Torcida Fúria Imortal

Join Us for the 2012 Season

2011-05-16T19:06:00.001-07:00

This year we will congregate in the Hawk's Nest for flags, drums, songs and supporting the team. We will be based in section 146.

We will also meet in the North End for non-league matches such as CCL and USOC in order to support as well. Please contact us below for more information.

Karma Advises Against Insulting the CCL

2010-01-31T21:32:00.000-08:00

We got away with it for the 2009 U.S. Open Cup. We held our home matches at Starfire, against the wishes of some supporters, but it worked out. The Soccer Gods didn't mind, Sounders FC made a run (they threatened to punish us against Houston, but decided against it), and in the end the green shirts prevailed.

We had better not count on this formula working for the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL), however. The most prestigious event on the continent fully deserves the best our club has to offer, in terms of venue, support and effort.

Luckily, CONCACAF has rules and specifications for venues used. I won't list them now, but you can read them if you scroll down a little in this article. But it shouldn't even have to come to this. Our front office needs to understand that anything with the term 'Champions League' in it is as big as it gets, and needs to be treated as such.

Unfortunately, the Champions League appears not to have caught on so strongly here in America. Maybe it's because the average American sports fan struggles to understand the format and significance. We simply don't have anything like it in any other mainstream sport. However, there is nothing bigger in Europe than the UEFA Champions League and there is not one match in South America that sees more pageantry and passion than the Copa Libertadores (their version of Champions League).

Rather than decide if our CCL match is worthy of Qwest Field, perhaps our organization should commit their time and energy to properly promoting the magnitude of the match so that the fans that make this team work can understand and properly participate. Fúria Imortal knows one thing: we understand the significance and will turn out and support accordingly.

Club Name Revision

2010-01-25T18:36:00.001-08:00

In the spirit of recent changes on this site comes a suggestion for the Sounders FC brain trust: shorten our official club name to Sounders FC. Our current name -- Seattle Sounders FC -- is too long and cumbersome. It's a mouthful for announcers and scrolling scorelines alike, and it makes our club crest text-heavy.

The best club names in the MLS and around the world are short and simple. For example, Sounders FC (SFC) would flow nicely and be fan-friendly in a manner similar to that which fans of Toronto FC (TFC) enjoy.

It would make the club more synonymous with the Puget Sound region as a whole, as opposed to just Seattle. It is truly representative of our home and who we are. Some supporters have even agreed that "Seattle" is not really needed to begin with.

When I was young and discovering world soccer, I was fascinated by teams with names that didn't refer to a specifc city. I found names like Flamengo, Gremio and Juventus mysterious and I enjoyed researching and learning where these teams are from. Perhaps one day Sounders FC will join the ranks of clubs with curious names and inspire a new generation of young players and fans in our region and beyond.

Congrats to La Barra Real - Campeones

2009-11-23T14:13:00.000-08:00

First off: David Beckham, you looked like a deranged lunatic just escaped from a psych ward with that hair. Please keep the style through next July so the rest of the world can laugh along (assuming you make that squad).
Second: I fear for our National Team w/ Landy in charge. His choke under pressure from the spot ranks up there with his inability to stick in a second tier European league (on multiple occasions). I also don't believe he is a true leader, which a Captain and/or #10 should be. Team USA won't be whole until a new leader steps up.

Fantastic attendance (46k) for the final. I honestly believe we could see those types of numbers every match if the FO were to open the Hawk's Nest. The additional 3k could at least put us near 40k a match.

I was really impressed with Real's composure on the ball and ability to possess. Hopefully the Sounders were watching closely.

Lastly, congratulations to the RSL supporters group La Barra Real. They caught my eye earlier this season and they brought a great group and some serious drum beats to the final. They filled the stadium with the types of rhythms and beats that Immortal Fury hopes to deploy next season and they deserve to be champions.

