Reo-Coker Sends Cronin To The Stratosphere

Not much to really say here, but feast your eyes on the glorious "horror tackle" heard 'round the world:

The Daily Mail is really making a meal of this, but you know what? There's no such thing as bad publicity. Unless you're John Furlong, that is.

Doo doo doo... Nigel Reo-Coker!

Steve Perry - "O'Brien"

Since arriving in Vancouver, Andy O'Brien has been a rock solid presence on the back line and an absolute pleasure to watch from the stands. His no-nonsense approach to the game makes for great football... but it's his no-nonsense approach to his opponents that makes for some really fantastic entertainment.

His bollocking of fellow Irishman Robbie Keane during the Whitecaps 2012 playoff match against LA Galaxy was popcorn worthy to say the least... but his recent attempt to dwarf-toss a ground-hugging Steven Lenhart during last night's match against San Jose is the sort of thing that will stamp his name on the minds of Whitecaps fans for a generation or two.






Word to all you MLS primadonnas out there (this means YOU Ferreira!):

Andy O'Brien will not be intimidated. He will not be starstruck. He will pack you and your bullshit into a trashbag and dump you at the curb.

Here's a simple wee song to sing our praises of the hardworking Irishman who never gives anything less than his best. The chorus kicks in at the 0:50 mark:

To the tune of "Oh Sherrie" - Steve Perry:

O'Brien!
Our love! 
Holds On!
Holds On!

PS: A lot of you young 'uns might be asking "Who the hell is Steve Perry?"

He's just the guy from a little band in the 80s that has collected a zillion dollars in royalties since one of their tunes was on the final episode of The Sopranos.  Maybe you've heard of it?



 Cheers,

@johnniemonster

Big Ridge Is A Big Deal

The Whitecaps match away to Chivas has concluded. I am hoarse and disappointed from the result, but far from heartbroken. Our boys in blue and white were done in by an awful curveball of an own goal, but otherwise showed tremendous promise as a gutsy attack-minded team that has allllllmost got their shit together. We're not quite there, but we're on the verge. Patience.

One thing you will not have to wait long for is a freshly poured beverage of your choosing at Big Ridge Brewing Company, the Southsiders' new "South of the Fraser" pub partner. Sweet mercy, our server worked the room like Kekuta Manneh on rocket fuel, and I don't think my glass sat empty longer than a minute without an offer to top it up. Well done, Sara C. Those efforts were nothing short of heroic.

I had been to Big Ridge a few times in the past, but tonight was my first excursion there to join my fellow Southsiders for an away game viewing. It's located at the corner of 152 Street and Highway 10 (56 Avenue). If you come to Surrey by SkyTrain, they even have a shuttle that will be dispatched to pick you up at King George Station, and it will take you back there once the evening's tomfoolery and shenanigans have come to an end (call ahead to make arrangements).

The pub side of the venue was decked out in scarves hung with care from the light fixtures, and the bar staff were wearing the Southsiders "Never Mind The Bollocks" and Subbuteo shirts. Over on the restaurant side, Southsiders and other Whitecaps fans took up a good number of tables while watching the match on the big screens.

It goes without saying that there were more people watching the game at Big Ridge than the Home Depot Center.

This is the view from near the entrance to the pub side. There's quite a few more tables just out of the frame, but all were filled with cheery, optimistic Whitecaps fans. Full marks to the pub for giving us priority during a simultaneous broadcast of a Canucks game - it was the Caps game you heard on the overhead sound, while the Canucks skated silently through their latest embarassment in Edmonton. 

Much credit has to be given to Rob Wheeler, a Southsider who recognized there was a real need for a soccer-friendly suburban venue to complement the group's existing partnership with Doolin's Irish Pub in downtown Vancouver. Through word of mouth and social media he has grown small gatherings of Caps fans  into worthwhile community events that really bring supporters together. As word spreads, these viewing parties are only going to get better, so be sure to give Big Ridge a try.

