Ok, first of all, let me make this clear - this is a somewhat off topic blog.
Today was my first experience at a Toronto FC soccer game (or to all the Brits who read my blog- footy… ok no one British reads this blog). Ok, I know what you're thinking, why soccer? Well I ended up getting free tickets and was placed in the most raucous crowd I have ever been part of. And yeah, I bought the jersey.
These fans are chanting 20 minutes before the game, they have drums, 10 feet wide flags, more streamers than a Gay Pride parade and to top it off, they have a cheer coordinator with a giant microphone.
These guys are what fanship should be. I personally don’t care much for the MLS brand of soccer. But this experience was unlike any other sporting event I have been to (no I have never been to see European soccer or March Madness). These fans actually throw streamers at players before they are about to kick the ball – totally interfering with the play. Confetti is blown onto the pitch by the thousands (over 20,000 today) of fans as they cheer on their Reds.
The fans have scarves with their seating section number stitched onto it, their flags have their section numbers and individual seating sections compete for cheering during the game. The FC ended up winning the game 3-2 in what has to be some kind of a record for soccer games (usually they score as many goals as Wade Belak).
This all made me think, well, wish, that all hockey games could be like that. The intensity of the fans brought out the mini soccer fan in me.
After the game I watched the Marlies defeat the Hartford Wolf Pack 4-1 at Ricoh Coliseum. It was a good game, Kris Newbury played great earning the first star and Justin Pogge stood tall with 29 saves. Mark Bell was off his game playing sluggishly and taking a few bad penalties. Artem Anisimov and Bobby Sanguinetti were pretty much invisible as I expected these Ranger prospects to play well. Sanguinetti was given much leeway by his coach but he didn’t seem to be into the game.
Today was my first experience at a Toronto FC soccer game (or to all the Brits who read my blog- footy… ok no one British reads this blog). Ok, I know what you're thinking, why soccer? Well I ended up getting free tickets and was placed in the most raucous crowd I have ever been part of. And yeah, I bought the jersey.
These fans are chanting 20 minutes before the game, they have drums, 10 feet wide flags, more streamers than a Gay Pride parade and to top it off, they have a cheer coordinator with a giant microphone.
These guys are what fanship should be. I personally don’t care much for the MLS brand of soccer. But this experience was unlike any other sporting event I have been to (no I have never been to see European soccer or March Madness). These fans actually throw streamers at players before they are about to kick the ball – totally interfering with the play. Confetti is blown onto the pitch by the thousands (over 20,000 today) of fans as they cheer on their Reds.
The fans have scarves with their seating section number stitched onto it, their flags have their section numbers and individual seating sections compete for cheering during the game. The FC ended up winning the game 3-2 in what has to be some kind of a record for soccer games (usually they score as many goals as Wade Belak).
This all made me think, well, wish, that all hockey games could be like that. The intensity of the fans brought out the mini soccer fan in me.
After the game I watched the Marlies defeat the Hartford Wolf Pack 4-1 at Ricoh Coliseum. It was a good game, Kris Newbury played great earning the first star and Justin Pogge stood tall with 29 saves. Mark Bell was off his game playing sluggishly and taking a few bad penalties. Artem Anisimov and Bobby Sanguinetti were pretty much invisible as I expected these Ranger prospects to play well. Sanguinetti was given much leeway by his coach but he didn’t seem to be into the game.
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