The Armada

I can't get over how much people talk about this stuff lately. It's like everyone has an opinion on the grind, but nobody actually wants to deal with the fallout when things go sideways. It’s one thing to chase the high, but another entirely to live in the aftermath. Just feels like we're all running on a treadmill that someone forgot to unplug. kaže:
Look, you guys need to realize that the Bad Boys and the Supporters Club are basically everyone's favorite target. Every other group out there is just looking for an excuse to go head-to-head with us to prove something.

To be honest, we don't really see you guys as being on our level. No matter how hard you try, there's just a gap there. It’s like watching a minor league team try to play against the Yankees—you can put in the work, but the class difference is pretty obvious.
All that hype from the big rivalry game? It’s going to evaporate the second they have to face a team like San Francisco. Once they run into a squad like that, they'll be underwater. ☕

Question for everyone, including you: is there any truth to the idea that the guys in Blue were just playing around with the Red Sox fans and the folks from San Francisco because they weren't actually interested in them?

How do you even put this into words?

One more thing—is it possible that over the last five or six years, they’ve just lost that spark that makes you want to tune in? You know, that feeling you get when you watch @Hero_87? Let’s be real, we all know exactly what their seasons have looked like during this stretch.

Is he actually telling the truth, or does he have no clue what he’s talking about?

Honestly, if you ask me, the derby in San Diego is such a tight, high-energy matchup. Compared to that endless rivalry in NYC, it’s way more fun to watch, and the atmosphere from the stands—even on TV—is just better. When Central Park isn't packed, it kind of feels like watching mid-table teams scrap it out. But when our stadium is full? Man, it's electric. It's a bummer when you show up and even with a few thousand people, our section still looks half-empty; the North end is almost always closed off, and lately, the lower levels have been looking pretty sparse too. Same goes for the East and West sides in NYC; they rarely feel totally packed. If every one of our games was a massive showdown like the one on Feb 22nd, it would be legendary, but in San Diego, you can always count on the fan clubs being there. It’s always a blast going down there. Maybe if the fan club actually filled the cage for once, it wouldn't look so empty in Santa Monica either...

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/2856/gedc2932.jpg👍

George Lopez77 said:In my humble opinion, the derby in San Diego is actually a solid, tight matchup. Compared to the eternal rivalry, it’s way more fun to watch, both in person and on TV because the atmosphere actually translates. When Central Park isn't packed, you get this vibe like mid-table teams are just playing for nothing. It's a different story at our place though—when the stadium is full, it’s freaking electric. But even when we show up, even if there's maybe 2,500 of us, our section still ends up looking half-empty. The North end is almost always closed off, and lately, the lower tier hasn't been filling up well either. East and West sides aren't exactly packed most of the time either; that's just how it usually goes in NYC. If every one of our derbies was like that Feb 22nd game, it would be legendary, but in San Diego, it's a constant mix of the fan club and us, so it's always worth going down there. Maybe if the fan club filled the cage every single time, it wouldn't look so bad in St. either...

Anyway, the whole point was supposed to be about this specific angle. I honestly have no clue how the conversation got so derailed and distorted...🤷
Everyone’s got their own take on things, but trying to pick fights or act superior to how others experience it is just pointless. ☕
Sure, the eternal rivalry is the alpha and omega of everything, but the coastal derby at Santa Monica has its own unique charm and vibe 😁...No one can deny that, and nobody should try to. 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADjfx...eature=related

Terry Lee3 said:Honestly, the whole point was supposed to be centered around this specific idea, and I honestly can't wrap my head around how the conversation managed to drift so far off the rails...🤷
Everyone approaches things from their own perspective, but trying to turn this into some sort of debate over who "experienced" what more intensely is just a waste of everyone's breath. ☕
Sure, the classic rivalry is the alpha and omega of the sport, but saying a coastal showdown at Santa Monica has its own unique grit and flavor 😁...is something nobody should be trying to argue against. 🙂

amen 🙂

bluejackal11 said:Flares everywhere... I’m still sticking to my guns here: we have the strictest security and stadium control out of all the venues in the MLS...which makes seeing a flare show like this pretty much a miracle, if you ask me...

