3 Years After Kansas City Wizards vs Manchester United: A Reflection.

For the past two years, I've retweeted and mentioned a certain game on this date, the day that truly proved the potential of Kansas City being a major soccer market. I remember some media from other parts of the country, and hell, even some of ours, looking at the attendance and the outcome as an outlier. To them, this was no proof at all, just a bunch of regional United fans coming down to KC to see the Red Devils play for perhaps their first and only time in their lives. I didn't see it as such on that day, and I certainly do not see it as that now days. July 25^th, 2010, the preview party of things that lay ahead…

I vaguely remember the rumors and rumblings about United coming here, just seemed so impossible that it almost certainly had to happen. The (at the time) Wizards needed something big to pull people into buying season tickets at the new stadium, something that a regular season game at Community America Ballpark was never going to do. The official announcement confirmed all that craziness was to happen, as the first official event at the “new” Arrowhead. $30 for a Cauldron ticket, against Manchester United, holy balls. Pretty sure that ticket would be around $80 or more if it were to happen again anytime soon.

The tailgate was a preview of things to come as well. A massive joint Cauldron/AOKC tailgate with all that food and kegs on kegs on kegs of beer to be had. As a 20 year old loser at the time, I was pumped to drink as much and as fast as possible, getting thoroughly trashed pregame, but luckily not enough to forget the game. My poor ticket is in bad shape now days from a spilt beer near my pocket because of my negligence, but I still cherish that thing.

Row 4, I was up at the front, and it was beautiful. If I remember correctly, the only person I knew around me was Mike Kuhn, in row 3 right in front of me. Didn't matter, didn't speak to anyone, only sang and chanted my drunken rear off for the majority of the match. I remember walking in; the stands were covered in red, and not from the seats. Spots of blue were all over but dammit if the Cauldron didn't represent that day, we were fantastic. Few, if any, drums allowed in, so they banged on the metal overhang about 15 rows up to keep the beat, wonderfully improvised. God Save the Queen, Star Spangled Banner, the anthems were sung right near an ever rosy cheeked and slightly sunburned Sir Alex Ferguson. This was shaping up to be one of the oddest and most triumphant sporting events I had ever attended.

That 11^th minute, that Davy Arnaud goal, I’m so glad to this day that he scored in that one. If Davy and Jimmy Conrad would have scored in that game, I probably would have died of the happiest heat exhaustion that anyone has ever croaked from. The red clothed folks started cheering on those boys in blue, which was no surprise. The stadium got loud though, sounded like all 52,424 fine taxpayers had jumped on the Wizards bandwagon. And then those wheels seemed to fall right off.

Damn you Terry Vaughn, damn you. If the Wizards would have lost that game because of you sending off Conrad in the 39^th minute, in a goddamn friendly, I would take a dump on your picture on your birthday every single year. I shouldn't hate you for it though, because that red card instead made the game more historic. The Dimitar Berbatov goal, easy penalty, deserved. The crowd….went….absolutely….mild. Sounded as crazy as an Iowan town hall meeting in November. Down to 10 men, seemed like the blowout was incoming, a 7-1 win for the Reds or something.

Kei Kamara had a pretty decent start to 2010 and felt that he should have been voted into the All Star Game in Houston that season. Kei Kamara was not on the All Star squad and that irked him, so he decided to have his own All Star Game, and his own All Star jersey. Ball placed back at the center, Wizards take it down, goes out for corner, played in, BOOM, hits crossbar dead center, pops down, DID IT CROSS THE LINE? WHO CARES, TERRY VAUGHN SAYS SO, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!! Kei Kamara debuts his KCW All Star shirt underneath his jersey, the man who never wanted to come to Kansas City at all the year prior was now beginning his run to a lasting KC legacy and the English Premier League. Arrowhead got loud, not as loud as a 1993 Chiefs regular season game, but damned if I didn't pound my seat and yell til I was near hoarse. I twirled my brand new blue and white bars KC Cauldron scarf harder than I ever had before

Halftime rolled around shortly after. While I sat, baking in that hot July sun, many people in the stadium were inquiring about the future Sporting Park, some placing deposits to this new stadium without much knowledge of the Wizards but a want, a deep down need, to learn about the beautiful game in Kansas City. Those roots started there for many, on that day.

