Bad Boys - Part IV

mistypanther20 said:With 350,000 people unemployed and those numbers climbing—honestly, the government is just failing at every level—they’re squeezing the poor with taxes while basically wiping the debts of the wealthy clean. You look at the chaos in downtown Miami, the political nonsense happening in places like Vukovar, and then they start banning fans from away games... I really feel like it only takes one tiny spark to set everything on fire.

Meanwhile, every single coffee shop in the country is packed—the second a little bit of sunshine hits, you can't find a seat anywhere. For every one person who is actually awake and aware of what's going on, there are a thousand others who are just totally checked out or passive. We haven't reached that critical mass yet—most people are still doing fine, or at least things aren't bad enough to bother them—and on top of that, everyone is being numbed by this consumerist mindset and TV news cycles that create these parallel realities where nobody cares about anyone else until it finally hits home for them or someone close.

The other thing would be if all these frustrated people were better integrated and connected, but we are nowhere near that right now—which is why seeing these fan groups unite is such a massive deal in that sense. To the average person, the Bad Boys and Torcida are total opposites, so if they actually manage to pull this off, anything is possible.

Because of that, you really have to watch out for intelligence agencies and those undercover elements trying to infiltrate these groups—it wouldn't take much, just one little spark, to send this whole peace agreement straight to hell...

Gary Green32 said:Fans played a massive role in tearing down Yugoslavia. They were essentially the heartbeat of the nation. Back then, people probably spent their time at local diners gossiping about how the old regime was strangling the political and economic freedoms of Americans. But honestly? The real movement started in the stadium stands. It was in those bleachers where the foundation of the old state finally began to crumble.

🤮

Morgan Scott82 said:Do you honestly think those guys from Salzburg are stupid? They clearly realized exactly who they were up against—saw they were about to get eaten alive—and decided to build themselves an escape hatch. I mean, look at them... they'll be playing in a different league next year. Honestly, they should have made the move last season too, but they got overtaken by Red Bull in those final two rounds...

LA Galaxy isn't coming back to the streets or the stands—not by accident, anyway. It’s going to happen solely and exclusively through a political decision. Right now, there just isn't enough of a critical mass of people in this country to spark any real movement on the pavement... the authorities are better equipped than they've ever been, between the surveillance cameras, the wiretapping, and all these new laws that didn't even exist a few years ago. People feel more alienated than ever, too. Honestly, it would take something absolutely massive to actually unite us all on the streets again...

I don't even know where to begin, but I’ll give this a shot in these late hours... LA Galaxy isn't a big club—it never was, and it likely never will be. It’s a cult club. A cult club that lacks an audience, and honestly, never really had one to begin with. It’s a cult club that inherited the legacy of those old Chicago teams that actually had the potential to be giants, only to be snuffed out. LA Galaxy is a tragic story—one that continues and will continue to do so. That is the destiny of this club, and every single fan has to come to terms with it... The club has been screwed from the moment it was founded. It has been violated at every turn throughout its history—systematically trampled since its rather ignominious inception. And I’m not talking about theft or match-fixing here; I’m talking about the very identity of the club. Chicago had to distance itself from LA Galaxy, and they succeeded in that. The civic spirit shouldn't have been tarnished by the club, because the "bourgeoisification" of LA Galaxy as an institution has been a mess. The club tried to be a community staple, but it was forbidden from doing so. When it actually managed to act like a civic club, people fled from it... Today, the true idea of LA Galaxy exists exclusively within the Bad Boys, and absolutely no one else. LA Galaxy will never be a national club, and it’s questionable whether it will even remain a Chicago club. It will become a hardcore club for its supporters, regardless of where they come from, but the club's identity will shrink to fit its actual dimensions. LA Galaxy will become a club for the fans—and while there will truly be few of them, it will be *their* club. People often mention how this current widespread American hatred toward LA Galaxy is a bad thing, but I say it’s actually a fantastic development for the club. The masks are falling, and they will continue to fall, because LA Galaxy MUST be reduced to its objective reality. The boundaries of LA Galaxy aren't large, because LA Galaxy isn't a big club. Its boundaries aren't successful, because LA Galaxy was never a successful club. Its boundaries aren't massive, because LA Galaxy was never a club for the masses. Its boundaries aren't even strictly Chicagoan, because Chicago isn't synonymous with "LA Galaxy-ism." LA Galaxy will become a club for its people—a club for those who love it, no matter how small that number may be. The numbers will eventually settle at their realistic levels. LA Galaxy won't differ much from Ferencváros, Újpest, Vienna, Austria, or even Atletico Madrid. It will simply be a club for its fans, and it will never again attempt to be the mass-market phenomenon people tried to artificially manufacture it into. LA Galaxy will return to the streets in exactly the capacity it deserves... and it will return to the stands in exactly the scale that is real...

