How the hell would you know this? 3. Then all of our othere chants are stale and not clever. So, what's your point? I really don't understand. And why does section 8 need a good reputation? I could give a rat's ass to how other people around this country thinks about section 8. All I care about is that we give our team the home field avantage it deserves and following the team where needed.
I Bleed Teal's contributions notwithstanding, I'm still having trouble making the connection between calling the opposing a goalie an ************** in an organized chant that they've heard for four years and creating a home field advantage.