Quote:
Originally Posted by mistercorporate
Fans attend games or watch them on tv. Supporters typically sit in the worst seats in the stadium in terms of sightlines. They spend the whole match singing, chanting, waving flags and generally urging on their team while giving a hard time to opposing teams, rain or shine (this is the only area in which fans and supporters overlap in behaviour). They also attend the matches of the farm team and give a full 90 minute full throated show, no sitting, just standing, jumping and in similar fashion even though the atmosphere there is nothing like a first team game, nor as glamorous. Supporters are required to attend almost every match and half hearted support leads to losing supporter privileges (hanging out in the Supporter section and participating in other activities). They march to the stadium before key games in a display of solidarity and aggression towards their opponents (each supporter group tends to have their own style). They spend their weekends doing things like making banners for the team, going on drunken away trips and playing sports with other supporters. It's a die-hard subculture and appeals to many people, hands down some of the funnest and most outgoing people you could hang out with. I for one am not a supporter, just a fan but enjoy their presence and appreciate the dynamic they add to any game's atmosphere.
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I've never actually had that explained to me. I just thought soccer fans stuck their noses up to the word "fan" because it was too north american. Honestly my biggest problem with the average MLS fans is these are mostly born Canadians and Americans prancing around like they are from England or Europe and it actually bothers me. The way they disrespect grid iron football like it's a lesser sport for lesser people and soccer is for the sophisticated and far more classy.
Honestly I live for sports and in many ways I crave and envy the experience that TFC fans have. It's something I love about fans in Winnipeg, Jets fans and bomber fans are some of the loudest rowdiest in the CFL/NHL. It's why I have never been big on live Eskimo games nor oilers. So trust me I do respect the hardcore "supporters" idea. But it's the anti north Americanism in MLS soccer that fires me up. You would never call rogers centre "grounds" or the field instead of baseball pitch. Now I get that these are commonly used terms overseas but why does it have to be adopted here? For instance on the RPB forum i see them say "it's a proper this and proper that" it just seems like the average MLS fan is just trying to fit in with the big league fans overseas by mimicking them and that's kind of puzzling to me.
and to be honest sort of frustrating. I'm not trying to offend yo when i say this but when I see you guys holding up scarf's or singing in the stands it just seems so unauthentic to me. Another example is russia and the KHL, Hardcore hockey culture however they do it differently, they whistle instead of cheer or boo i cant remember, The ice is different they have made it there own instead of copying the NHL or North american hockey fans. So I definetly look at MLS fans as less "culty" however my beef will still remian with how you try and distance yourselves from the rest of the North american sports scene.
I also don't like the dismiss of the CFL like its insignificant or somehow not on the same calibre as the MLS and it pisses me off in ways I can never explain because it's so disrespectful to league loved in many ways the same level as the NHL in canada. A domestic soccer league to canada will NEVER be on the same level as the cfl in this country and that speaks volumes. but i dont wanna get into the MLS vs CFL debate, I'm way off topic to this thread as it is
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definitely impressive I will say ive never heard our anthem sung collectively like that in a stadium. Gave me goosebumps
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