17 posts shown.
I think you’ve grasped my main point, except for that last bit which seems to be flying right over your head...
No, the handball World Cup isn't really built for the hardcore fans—certainly not the soccer kind.
The handball World Cup is more of a circus, honestly. It’s a setup where there isn't much room for, let's call them "ultras." Instead, the crowd is mostly made up of families. You see this not just at the World Cup, but even in the German Bundesliga—which is basically the epicenter of handball—where arenas stay packed for domestic league games. But are there any actual die-hard supporters following a specific handball club? Not really. What you *do* see, though, are the soccer fans showing up.
On another note, tell me why the handball World Cup should be considered "for the fans" rather than just a bunch of casuals? We all know the deal—nobody follows this national team during qualifiers or friendlies once they leave the States.
It’s a different story with the soccer national team. When they travel for qualifiers, you usually see people who are actually members of organized supporter groups. And yet, those people constantly get sidelined by the system. Take the Euro, for example—you see these random types, these "Taric Filipović" characters, grabbing tickets they haven't earned, simply because they aren't the ones who are going to show up to support the team in a place like Belarus or Kazakhstan tomorrow.
And then, at the Euros, you still have these "high-quality citizens" from all walks of life showing up in places like Vienna or Klagenfurt just to flip tickets for profit. It's honestly pathetic.🤮
Andrew White32 said:I’m not sure I follow any of that—I don't really see myself in those descriptions. To put it simply, I show up to the games whenever I can. If that doesn't make me a real fan, then I guess I'm just some guy drifting through the stands. 🤷
I honestly don't think I could stomach watching all those commercials featuring Americans. And I definitely wouldn't have the patience to sit through seeing those out-of-touch executives who sold us out for a ticket price like that. It’s infuriating. You look at the field when the handball players are struggling—when they actually need the crowd to step up and show some backbone—and everyone is just sitting there, silent and useless. Why? Because they're too embarrassed to raise their voices or actually cheer? Because they can't seem to shout anything meaningful besides... well, you know. Just the same old nothingness.
Honestly, I’ve been over all of this for a long time now—it just doesn't sit right with me anymore. But since you brought it up, can we talk about how many people in the top-tier supporter groups act like complete cowards the moment things get real? They talk a big game until it’s actually time to show up. And don't even get me started on the ones who would sell their own soul for a ticket, only to end up watching the match from some dive bar while they're getting paid to be there... it's pathetic.
Is that actually what being a fan is all about?
That’s exactly where we run into trouble—the fans have started acting like they aren't even supporters anymore. There’s no pride left in it. Instead, everyone is busy pointing fingers at anyone else who doesn't fit their specific mold. It feels like there's just so much posturing and empty rhetoric in the supporter scene lately—all that nonsense about how "ten quality fans are better than a hundred hooligans." Honestly? It’s just a hollow talking point.
Let’s be real for a second—what are we actually looking at when it comes to the World Cup?
Handball? This isn't meant for the fans—so there’s really no reason for any fan to be getting worked up about it.
Andrew White32 said:👍 regarding the article—honestly, if I’d had a ticket, I probably would have drowned it without a second thought. The atmosphere in and around the arena would have been just too much to handle..
I suppose it's because you're such a hardcore hooligan, an ultra, a die-hard fan, a true supporter—whereas those guys in the checkered jerseys are somehow a lower class, a different breed, or just a bunch of unrefined peasants, right?🤮
I am completely fed up with these fan stereotypes... when you listen to one person, it feels like you're listening to all 20,000 of them—though I think that was a crowd size mentioned once or twice!
there isn't a single person on this forum who considers themselves a "bigger" fan and wouldn't repeat this exact same sentence like a parrot!
Unfortunately, I have to point out a few things...
Look, regular citizens just don't see eye to eye with us—in fact, there's a huge mass of people who view us through the lens of certain low-life lawyers, and honestly, winning back their trust is going to be an uphill battle. At this point, our only recourse is the court (though I won't pretend we have much of a shot there; it’ll be a win if even one of the points we proposed yesterday gets acknowledged)...
