Humble Beginnings

Many have asked why I am so into the sport of soccer.  Most friends and family know that soccer is a passion of my life and I enjoy playing soccer as well as following the sport professionally.  Many posts on Facebook and Twitter revolve around the Colorado Rapids or some soccer-related theme.  This article will revolve around the reasons why I am so into the beautiful game.

In 1996, Major League Soccer launched its inaugural season.  I was in 6th Grade at the time, and my club soccer team from Greeley, Colorado, was on the pitch at Mile High Stadium getting autographs from the new Colorado Rapids players.  We were well aware that USA National Team defender Marcelo Balboa was a member of the Colorado Rapids, but he was still under contract in Mexico's top division and was not present for the autograph session before the season started.  I was excited that my home-town city of Denver was chosen as one of the places for an MLS original club, since there were only 10 teams in the inaugural season.  Even though I grew up in Greeley, CO (about 60 miles north of Denver), mostly everyone in the northern part of the state were loyal to the professional teams based in the capital city.  I also lived in Denver for a few years before my family moved to Greeley.  The old Mile High Stadium (pictured below) was the original home of the Colorado Rapids before the stadium was demolished and made way for Invesco Field at Mile High that opened in 2001.  In 2007, Dick's Sporting Goods Park debuted as the home stadium for the Rapids in nearby Commerce City.

Even through I grew up playing soccer and enjoyed going to some Colorado Rapids games with my youth club team or whenever my family could attend, I did not really follow the club that closely.  As a young kid growing up I was constantly glued to the television screen to watch the Colorado Rockies or the Colorado Avalanche.  Obviously, I watched the Denver Broncos and enjoyed seeing the brilliance of John Elway.  I also enjoyed the NBA's Denver Nuggets, even though for much of my youth, the Nuggets always seemed to have losing seasons.  The two titles that the Denver Broncos won in the late 90s and the Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup triumphs in 1996 and 2001 were amazing.  The local media, Greeley Tribune, Denver Post, and Rocky Mountain News did not usually carry articles on soccer and I grew up reading those newspapers.  I was aware that the Colorado Rapids had made the MLS Cup final in 1997, but I do not have any recollection of watching the game or reading about it when it happened.  The Rapids lost 2-1 to a DC United club coached then by Bruce Arena.  

So the real question is when did I really start to become the Rapids die-hard supporter that I am today?  Let's fast-forward to college and the year 2005.  I spent the summer months of 2005 teaching English in the Hungarian city of Debrecen (which is the 2nd largest city in the country).  It is close to the Romanian border and I was aware that the local side had won the Hungarian title that year.  In college, I watched a lot of European soccer.  I lived in Los Angeles and a lot of my friends enjoyed the UEFA Champions League, England's Premier League, Spain's La Liga, and Italy's Serie A.  When I was in Hungary, I was able to attend a UEFA Champions League Qualifier (2nd Round) between Debrecen VSC and HNK Hajduk Split, a popular club from Croatia.  The photo featured below was not from that match, but the same stadium, the Oláh Gábor Stadion Út in Debrecen.  

My friend and I arrived to the stadium from the public transportation and many Debrecen fans were chanting and singing in the tram cars.  A day before the match, I saw many of the Croatian supporters with their team colors and scarves around their necks in the city center enjoying beer and food.  I knew this was going to be intense, but nothing prepared me for what I saw at the match.  The stadium was small by most standards, about 10,000 capacity.  However, when I arrived to the stadium close to a half hour before kick-off, the supporters end was full and smoke was rising from the flares that had been lit.  They were all in full-voice and the Croatian supporters were in their own section that was lined off by security. They had their own flares and flags and were also in full voice.  I had never seen anything like this in my life at any sporting event in Denver, much less the United States.  

The Hungarian side won the match 3-1 and during the second half, the Croatian supporters had lit more fire flares and launched them towards the pitch.  It sounded (no joke) like a missile and we could feel the heat from the large flares even though they were not that close to us.  No one was hurt by the flares as they flew just outside the pitch and did not start any small fires.  Security waited for everyone to leave the stadium before they let the Croatian supporters leave.  Also, there were (not joking) hundreds of riot police with shields and many on horseback as well.  There was not any violence after the game, and the police were everywhere to make sure there was no trouble.  

I thought to myself, wow what an amazing experience...why are fans in the United States not like this (at least with football, which is most popular)?  I had never seen away fans at NFL stadiums have their own away sections or thousands of fans chant in unison before or during a game.  I wanted to support my home-town team as intensely as this.  When I got back to the US, I attended a few LA Galaxy and Chivas USA games in Carson, CA to get more familiar with MLS.  I attended the MLS All-Star game at Toyota Park in Chicago in the summer of 2006 when the MLS All-Stars defeated Chelsea FC.  I knew all of the Chelsea players but not any of the MLS players.  I figured it was time to start following MLS. 