Brasil Win World Cup!...of Beach Soccer

2009-11-22T21:06:00.000-08:00

If you think Brasil are good in the traditional form of soccer, it pales in comparison to their domination of Beach Soccer. Today they won their 13th title at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai. To be fair, Brasil basically invented the sport on the beaches of Copacabana. All but the last two tournaments had been contested in Brasil and Brasil had come away not winning the title only twice. That's domination.

Nevertheless, the final, played in front of various royalty all sitting in gold-trimmed chairs, was entertaining. The final score was Brasil 10, Switzerland 5. Brasil are the first team to score 10 goals in the final.

Random: Viewing Party, Airport Welcome, RSL

2009-11-05T20:55:00.000-08:00

RSL represented for the Western Conference by defeating the dreaded Crew. Padula can go cry and complain all off season now. I'm happy for members of the supporters group La Barra, who appear to have a good thing going at the Rio Tinto.

Come watch Sunday's match at Meconi's in downtown Tacoma.

Also, NES is coordinating a welcoming party for the Sounders Sunday night at Sea-Tac Airport...win or lose. Should be around 10pm and more updates will be posted, likely on sites like GoSounders.com.

Let's See Those Blues!

2009-11-04T18:05:00.000-08:00

There is much that could be said before our biggest match in club history this Sunday...too much, actually. So much that I feel I might puke every time I think about it. So let's break it down to something simple, like colors. We waited a long time to see our away blues earlier this season. But once we did we found out that they look pretty cool and that we're pretty good in them.

Now the color of a shirt really shouldn't matter, but for some reason using superstition at this point in the season is helping settle my stomach. So, let's hear it for those blue shirts and hope we see them this weekend. They just might make the difference.

We've Waited a Long Time...

2009-10-25T01:07:00.000-07:00

...For a Goal at Home,

For a Victory at Home,

For a Weekend Evening Match,

For a Seattle Team to be Playoff Worthy,

For a Time to Release Unbridled Celebration Together.

Thanks guys.

FC Frisco and Sounders 2010 Pre-season/Partnerships

2009-10-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

The final regular season match against FC Frisco of the Dallas metro area conjures up thoughts of both ill and good. On one hand, we need to destroy them on Saturday to potentially improve our playoff position and build momentum for our post season run. At the least, we need to put one in the net at home. But our opponent also reminds me of something I found very interesting back at the beginning of the season and something I’d like to see the Sounders pursue as we move towards 2010.

Believe it or not, it’s time to plan the 2010 pre-season schedule. In 2009, the Sounders went to Argentina and California for training and matches and also played matches up and down the coast. High profile European teams travel all over the world and the LA Galaxy has travelled far and wide as well. Likewise, some teams choose to enter in to partnerships with other clubs.

This is what has happened with FCD, as they entered into a partnership with Clube Atletico Paranaense (CAP) of Brasil. The clubs played a home-and-away set before the 2009 season in an event called the USA-Brasil Challenge. (Learn more about the partnership here )

I would love to see the Sounders find a way to enter the pre-season challenge as well and also attempt to cultivate a partnership with a big South American club such as CAP. Many Brasilian clubs already offer opportunities for young players to come down and train at their facilities. Entire teams will sometimes go to take advantage of a group rate and some of the best skills training around. One such club is Cruzeiro of Belo Horizonte. It would be fantastic to welcome Cruzeiro to Qwest as well as see our club travel down there for a match. And the thought of potential incoming transfers for the Sounders doesn’t hurt as well.

So, while we may wish to pummel the life out of FCD this weekend, we might also learn from a partnership mentality that certainly seems advantageous for MLS and the Sounders.

SFC/KC Viewing @ Varsity Grill, Tacoma

2009-10-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

Recently, good sized groups have been rolling in to Varsity Grill in downtown Tacoma for away matches. On Saturday the new tradition continues for the final regular season away match against the Wiz.

Varsity Grill is spacious and not at all crowded. They also have loads of televisions, making viewing easy. Food and drink prices are reasonable as well, and the place is also great for those who are not yet 21.