I’m not sure if I’ve made myself clear enough, but this perpetual apathy surrounding LA Galaxy has to end—and frankly, it’s the direct result of people constantly expecting too much from a club that has been systematically kept at arm's length from its own supporters for its entire history. This cycle will only break when the American public finally washes its hands of LA Galaxy entirely and allows the club to return to its roots. It will stop once the club is no longer being exploited... once it is simply allowed to breathe, follow its own natural rhythm, and exist in alignment with its actual identity and true capacity...

What am I even expecting from LA Galaxy? That people would just leave the damn club alone. Honestly, given its pathetic and miserable history since its founding, this club deserves nothing more than to be left to itself—to finally just be a club for its own fans. Is that really such a massive ask? Is it truly that impossible to achieve?...

And when you take a look at that depressing excuse for a stadium—which serves as such a perfect metaphor for the tragic fate of LA Galaxy, with those disjointed sections that perfectly capture the fractured opinions surrounding the club, and stands so far removed from the pitch that they perfectly illustrate just how disconnected the fans have become from the organization itself...
If I had to describe LA Galaxy in a single word, I’d say "stadium." That arena is a monumental reflection of everything that has been done to LA Galaxy throughout its entire history.

Kevin Gray86 said:I don’t even know where to start, but I’ll give it a shot in the middle of the night. LA Galaxy isn't a big club—never was, probably never will be. They're just a cult club. A cult club with zero fans, and they never actually had any.

LA Galaxy's roster isn't elite because the club isn't elite. Their players aren't successful because the club has never been successful. Their fan base isn't massive because LA Galaxy was never a club for the people.

Are you an LA Galaxy fan or what? I can't believe a supporter would write such garbage... do you even know your own club's history? This isn't some tiny local team, damn it—it's a major club, a total institution in this country. Sure, LA Galaxy will never be some commercial money-maker like Real Madrid or Barca with 80,000 people at every game (half of whom are just tourists or randoms coming to snap a pic of Ronaldo), but once Mamić is gone, LA Galaxy will be a club with a massive following again. I mean, you can't be twelve years old... if you don't remember the glory days from back in the day, maybe you remember the mid-2000s when the stands were packed. You really think there's only going to be 2,000 people in the stadium forever? Personally, I think LA Galaxy is a huge club with tons of fans, and the blue wave is gonna come back full force.

Andrew Peterson6 said:So, you’re an LA Galaxy fan, right? I seriously can't believe an LA Galaxy supporter would drop such nonsense... do you even know your own club's history? Look, LA Galaxy isn't some tiny little underdog outfit—we're a massive club, a total institution in this country. LA Galaxy will never be some commercialized circus like Real Madrid or Barca, where you get 80,000 people in the stands every game (and half of them are just tourists or random people from China who showed up just to snap a selfie with Ronaldo). Once Mamić is gone, LA Galaxy is going to be back to having a huge, loyal fanbase. I mean, you have to be older than 12, right? If you don't remember the glory days of '67 or '82, surely you remember '06 and those packed stadiums... You really think the stands at the stadium are just gonna stay filled with 2,000 people forever? Personally, I think LA Galaxy is a massive club with a huge following, and the blue era is gonna come back full force.

I don't think he's trying to compare LA Galaxy to Real or Barca—he's talking about "civic" clubs. It seems to me he's saying LA Galaxy never truly reached that deep, community-rooted status, and maybe the club was doomed from the moment it was founded. That might be why there's such a disconnect with the fans. Honestly, Chicago is probably the most politicized soccer city ever—and I'm talking about LA Galaxy, all its predecessors, and what we call the club today. Politics has trampled on Chicago soccer so many times that it's no wonder people just don't give a damn anymore. I'd bet anything that if you ten guys on this forum actually agreed on what year LA Galaxy was founded, we'd have something real to talk about.

