Chicago Blackhawks fans

Henry Grant51 said:Even if we wanted to show up, we can't even get into the stadium. So all that talk about "not coming back" is dead on arrival.
The other issue is that people are being driven away—people who might actually go to the North Stand—because of the ugly stadium, the idiots in management, the crackdown, the cameras, the zero-tolerance policies, the foreign players, and I could go on forever...
For us, going to a game is basically a gamble where you risk ending up in a holding cell because of some stupidity. Very few people can afford that, nor do they want to... and if none of that existed, then the first point stands: those blacklists prevent us from getting in in the first place.

What you’ve pointed out are essentially the growing pains of modern soccer that fans are dealing with everywhere. This stuff isn't going away just because Management leaves, assuming they ever do.

I think the leaders of the fan clubs need to shift their rhetoric a bit. We’re living in a different era now, and it’s probably not the smartest move to constantly run headfirst into a brick wall acting like we know everything and nobody can tell us anything. Looking at the last few days, even Roy Keane has spoken out against the Ultras, who I think went a little too far this time. And we know he’s never been on the side of Management or the current USSF structure, at least based on recent news reports.

In my opinion, we lose the most when we lean too hard into radicalism.

Anonymous said:I honestly think the top brass in the fan organizations ought to rethink their whole approach considering we’re living in a different era now. It probably isn't the smartest move to constantly run headfirst into a brick wall, acting like we're the only ones with sense and nobody else has a say in how things should work.Looking at the last few days, even Roy Keane has spoken out against the Ultras, who I think went a bit overboard themselves, and we all know he's never been on the side of Management or this whole USSF structure, at least based on what the news has been reporting lately.

In my opinion, we're the ones losing the most by leaning into this radicalism.

I get roughly what you're aiming at, but the way you've phrased it is a bit clumsy. Fans are fans; they shouldn't have to polish their rhetoric or pick specific "polite" words just to try and bridge the gap with outsiders in some pathetic attempt at playing nice. All they're really asking for is for people to respect American laws, provide decent conditions for them to operate under, and actually treat supporters—especially organized groups—as equal stakeholders in the sporting scene (because, let's be honest, the game exists because of the fans). As you've noticed, the law isn't being followed, conditions aren't normal, and far from being treated as equals, fans are systematically smeared. The focus gets shifted away from the actual systemic issues and corruption in American soccer and placed squarely on a few flares or some shouting.

He spoke up, sure, but so did plenty of other characters after that mess with the non-alcoholic beer. Honestly, the people writing these articles should be just as familiar with the same pattern, but hot heads tend to move faster. These guys do everything in the name of looking out for their members, though they occasionally cross the line of good taste while trying to fight the system. But again, we shouldn't obsess over one awkward phrasing; right now, that's the headline and everyone is half-outraged, yet none of these people ever stop to ask why these kids are going through such hell in our stadiums.

You have to distinguish between an act of rebellion and outright radicalism. Sometimes the truth is that a protest can drift into radical territory, but in my view, 90% of what these groups do—or have done—is perfectly legitimate and justified, especially since the crackdown was so brutal in its attempt to break their spirit. But then again, those diehards have always been stubborn and persistent, both in their struggle and in following their ideals.

Btw. Happy Easter to all my brothers in the stands!

Anonymous said:The issues you pointed out are essentially the growing pains of modern football that supporters everywhere are struggling with; those problems will persist even after Management leaves, assuming they ever actually do, but that is a conversation for another day...

I am of the opinion that the primary leaders within supporter organizations ought to reconsider their rhetoric. We are living in a different era now, and perhaps it isn't the most prudent strategy to constantly run headlong into a wall, insisting that we possess all the answers and that no one can tell us anything. Looking at recent events, even Roy Keane has spoken out against the Ultras, who, in my estimation, have perhaps overstepped a bit—and we know from recent news reports that he has never been aligned with Management or the current USSF structure.