The place has been noisy and full of color for the team's last three away matches and Saturday should be more of the same.

Hope to see you there!

Chant 'Til We Score on 10\24

2009-10-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

We all know that Seattle hasn't scored at home since the mid-90's or something. It will have been 100 days since we saw a goal by the green at Qwest when kickoff rolls around on the 24th. I believe the last team we scored on at home was from Texas, so why not break the streak against another Lone Star State team?

Well our friends in the NES have come up with an idea to make it happen. Sing for it! The goal is to sing "C'mon Sounders, Score a Goal" from opening kickoff until the time we score during the run of play. It could take a while and be quite exhausting, but imagine if it works! It would be pretty awesome.

"C'mon Sounders, Score a Goal
Score a Goal
Score a Goooaaal!"

repeat until we score or you pass out.

Thank You, Vancouver!

2009-10-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

Apparently the magic isn't that real.

Went to the Airport....

2009-10-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

A few folks met up early Sunday morning to welcome the Sounders after a hard fought win against the mighty Columbus Crew. The Sounders needed a win, but the task was large. The Crew are reigning MLS champs, league leaders, and we stole their coach. Supporters realized that going into their house late in the season would not be easy.

So, when Roger put away a goal and our defense held its ground, supporters knew that we had accomplished something great. The plane landed just after 2 a.m. at the same location where the team was greeted after the US Open Cup final victory - King County Airport at the north end of Boeing field. A member of the Sounders contingent took a group picture and asked if we noticed what Tyrone did right before the missed penalty kick by GBS. Apparently Tyrone roughed up the spot with his boot, although I haven't seen the replay yet. But perhaps that made the difference!

About 15 people showed up, consisting of Immortal, NES and a few others. Most everyone had a flag to wave and the entrance to the terminal was full of color and sound as the players emerged. Several players stopped for pictures. James Riley made sure to shake the hand of everyone who showed up and thanked us all for doing so. Tyrone and Roger both stopped to chat for a minute.

All in all it was worth the trip to see the boys and thank them for their efforts. They were pretty tired but happy and appreciative of our appearance, once again showing that we have an extremely stand-up group of players.

A few thoughts on the match: It had a playoff type atmosphere, even if their attendance was weak (less than 15K). It amazes me that even the soccer specific stadiums in the US can end up with football lines on the field. Padula is a piece of trash, and that's putting it really nicely.

Fredy On Support

2009-09-30T01:30:00.000-07:00

The Sounders inaugural season has been marred by debates and conflicts over what it means to support the club and players. There have been many heated exchanges at Qwest and Starfire along with several different websites, including blogs and forums. A recent interview with Fredy Montero should show people how silly and unnecessary it is for Sounders fans to be at each others throats.

Fredy mentioned that he greatly appreciates the support fans give him, saying, "it's the most gratifying thing a player can achieve." He also commented that it fills him with joy to be a symbol of the team and win the fans' hearts. He went on to say that the fans motivate him to win games, score goals and leave it all on the field.

These comments show the difference that true support can make. In the case of an expansion franchise, the passionate support the players receive allows them to invest emotionally in the club, rather than viewing their time here as just another stop along the way. I also believe that good support helps the players to dig deep and find energy and focus late in a tough match where they otherwise might have tired out. Support can boost adrenaline and feed players with the energy they need for a second or third wind.

Unfortunately, not all Sounders fans understand these aspects just yet. It's disappointing to hear or read comments from people who say that some support doesn't matter or make a difference. It's pretty clear that Fredy and his mates feel otherwise.

Nate

2009-09-29T08:20:00.001-07:00

9/19 Match Thoughts: Jaqua, Set Pieces, Crowd

2009-09-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

Part I: Jaqua
Of all the players I could focus on after the Chivas match on Saturday, I'm choosing Nate. He played for a short time but reconfirmed for me that he is by far the most polarizing member of the team. Three players are in the running for this dubious honor: Montero has received criticism all season, but he is playing well again and has scored a majority of the goals. Opinion on Pete Vagenas is mostly negative, making him less polarizing and more likely just disliked.