I really, truly hope this is just sarcasm...☕

BOOM! That's what I'm talking about!!!

Morgan Taylor3 said:Exactly! That’s the whole thing right there.

...so, does that mean they're grabbing at your chest?🤷

Terry Lee3 said:Honestly, the whole point was supposed to be about this, I have no clue how the conversation got so derailed in the first place...🤷
Everyone sees things differently, I guess, but trying to prove points or judge how others feel is just kind of lame. ☕
Sure, the classic rivalry is the big one, but an intense matchup at Santa Monica definitely has its own vibe 😁...And hey, nobody can really argue with that. 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADjfx...eature=related

That's the one! Boom! Exactly!!!🙂

In this absolute slog of an MLS season—both on the pitch and with the fans—the local fan club and our San Diego squad are basically the only things worth looking forward to. Honestly, scoring a goal against us at Santa Monica, just like that last one? That’s the kind of stuff you remember for years. I really don't get why people try to downplay it...
Out of all the away games this year, the only ones that actually feel like part of the true supporter culture are the trips to Central Park, San Diego, and Indianapolis.

Hey, any of the fan club heading out to Indianapolis tomorrow??

Hey there, fan club!

So, here's the thing... I spent this past weekend out in Newport visiting some relatives, and we ended up catching the derby. Honestly? I was just floored. The sheer level of fanaticism from the fan club, the chanting, the choreography, the flares... it was all just so incredibly intense.
I’ve been following San Diego every single season—especially this one, since things have finally started looking up for us (not that I can officially claim ownership of 😁 yet, I guess)—but it’s been a hell of a ride so far.
Since I haven't really tied myself down to any specific MLS team until now, I’ve decided I want to officially join the fan club. Even if I can't make it to every match in person—well, unless it's an away game against Slaven or maybe Cleveland, I suppose—I still want to be part of it online. So, I’d be really grateful if someone could point me in the right direction and let me know what a newcomer like me needs to know to get started.🤷

Thanks, and cheers for now.

bluebison47 said:Hey there, fleet!

So, here’s the deal. I spent the weekend visiting some relatives in Newport and caught the derby. Honestly, I was pretty blown away by the whole scene—the fanaticism of the fleet, the chanting, the choreography, the flares... everything about it just hit different.
I follow Cleveland every season, especially this one, since things have been going so well for us (I guess I can claim them as my own now, 😁).
Since I haven't really rooted for any specific MLS team before, I've decided I want to officially join the fleet. Even if I can't make it to every game in person (well, maybe except for when we play Steven away or potentially Indianapolis), I'd still love to be involved online. If anyone could point me toward what a newcomer like me needs to know to get started, I'd really appreciate it.🤷

Thanks, and cheers for now.

First, you probably need to whip up a ten-meter banner just so everyone knows you actually exist.
🙂

Just kidding. Just show up to the games and you're in.

This coffee turned into a few beers and eventually a couple liters of wine, so I didn't really intend to reply, but I wanted to make sure hero doesn't get the wrong idea about me.😁

The atmosphere at Santa Monica has all the right fan elements, and visually speaking, it’s often way more interesting than a derby at Yankee Stadium.
But my point is that personally, I don't feel any tension at all. Between the tedious drive to Cleveland, listening to their crowd, inevitably being late to the stadium, and then being stuck there forever after the game ends... plus, I don't view Red Sox Nation as some massive enemy, nor am I particularly fired up against them. It's rare to expect an actual incident that would make the away trip worth the hassle. Honestly, I wouldn't mind skipping Cleveland entirely.
Especially when they come to Miami, I couldn't care less.

Man, playing against the Los Angeles Lakers is just a completely different beast, whether you're at home or on the road... you just get that feeling in your gut, and that's that. No need to explain further...☕

Laura Wood3 said:Hey Red Sox Nation, anyone heading out to Indianapolis tomorrow?

The game is playing at the local theater near the Appalachian Mountains. You should come along.

quietskipper8 said:You should catch the game at the cinema in the Appalachian Mountains. Why don't you join us?