I cannot remember much of the 2^nd half. All those beers, the sun, humidity, finally caught up with me. I remember quite a few Kronberg saves and the last ever appearance of Sunil Chhetri, who would leave the club forever the following day. I remember those last 10 minutes though, I remember looking up at the clock every 30 seconds or so, expecting United to equalize, if not outright win, before time expired. I saw the board rise for how many minutes of 2^nd half injury time would take place, keeping those precious minutes counting down in my phone. Those few minutes felt like an eternity, til finally, Mr. Vaughn blew the whistle three final times to call an end to the insignificant Wizards period and the start of a movement that was finally achieved and perfected a little over 2 years later on August 8^th, 2012. The Cauldron went wild, our beloved Wizards had just taken out a slightly B squad but still one of the best in European soccer Manchester United. They show me during the closing parts of the Fox Soccer feed, I look damn near tears, scarf held high, singing my praises towards the yellow piped home team.

There are no friendlies scheduled this season for Sporting Kansas City, with the All Star Game and CONCACAF Champions League taking the time left for friendly practice games. The lasting legacy of that game started something in the minds of many Kansas Citians on both sides of the state line. This MLS team, those guys that used to wear rainbow jerseys, that had mini ponies at halftime for children to ride, those Wizards who were ridiculed at Arrowhead in the past, were now in the minds of more locals than anyone, possibly even the ownership too, could ever imagine. July 25^th, 2010, the day where David defeated a Devil.

What KC Wiz Means to Me and What it Means to You.

Feels like a good bunch of people have forgotten what the supporter culture is truly about and has taken to starting little spats online and offline with each other about things that include random invites on the Cauldron Facebook page, taken spots in the Member's Stand, and tailgate shenanigans. What the hell people? Have you forgotten what you paid for prior to the start of this season in a season ticket? There comes a point where one man breaks from all the song arguments, nerds dressed up as various attention seeking superheroes, and the worst, friends arguing with friends. When did the Cauldron become more of a job for people than a fun getaway from real life?

I often think back to my own humble Cauldron beginnings, back when the Cauldron was a two deep third base line bleacher area and the opposite stand was a grassy knoll that only politicians and parents with toddlers would be fearful of. I remember going to a game or two before getting season tickets, sitting near the Cauldron but not in it, remembering the days of Arrowhead, of the small group that had blossomed to a nicely sized group of what looked to be great friends. I sat in my chair most of the game, looking at that group, knowing I needed to get in with this, before the move to Bannister, because this thing was gonna take off and I wanted to be on that train of fun and excitement. MLS was sold to me in a minor league baseball park in what was once a wheat field in Kansas.

I could go on and on about the rest of my origins in the Cauldron, including picking my season tickets up in a shady transaction from Sam Pierron, the slick pieces of paper in a small Ticketmaster envelope. But I’m not, told those stories a million times. What I want is to hear your origins now. What brought you to the games, what sold you on the experience? How can we harken back to the wonders and glory that arrived for us in 2011 with the new stadium opening? I want to feel that again, and I hope you do too in a way. Let’s get back to having fun again. I hug less people and shake fewer hands at tailgates now days, feels more territorial than ever. Let’s all be friends and bros again. Join in, game on.

Red Vs. Blue

"ARROWHEAD STADIUM: HOME OF THE CHIEFS! 116 DECIBELS! NO ENEMY WINS HERE!" I remember words like that, I remember those good old days of the 1990s Kansas City Chiefs. Thomas, Montana, Smith, Shields, Gonzales. All names of my childhood. I remember the waiting list for season tickets went for miles and miles, third at one point only to the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. I remember going to my first game in 1994, the excitement of seeing a game in person. I remember the noise, deafening, nonstop pain nearly.