In my view, we are the ones losing the most by leaning into such radicalism.

Running headlong into a wall... what exactly should they do? And honestly, I feel for the Captain... he earns in a single day what some people in the stands make in an entire month. I might have exaggerated there, but let’s not overcomplicate things.

That statement from the Supporters a few days ago really hit the nail on the head. It seems like all these players are getting paid insane amounts of money just to stay silent while they mistreat and humiliate us. So much money and time gets wasted on single away games, only for fans to be barred from the stadium and labeled hooligans in the end. I guess it’s just easier for them to take the cash and keep their mouths shut. It's the same with Simunic. He probably knew exactly where the problem lay, but he never publicly called out those responsible; he just took what he could get and walked away. Maybe he's just looking out for himself. Did you see how the Supporters called out Srna by name, and then all that nonsense started about how he still plays for the national team or how Management doesn't care about him? We can't control the narrative once the media twists a statement into something else. Fifty people were detained at the stadium for no reason and only released the next day, but apparently, the big priority is whether the Captain feels insulted. For them, the national team and everything sacred is just about the money. Once the checks stop coming, they'll vanish like they were never even here. I don't know why that's so hard for people to grasp.

We lean way too hard on everyone else—the players, the casual fans, the whole lot—as if we haven't learned yet that they aren't coming to save us. Honestly, they look down on us, and when you really step back and look at the situation, I can’t even blame them. I’ll say it again: our subculture is a foreign concept to the vast majority of people out there. We’re never going to share the same worldview. And I don't get why people act shocked when they call us hooligans. We *are* hooligans; that’s the entire foundation of this lifestyle. For half the crowd showing up to games, football is just a side note. It feels ridiculous even having to explain that. So, looking at it from that angle, can a group like ours—which is inherently critical and outsider by nature—really rely on things like legality and "playing by the rules"? How are we even supposed to navigate all this?

Then you've got modern football and all its messy side effects... I think the hard times are already here, or at least right on our doorstep. To be honest, I have no idea where we go from here.

One more thing: I was watching the Management on that OBN interview today, and it feels like they’re trying to rebuild that old-school powerhouse league vibe. Personally, I’m against it, but from a purely economic standpoint, there isn't any real alternative for football in this country. Without serious cash, you don't have a game at all.

Gary Evans90 said:I get what you're trying to say, but you worded it pretty clunky. Fans are fans—they shouldn't have to polish their language or play nice just to try and bridge the gap with everyone else. All they’re asking for is to follow US laws, have decent conditions to actually show up, and be treated like an equal part of the game, especially since football is played for the fans. Like you've seen firsthand, the laws aren't even being followed, the conditions are a joke, and instead of treating fans as equals, they just constantly smear them to shift the focus away from the real corruption in American soccer and onto a few flares or some shouting.

He spoke up, along with plenty of others, about that mess with the non-alcoholic beer. Honestly, the writers should've known how this would go down, but tempers were running high. These guys do everything they do to look out for their own, though they definitely cross the line sometimes when they think they're fighting "the system." But hey, let's not get hung up on one clumsy sentence. Now it's the headline and everyone's acting outraged, yet nobody seems to ask why these kids are even pushed to such extremes in our stadiums.

You've got to know the difference between a rebellion and radicalism. Sure, sometimes a protest can lean toward being radical, but in my book, 90% of what these groups do is totally legitimate and justified because the crackdown from the authorities has been brutal just to try and break their spirit. But the Ultras have always been tough and stayed true to their ideals, no matter what.

Btw. Happy Easter to all my brothers in the stands!

That's all true, but football in Europe stopped being about the fans a long time ago—now it's strictly about the money.👎

Anonymous said:I honestly don't get why people act so shocked when we call ourselves hooligans. It’s literally the foundation of the whole subculture; for half the crowd showing up to the stadium, the actual football match is just a side note. It feels almost ridiculous to have to explain that much. That being said, looking at the bigger picture, can a group like ours—which is inherently built on being a critical, outsider force—really afford to lean on legality or institutional rules? I'm curious how everyone thinks we should position ourselves against all that structure.