It doesn't hurt that the food is fantastic, either. Today I tried the beer battered garlic fries, and let me tell you, the name does not do those things justice. Forget every preconceived notion you have about fries served at a pub. These were crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, well seasoned with garlic, shallots, jalapeno and... dear mother of god... is that a hint of cinnamon and sugar?  These are almost a hybrid of proper British chips and, if you can believe it, Those Little Donuts from the PNE. Put them in your face hole immediately! You will thank me later, and when you do, I sincerely hope your gratitude will be shown in the form of purchasing more of these delicious garlic fries and shoveling them into my gaping maw.

So here was the damage tonight... not bad at all. It only shows two free pop refills on there, but I'm damn sure I hit double digits.

It's always great to see our membership perks materializing outside of BC Place. Don't ever lose sight of the fact that supporters who work together can become a highly desirable and influential demographic with a little bit of effort. What I'm talking about goes beyond soccer. There is real strength in numbers and unity, and businesses in the Lower Mainland are starting to recognize what groups like the Southsiders bring to the table.

Big Ridge Brewing Company: thanks for letting us bring the party to your doorstep.You've been great hosts so far and we're looking forward many more matchdays under your excellent hospitality.

Cheers,

@johnniemonster

Rain City Brigade: East Van 's Heart Beats On At BC Place

This past week I reached out to some of the growing number of supporters groups who are helping stomp out the city's No-Funcouver reputation chant by chant, scarf by scarf, beer by beer.
 
This week we start things off with the Rain City Brigade.

We caught up with founding member Mike Kruk, and he was gracious enough to do a very lengthy Q&A to help introduce his crew to the rest of the city.

We covered a tremendous amount of ground, so much in fact that I'm holding quite a bit of it back for now. It's my intention to visit a few specific issues in future postings that relate to the growing supporters movement, such as ticket prices, pub culture and stadium policies that are either helping or hindering the efforts of supporters to be at their best.  Mike provided some great stuff from the RCB perspective, but for now we'll just stick with the introductions, the basics, the how do you do's. Be sure to revisit this blog as I bring those other important discussions forward later.

__________________________________________________

JMFC:     Tell us about the formation of your supporters club... how has your group grown over the past couple of seasons? 

Mike:     Basically we were a group well before our brand and name of Rain City Brigade came about. We were a core group of about 10-20 friends who have been going to VWFC games for many years now. It wasn't until the move to Empire where we decided to try to all get tickets together. This worked a bit, as there was a vast difference in the desired price, but wasn't perfect. Then again, once the move to BC Place came, we decided to once and for all move to one single section, that being 248 (VWFC FO gave us that section as it was the only lot available), and claim it as our own. We then came up with the name, designed a logo, and branded ourselves RCB.

The group officially began in 2010-2011 season with around 20 people. We are currently sitting around 125 members at the start of the 2013 season. Our growth is generally attributed to our organic approach to having fun and supporting the team; that being, meet up, drink beer, and see friends, all while supporting the team we love.

JMFC:     What sort of factors do you think are driving that growth?  

Mike:     Driving our growth is two things. We are not about having a strict regiment for chants, etc. We chant what we want to chant, when we want to chant. No predetermined timings, no routine to follow, we just go off the vibe of the game and the crowd. The other force attracting people I believe is our brand. The idea behind the clothing/merch/etc that I designed is that I wanted to make something I would gladly wear anytime, not just at a Whitecaps game. Most of the initial members in the group are of a similar style, kind of old school east Vancouver punk rockers/skateboarders, so most of us don't wear jerseys or team colours as a fashion sense. The black and white colours, the themes of the logos, and the look of the merch more fit with our own personal style.

People who know what RCB is, will know it supports the VWFC, but if you don't know what RCB is and you see the logo, it encourages you to ask about it. This seems to attract people to the group and get people talking. Both are good traits of a logo design and brand. 

JMFC:     Supporters groups are congregating at a variety of locations around BC Place. What has been the match day reaction / response from non-members near your section? Do you reach out to them in any way ? Do you try to engage them in what you are doing, or do you just let those who are interested in your style of support come to you?    

Mike:     With our section, 248, it has been a mixed bag.  We are on the cusp of the "supporters sections," and there is a soft line between 248/246 which is not defined by a staircase or anything. Occasionally this means we have to explain why were are not sitting down and why we are yelling like crazy. Nobody has really had a problem with it, we have just found a education gap there. This generally applies to one off tickets for the games, as to the season ticket holders in the section, they enjoy having us there (from what they have told us anyways). Within the first few games at BC Place people were asking us what we were about, so we would explain and invite them to our events at the bar before the match. Sometimes give them some free swag to make them feel included. It generally has been a success.