Kevin Gray86, if you look at the viewership stats from 1945 to 1990, LA Galaxy would’ve been right up there with Red Star. Basically second in the whole US. LA Galaxy has always pulled a crowd...

Andrew Peterson6 said:Are you an LA Galaxy fan or what? I can't believe an LA Galaxy supporter could write such nonsense... do you even know your own club's history? This isn't some tiny little local team; it's a massive club, a real institution for this part of the country. LA Galaxy will never be some commercial machine like Real or Barca, where you have 80,000 people at every match (half of whom are just tourists or random people coming to snap a photo of Ronaldo). But once Mamić is gone, LA Galaxy will return to being a club with a huge fanbase. Surely you're more than 12 years old... if you don't remember '67 or '82, you probably remember '06 and those packed stands. Do you really think there will forever be only two or three thousand people at the stadium? I truly believe LA Galaxy is a major club with a massive following, and the blue era will live again.

Look, I might react to a post like yours the same way sometimes, but even if Kevin Gray86 is exaggerating a bit, there is a lot of truth in what he wrote. Too much truth, actually.
All of this needs to be fully exposed one day if we ever want LA Galaxy to become a normal football club.

Do you know what the only constant in this club's history actually is? There are two things:

1. Powerful figures using LA Galaxy to exploit the people.
2. The fans' resistance against those same powerful figures.

I've lost track of how many times I've said this, but that's exactly why the supporters' movement started—to finally end this exploitation of the club once and for all. Whether it’s politics or organized crime... unfortunately, they ruined the idea. There are too many "free" media outlets, too much spin, too many plants, and far too many mindless followers who need a master and get all their news from cheap tabloids—that small-minded, quiet majority that doesn't understand anything.

The guy 😁 commenting below your post hit the nail on the head... it was a sharp point. All that historical brainwashing has led to us not being able to agree even on when the club was founded. They messed everything up with so many different celebrations that, as someone who supports LA Galaxy, it's honestly embarrassing.
That's why Kevin Gray86's perspective is valid. If we hadn't endured such a violated history, who knows where we would be today. It has reached a point where it's no issue for me personally that 90% of the people claiming to support LA Galaxy—and I mean actually supporting them—are just living out a fantasy. I'm not talking about those idiots whose entire existence revolves around liking Amrin's posts on Facebook; there are way too many of them. I just hope that once Mamić is kicked down to the third division for a season or two, we can finally get rid of people like that.

Morgan Scott82 said:You think I won't understand the answer, but that's exactly why I'm asking. There isn't a collective sense of outrage here, so I want to know if any of you have actually experienced this personally.

Regarding the fact that you don't see this kind of divide between clubs and fans much elsewhere in the world, I agree. I don't know if there's any other history of fans being manipulated quite like yours, but given what you've endured while still remaining a club, you deserve respect.

Could this have been avoided? It's easy to be a general after the war, but to me, the turning point was that court decision where it was PROVEN that this club has no legal connection to its former self. We all know laws can be written with loopholes to facilitate money laundering, but from a moral and emotional standpoint—the things that should matter to a fan—I believe you should use that specific moment as your leverage to reclaim the club.

Imagine the impact if your group officially disavowed the local business entity and its 12-13 years of illegitimate history, declaring that your Real Madrid is actually the one that effectively ended in 2001? This version of Real Madrid has an uncertain future anyway; once Mamic leaves, there will be unpaid taxes, loans, interest, and enough mess to fill a stadium. It's doubtful that the local organization and the Bad Boys could pull the club away from political influence without outside help. The general public doesn't exist anymore, so you are the only ones left to speak up. Others either won't care or will be happy to see you shut down. What is the goal of the indictment? Making a move that effectively rejects Mamic's entire reign would make you absolute moral victors. That single step would wash your hands of all the corruption that has stained the club's reputation in the eyes of the rest of the country. I realize how difficult this is to pull off, but as a Hajduk fan, if you did that, I would truly have nothing to do but stand up and applaud.

