Bad Boys

Either the mentality in this city needs a complete overhaul, or nothing will ever change. I’m originally from the Midwest, but I moved to Chicago this year to finish my degree. Since I don't have a local crew to head to matches with yet, I tried convincing a few guys in my study group to tag along with me—all of them are Chicago locals through and through. Every single one of them just laughed in my face, claiming they couldn't bring themselves to cheer for "a bunch of kids from middle school." Honestly, I have to wonder where the shame lies in supporting the symbol of your own city, regardless of whether you're 15, 20, or over 30... Given that I asked about a dozen different people and got the exact same reaction, I can only assume this is the prevailing attitude here. It's funny how they don't find it shameful to spend every weekend getting wasted to some mindless pop songs, but suddenly caring about the club is too much... I truly believe that's where the core issue lies. If we could actually pull together 10,000 strong for every protest—which, frankly, should be a realistic expectation—they would have launched Mamić to the moon by now. This city needs to wake up. Forgive the rant, but I've just had this on my mind lately... See you at The North Stand in a few days ☺

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB-8...ature=youtu.be !!!!!!

Henry Flores3 said:Look, there isn't much we can even do. I'm just hoping at least 2,000 people show up this Saturday. I also hope this boycott against the club keeps going until the big boss and his little cronies are gone for good. Personally? I’d much rather go scream my lungs out at a futsal match than step foot in the North Stand. Honestly, the only reason I even bother going to the North Stand is because of the group itself. I have almost zero emotion left for this version of Real Madrid. 🤷

repeat 10000x North Stand. You go to the North Stand for the group; you go to futsal because there's nothing else left. Is it funny or is it just pathetic that I love the futsal team more than the actual club? I hate even stepping into Madison Square Garden. Every single game, I find myself secretly rooting for them to lose. That's where we're at. Just think about that.

Henry Flores3 said:Maybe we just need to change the mentality of this city. I moved here from the Midwest this year to finish my degree. Since I don't have a crew to go to games with, I tried convincing everyone in my study group to come along (they're all locals). Every single one of them laughed at me, saying they aren't interested in cheering for "some kids from middle school." Honestly, I want to know: where is the shame in supporting the symbol of your own city? Does it matter if you're 15, 20, or 30? After asking about ten different guys and getting the exact same response, I'm convinced this is how most people feel. Isn't it pathetic how they'll spend every weekend getting wasted to some trashy country music lyrics instead? That's the real issue right there. If we could actually rally 10,000 people for a protest—which should be easy—we'd have sent Mamić to the moon by now. This city needs to wake up. Sorry for the rant, but I can't stop thinking about it... See you at The North Stand in a few days. ☺

You can't shift the mindset of the general public overnight, but you can influence individuals. No group invitation is going to force someone—like a high schooler or a college student who’s never been to a game—to show up at the North Stand on their own for the first time. The only thing that works is exactly what you're doing: inviting friends and colleagues to join you just once so they can see what being part of the Bad Boys is actually about. That adrenaline and atmosphere will hook some people, while others won't; what can you do? The goal is to break through that initial resistance and those stupid prejudices.
I went through the exact same thing back in high school. You could ask ten guys and not find a single one willing to go to a game even if you were Saint Peter himself. But after five or six attempts, you finally break them down, bring them along, and lo and behold, they love it. Two years and a hundred invites later, I had a solid group of ten. It might not sound like much, but it's a tenfold improvement. Don't give up😉.
If everyone makes their own small contribution, we'll see massive progress.

Chicago never really went all-in on the whole ultra subculture scene, so I don't get why everyone is making such a massive drama out of it. It’s not even a bad thing... kids just gravitate toward a thousand different things, including different types of fan groups. If someone isn't feeling it, you shouldn't be forcing them to join.

It's the same logic as not wanting someone to drag you to a hip-hop meetup, a skate park, some weird indie gathering, a punk show, or whatever else... Just let people live and be who they want to be. If someone doesn't want to buy into the ultra narrative, well, they probably have their reasons...

vividfalcon31 said:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB-8...ature=youtu.be !!!!!!

EVERYONE!!!