An interesting thing we have noticed, which I'm sure the other groups experience as well, is that after the halftime break, we always have a few dozen more people in our section. They just pile in and want in on the action. Sometimes they join up after, sometimes we never see them again. But everyone has fun.

JMFC:     Each supporters group has its own style of support. What is unique about your group’s identity and personality that sets you apart from others at BC Place? 

Mike:     Well, I think we just are there to have a good time and support the team. We don't desire to be the largest group, or the oldest group, or even the group with the most flags, we just want to drink beer, have fun, and be with our friends.  That, and our East Van edge, and the fact that we don't take ourselves too seriously make us a bit more unique then the other groups.

JMFC:     You’ve been handed a magic wand. The instruction manual says “Wave this wand at BC Place, and 20,000 people will participate in ONE song or chant of your choice for 15 minutes.”  What's your pick?

Mike:     Another tough one. To be selfish, I'd like to see our "Goals" chant kick in one day [Editor's note: It's posted at the end of the article].  But in a real world, it would have to be to a chant that we don't have yet. As supporters for the team, all of the individual groups need to figure out a single chant that will raise the spirits of anyone who hears it, make them want to join in and will invoke fear into the visiting team and fans. Seattle has their "Take em all," Portland has their "Portland Boys," and we don't have anything really yet.

This will be a difficult endeavour until all the supporter groups for the VWFC come together and create an over-arching name for team supporters. We can keep our own names, our own brand, etc, but we need some kind of singular name to represent the VWFC supporters, and this is where the decision by the FO needs to be influenced.

My personal first place winner for what song to use is  The Exploited - "What You Gonna Do." Great old-school Scottish punk band if you don't know them.

__________________________________________________

Thanks to Mike and everyone at RCB for bringing the noise at BC Place. They've been a great asset to the betterment of match day atmosphere, and I'm personally looking forward to singing my guts out alongside them during Cascadia awaydays.

If you're looking for more info about the RCB, I suggest visiting their Facebook page or following @raincitybrigade on Twitter.

Now here's that chant Mike is hoping will catch on... it's catchy, it's recognizable and it has great potential if Whitecaps fans give themselves permission to have a little fun once in a while. There's a YouTube video underneath to give you a sense of the tune.

Cheers,

@johnniemonster

Presidents Of The USA - "Chivas"

What a disaster Chivas USA has been. On the pitch, off the pitch. If ever there was a failed experiment in  shameless pandering to multicultural communities, it was this. Or the BC government #QuickWins scandal. But definitely this.

You may be interested to know that I have acquired a transcript from a 2004 board meeting at MLS headquarters that reveals exactly how this abomination of a marketing disaster came to fruition.

Have a read, and enjoy the absurdity. There's a nifty little chant further below for use at the next Whitecaps away viewing party.

________________________

Don Garber: Well fellas, I've just got word that the supporters in the Pacific Northwest have created a trophy to celebrate their regional derby. As such, I'm devoting a vast majority of the league's resources to stealing it from them helping supporters protect their brand from devious third party interests who might seek to tarnish their silverware through vulgar corporate sponsorships. Our efforts will be a stealth operation, completely under the radar, and entirely unknown to the supporters we are fucking over valiantly defending. Our efforts are supported by important strategic partnerships with Blockbuster Video and several sub-prime mortgage lenders to ensure financial stability in the decades to come. Great idea, right? Well that's the kind of long-term thinking I want to see from you guys. So keeping that in mind, who has some ideas for expanding the league?

Suit #1: Maybe we should look to the Pacific Northwest then? There's great history there that goes back to the 1970s, and the clubs are well supported.

Don Garber: No, I think that's a bit premature. I think we need to spend a few years scheming to steal their cup observing their operations from afar before making any hasty decisions that could reflect poorly on the league.The last thing we want is to earn a bush league reputation when we're presently on par with the English Premiership in terms of international prestige.

Suit #2: Wait a second... you know who likes soccer? MEXICANS!