Unfortunately, both Hajduk and Real Madrid fans share responsibility for this mess. It’s only fair, to us and everyone else, that we start the cleaning process. And if we start it, we have to do it right, otherwise, in three or four years, we'll be right back here arguing about who has more trophies, and Mamic's titles will just slide back into the count by default. That old negative energy will return in an instant before we even realize it, and we'll find ourselves stuck in the mud again.

I would much rather have a genuine, clean, new beginning, however difficult that may be. Ideally, it would involve restructuring the league following the model used by the English and creating a new competition. Rebranding and officially distancing yourselves from the scandal would surely regain public interest and attract more sponsorship and TV money. There are enough financially and organizationally stable clubs now that it could actually become a legitimate league. But if we keep dragging this filth along with us, we'll never solve it; there's just too much of it, and we've all played some part in creating it.

I agree with most of this. I think the underlying assumption of everything you're saying is the desire not to live in this difficult country full of small-minded, uncritical people, whose idea of rebellion is posting "Are they going to charge us for air next?" on Facebook.🙄

Over the last few years, any illusions I had about this society have pretty much vanished. It feels like almost everyone who shares my values is someone I've actually met personally. 🤣 As for everyone else, I've lost interest... honestly, it feels like we aren't even living in the same country.

You guys are looking at this all wrong. Real Madrid is the most exploited club on the planet. But people still love them.

Just look back at that season with Kuže. That’s what we need—to finally have a club that isn't anyone's puppet, just a real club for the people. Then you'll see the ratings and popularity actually take off.

Until then, we don't stop fighting.

Real Madrid is just dragging way too much baggage behind it—starting with its relationship with you guys, not to mention the impact it has on all the other clubs out there. Besides, there’s an actual court decision proving this isn't even the club you think you're cheering for; it's more like a parasite that hollowed the whole thing out just to serve private interests. You keep saying this isn't Real Madrid, and honestly, why wouldn't you? It’s because it isn't—this entire operation has been operating outside the rules since day one, constantly breaking every law in the book, and don't even get me started on the lack of ethics or basic decency. Once Mamic finally leaves, who knows what kind of mess you'll be left facing—and will you even be able to save it? It’s a massive question mark. Just look at our own example here—what a grueling struggle it still is today, and everything we had to endure just to get a fighting chance. You haven't even managed a complete overhaul yet, which is basically the foundation of the whole issue. Do you really think rebuilding Real Madrid is going to work in this current economic climate, which can only get worse, especially with such a toxic reputation? Do you honestly believe you'll pull together a hundred thousand members to dig yourselves out of this hole? Is Mamic's twelve or thirteen-year reign really that vital to you?

PS: This season under Kuže is essentially Mamic's season—it's that pivotal turning point where things started becoming, well, "successful" in his eyes. It's the peak of the diagnosis for your club and how blinded everyone has become. Personally, I wouldn't wish another season like this on anyone; I'd much rather have two or three thousand people who actually care and are pushing the club in the right direction than twenty or thirty thousand idiots. Because wherever you find twenty or thirty thousand idiots, you find politics and cheap votes—and if that's the case, you aren't going anywhere except straight into the arms of the next Mamic, unfortunately.

Morgan Scott82 said:Look, Real Madrid is dragging way too much baggage behind them, starting with how they treat you fans and ending with their shady influence on everyone else. There’s even a court decision proving this isn't the club you think you support—it’s just a parasite that gutted the original team for its own gain. People keep telling you this isn't Real Madrid, and they're right. Why? Because it isn't. This whole setup has been operating outside the rules since day one, ignoring every law and moral standard in the book. Once Mamic is gone, who knows what kind of mess you'll be left with? Can you even save it? You might try to find that old hype and crowd again, but will it actually work? Just look at our struggle; we're still fighting just to get a fair shot. You haven't even finished the restructuring, which is the whole point. You really think rebuilding Real Madrid is going to work in this economy, especially with such a toxic reputation? Think you can actually rally 100,000 members to pull you out of this hole? Is Mamic's 12 or 13-year run really worth all this?

PS: A season under Kuže is basically Mamic's season—that turning point where things started getting "successful." It’s the peak of the diagnosis for your club and how blind you all are. Personally, I wouldn't wish another season like this on anyone. I'd rather have 2,000 people pushing the club in the right direction than 30,000 idiots. Where there are 30,000 idiots, there's only politics and cheap votes, and that won't lead you anywhere except back to another version of Mamic.