Those days are dead, forever. The growth of football has taken the 116 decibels away forever, can't disturb the club level (if they are even in their seats) after all. I usually attend a game or two with my dad every year now days. I was there last Sunday, the Bengals completely destroyed the lack wit RAC led squad, but the main issue just wasn't there. The tailgating atmosphere was gone, replaced with either frat boys in other team's jerseys or long time season ticket holders who still hold blind faith that once Pioli is fired, everything will turn around. False faith, but something nonetheless.

My dad and I had about 5 empty seats to share between us, the inhabitants nowhere in sight, must have been in the club level. I remember he stretched over to exclaim to me at one point, "This feels like the late 70s and 80s, the atmosphere, the play, awful." And Arrowhead was. Those Monday Night Football games sounded and looked great the last two seasons didn't they? They still didn't compare to 80k+ standing room nonstop noise of the old days. Pounding on your seats is way too easy when there is 10 empty ones around you.

Which brings me to my point: They couldn't have picked a worse time to suck. The NFL will always make money, the Chiefs will always make money. Anyone thinking that the Save the Chiefs blackout campaign could mount any success is a complete ignorant moron. Dent their pockets by not filling them while going to the game, paying $27 to park, $8 beers, and food on top of that. Spread the wealth on the other football, yeah, the one your buddy at work told you to come to.

I'm entering my 4th season as a season ticket holder with Sporting Kansas City this upcoming season, and I've never been happier. Silverware at long last, that delicious tease of near MLS Cup pride, the potential long term runs at even more domestic and international cups. In the winter, and I came close to getting season tickets for this as well, the Comets are there. Cheap beer before the game, the wackiest unnerving game I've ever seen sure, but at least they're winning and care about their fans. Hell, we'll have two women's soccer teams next season, even if FC Kansas City is the most uninspiring name they could have come up with.

I suppose this is more of a rambling Jack Harry-esque opinion piece than a blog, but hell, here we go. Clark Hunt, I'm not going to lie, I'm not leaving. I enjoy football, I still enjoy tailgating at Arrowhead, I still love walking up between the concrete pillars up to the common man's section. But when your people call, begging me at this point to buy season tickets, I won't listen. I will continue to buy my tickets from Stubhub or from friend's, completely cutting out that potential extra revenue that you might make. My days of merchandise purchases are on hold from here on out.

All we ever wanted was a team to enjoy. 2010 got awfully close but turned out to a short term red herring. Spend the money, splurge on players and front office staff. Stop using the Small Market excuse, you're making tons regardless because of NFL rules. I want to see your snide snarky ass lifting the Lombardi Trophy, don't you want that?

Until then, I become one of those casual fans. I'll still watch games at home until the blowouts worsen or blackouts happen. Redzone being available has been a wonder this season, making complete ignorance of the Chiefs that much easier. If you can chance your ways, you can reach me at M8, Member's Stand/Cauldron, Livestrong Sporting Park, 1 Sporting Way, Kansas City, KS 66111. Just look for the guy with the beard and the US Open Cup next to him, you know what that looks like, you lost the chance of having one in Seattle a few years back while you were wearing yellow.

8.8.12

I have seen 5 total playoff games in my life. A Mavericks game 5 where they lost, the Chiefs January 2011 playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens where they lost, drove to Denver for the SKC-Rapids game last Halloween where they won 2-0, followed by the 2-0 finishing blow later that week. I was there for the eastern conference final last November, I remember the pain of the Dynamo players celebrating on the field. I remember the orange confetti, I remember the orange fireworks, I remember their fans going wild. I remember each every moment of those triumphs and pains.

I remember sitting in the very chair that I'm typing this from right now in 2010. I remember watching the throw in being taken 10 feet closer to the goal than it should have been. I remember Mike Fucito slotting the ball to the right of Nielsen in the 92nd minute, I remember the noise their crowd made and the hate that I felt. I remember the damn near same thing happening the very next year, twice in fact. I remember the corner kick in the 93rd minute, Jeff Parke who hadn't scored a goal since the first half of the Bush Administration. I remember my friend crying into my sister's shoulder, I remember the hatred I felt. I remember when they gave us our first home loss, the Omar Bravo fake headbutt and red card. The first goal came in the 90th minute, Mauro Rosales in his historical year, the second from Lamar Neagle. The hatred was etched permanently into me that day, I would never ever tolerate the Sounders from then on.