Suit #1: You're right, but... America is a country of 300 million people. How on earth are we going to sift through them all to find the Mexicans? 

Don Garber: I hear the state of Arizona is also sifting though their population looking for Mexicans. Now why would they do such a.... OMFG! Are they starting their own league?

Suit #2: No! I have this all figured out! We go to LOS ANGELES! There are Mexicans in Los Angeles, and  Major League Soccer will pander to reward this very important soccer-loving demographic!

Don Garber: But Los Angeles already has a team...

Suit #2: But they don't have a MEXICAN team for all the Mexicans!

Suit #1: He's right! This is a formula for success! Let's launch an expansion team in our FLAGSHIP MARKET and reap the rewards! After all, who wants to settle for one cookie when you can have two!

Suit #1: By cookie I think you mean "enchilada," don't you?

Uproarious laughter echoes into the night. Finally, an awkward silence settles in. Don Garber has a solemn look on his face. He's had a realization. He knows what needs to be done.

Suit #1: What is it Don?

Don Garber: There are two things we need to do to ensure this expansion effort makes good financial sense. First, we are not going to forge ahead with some new team of comprised of random Mexican players... oh, no. We are going to clone an EXISTING team from Mexico... one that already has a dedicated and committed fan base... and we are going to bring them to Major League Soccer. 

Suit #2: I have every confidence that there is virtually noooo-oo-oo chance that this will alienate Los Angeles supporters of other Mexican clubs and polarize them against us. I am certain of this. Now what else, Dear Leader, what must be done?

Garber leans back in his seat and puts his feet up on the table. He lights a smoke and scratches his junk. 

Don Garber:  Our team of "MexiClones?" Yeah, they're gonna play in the SAME STADIUM as our flagship franchise. It's foolproof. I hope you boys enjoy counting money!

Fast forward to 2013 and imagine the crickets chirping:

Ouch.....

Which brings us to the chant du jour. It's a fun and silly tune that you'll recall from a bygone era when Seattle was slightly more tolerable than it is now, thanks largely to its music scene. 

To the tune of "Peaches" - Presidents Of The United States Of America:

Movin' to the country, gonna beat a lot of Chivas

Movin' to the country, gonna beat a lot of Chivas

Movin' to the country, gonna beat a lot of Chivas

Movin' to the country, gonna beat a lot of Chivas

Chivas where are your fans?

What's with all those empty stands?

Oh Chivas it's a shaaaa-aaa-aaame

If I had my little way

I'd play Chivas every day

Oh Chivas it's a shaaaa-aaa-aaame

Cheers,

@johnniemonster

R.E.M. - "The One I Love"

All right folks, time to share my earworm of the week.

I recently heard blast from the past on the radio that immediately implanted the seeds for a Whitecaps chant into the fertile soils of my brain. I don't know how I hadn't thought of this one sooner. It meets all of the necessary criteria for Monster-approved chants: 1) Simple. 2) Repetitive. 3) Recognizable. I hope you enjoy it.

Our inspiration comes all the way from 1987, a time when popular musical genres were bending and blending to such an extent that virtually any band that appealed to young people was called "alternative."  Such is the case of a little band from Athens, Georgia that made the leap from college radio to international superstardom.

No, it's not these guys...

  
It's these guys!

To the tune of "The One I Love" - R.E.M.


This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the team I stand behind
A simple song
To occupy my time
This one goes out to the blue and white

Now follow the verse above with this bit below... generally follow the tune of  the lead guitar part that kicks in at the 1:45 mark. 

Whoa! La-la-la-la!
Whoa! La-la-la-la!
Whoa! La-la-la-la!
La-la la-la laaaaa la!
This one goes out to the blue and white


PS: I'd like to apologize to all you kids out there under the age of 30 with confused looks on their faces. These little boxes in my blog... you know, the ones that play songs along with the weird art school film shit... these are called "music videos." Years ago we had these channels called MuchMusic and MTV, and they would show these "music videos" all day. There were no shows about daft teen moms, orange-skinned douchebags or big-bootied Kardashians. Just music... and only music.

Your generation sucks and will be remembered in history accordingly.  :p

Cheers,

@johnniemonster

It's Time For The Awaydays!