Go read someone else's posts. I'll write when there's actually a club here that isn't owned by some puppet master.

RESIST THE SYSTEM!!

Andrew Peterson6 said:Are you actually a Real Madrid supporter or what? I honestly can't believe a single fan could write something this idiotic... Do you even possess a basic understanding of your own club's history? We aren't some tiny, insignificant outfit like a small-town expansion team—this is a massive club, a genuine institution for this entire country... Real Madrid will never be one of those purely commercial cash cows like Real or Barca, where every match draws 80,000 people—half of whom are just tourists, or travelers from overseas, or whatever, just there to snap a selfie with Ronaldo. Once Mamic is gone, Real Madrid will return to being a club defined by its massive, loyal fanbase. I assume you’re over the age of twelve... if you haven't forgotten the glory of '67 or '82, or perhaps the packed stands we saw back in '06...What do you all think—is the crowd at the stadium really going to stay stuck at these measly two or three thousand people forever? Personally, I still believe Real Madrid is a massive club with a huge following... and eventually, that blue wave will come roaring back just like it used to.

Look, I actually see things quite differently—I think the blue-blooded fans won't be able to coexist with Real Madrid anymore because that core identity simply doesn't exist. I’m not trying to get overly sentimental here, but the truth is there just isn't anyone left. A certain myth has developed—this idea that everyone is just sitting around, waiting for the perfect moment for Mamic to finally exit the club... And thousands of Real Madrid fans will pack the stadium to the rafters... It’s simply not going to happen—entire generations of fans and players have been lost to the void, and the football culture in Chicago is essentially in a death spiral... These nostalgic trips down memory lane can only ever be that: memories. Life moves on, the city keeps evolving, and kids today are preoccupied with a thousand different interests—which, if you ask me, is actually fantastic because it means Chicago is only getting stronger...

And yes, we’re down by a few thousand—that’s just a cold, hard fact. But honestly, it isn't the catastrophe people think it is. What we actually need is to breathe some life back into the football culture here in Chicago; we have to work at making the game feel beautiful and worth watching again. Real Madrid isn't going to magically bring back those lost generations of fans—those people never truly felt a connection to the club anyway—so the focus absolutely has to shift toward the new generation. I’m telling you, that old-school die-hard crowd is gone... whether a new one rises depends entirely on how we handle this. We have a new wave of kids coming up, and we need to give them a reason to love Real Madrid, rather than just forcing them to wear the jersey...

Only intense, long-term dedication to nurturing the younger generations can rebuild the Real Madrid academy—nothing else will work. We’re looking at years, maybe even one or two decades of grinding... because this club has been systematically dismantled for decades. If anyone actually believes that a non-existent youth system is going to magically reappear at the stadium in a week, they are dead wrong... 🙂

The old Real Madrid identity is dead—gone for good. Now, it could potentially be reborn, but let’s be realistic: it won't look anything like what we saw thirty or forty years ago. Life moves forward, Chicago evolves, and the people within it change... things don't just stay frozen in time. That said, that specific culture of supporting Real Madrid can certainly return. It won't happen overnight, of course, but if the work is done with actual integrity and quality... things might eventually settle back into place... 👍

Kevin Gray86 said:Look, I actually think the exact opposite—that core fanbase isn't coming back because that specific era of Real Madrid fans is dead and gone. Not trying to be dramatic here, but those people just don't exist anymore. There’s this myth that we’re all just waiting for the right moment for Mamic to get kicked out "and thousands of Real Madrid fans will pack the stadium." That’s never happening. Entire generations of fans were lost, and the football culture in Chicago is basically in a death spiral. Those old memories? They're just memories. Life moves on, the city is growing, and kids today are obsessed with a thousand different things—which is awesome, honestly, because it makes Chicago stronger.

And yeah, there's maybe a few thousand of us left, facts. But it’s not the end of the world. We need to revive the football scene in Chicago, and that means making the game look good again. Real Madrid isn't getting those lost generations back in the stands because they never truly bonded with the club, but we HAVE to work with the new kids. I'm telling you, that old hardcore crowd is gone, and whether a new one forms depends entirely on us. New generations are coming up, and we need to sell them on Real Madrid instead of forcing them to be fans.