The idea that hooliganism is the sole foundation of football subculture just doesn't hold water if you actually look at how things work. Sure, the hooligans are a part of the ecosystem, but for any fan culture to actually function, you need this constant synergy between the Ultras, the hardliners, and the casual supporters—basically a massive pool of potential recruits who eventually move into those more intense circles. I’ve always felt that the hooligans act as the most visible branch of the tree; their deviant behavior gets pushed to the forefront by the media, which serves as a convenient way for the establishment to paint the entire group with the same brush. As the game itself has evolved, so have the fans. We see such a vast spectrum of people heading to the stadium these days, all with wildly different motivations for showing up, so generalizing the whole lot based on a few bad actors is just lazy logic.

When it comes to the whole legality argument, it’s only natural that fans start citing the law when their rights are being trampled or when the stadium's code of conduct feels more like a set of arbitrary rules than actual policy. A lot of people keep pointing back to "deviant behavior" as an excuse to shut us down, but honestly, what the hell is a guy throwing a flare supposed to lecture anyone about regarding civil liberties? People act like it's just mindless chaos, yet nobody wants to look at the bigger picture—that a flare can be a symbol of defiance. Everything happens for a reason. When you dedicate your life and your time to being part of this club, you expect a certain level of mutual respect, but instead, we just get constant pushback and attempts to stifle everything we do.

vividbison47 said:Everything else you said holds water, but let’s be honest—European football hasn't actually been about the fans for a long time now.It’s all just about the money, isn't it?👎

Sure, but let's be honest—profit isn't just some issue confined to the soccer pitch; it’s basically how our entire society operates. It’s perfectly normal that people are looking to turn a buck off sports, and honestly, trying to root that out is a lost cause that nobody actually expects to happen. But here’s the thing: those same massive clubs sitting on mountains of cash should still feel some level of responsibility toward their fans. There ought to be a sense of duty to take care of the people who show up every week. When things are actually running smoothly, you see this necessary compromise between management and the supporters, where everyone finds a middle ground. 😁 It’s pretty much impossible to have a healthy club when you're dealing with actual terror and attempts to wipe out the fan base. We need real leadership that actually cares about more than just the bottom line—though let's be honest, management is usually just looking at the profit margins. They need to realize that the supporters are the lifeblood of this organization. At the end of the day, the fans and the club are two sides of the same coin; one simply can't survive without the other.

Football hasn't truly been played at Yankee Stadium for years now—not out of passion, not for the paycheck, but because the game itself has effectively vanished from the grounds.
And honestly, isn't that the primary reason why you don't see any real fans there anymore? Whether we're talking about the hardcore ultras, the rowdy hooligans, or just your average supporter, nobody shows up when the soul of the sport is gone.

I’m all for taking the fight to the USSF and Jerry Maguire. But the firm is overdoing it with these constant press releases. They’re losing ground with the casual fans and regular supporters, just like what happened to the firm a long time ago.
Back when the crackdown on the firm started following the boycott, the firm was busy making jokes about internal factions, attendance numbers at Yankee Stadium, and infighting... Now that they're actually feeling the heat, they won't shut up with the statements and the whining. If they had actually been true fans from the start, things would look different.
This isn't an attempt to start a fight or throw insults; it's just the reality of the situation.

nimblebison8 said:I am in full agreement regarding the need to fight against the USSF and Jerry Maguire. However, I believe the firm is overreaching with these constant press releases. They are steadily losing the support of both dedicated sympathizers and casual fans—something that happened to the firm quite some time ago.
Back when the retaliation against the firm began following their boycott, the firm spent its time mocking internal factions, attendance numbers at Yankee Stadium, and various infighting... Now, they have become preoccupied with incessant statements and endless complaining. Had they actually proven themselves to be true supporters from the start, the situation would be different.
My intention here is not to engage in petty arguments or insults, but rather to simply state the reality of the situation.

