This past weekend, I got to do something I have had the craving to do for months… I went to a Real Salt Lake soccer game. I was extremely excited, as soccer is probably my most guilty and pleasureful of my guilty pleasures. I was anxious to see the huge field, be surrounded by crazed fans and participate in some heckling. Most of all, I was just excited to see “the beautiful game” be played. I was, however, highly disappointed.
“The beautiful game” was defecated on by my very own team. I sat rooting for, what I knew, was one of the lowest ranked teams in the MLS. I had high hopes that I would witness an upset against a so-called ‘better’ team. I know that soccer can be any teams game on any given day. There really is no ‘better’ team (as Brazil proved in last year’s World Cup). I was crossing fingers and toes and anything else I could cross with the hope of seeing an RSL goal, or at least a good match. I watched the Fire steal ball after ball, and take multiple shots, one of which was one of the most beautiful volleys that I’ve seen in a LONG time. Chicago quickly and easily took the lead. The huge Fire fan base was going crazy. It was a very sobering experience.
I want to emphasize, however, that as much as I hate to lose… losing was not the most disappointing thing about my RSL experience. The real let down was witnessing a stadium full of crazed fans cheer for a team who had (from what I could see) little or no interest in winning. It is a sad, SAD day when the passion the fans have for the game exceeds the passion of the athletes. There are so many amazing players out there that love the game, who would die to play professionally… if the RSL team (excepting Andy Williams, #77, who was the only player who looked like he had the desire to score) doesn’t have the desire or motivation to play the game, bring in someone who does. I honestly saw more desire to win during the half time show… how sad is that?
Evil Overloard »« Toilet Humor
Real Salt Lake is a joke! I think that hiring the former player Jason Kreis was one of the stupidist things they could have done. All he’s done since he’s been here is trade away their good players for worse players. I’m not a coach but I seriously couldn’t see myself trading away last years league leading scorer. I think that coach Kreis had some personally issues with these players pawning them off to other teams who I’m sure gladly jumped at the opportunity to make these trades! Real Salt Lake are a joke to watch they are a disgrace to soccer as we know it. However I have really enjoyed watch Beckham play in America! He has been unstoppable since he has been here! He has taken a team that was barely above real salt lake and made them into a much better team. My advice for Real get some players and coaches that care about the lovely game of futbol! My next Real game will be against LA Galaxy. I’m not going for real I’m going to watch Beckham!