Then you have Nate. He is our Jekyll and Hyde. As much as I want to support him and believe in him, he simply makes me nervous. Saturday was another great example. He came in late when we needed a boost up front. Unfortunately, the match had been played at an incredibly fast pace so I feared the match tempo was beyond him. Nevertheless, all it takes is one touch, I told myself. Nate started off with a tackle that could well have been a straight red. He was lucky to only see yellow. He was also drastically late to break on a through-ball into the box that could've been the winner. The other activity of note was an unnecessarily theatrical short distance pass away from goal that just looked silly.

Another stupefying performance from a player that has been loved, hated and all points in between this season. What sets him apart from someone like Backpass Pete? Well, Nate has brought us great joy on several occasions. His desperation equalizer against Houston at Starfire that led to a USOC title. His incredible strike against Columbus when he lashed a skyball inside the far post. His ugly but effective equalizer away to Houston when Seattle simply had to score. These are the reasons that many of us slap our foreheads when Jaqua is not on his game and we all know what we're in for the rest of the match.

I don't have any answers, just the need to point out what a conundrum Nate presents supporters with. As I've said, I will keep supporting him every time he takes the pitch, and will keep ridiculing him during and after the match every time he performs poorly, because he's what we've got. But I certainly think his performances should be earmarked for serious review after the season in order to see what other options Seattle might have.

My analysis: He's slow. He gives away possession far too easily when he drops back to receive that ball. He does not make good runs off the ball, causing a stagnant attack and not doing fellow players any favors going forward. He looks like he should score 10 goals a season with his head because of his height. He doesn't.

And yet, he has given us some spectacular moments this season. This is a tough one.

Part II: Set Pieces

I could focus on our prior lack of shots or that fact that on Saturday we took shots that were just poorly placed, but set pieces have been disastrous all season.

This is another area that needs to be figured out soon or re-tooled in the off-season. We'll need to take proper advantage of them next season in Champions League or risk an early exit. Set pieces are particularly important in a match like we saw Saturday, where Chivas sat back and absorbed pressure and made the field very clogged during the run of play. This is when set pieces become all-the-more crucial. The Sounders had 10 corner kicks and I lost count of the number of free kicks we had within 40 yards of goal. Nothing came of it. Many of the balls ended up in Thorton's hands. I'm not sure if we've scored directly off a corner all season.

Again, I don't have any answers. Just saying that we are missing goals, points, and potentially the playoffs if we don't start increasing production off set pieces.

Part III: Crowd/Home Field Advantage

We have, by far, the largest attendance in MLS. And with that honor comes noise and energy and a feeling that our team should dominate the match set against the backdrop of such atmosphere. But what if the other team is just as amped up, or perhaps even more so, to play at Qwest? What if our passion and enthusiasm are detrimental to the cause? I'm not saying this is the case, necessarily. But it could be a theory. We see similar parallels in other sports. For instance, the #1 team in college football that is often times thought to be unbeatable will undoubtedly have a target on its' back each and every weekend. Every team wants to beat #1. But what about a team that isn't #1, but has a discernible #1 crowd? Will it have the same effect on opposition?

We haven't scored a goal at Qwest since July 11th. By the time we play our next home match on October 24th that will have been a 100-day drought. 100!!!

A stunning number, indeed. To be fair, we have a front-loaded schedule that sees us take more than a month off between the Chivas and FC Dallas home matches. But still, 100 days!!!

I don't know what the solution is. Do we ask the team to wear blue at home so they think they're on the road? Do we as fans be quiet to disappoint the keyed-up away sides and get them to let down (joking)? All we can do is continue to try and make Qwest an imposing and intimidating place to play for visitors and make our players feel energized and encouraged.

So, as always, Keep Supporting.