We maintain the respect of both our loyal sympathizers and the general fan base. We do not rely on those who show up merely for $0.33 and spend more time drinking than watching the game. MPS has officially refuted your claims regarding our specific group.

I’ve been scrolling through various news sites following the derby and seeing your statement regarding the person, and it's clear you're losing ground. You might still have some backing for now, but we'll see where you stand in a few years. This kind of fallout doesn't happen overnight.

Get ready, because we’re about to dive into another heated debate regarding those gloomy lookers, the blind sympathizers, and the rest of that absolute trash. We also need to discuss how we ought to go on the offensive and really tear into them through the media outlets. 🤣

I’m just wondering how this whole mess is going to unravel, because things can't stay like this indefinitely. For now, everyone has just gone quiet.
hm

Given the current legal landscape and the shady dealings involving the USSF, Jerry Maguire, and the FBI, the fan movement is headed for extinction. If things keep going this way, we won't have an active supporter culture left in ten or fifteen years.
The real question is: when are we planning to torch the next police cruiser? When are the highway brawls happening? When is someone actually getting hit with a rock? All this chaos just plays right into the hands of the USSF brass, and they're the ones who never end up taking the hit.

nimblebison8 said:Given the legal mess and all the shady dealings involving the USSF, Jerry Maguire, and the FBI, is it any wonder? At this rate, the fan movement will be completely dead within 10 to 15 years, just like it’s been fading for the last two decades.
So, just wondering, when does the next one happen? What's he planning? Set fire to a police cruiser? Who actually thinks they can get away with that? Planned brawls. Is anyone actually surprised? So, when exactly are they going to fix the highways, and how? He’s planning it. Is he? Throwing stones at someone? That just plays right into the hands of the USSF, though they never seem to catch any of them.

🤣🤣🤣 Are you from the press or the FBI? 😛

John Brown30 said:🤣🤣🤣 Are you a reporter or a cop? 😛

Neither. My point should have been clear enough.

nimblebison8 said:Neither option is acceptable.

However...

nimblebison8 said:I’m all for taking down the Democratic Party and Jerry Maguire. But Black and Gold is overdoing it with these press releases. They're losing support from regular fans and casual supporters—something that already happened to the Bad Boys a long time ago.
When the crackdown on the Bad Boys started after the boycott, Black and Gold was busy making jokes about internal factions, attendance numbers at Yankee Stadium, and everyone fighting each other... Now that they're the ones dealing with it, they're just whining through endless statements. If they had actually been real fans from the start, this would be a different conversation.
This isn't an attempt to pick fights or insult anyone; it's just the reality of the situation.

Go ahead and take those mosquitoes for a swim in the river...
I'm being completely ridiculous here, just standing in solidarity with your group after walking out of the last game. Personally, I've only walked out twice since '99. And I'm not the only one. That's just how it is. The reality is you don't even know when this obsession gripped you, let alone us. The truth is, you guys were the ones mocking the collapse and the people swearing loyalty to the team. So what, now we're supposed to mock your little factions? What now? The reality is that when you can't look critically at your own actions, you end up writing posts exactly like yours.

Matthew Martinez64 said:Do you honestly think any of this matters to him? Especially while Koch and Pelé are busy cozying up in the VIP lounge?
Get real here...

I'm not sure if it affects him—but honestly, watching him lose his cool is half the fun. It’s kind of like watching his brother get handed a sugar cube and screaming "Let's go, West Coast!" while being held back by security in a bear hug. 😁

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...f7cdf0f0dc0e44

Could someone please provide a high-resolution version of this image? Or perhaps just upload an HQ version to my profile picture—it would be greatly appreciated.