The following year, I moved back to Denver after I graduated college and that was the same year that Dick's Sporting Goods Park was completed.  My first Rapids match I attended at DSG was July 4th 2007, against Columbus Crew (a 0-0 draw).  It was amazing and I bought my first Rapids scarf at that game. I started to watch a lot of the games on TV and got familiar with the players.  I also went to more matches and bought season tickets for 2008 and 2009.  I liked seeing our supporters sing and chant and light smoke bombs to make the atmosphere better.  

However, once the supporters terrace was complete, that changed everything.  I immediately identified with the newly formed BSG (Bulldog Supporters Group) and started to learn a lot of the songs that were written for the Rapids.  I also started to travel to support the team as well.  My trip to Salt Lake City in September of 2010 was an amazing experience for me.  We were loud and sang and chanted all game for our beloved Rapids.  As you know from my previous articles, I also travelled to Toronto for the MLS Cup Final.  I will aways support the Colorado Rapids and I am also always one to recruit new fans who have never witnessed professional soccer in the North America.  Major League Soccer has now grown to 18 clubs for the 2011 season and Montreal Impact will become the 19th club in 2012 with possibly another team from New York, Atlanta, or Miami.  The Colorado Rapids will forever be my favorite sports team!! :D :D  

GLORY GLORY COLORADO!!! :D

Seattle Sounders FC - Third Time a Charm?

I will start out this blog by stating that my amazing twin sister, Heather, and my awesome Brother-in-law, Mark Seymour, are season ticket holders at Qwest Field for the Seattle Sounders.  Funny thing is that Mark is originally from Portland but his passion lies with Seattle Sounders FC.  My twin sister hails from Colorado (as obviously I do) and she does have a place in her heart for the Colorado Rapids, but her allegiance is primarily with the emerald city club.  With that being said, we always have a great time talking trash via text messages during the Rapids/Sounders clashes.  It's all in good fun and I can say with a big smile on my face that Mark and Heather proudly rooted for the Colorado Rapids in the 2010 MLS Cup Championship!  Cheers!

For many, Seattle Sounders FC are the polished gemstone of MLS; a club that boasts silverware within its first two seasons in the league, sold-out crowds of around 35,000 fans per game, and arguably one of the best supporter atmospheres during home matches.  Seattle fans travel well for their club, as many Sounders away matches showcase sections of fans wearing the 'rave green.'  In addition to their two US Open Cup titles, the Sounders have also managed to secure MLS Cup playoff qualification in their two years of existence as well.  However, they have been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round both times, more recently to LA Galaxy in 2010.

Seattle coach Sigi Schmid took over after leading Columbus Crew to the 2008 MLS Cup title.  However, he has been unsuccessful in getting back to the leagues marquee game with the biggest club from the pacific northwest.  It is not to say that Seattle is without outstanding talent.  Despite having a strong expansion draft in 2009, Seattle still has quality players and big signings of internationals that include Uruguayan Álvaro Fernández, Swedish Erik Friberg, former United States international goalkeeper Kasey Keller, Swiss star Blaise Nkufo, and Colombian sensation Fredy Montero.  Seattle made the world headlines when Freddie Ljungberg signed and played with the club from 2009-2010.  However, the former Arsenal star was shipped to Chicago Fire and currently plays for Celtic FC in the Scottish Premier League.  

Seattle also possess some ridiculous young talent (besides Fredy Montero) in terms of former University of Akron standout and Zaire native Steve Zakuani, Jamaican youngster O'Brian White, Colombian Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Cuban Osvaldo Alonso.  The Seattle fans will once again have massive expectations for the club in 2011, especially with the fact that Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps have joined MLS for the 2011 season.  All three of these teams have histories that date back to the NASL days and all boast amazing supporter groups.  MLS needs more rivalries like this, and in 2012, the league will see another Canadian club in Montreal Impact (French: Impact de Montréal).  The northwest derbies will definitely feature mouth-watering matchups for the major sports networks and once again, Seattle Sounders FC and their supporters will be on display for the nation to behold.  