Today, today really isn't a playoff game. The format is similar but the field of teams is bigger. 64 teams entered with even more already eliminated from the qualification round. Hundreds upon hundreds of teams with one single goal: to lift that big silver cup. We fought off a team starving for an MLS future in Orlando City, we fought off a team with plenty to prove in Colorado, we fought off a team that most people had never heard of but wanted to be this year's Richmond Kickers in the Dayton Dutch Lions. We went into Philadelphia, a place where we had the snot beat out of us weeks before, and dominated the second half to bring the game to Livestrong Sporting Park.

I have never seen a championship game. My family wouldn't have been able to afford season tickets, let alone flying to DC for the 2000 MLS Cup. My interests were elsewhere in 2004, a lost 15 year old at the time. Those are the only other opportunities I've had for potential championship glory in my lifetime. The last time the Royals won anything, let alone qualify for the postseason, was four years before I was born. The Chiefs, well, they can make the playoffs but usually choke somewhere after regular season play ends. Today is my first day for potential championship glory.

I remember waking up on November 6th. I woke up in a sweat, in the middle of the night, at about 2am. The same time that I woke up this morning but something completely different took my mind. I was afraid, I had many doubts. Could we win? Could we take on the mighty LA at their home ground? I was struck dead with the Terror. But this morning, when I awoke, I only smiled. I had no fear, only the feeling of preparation. I do not dread this game like I did the ECF last November. Today, I only had one feeling, winning.

See you at 4:30.

Chicago Road Trip 2012: Inferior American Fans Follow Inferior American Football

Well well well, back to Chicago again. Last year was abysmal, we lost, the weather decided to play into the Chicago stereotype of windy and cold, and I hadn't slept a wink on the way up on the 10 hour bus ride. You'd think I would have learned, but no, I'm finishing preparations for tonight at midnight, when I do the damn ride all over again. And I'm not going alone, not with 300, but with more.

If this is your first road trip, well, what is wrong with you? Away travel to games is probably my favorite form of the beautiful game. It's not the cozy little tailgate at home, roll up when you want with a 6 pack and friends. These, in the case of Chicago, other supporters don't want you here. You've traveled entirely too far for a 90 minute and change sporting event. Pure insanity that most would want us committed to a hospital for.

But this is the norm in the rest of the world. Some teams even give priority pre-sales to big away cup ties to fans that have followed the team before. Simply the best, I'm going to spend a 10 hour ride up, 10 hour ride back, and all the fun between with some of my best and closest friends. This will be my second time at Chicago, I've done Denver twice, Portland twice, and now added Vancouver in as well(not to mention a lovely Tuesday in Seattle on the way to Vancouver). Away travel is expensive, but the players do love it. You can see it in them when they look over, knowing that some fans love them enough to follow them everywhere.

To put into comparison, the longest trip in the English Premier League right now is Swansea to Newcastle at 359 miles, a 6 hour drive. We're going to our closest rival, at 514 miles away. True, some European fans make that long of a trip for international cup competitions and leagues, but for league play? Only Russia can compare and beat us on some lengths of travel. It's the pure dedication for a team, a movement, a group, that drives us to these games.

But as a fan, Chicago is different from all the other cities I've went to. Denver had a keg waiting for us, Timbers Army threw a night before party for us at their home bar, and Vancouver Southsiders bought me a few Canadian too expensive shots and beers at their home bar. In Chicago, we won't even be on the same side of the parking lot as them, and not allowed any closer to them. I usually bring a scarf to trade with other supporters, not Chicago, not a chance in hell. This is our closest thing to a real rivalry and both sides treat it as much.