Flags Up, Chicas Down on 9/19

2009-09-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

Ok, sorry for the bad rap song reference in the title. Chicas USA are coming to town for the first time this season and we owe them one (well, actually two, but we gotta start somewhere). So the plan is to flag them out!

The Flag Initiative will be back in full force for the match. We need to show this ugly-little-sister franchise what a real crowd looks and sounds like. There are a lot of flags floating around out there so if you have one or know someone who does, make sure the flags make it in the car for the trip to the stadium (and then into the stadium as well).

We only have two home matches left and we are embroiled in a tight playoff race. So make it count on Saturday, folks.

Everyone keep supporting, because it's what we do.

Blissful Brasil Trounce Troubled Argentina

2009-09-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

It was quite the scene at Kitanda in Redmond on Saturday evening. A packed house caused those who were late to have to try and watch through the front windows of the shop. Those inside had little room to move and it was warm. But for some, it might have reminded them of summer nights back in Rio and Sao Paulo as the action heated up and the drums pounded from the back of the room.

Brasil were dominant in Rosario. Argentina, even with their rabid fans practically right on top of the action, couldn't find the answers and were simply overpowered by the yellow shirts. Every time Maradona was shown on screen he was met with a hilarious chorus of boos and cat calls. Each Brasil goal caused an eruption in the room as the national pride of many soared higher and higher. The place exploded at the final whistle, 3-1 the result (video below).

For Brasil, a resounding victory at the home of your bitter rivals to seal your ticket to South Africa and cause your rival to fall further into peril. That's right, Argentina's World Cup bid is in trouble with only three matches remaining. Argentina sit in fourth place in the table, the last guaranteed spot to qualify. Fifth place earns a playoff with a team from CONCACAF. Argentina doesn't want to be that team, particularly if the opponent ends up being Mexico. But with Columbia and Ecuador both lurking just two points back and Argentina going on the road Wednesday to mighty Paraguay, the task doesn't get any easier. Argentina's second of the remaining three matches will be against bottom dwellers Peru. But the final match will see them face another old foe, Uruguay. Even if Uruguay is out of the running by then, they will be playing for the pride of their nation, and a chance to prevent Argentina from making the trip to South Africa (or at least forcing them into the humility of a playoff) will be very inspiring.

For Brasil, things couldn't have gone much better. They now have three matches to fine tune their line-up and tactics free from the stress of qualifying. Their performance in Rosario was a blissful combination of team work and intelligence, combined with the usual pieces of individual effort that make them so much fun to watch. Late in the second half, after Brasil had scored its third goal, the room filled with "Ole's" as the Brasilians easily passed the ball through midfield.

Similar to scenes that played out on Thursday morning at Boeing field after the Sounders won the US Open Cup, more than 1,000 fans turned up at the airport to welcome home the victorious Samba Boys.

Those wishing to catch the reply can tune to ESPN Deportes tonight at 7pm (apologies for the short notice!). Setanta will also show several South American WCQ's this week as well.

Video and pic of the event:

DC's "We Win Trophies" = Arrogant A**holes

2009-08-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

Some sports franchises have earned the right to a little arrogance now and then, The Yankees in baseball, Canadiens in hockey, Stealiars in football and DCU in soccer all have pasts filled with championships and legendary players.

But what would happen if these teams were forced to flaunt their past success? Well that is what's happening in Washington DC, where MLS' most decorated franchise is feeling the pressure. The most ironic part of this proverbial puffing of the chest is the fact that it is all aimed solely at just getting fans to show up for the match!

I laugh because the dichotomy of the pompous "We Win Trophies" campaign is just too grand. When the Sounders travel to DC on Wednesday to contest for the US Open Cup trophy, DC will have effectively whored out its reputation in a most arrogant way just to try and put butts in seats.

Classic stuff. Big thanks to the Seattle FO for applying a little pressure to escalate this situation. It's been very amusing.

VIEWING PARTY: South Sounders head to Doyle's near downtown Tacoma to check out the action Wednesday afternoon.

Soccer Fans: This is a MUST READ!!!