Seattle may boast one of the largest ultra scenes in the league and the organization of the ECS (Emerald City Supporters) is fantastic.  One may ask how the city has embraced soccer so well and the support is nearly unprecedented in the United States.  I do not know the exact answer to this, but here are a few ideas:  The city saw its NBA franchise Seattle Sonics move to Oklahoma City in 2008 and Seattle does not have an NHL Hockey team.  This leaves two 'major' US Sports teams with the NFL Seattle Seahawks and MLB Seattle Mariners.  It is only fitting that the former USL Seattle Sounders would have legions of fans when the club moved into Qwest Field for their inaugural season in 2009.

As a Rapids supporter, I do not like the fact of everyone talking up the Seattle Sounders as potential pre-season favorites for the MLS Cup, but I am just as excited as everyone else to see the large Seattle crowds and the passion that the pacific northwest in general will bring to the league in 2011.  Fans of every MLS team (besides perhaps Toronto FC) would LOVE to see fans within their own stadium be as passionate as the fans in Seattle.  How do I think Seattle will do in year three?  Well, I believe Seattle will make the playoffs again but they still have a few more years to go before they establish themselves among the leagues elite clubs.

RAPIDS TILL I DIE!!! :D :D :D

Colorado Rapids - 2010 MLS Cup Champions!

Many of you know that I am a diehard Colorado Rapids fan.  Ever since I moved back from Los Angeles in 2007, I have witnessed no less than fifty home Rapids fixtures at Dick's Sporting Goods Park and have made trips to Seattle and Salt Lake City to support my hometown club.  2010 marked several highlights for the Colorado Rapids en route to their first title in club history.  The picture noted below is from the 2010 Eastern Conference Championship which saw Colorado defeat San Jose Earthquakes 1-0.

The start of the 2010 campaign saw the Rapids face Chivas USA for the opening road fixture.  Omar Cummings slotted home in the 2nd half to see the Rapids win 1-0 for their first season-opening victory on the road in the history of the club.

Many fans were in shock after star forward Conor Casey was left off the United States national team world cup squad.  However, Casey scored a blistering 13 goals and had 6 assists throughout the campaign.  He also scored key goals against Columbus in the playoffs and scored the game-tying goal in the MLS Cup final against FC Dallas.

Omar Cummings proved that he is one of the best strikers in the league with 14 goals.  The Omar-Casey tandem is one of the best in MLS apart from Sebastian Le Toux and Danny Mwanga of Philadelphia Union, a club that missed out on playoff qualification in their first season in the top-flight.  Cummings has been the subject of transfer rumors throughout 2010 and as of January 2011 is in Birmingham, England, training with Aston Villa of the Premier League.  A loan deal is possible, however Rapids officials are adamant that the Jamaican hit man will be in a Colorado uniform come March 19 for the home opening fixture against Portland Timbers.

Pablo Mastroeni is the long-time captain of the Colorado Rapids.  He arguably played one of the best seasons of his career in 2010.  There were rumors that he was going to retire at the end of the season but with the 2011 Champions League looming, the Argentine-born defensive midfielder who has two world cups under his belt for the United States, has chosen to stay with the club he joined from the now defunct Miami Fusion in 2002.

The 2010 MLS Cup Final was held in Toronto, Ontario, the largest city in Canada, and home to Toronto FC.  I had a blast with friends and fellow Rapids supporters at the final.  I told myself that I was not going to miss this opportunity as the last time the Rapids were in the final was 1997, when they lost 2-1 to a DC United side coached by Bruce Arena.  I arrived in Buffalo, New York and boarded a Greyhound Bus that made stops in Niagara Falls and the towns leading to Toronto.  I was greeted at the bus station by fellow members of the Bulldog Supporters Group and we made way to the Delta Chelsea hotel where the majority of fans and Rapids staff were staying in downtown Toronto.

The MLS Cup Final was a chilly game played in near freezing temperatures at BMO Field.  The Rapids found themselves down by a goal after a fantastic finish from FC Dallas talisman David Ferreira.  Colorado keeper Matt Pickens nearly stopped the volley and the Texan club was lucky not to have conceded a penalty in the early stages of the match as Conor Casey appeared to have been taken down in the penalty area.  Casey would get revenge in the second half as he tied the game at 1-1 after a cross by Jamie Smith.  Both teams had chances to win in regulation, but Hartman and Pickens held strong as the teams prepared for extra time.  Mac Kandji deserves the distinguished medal of honor after he sacrificed his body in the second period of extra time which setup the game-winning goal.  Kandji tore his ACL on the play that was ruled as an FC Dallas own-goal.  Nonetheless, the Rapids held firm in the final minutes of the game as Matt Pickens made some fantastic saves and Drew Moor solidified himself as the Rapids defensive player of the year.

The rest is history...

COLORADO RAPIDS - 2010 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS!!!!