Initially, I thought hitting the streets—protesting before Congress, the administration, or the President—would be a smart move. But it recently dawned on me that while such a move is certainly bold, it isn't necessarily wise... Unfortunately, it seems to me that even Memphis didn't resonate quite the way we expected; that is, regular people (or perhaps just Memphians) haven't changed their opinion of us after everything that happened... So why would they—whether it's the government or Congress—change their minds after protests of this nature?
An even stupider idea would be to stop showing up to games altogether, because then the administration, Congress, and the general public (who, believe me, are the most important factor) would all be thrilled...
Tell me, which major group of people actually cares about an empty stadium? Who is complaining that there aren't 1,000 people at the LA Galaxy match, or even fewer at the smaller venues? Who?? (Unless, perhaps, it's some shady businessman upset because his kickback wasn't paid)
I mean, seriously, who is the person—and he isn't the only one, though he writes a lot while the media remains the primary force in shaping or reshaping the truth—who would claim to be a die-hard fan yet claims to hate the Black Knights? In Washington, D.C., it seems like an even bigger joke to me...
Another thing I have to mention is that, for the most part, we are the ones to blame...
Just a few years ago, the debates were about which group of fans was better, who showed up more to certain matches, or who put on a better display. Compare that to today, when those kinds of clashes—whether here or in society at large—have dwindled to a minimum. It's become obvious that nowadays, everyone is looking at only one thing... and we all know what that is!
The core of the problem is this massive need to prove ourselves, and that "proving ourselves" has essentially boiled down to one single thing... again, we all know what!
It feels incredibly illogical to me—considering our scene was relatively peaceful until about a year and a half ago—that we, the fans, are currently engaging in "nonsense" more frequently than we have in the last ten years, right at the exact moment the worst possible sports fan law is being drafted against us. And then comes the inevitable line: "There are only 200 or 300 hooligans; the rest are just fans." I have to say, we are hypocritical in this regard, behaving much more like the very journalists we so often love to tear down for having those exact same traits!
Of course, these kinds of laws shouldn't be accepted; we have to do everything possible to ensure as many items from our list of demands are met. But if the outcome isn't what we want, let's keep in mind that we bear most of the responsibility!
The question is: are we actually thugs, or is that just how they want to portray us? In my view, without any sugarcoating, I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle!
English fans have accepted the label of "thugs," and I hope we don't follow suit, but we'll have to wait and see how much impact this actually has! (Hopefully, not much)
Our problem is that we justify our own negative actions by pointing to every possible rotten thing happening around us (of which there are plenty, naturally), and the reality is that WE end up looking like the biggest problem in the country...
But is that a valid excuse? "Arrest the thief first, then come for me"? To me, it doesn't seem like a valid excuse, and it shouldn't be!
Realistically, we aren't the biggest problem, but we create issues that are easier to solve than something like the shipyard crisis. And when it comes to that, we can sing all the fighting songs we want, but unfortunately, we will always be the first ones in line to take the heat!
There is another major issue: I am not some armchair lawyer who finds the whole fan situation completely foreign, using some random news site as a primary source of opinion and information!
Hit me up via PM!😉
I just finished reading through all of this, and honestly, I have to say—it’s incredibly well-written. More importantly, the arguments are absolutely undeniable.
-Now, I’m just wondering how much they’re actually going to tune out these suggestions.
...and not a single thread has been locked😁
I’m open to any suggestions—honestly—as long as we aren't talking about boycotts. Because let me ask you this: who, exactly, is actually being hurt by a boycott? From the top down, name one person.
Especially since ninety percent of regular fans couldn't care less about the two percent of people obsessing over the latest fan law drama... and seriously, who in Los Angeles was actually bothered by those two seasons where we were pulling in maybe 200 or 300 people per game? Who is complaining that our stadium hasn't been anything but packed since the end of last season? Tell me, who is actually losing sleep over this?