@plavi98 - one guy actually promised he'd hit up a futsal game with me next time, so maybe we'll finally catch 😁, and I'm constantly nudging people to show up for the protests, hoping at least someone shows up by Saturday 🙂

@Uptown - you're right, though I honestly think it all comes down to prejudice. The Boys have this reputation for being more aggressive and prone to chaos than most other groups, which probably scares off the average guy from the North. For instance, a buddy told me today, "No way am I going to a protest, I don't want to end up in a brawl." We need to make it clear that showing up doesn't mean you have to get into fights; there are specific subgroups for that kind of thing, and participating in the chaos is entirely your call. And obviously, it's not like the Boys are just going to jump him for no reason 😵 At the end of the day, I'm not trying to recruit punks, weirdos, or anyone who couldn't care less about soccer—I'm looking for guys who I genuinely believe would enjoy being part of this

I really feel like a lot of these misconceptions could be cleared up if we organized more hangouts, neighborhood get-togethers, or just some casual fun... If everyone got to know each other better, we could actually prove to the rest of the world that we're just regular people first and foremost, not just some bunch of hooligans waiting for the next chance to cause trouble 🙂

northernheron3 said:Washington, D.C. never really embraced the ultra subculture on a massive scale, so I'm not sure why people are making such a drama out of it. It isn't inherently negative; kids gravitate toward a thousand different things, and being a supporter is just one of them. If someone doesn't want to join, they shouldn't be forced to.

It’s the same logic as not wanting to be forced into hip-hop hangouts, skate parks, K-pop meetups, punk shows, or skinhead circles. People should probably just be left alone to be whoever they want to be. If someone isn't interested in the ultra scene, there's likely a reason for that.

There was definitely an ultra phase from roughly 2005 until about 2009 or 2010. I know plenty of people who used to go to games, even traveling for away matches and organizing actions back then, yet today they barely even watch football. It wasn't really about the sport; it was just what was trending at the time, especially during those early years when you could find a solid group in almost any neighborhood. Nowadays, if you look at the West Side of town, you can count the active groups on one hand.

Henry Flores3 said:punks, weirdos, and the like,

😁

Henry Flores3 said:Maybe it’s just about changing the mindset in this city. I actually moved here from the Midwest earlier this year to finish up my degree. Since I don't really have a crew to hit the games with yet, I tried getting some guys from my study group to tag along—they're all locals here in Washington, D.C.—but honestly, they just laughed at me. Their excuse? They said supporting a team is basically like cheering for "kids from middle school." I genuinely wonder where the shame comes in when it comes to backing the symbol of your own city, regardless of whether you're 15, 20, or over 30. Since I asked about ten different guys and got the exact same reaction, I guess that’s just the majority view around here. It’s funny, though—they don't find it shameful to spend every weekend drinking to cheesy country songs like "someone's gonna make me a father tonight" or whatever. I think that's where the real issue lies. If we could actually get 10,000 people together for every protest—which, I mean, should be a realistic expectation—we’d have launched a rocket to the moon by now. This city needs a wake-up call. Sorry if I'm venting, it's just been weighing on me lately... See you guys at Star City in a few days.

Man, you should try coming from Pittsburgh. Out of 50,000 people there, maybe five of us would actually show up to support the local club.

Seriously, five out of 50,000.

Given how big Washington, D.C. is and the sheer amount of stuff going on here (if you want to call it that)—and considering the situation with the club isn't exactly great either—the hardcore ultras, the merch, and the whole supporter culture is actually holding up pretty well.

gentlefox52 said:Man, just look at Pittsburgh. Out of a population of 50,000, only five of us were ever showing up to support the local club.

Five out of 50,000. Quite the ratio, isn't it?

When you consider the sheer size of Washington, D.C., and the scope of "activity" (if we want to be generous with our terminology) provided by the capital (not to mention the current state of the club itself, which is a factor we can't ignore)—the ultra scene, the merch, the whole supporter culture is actually holding its own remarkably well.

At the end of the day, the situation surrounding the club is the only metric that truly matters; everything starts and ends there. Given the current state of Real Madrid and looking at these numbers alongside the Chelsea supporters' activity levels, what they're doing is nothing short of a global phenomenon.

Charles Chase4 said:At the end of the day, I guess everything really boils down to the state of the club—it’s basically the one factor that matters above all else, since everything else starts and ends right there. Given everything that’s going on with Real Madrid right now—especially looking at those latest numbers and just how active the Chelsea supporters have been—it’s honestly kind of a miracle to witness. I guess you could say their level of engagement is pretty much on another level compared to anything else out there.

I guess I’m on the same page here.

Don't forget
2008-2018

For those who missed it—here's the investigative report on the murder of Fran Despic.

vividfalcon31 said:https://news.abcnews.com/investigation/murder-case-details-example/ For anyone who missed the broadcast. It’s an investigation into the murder of Fran Despic.