2009-08-17T16:31:00.000-07:00

I'm talking about an article, of course. Nothing I have to say, but I will provide a little insight for those unfamiliar.

Over the past couple of years nationally-read sportswriter Bill Simmons, ESPN's "Sports Guy," has began to dabble in our sport. A commonly faithful follower of the "big three" -- baseball, football, and basketball -- Simmons started out a little shaky, randomly choosing an EPL team to follow and never really following through. Nevertheless, I faithfully continued to read his articles as I am a fan of other sports and he is an exceptional and entertaining writer.

Well folks, Mr. Simmons has hit his stride in writing about soccer, and it took a trip to the US/Mexico WCQ for it to happen.

Here is a link to the article (full link below) and I highly recommend that everyone who loves, hates or just doesn't care about soccer read it. He saw the things all of us soccer fans know about but do not have the forum (and in some cases, the ability) to write about. It's a testament to our sport and will be read by tens of thousands of people:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090817

Here are few of my favorite excerpts:
"Take all the sports we care about here, mix that passion together, condense it into one mega-sport, and you'd have soccer in Mexico."

"Emerge from the tunnel, and Mexican fans are suddenly right there, wearing green jerseys, yelling obscenities and pounding the fence in front of them. The venom starts immediately -- booing and hissing, horn blowing, various "Meh-hee-CO! Meh-hee CO!" chants -- and never really stops. The Mexican fans had no problem drowning out "The Star-Spangled Banner" with jeers.... During a corner kick in extra time, they showered Landon Donovan with such a staggering amount of debris that he briefly staggered back toward the field in disbelief, shrugging his hands as if to say, "How could anyone act like this?""

"You can't even call it just a hostile environment; it's more primal than anything.... Michael Vick could crash a PETA rally and get a friendlier reception than the Americans did at Azteca."

"[I] noticed one lone Mexican man happily swinging a flag back and forth. He had to have been 45 minutes from the stadium. There was nobody around him. He just kept swinging that flag with a joyous grin on his face. I remember thinking to myself, "Nobody in America will ever care about a sport that much." And we won't."

I could go on and on listing dozens of my favorite lines, but I'll let you take it from here. A fantastic account of the match and a great chance for mainstream sports fans to see what our sport, our passion and our dedication are all about. Thanks Bill.

Montero = Ruthless Slayer of Goalmouths

2009-08-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've ever been so happy in my life as when Feckham got booted yesterday...for a foul on none other than Pete Vagenas! Absolutely priceless. In fact, I can confirm that it was the best moment of my life.

I don't think we've scored a better or prettier team goal all year than the Brad Evans show with Zakuani finish. That was a sight to behold.

And Montero, he showed once again why we love him no matter what. An absolutely brutal, ruthless piece of finishing that left me forgetting where I was, what my name was and maybe even what sexual orientation I am (yes, it was that awesome!).

Most importantly, we played some nice football and did it at the home of the supposedly hottest team in the league.

As the number one fan of our away blue kit, I can only say, where the hell have those shirts been all season!?!

Great work, guys.

Barça, Sounders & Qwest Up Close (very close!)

2009-08-09T22:01:00.000-07:00

The following are the things I experienced as a VIP during the Sounders vs. Barcelona match.

The Tour
Sometimes life takes one part good positioning and one part luck. Before the match we took a very comprehensive tour of Qwest Field, starting with the corridors that include the team locker rooms. It just so happened that, as we passed outside the Sounders locker room, none other than Freddie Ljungberg was showing up. He was looking extremely cool in his street threads and actually stopped to meet and talk to us. He was extremely cordial and must have been used to having four people stand there open-jawed and wide-eyed looking at him. Having been worshiped and surely hounded by fans in his time in Europe, I was so happy to see that he was so genuine and friendly. It’s an honor to have him as a Sounder.