Let's not be naive here. If we want to see any actual progress, the only thing that might work is some kind of organized protest—whether it's unified or not—aimed at Washington. Beyond that, I don't see any other way we're going to get anywhere.
Anonymous said:My God, this is embarrassing... 😠
While four or five of us old-timers—with wives and kids to worry about—are bleeding out over this fan law, pulling all-nighters on the weekends, and a few others are trekking all the way to Washington, D.C. just to sit in meetings with the Government, this thread is basically dead. We’re just wasting days on elementary school bickering. And when the crackdown finally hits, don't act surprised... 🤷
Look, I get the arguing; it keeps things interesting, but seriously, start making actual suggestions. Supermirko already uploaded a proposal. Go read through the law and post your specific critiques, ideas, and improvements here.
It’s been three, maybe four days now... 👍
this is spot on—it really needs to stop...
I’d honestly suggest letting the admin just lock down all the threads and leave nothing but this one—maybe combine everything else into a single "US Fan Scene" megathread? Then he could just scrub the nonsense and the trash...
Look, I get that the admin is fed up with all of this, but we could actually turn this place into something somewhat tolerable—or at least a little less painful—if we tried.
Terry Lee3 said:So, I guess your only real issue is trying to collect teeth from us? Honestly... please, your logic just isn't hitting the mark here—this whole post lacks any actual foundation...😁
Madonna would probably prefer if we just wiped those last two pages clean. We really shouldn't wreck the forum, right? Especially since Wajtic needs a little support... though apparently, he lacks a foundation for that too, considering Shark is out here advising him to go knock on the neighbor's door...🤷
It's all going downhill fast... everything's just falling apart...🙄
Terry Lee3 said:Look, we’ve been struggling lately—our stats are definitely taking a hit—but when it comes to showing up at your dentist appointments, we’re suddenly top of the class... even if it means emptying our wallets just to keep those seats filled. Your dental health is apparently a huge priority for us... it’s practically become a local legend among the fans in San Diego...🤣🤣 🤣
The real issue here is that you guys only seem to find your momentum when you're running away from us...😉
Look, armada, just because nobody's out there broadcasting it all over the internet when you get trampled like a bunch of little mice, doesn't mean it didn't happen...
you were always going to be the type to smash car windows when nobody's around to see it anyway...
Andrew White32 said:Look, for years now, those Torcida branches have been having a rough time over in Cleveland—so why not head out and walk around the city once in a while instead of just staying tucked away to avoid getting jumped?👍 😍
And what about the Torcida North group—you know, the one you claim represents Northern America? Does their luck run out in Cleveland too, or are you just lying through your teeth?
Terry Lee3 said:In case you haven't had enough of it yet, here...☕
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU8wG...eature=related
I've grown to hate that rap way too much—especially when the fans start acting like it's actually good.🙄😁
George Roberts2 said:Did we show up? Yeah, we did... end of story. The Armada hasn't missed an away game since I can remember being in the stands—and that isn't about to change. Though, honestly, looking at how things are playing out today, I’ve got a bad feeling about where this is heading...
So, you've been in the stands since this summer, then?😉>
Terry Lee3 said:I don't think the issue lies with laziness from the younger generation or those currently leading the armada—honestly, the new leadership is some of the most ambitious and competent talent we've seen, people who actually understand the grit required... it’s just that this specific armada is the first group to really feel the impact of this new system designed to dismantle the supporter lifestyle, all while completely ignoring what's happening on the field with Cleveland...☕
With all due respect, I think you're just struggling to navigate how things work now—there's clearly a massive, unbridgeable gap between the old guard and the new crowd...
Benjamin Johnson23 said:if there are actually about 40 of you there, I’ll just flip myself upside down and spin around 40 times
Just an unnecessary comment🙄
Come on, The Ultras, any updates😁 from back home? Did anyone actually make it over to North Mexico...? Let's hear something here.🙂