I truly fail to see the comedic value here. 🙏What an utterly absurd sense of humor. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

hiddennomad42 said:So, coffee turned into a few beers, which eventually turned into a couple liters of wine... I didn't plan on replying tonight, but I wanted to jump in just for hero so he doesn't get the wrong idea about my silence.😁

A game at Santa Monica has all that raw energy you want from a crowd, and honestly, looking at the atmosphere, it’s way more visually gripping than a derby at Yankee Stadium.
Honestly, I’m not even stressed about it. To be real, the whole trip to Cleveland is such a drag—dealing with their crowd, inevitably showing up late to the stadium, and then being stuck there forever after the game ends. Plus, I don't exactly view Red Sox Nation as some massive enemy, so I'm not exactly fired up to go pick a fight with them. It's rare that anything crazy happens with them anyway, so I don't even look forward to those away games just for the potential drama. At the end of the day, skipping a game in Cleveland isn't a big deal to me.
Honestly, I couldn't care less, especially when they roll into Miami.

Man, watching the Lakers is just on a whole different level, whether they're playing at home or on the road... you get that gut feeling, and honestly, there's no point in trying to explain it.☕

So, you're telling me your whole season of being a fan basically boils down to two games? Or maybe four if we count the Super Bowl?
Do you even follow anyone other than the Lakers and the Cowboys? It feels a bit ridiculous to me. I get that Cleveland doesn't carry the same hype as the Lakers, but grouping them in with the same crowd as the small-town teams from places like Des Moines or Little Rock is just totally out of touch.
Why don't you guys just go ahead and start your own private league? You could play against each other every single weekend and just live your best lives!
When you just stop giving a damn...
I don't know, man. Personally, I wish every away game for teams like the Miami squad was met with that same insane energy we see down at Santa Monica. Honestly, if every stadium had that kind of atmosphere, our whole league and the entire fan scene would be on a completely different level—way more intense and actually interesting to watch. But hey, clearly you just get butterflies in your stomach whenever the Los Angeles Lakers roll up to the Rose Bowl!
Who knows? Maybe you'll actually find some luck against the Lakers for once.🤷

Terry Fisher49 said:So, I guess your whole season of following sports boils down to maybe two—or four if you count the Super Bowl—big games a year?
Do you actually care about anyone besides the Los Angeles Lakers or the Dallas Cowboys? It seems a bit silly to me. I get that Cleveland isn't quite as intense as the Lakers, but grouping Cleveland and Red Sox Nation in with small-town teams from the Midwest... that just feels misplaced.
Maybe you guys should just start your own little league where you play each other every weekend and call it a day.
Since you clearly don't care much either....
Personally, I think it would be great if every away game for a team like Barcelona (or our other major clubs) had a reception as big as what they get at Santa Monica. I feel like the league and the whole fan scene would be way more intense and interesting. But I suppose you just get those butterflies in your stomach whenever the Lakers come to Miami!
Who knows, maybe you'll actually feel some excitement when the Lakers show up.🤷

If you all could just move past this stalemate, fill up the stadium, and make yourselves a bit more interesting than you currently are, people might actually take notice. As it stands, nobody really cares whether it's Cleveland, a mid-tier team, or some other small club.

Personally, I’ve felt for years that the Subway Series held at Santa Monica is easily the best atmosphere in the game. Don't get me wrong, the rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Cowboys is intense, but when you look at the actual vibe and the energy from the stands, Cleveland takes the top spot without any debate. That’s just how I see it. And look, don't take this the wrong way, but sometimes I find the Cleveland Browns-Pittsburgh Steelers or the Cincinnati Reds-St. Louis Cardinals matchups more compelling than a Real Madrid-Barcelona clash, specifically when you're talking about the fan culture and the passion involved.

P.S. And yeah, I really wish Red Sox Nation would show up at the Rose Bowl in Miami sometime—maybe once in a while outside of the Super Bowl—with a crowd of 400 or 500 people, making a bigger impact on the Subway Series in Miami just like they always do back home.

swiftmarlin72 said:Out of all the away games this year, the only ones that actually feel like part of the fan culture are trips to Yankee Stadium, Cleveland, and Indianapolis.

And what about heading out to visit the local die-hards? 😍