At the same time, I love the hate, I love the fact that the people around us don't want us there. Section 8 doesn't want us there at all. They don't need to bring violence, which happened twice in bathrooms last year. We can be rivals and not need to turn into Green Street wannabes who emulate Elijah Wood for some reason(being a hobbit is better. PROUDFEET!). So while you're there with us, don't let them get to you. Say some sly words then move on, no need for things to escalate.

Most of all, have fun. These trips are great, and a fun way to make new friends as well. I have met countless people on my journeys, both Sporting supporters and from other teams. I've slept on floors, slept in chairs, stumbled back to a hostel with the help of two TA guys in Portland. I've waited 20 minutes for a train that wasn't coming all while enjoying the good life of away days. These trips make for good life stories, and I imagine all of us will hopefully have a winning one to tell to everyone at the end of the day. See you at the CAB(THROWBACK!) at midnight.

Too Early to Crown Sporting KC? Yes, but isn't it fun to say we're number one right now?

As a sports fan, I've grown up as a "glass half empty" type guy. The Royals were already past glory by the time I was born and the Chiefs were in a promising stage that never fulfilled the hype. Needless to say, I have appreciated the negatives towards my teams so I could enjoy bashing them and being overly critical towards them. Sporting Kansas City the last two seasons have taught me a new way to my sports life, how to enjoy winning. Because of them, I never want to lose again or feel the pain of the loss.

Various people around MLS, fans, journalists, players, have been hyping us and criticizing us for being a little too cocky. Pretty true as well, when I first started supporting the Wizards, the only way to go was up. And up we went, little too high for some people but for many others and myself, we were now in the penthouse of MLS teams. We deserve it, fans, players, owners, team employees sponsors, everyone involved. We deserve to be cocky.

Sure, we can get a little bit ahead of ourselves in telling everyone how much they suck compared to us, how much SKC might beat their team week in and week out, but can't we just enjoy that as fans for a little bit before coming back down to Earth and relaxing a bit? Even the new bandwagoners, let them brag, let them be annoying. You won't have to deal with them if/when we ever have a bad season or two again. Let everyone have their fun and ignore them if it upsets you too much.

To keep this up though, we need results to continue being in the W slot, the big 3 points every time. We need silverware or the rest of the league will never take us serious ala New York Red Bulls. The true coming out party for "We Da Best, Listen" could be Saturday. This Real Salt Lake team is the real deal, my opinion of best team in the league right now. They have the talent, they have the depth, they have a frightening starting XI combo that is still pretty much the same as the 2009 MLS Cup winning squad and 2011 runners up for the CONCACAF Champions League. We beat them, the league shall know for the rest of the season that we will not let anyone knock us down.

All of this is my rambling opinion though. I don't want to throw out any stats to try and back myself up or anything. Just know that I believe in this team. I believe they will bring home a piece of hardware this season. I believe they can pull it off if they continue to believe in themselves. I believe we will win. Now go ahead and shoot me for that terrible finisher.

NBC Sports: The Hipster of American Sports Networks. A Calvin Early Morning Musing

Believe it or not, MLS rarely gets respect from ESPN or Fox. I know, I know, with how often they show games and cover highlights, very hard to swallow that fact. ESPN is more concerned with Tebow Time while comparing Tim with Lebron than covering the Superdraft on the main channel. Fox was always too concerned about showing the abysmal Fox Soccer Report in stunning standard definition while ignoring MLS outside of actual games played(they even show Australian A-League highlights while no MLS highlight show was broadcast). That all changes March 11th in Frisco, Texas, when NBC Sports Network broadcasts their first MLS game. Coverage can only improve from there.

Do you remember the Outdoor Life Network, or OLN for short? Not many outside of the diehard hunters and fishers do. Average channel but a genre that many others, including ESPN, covered quite well in the 90's. 1999 rolls around and, in a bizarre fashion, OLN bid and won the rights to the Tour De France, cycling's biggest event. I'm fairly certain that cycling is the exact opposite of hunting, although they are both held outdoors. By tossing their programming up in the air with picking up those rights, they changed for the better and never looked back. They proceeded to pick up the rights to Survivor reruns, marathons, the Iditarod, sailing, and auto racing.