YES! The Southsiders have just posted their tickets for the Cascadia Cup awaydays online!

Click here to begin your journey to football paradise!

It doesn't matter if you're a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed newbie or a cynical old Swangard oldtimer, this is the time for all Vancouver supporters to warm up the credit cards and pre-plan the sick days!

(Hello boss? Cough! Cough! It's that awful monkeypox acting up again! Aggravated my di-a-beetus too!)

The away matches to Seattle are incredible fun, and it's the optimal situation for first-timers just easing themselves into the Vancouver supporters community. Don't know anybody yet? Bollocks. Hop on the bus with the Southsiders and you'll have matchday pals for the rest of the season. It's that simple. Just add beer and watch the awesomeness grow before your eyes.

Yes, that's right, I forgot to mention the beer. You see, loyal readers (all six of you), once we enter the land of the free and the home of the brave, beer undergoes an amazing chemical tranformation where

a) it's suddenly cheaper than Coca Cola; and

b) it's suddenly safe for adults over the age of 21 to consume on a private charter bus!

High five, 'Merica!

Every Southsiders bus trip makes a snack and bevvie stop at the Cost Cutters in Blaine, a mystical place where you can buy 18 cans of beer for $15. Check out the flyer! It's our special way of celebrating our release from the dastardly clutches of the Department of Homeland Rubber Gloving.

Border waits aside, the travel to Seattle isn't all that long - maybe two hours, three if traffic is buggered.


(Seriously, Sounders: WTF is up with the line-ups between Seattle and Olympia? What's going on there?)

The Emerald City is a beautiful city with lots to see and do before and after the match. Pike Place Market is like Granville Island on steroids (in a good way), and you can venture over to the Experience Music Project to drool over Jimi Hendrix guitars or a plate of insanely good garlic fries.

The Seattle stadium experience is an incredible sight to behold, too. All 40,000 of those rave green eyesores stand the entire 90 minutes - men, women, kids, young and old alike. I really hope to see that in Vancouver some day. The standing, that is, not the retinal-scorching brain damage.

Seattle is also where magic happens. I saw this IN PERSON:

Did you see me in that video? Probably not, but rest assured I was one of hundreds of Vancouverites losing bladder control admidst the explosion of blue and white flags.

Now don't get me wrong... Seattle's great and all... but if you want to really earn your stripes, you MUST do an overnighter in Portland. The journey down is long (five hours after crossing the border), but there is plenty to pass the time. Take your pick of on-board entertainment, for example: we have movies on overhead TV sets, rowdy games of Battleshots (ask @djwendo), hilarious banter (ask @cayleestewart), and there's usually one or two rounds of  "How Did We Lose Those F---ing Australians Again?"

Then there's this:

You will be amazed at the sort of atmosphere Vancouver's supporters can generate with that wooden roof over our heads in Portland. It puts the noise levels of most matches at BC Place to shame, and I'm sincerely not exaggerating about that. Everybody who makes the trip goes because their heart is truly in it, and as you can tell from the video above, it DOES make a difference on the pitch. I also love to see the collaboration play out between the @Southsiders, @CurvaCollective and @RainCityBrigade all within a few sections of each other, side by side. Throw in the banter back and forth with the @TimbersArmy, and you've got yourself the greatest weekend a Vancouver soccer supporter could possibly hope for. Don't miss out!

Last year I organized a #CapsOnTour Portland post match dinner at a great Mexican restaurant and led a pub crawl down Burnside Avenue. Here's a link to the one and only #CapsOnTour party map of 2012!

As you can see I've got all the locations of the hotels, dormitories and a good selection of Portland pubbery to whet your whistle. Should we do it again? Mix it up a little? Let me know what you think, and perhaps I'll update the map for 2013.

Last but not least, we wouldn't be going anywhere this year if it wasn't for our tireless and incredibly humble Southsiders Director of Away Travel, Ms. Rebecca Contant (@shomgotoshi). Her task is one that is immensely complex, horribly time consuming, and only slightly more pleasant than attempting to herd feral cats into a Mr. Turtle pool. Please tweet her some gratitude for the insane amount of work she has been doing to ensure that folks like you and I get to enjoy ourselves. Thanks Rebecca!