We headed upstairs and got a great look at a couple rooms that are really the stadium’s nerve center. First, we saw the electronics room. It is wall-to-wall electronic equipment – millions and millions of dollars worth – basically running floor to ceiling with more television screens than the showroom floor at Best Buy. We also got to see where the stadium announcers sit and even met the Spanish-speaking announcer for that night’s match.

Next up was the media center, a giant room with three tiered rows of seating where members of various media cover events. We got to meet Kevin Calabro and hear his incredible announcing voice in person. He was very kind and asked us how our experience was going. Our tour guide mentioned something I thought was really cool. The Sounders are really good about letting fan-supported blogs and websites have a seat in this room. Whereas an organization like the Seahawks will only allow ‘official’ media in, the Sounders understand that soccer fans are a little different and that catering to those who are passionate and committed enough to have an independent website will pay unseen dividends.

Back downstairs we were in for a couple more treats. First, we had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with head coach Sigi Schmid. He couldn’t have been any nicer. Aside from just meeting us and asking if we were having a good time, he actually asked us a couple questions and even mentioned his appreciation for us coming out and supporting the team.

Next was something I will never forget. Barcelona was on their way and we were in position to actually see them exit their bus and head to the locker room. I knew there were about 60,000+ fans outside who would’ve given almost anything to have this experience. When we saw the police escort arrive through the gate opening, we knew we were close. Having spent years watching these players from thousands of miles away, it was incredible to be within 10 yards of them. We saw Henry jogging and I later realized watching the television broadcast that he had a camera in his face as soon as he stepped off the bus. He coolly side-stepped the camera and ran the rest of the way. Messi also had a camera in his face the entire time, although he ignored it and focused on typing something on his phone. Dani Alves was the most entertaining player. He had on massive headphones and was carrying a black case that he was hitting with his hand like a tambourine to keep a beat. Not only that, but he was actually dancing down the walkway! He was doing some crazy jig and, judging by the reaction of his teammates around him, it’s probably pretty standard for him to do so.

Next was something I never thought I’d see in person. We walked right up to not only the Champions League trophy, but all three trophies Barça won last season. They were field-side on a table and I had my picture taken with them. It was a shining and imposing reminder of what a great team I had just watched walk by. Lastly, we got to walk right through the middle of the field as fans were starting to find their seats.

The Pitch
It looked great from up in the Press Box. More green than past attempts and the seams weren’t too terribly obvious. But I had heard that the grounds crew had very little time to lay it down and as I walked around on it before the match it was clear that time was an issue. Each piece of sod is very long and narrow and the pieces are laid down end-to-end going up and down the field. The side seams were pretty flush, but a lot of the end seams had gaps that were filled in with sand in some places.

Barcelona was not happy with the pitch. They practiced the day before and wanted to grass shorter. This particular sod was very dense and the grass was quite long. The grounds crew cut it down as far as they could after the practice, but they were limited by the unevenness of the surface, so they couldn’t get it as short as Barça wanted it.

Bear in mind, of course, that Barcelona is used to playing on surfaces that would rival PGA golf course fairways. The temporary pitch was laid down on plastic sheeting and was literally nothing more than just the sod; there was no foundation whatsoever. The fact that our regular field turf was under the sod also added to the softness of the field, something I think Barcelona felt made the playing surface too soft overall. So with high hopes and serious doubts we watched Barça come out for warm-ups. We saw one member of the visiting contingent walk right in front of us, examining the gap between the grass and the sideline boards. He looked none to pleased. A few minutes later a member of the Sounders organization came over to inform us that Barcelona was, in fact, still not happy with the grass, but the show had to go on.

As this related to the match, I’ll say this: Barcelona will be ruthless no matter the surface or its quality. They played their style of football with little regard for the concerns they had earlier harbored. They were quick and their passes were crisp. It was the Sounders who seemed more thrown off by the conditions, often looking slow and providing weak passes that slowed to a trickle well before they reached their intended targets. Barca is just one of those teams though. You could force them to play on shards of glass and they’d still bring the house and put on a show.