As a hockey fan myself, the 2004-05 season was and is still the only major sporting season to be eradicated by a owner's lockout. The league looked towards an uncertain future coming back in 05-06, with two(at the time separate, now one contract. Companies merged, long story, go watch 30 Rock for that info) new TV contracts with NBC and OLN. The NHL was so messed up from the lockout that they didn't get the usual up front fee from NBC, instead simply sharing ad revenue. ESPN wanted to do the same deal but Comcast, owners of OLN and the Philadelphia Flyers wanted to change things up, offered the NHL 2 years, $130 million with a third network option year. The game began, the competitor to ESPN title that Fox Sports Net failed to raise as a national network had fallen to the former hunting channel, and they weren't finished.

OLN's name brand was changed to the questionable Versus in late 2006 along with a renewal of the NHL rights in 2007 and leading to the massive $2 billion 10 year renewal in 2011. They also attempted to bid for rights to MLB and NFL games but lost out(still rumored to be getting the NFL Network Thursday night games for 2012 though, watch for that). NHL shared the lack of spotlight role at ESPN before and alongside MLS, virtually ignored while NBA and MLB seasons overlapped and NFL coverage dominating all. NHL were the big boys at Versus, highlight shows, dedicated coverage, and helping broadcast nearly all playoff games. NBC picked up the rest but we're slow with the uptake, only picking up coverage after New Year's. Then 2008 happened, then NBC suddenly helped the NHL take over a holiday.

Bowl season had abandoned New Year's Day, only 3-4 minor bowls played. Somewhere in a room full of rich guys in 07, the Winter Classic was cooked up. The game has now been played 5 times along with the 2nd Heritage Classic last year. People love hockey outside in it's original home. Football and baseball venues completely filled up, huge TV audiences, clearly the league's big event for the year. The true rebirth of the sport and this, along with NFL rights in 2006, made NBC look like smart bastards at last.

NBC put on their glassless Ray-ban frames and cardigan sweater for MLS rights bidding in 2011 along with a handful of USMNT games to broadcast on both their networks. They also announced the rebranding of Versus to the NBC Sports Network, the battle of Fort Sumter in sports TV. The World Wide Leader vs The Old Duck Hunting Channel war had begun.

NBC also loves to mess around with cameras and the internet. Go watch a Sunday Night Football or NHL game on their website at gametime. Prepare to have complete control, numerous camera angles, stats running, live Twitter updates, everything. For football, it's the closest I can get to the All 22 presentation as a spectator along with more camera angles than needed for NHL. Just imagine what they can do with soccer presentation eh?

Oh, the other thing. All those MLS games NBCSN picked up? All 41 of them? Broadcast online for free. The days of searching for illicit streams of Fox Soccer Channel are over. You pick up Matchday Live and bookmark NBC Sports and as a fan, you're set. You can have the computer running the game on one camera angle while watching the main feed on TV, if you're as nerdy as the diehards tend to be.

NHL and MLS should also team up to be good roommates as well. The 4th and 5th in total revenue big sports in America can easily take out the scandal and prima donna ridden NBA. After all, the two fanbases are similar: young, full of cash, bearded crazy fans(Mavericks don't count, minor league hockey isn't the same. Independence destroys hockey, the fanbase is trashy). Flyers borrowed Doop from the Union, various teams owned by same owners. The two partnering up just makes sense. Cross promote through each other, offer deals to the other, buy a hockey ticket, get a soccer ticket. People will eat it up and love both teams.

I think I'm simply excited to see what NBC wants to bring with their MLS coverage. This isn't Fox or ESPN, they didn't need MLS with other rights like EPL and NFL. NBC needs MLS to succeed and will help out in every single way. Signing Arlo White was a great idea, and their nightly sports show has already had Grant Wahl on, an instant selling point for me. Simply keep it up, MLS weekly highlight show, coverage on everything every night, and I see no reason why the league and the network can't benefit from this partnership.