ESC PROTESTING NJSEA?!
By: Dave Martinez | July 27th, 2007
V.
If you are a fan of the Red Bulls, you should definitely visit the crew at metrofanatic.com. Bigsoccer is great, but metrofanatic is truly the trenches of Red Bull NY.
A visit to the boards, where I expected nothing more than depressing talk about another Metro meltdown, was replaced by angry posts from the most hardcore supporters in the RBNY nation. They are talking protest, folks. Against the same people that provide Red Bulls games. And it seems like they mean business.
As the story goes, dating back to the New England Revolution game, maybe even beyond that, there has been an ongoing battle between the ESC and their supporters against the yellow shirt security personnel in the Stadium. People being thrown out for streamers, cursing, or just being generally loud and obnoxious (like any of us can help that right?)
Soccer is a unique game, with celebrations from the stands that exceed the participation levels in any other sport, bar none. Streamers, Noise makers, Drums, whistles, flares, smoke bombs – its what being a soccer fanatic is all about. And it is what the ESC does best.
Now, maybe its the move to Harrison, or the low attendance, maybe NJSEA doesn’t want to hire cleaners to clear out section 101 after the game, who knows. But the crackdown has begun on all levels of fan celebration, top to bottom.
The protest, as is being roughly formulated, would include a 15 – 20 minute period of silence, with section 101 wearing yellow shirts, to clearly show whom they are protesting, and why they are doing so.
Though the idea is rather brilliant and fair (especially considering the more violent levels worldwide some soccer fanatics would use to give a message), I would fear that it could be misconstrued. Someone may think they are protesting the ref’s. For all they know, it could be silence for the miserable play on the field the last few weeks. Dont tell me you didnt hear the FIRE ARENA chants. . .
And do the players really want to hear silence as the game begins? Lets face it, though other groups such as Kearnys Army and Red Bull Nation have sizable followings, none does the job the ESC does of bringing that genuine soccer fanatic feel to this side of the pond. And that alone can give a player a little more umph before the start of a game. Especially during a long summer dry spell.
Regardless, these guys are pissed, and at this point, they seem to be more mobilized than ever.
Why can’t there be a compromise of some sort? Streamers but no flairs. Confetti but no smoke bombs. Sensable things of that nature. But banning all of it? It seems a bit unfair, especially after all these years. To take away the essence, the spirit of RBNY, Section 101 completely, instead of doing something a bit more down the middle, and just banning the things that would make sense to ban, is wrong. Sensability should rule in this instance.
It is alleged on the metrofanatic.com boards, that someone had their balloons confiscated. If this is the case, I think anyone would be fair in saying that these measures are a bit extreme.
Lets establish a middle ground. Because, from where I am sitting, a lot of season ticket holders are getting extremely upset. And that usually gets the ball rolling towards solutions.
It should be interesting to see what happens. Maybe tempers will die down with the long lay off till the next home game. Maybe they wont. Who knows. The only certainty is that, right now, alot of fans are really, really upset.
If you wish to voice your opinions or concerns, contact the NJSEA, and let them know how you feel.
ADDITIONAL: I am not affiliated with ESC nor am I a season ticket holder, though next year may be a different story (if I get more green of course. money money money MONEY! MONEY!)
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