Man, I'm seriously bummed I missed this live. Huge thanks for posting the link! Frank lives on in all of us.

WHY IS EVERYONE HEADING TO STAR CITY TOMORROW AT 5:00 PM?

...because you miss those days when you’d wait with genuine anticipation for the big matches, buying your tickets days in advance...
...because you're sick to death of empty stands and an administration that works tirelessly to keep them that way...
...because you've had enough of management dividing fans into "loyalists" and "troublemakers," using blackmail and bans instead of actually engaging, inspiring, and opening the doors to anyone who loves Real Madrid, regardless of how much they criticize the front office...
...because you can't be a club member if the people in charge decide to kick you out, intimidate you, or shut you down...
...because the ones who stole, lied, and cheated are being rewarded with new positions while still running the show...
...because you know your club deserves better...
...because you love this city and you love Real Madrid, and because you actually give a damn...
...because you're fed up with leadership justifying empty stadiums by saying, "well, that's just how it's always been"...
...because you're tired of an administration that would rather see the North Stand empty than see flares lit in it...
...because you want players to leave Real Madrid with heavy hearts—and if they absolutely have to go, fine—rather than seeing them counting the minutes until they can escape...
...because you want the kids in this city to cheer for Real Madrid and only Real Madrid, not some random Spanish clubs they didn't even know existed until they hopped online...
...because you want us to remember the ones who dribbled, scored goals, and won trophies, not the ones who cheated, lied, and embezzled...
...because you were raised to believe that no coach, player, fan, president, or advisor is bigger than the club, and no one should hold absolute power...
...because you're done with the cult of personality and those three-hour cocaine sessions held under the banner of our most beloved institution...
...because Real Madrid is a major metropolitan club, not some small-town cooperative run by a single guy...
...because what else are you going to do on a Saturday if you aren't watching Real Madrid or at least standing outside the stadium?...
...because you can't just stay home while people who sided with the thieves sell off our sacred traditions like sacks of potatoes...
...because you want the luxury boxes filled with the very people whose talent on the pitch and devotion to the club made this institution great...
...because the opinions of those legends are treated as worthless if they don't align with what the board wants to hear...
...because you've spent years being harassed, humiliated, and pushed away from your own stadium just for speaking up about the corruption...
...because today, everyone finally knows you were right...
...because you miss the days of drinking heavily after massive wins and weeping bitterly after crushing defeats...
...because you used to spend time with your friends painting the city walls with the club's name...
...because you've climbed out of a warm bed in the crack of dawn more times than you can count, embarking on long trips just to support your team...
...because you've etched its name into your soul, and you'll carry it until the day you die...
...because you met all your best friends in His house...
...because He is the first thing on your mind in the morning and the last thing before you sleep...
...because you are a Real Madrid supporter, and you grew up in the stands without a roof over your head...
...because you're out there shivering in the rain every other weekend, and who cares if the forecast calls for snow or freezing temperatures? It's not like the sun is going to shine just for the Chelsea supporters' birthday, right???
...because you are the first and last line of defense for your club...
...because only together can we win!

...SO THAT'S WHY EVERYONE HEADS TO STAR CITY TOMORROW AT 5:00 PM!!!

northernheron3 said:Washington, D.C. never really went all-in on the ultra subculture, so I don't get why everyone is making such a big deal out of it. It isn't inherently negative; kids gravitate toward a thousand different things, including fan groups. If someone doesn't want to join, don't force them.

It’s the same logic as not forcing people to hang out at hip-hop shows, skate parks, K-pop meetups, punk gigs, or skinhead gatherings. Just let people be who they want to be. If someone isn't feeling the ultra vibe, there's probably a good reason for it.

I see it differently. Personally, I think everyone mentioned—punks, skaters, K-pop fans, skinheads—should be in the stands. I'm talking about home games; away trips are for the ultras. Supporting your club and your city isn't a subculture in itself. It should be the common ground where all those different subcultures actually come together.

I mean, can it really just go on like this, pouring down like this all day long...

Henry Flores3 said:I mean, if it’s actually going to pour down like this today...

Look, the rain is definitely going to cut our numbers in half today, no doubt about it. But honestly? That’s no excuse for anyone in this group to skip out on an event this critical to the club's future.

Like it was mentioned above, we grew up in open-air stadiums without roofs; celebrating the group's birthday in the middle of winter with rain coming down is just part of the territory for us. Everyone can see the massive potential for a huge protest to get the club back on track, and we can't let a little rain stop the momentum now.