Our Boys
I got to meet Sounders players on three different occasions during the course of the evening. First, several players came over after pre-game warm-ups to shake hands and thank us for coming out. These are players I’ve supported for several months now and I tried my best to show my gratitude for their efforts. I got to stand next to Roger Levesque in particular and get a good, up-close, look at his infamous ‘stache. All of the players were fantastically friendly and we all wished them well in the match. Next came a post-game opportunity for autographs in the tunnel as players exited the pitch. At first we were out in the open and we all heard some of the most bizarre comments from fans in the stands above us. People were asking us to sign stuff, asking us for our shirts and shoes and to take pictures of them. It was really surreal and a great example of some of the insanity that players deal with.

Every player stopped and signed items for us before they headed into the locker room. They were all extremely friendly and signed everything we put in front of them. It really is a great group of guys we have and I thanked them all for their efforts and told them that we support them no matter what.

One player really stood out from that sequence. Nate Jaqua shook all of our hands, asked us if we enjoyed our time, apologized for not being able to score, signed our items, then shook our hands again and thanked us for coming out. Nate and all the players left a very good impression and went beyond just thinking, “Who are these people? Better stop and smile and sign.” I greatly appreciate having met all of them.

Of course, the last player out signing for fans was Seba, dressed in street clothes as he didn’t play in the match. When he got to us he took his time and was very friendly, even cracking a joke to us about his English.

There was one more opportunity to be around the players, the after-party! This event was really incredible. Upon walking in, the first people we see are Joe Roth and Drew Carey.
We were able to get pictures and autographs with all of the players and also got to observe them just hanging out with family and friends. Montero and Hurtado in particular had a large group of family that were all having a good time. This party was something I never in a million years thought I’d get to experience and I felt very fortunate to have the chance to be around my heroes in such a fun setting.

In the End
Well, my fingers cannot stand much more of this. It was a first class experience though and a joy to be able to experience the best team on earth and the largest crowd ever to watch a match in Washington from so close.

Most importantly, our players really are the great guys I imagined them to be and it’s very important for fans to support these guys no matter what. If we do, they’ll give us the top-notch effort we know they’re capable of.

2010 Seating Rumor

2009-08-08T03:42:00.000-07:00

Heard a rumor that seating in 2010 will be seated in club levels and standing in all other levels. Apparently this has come from the mouths of ticket reps in conversations with folks looking to move into or out of club next season (i.e. into seated or standing seats).

Stay tuned as the battle for seating supremacy in 2010 heats up!!!

I Love Barca.

2009-08-02T23:37:00.000-07:00

Plain and simple. I have for a long time and always will. Thus, I can't wait for this match. It should be a pretty incredible night.

Let's hope we see some good officiating. Against SJ, two unwarranted red cards killed us. The one last week against Freddie took him out today, when we could have used him in the midfield. We were dominated there and his experience would've paid off.
Then the red on Riley when he appeared to not even make contact (and the ref was right there). I know we played very poorly overall, but that card changed things considerably. We might have sustained our attack at the beginning of the 2nd half and scored had he been in there. We could've gone 1-1 and had the 11 needed to close out the match for at least a point. Instead, we threw everything into that opening flurry and were too tired the rest of the half to even defend properly...and it all points back to that red card.

Well I guess there's just a lot I don't understand about the MLS, starting with officiating. And how do we have twice as many season ticket holders as SJ's stadium even holds? And why do fans wear scarfs in 90+ degree weather?

Hmm. Let's hope Barca and their world soccer godliness can knock some sense into us.

Calling All Flags on 7/25

2009-07-24T00:16:00.000-07:00

Hey Sounders, 7/25 is a massive day with the largest tifo display you're going to see on both ends of the stadium. We've made over 600 flags but currently there are only about 70 in storage, meaning there are a lot of flags floating around out there. If you have a flag, BRING IT! If you don't, MAKE ONE!

Please contribute to the incredible atmosphere and displays we'll all be enjoying this Saturday afternoon.