August 19, 2008
Welcome to Class VI
So tomorrow is the foosball tournament with the Rapids! I'm very excited. I think it's going to be a very fun time. Right off, I want to thank Kieran Cane for making this idea happen. And really thank all the Rapids Players that are taking their time for us - to actually play foos with the fans! You guys are awesome. (Hopefully not too many of you are being forced into it!).
Hopefully, you're visiting http://NoFanAlone.com for the first time because you met some of the 160 Class VI members and are checking us out. 160 you say? WHERE? Well sir I'm glad you asked!
I've been a Rapids fan from day one. I was 21 when I went to my first Rapids game - I'm 34 now. Yeah, it has been a difficult ride. But man how MLS has grown, huh? I've been all about it from the beginning. Dragging friends to the game: "You gotta support US Soccer or it's going to end!" Yup, that early on and that ridiculous :D It's always been a different kind of sporting atmosphere. I grew up in upstate NY with minor league hockey. I went to high school with the son of Slap Shot's 'Clarence "Screaming Buffalo" Swamptown' and my father-in-law fixed the bus that got hit with the sledgehammer. These games in Utica, NY were crazy. One time a fan hit a coach with a cup of beer and the players came into the crowd and 14 year old me got caught in the middle!
It was exciting, but I don't want MLS to turn into THAT! Trust me. But come on! Soccer is passion. Soccer is exciting! In the early days I got yelled at a lot. Not because I was swearing or drunk or anything. But because I was up when Tritt would get a head on the ball or when the ref gave Pablo another card. I didn't stand all game, but I was loud and I was into the game. I was there for the game.
You know what I'm saying. I know you do! We can admit it: Rapids games just don't have the same atmosphere as a Donkey's or Avs game. See I'm a big time NHL fan, but I'll admit it - I miss the old days when fighting was part of the game's strategy. But hockey won't ever go back to those days. It's not that the direction it's moving is bad - it's just not the same and I miss it.
But MLS is different. You as a fan are different than fans of the big four now. You can help direct where this game is going. I'm serious! Look, the Rapids Front Office wants a great sporting environment. They'd love to have Toronto's atmosphere. I'm fortunate enough to have sat down with Jeff Plush, the Managing Director of the Rapids, a few times. I like him, he's a good guy. He wants it too. Come on are you crazy? This guy has sat in games in Europe. He's accompanied Arsenal's shareholder Stan Kronke to London - you don't think he has an idea of how big this game can be? If you're an American that has seen a game in Europe, you know it's impossible not to leave an impression!
All that to say, I'm a big fan and I want a true soccer atmosphere. So what did I do about it? I started Class VI. It's not a standing section with drums that stands all game. We started in 2005 and man getting the first 30 people to take the chance was tough! But right away, it was just different sitting among other people there that were there for the love of the game. People that know and love the game inside out.
It caught on. It took a while but it did. And something I didn't forsee happened! These people became my friends - they are such super people I'm lucky to know. And they believe in Class VI. Our tailgates rock! Among the best in MLS - no joke. And it's because people bring dishes to share with everyone else! I mean we provide hotdogs, soda, a keg of beer, and utensils - but it's the VIers that make Class VI so special.
And it's changed MLS for me. I don't have to deal with those balloon knockers or getting up and down a thousand times. I don’t have people giving me gruff because I yell at a player to get up. Lots of people have told me, when the Rapids are playing in the middle of say a ten game winless streak, it's Class VI that makes it fun for them.
You're still wondering where we are huh? Section 108. Yeah only a few games see all 160 members at once - but we're there. And we'd love for you to join us. Imagine the entire section filled with people? That's how you can direct MLS' future. The first 30 were the pioneers - but every new body is adding to the movement.
There are no dues. There are no meetings. We're 100% fan run by a lot of people that deserve way more credit than they’re given. We have a tailgate two hours before every game. We've traveled to SLC and LA for games. We get together in Denver and Windsor for away games for Rapids and drinks. We'd love for you to become one of us. We're passionate about soccer and we believe that there should be NO FAN ALONE.