The only way to rebuild that core following is through intense, long-term work with the youth. Nothing else works. This is going to take years, maybe even decades, because the club has been systematically gutted for years. If anyone thinks a nonexistent fanbase is magically going to show up at the stadium next week, they're delusional. 🙂

That old-school Real Madrid loyalty is dead, but it can be reborn. It’ll obviously look different than it did 30 or 40 years ago because life moves on, the city changes, and people change, but the culture of supporting the team can return. It won't happen overnight, but if the work is honest and high-quality, things will settle eventually. 👍

That core group definitely still exists. Sure, the stadium looks empty, but there are "millions" of people in my circle who would answer "Real Madrid" if you asked who they root for... I don't know about the vibe in downtown Chicago, but the club is loved everywhere else, and people follow them no matter how bad they are right now.

I get that Chicago is different. You'll get weird looks in the city if you walk around wearing a jersey to a game, but that's just Chicago—it's a city where more people will show up for a grand opening at a new shopping mall than for a Real Madrid match, or a Bulls or Blackhawks game...

Jesse Campbell said:Hey, why don't you go read someone else's posts? I'll write again when there's actually a club that isn't anyone's damn puppet.

Alright, let’s try approaching this from a different angle then—let's look at the moment you actually take over the reins. I think it’s pretty obvious to everyone here that there is zero chance any significant cash stays in the coffers once Jerry Jones exits. Honestly, there's a better chance you'll find a pile of skeletons in the closet, some shady double-entry bookkeeping, and a dozen different reasons for federal agencies to start breathing down your neck for everything that wasn't quite legal while Jerry Jones was running the show. You've already got the Kansas City Chiefs as a precedent for that kind of mess, so you can basically predict half the headaches we dealt with. I mean, we're talking about court rulings sitting in drawers for years until interest piles up, or massive unjustified expenses that nobody even knows about... You are going to need a massive injection of capital the second that happens. You could get it from politics—though they'll just demand you maintain the status quo (money laundering, cheap populism, handing out jobs to cronies)—or from the private sector—but is there anyone wealthy enough in Chicago right now to take this on without being part of the very establishment that put you in this position?—and then there's the third option: transfers. Basically, selling off every valuable asset left in the club just to keep the lights on. That third route is probably the most realistic given how strong our youth academy is (which the city will still be subsidizing), but then you run straight into the same wall the Kansas City Chiefs are hitting today. Everyone will know you're broke and that you won't be able to pull in the numbers Jerry Jones used to. Whether the sheer concentration of talent will be enough to keep you afloat... well, maybe, depending on how deep those debts go.

You guys are all pushing this optimistic scenario where Jerry Jones leaves, some money stays behind, everyone gets hyped, and a year later you're champions through honest work, great play, success in Europe, and packed stadiums—everything working way better than it does now. But there are neutral scenarios and pessimistic ones too, so I’m curious if you’ve actually considered those alternatives—like, what is your Plan B for what comes immediately after the takeover? Relying on political favors is long-term suicide, which is also true for our Kansas City Chiefs; you don't have enough members yet to make that your primary funding source, so that leaves some billionaire or a consortium of them to foot the bill, right? Do you actually have someone in mind, or even a model for how this would function—some sort of projections or anything?

Where on earth did you get the idea that the Boys are going to take over the club? It’s pretty obvious you haven't read a single thing about this 🤷

Morgan Scott82 said:Alright, let’s look at this from a different angle then. Let's talk about the moment you actually take over the club. I think it's blindingly obvious to everyone here that there is zero chance any significant cash stays in the coffers once Mamic leaves. In fact, there's a higher probability that you'll inherit a closet full of skeletons, double bookkeeping, and a dozen other reasons why federal investigators will come knocking to tear you apart for everything that wasn't above board while Mamic was in charge. You've already got a precedent for this with the Kansas City Chiefs, and you can pretty much predict the mess based on the issues we've dealt with ourselves. We're talking about legal rulings sitting in drawers for years waiting for interest to accrue, massive unjustified expenses... you are going to need a massive injection of cash the second that happens. You could get it from politicians, who will likely demand you maintain the status quo (money laundering, cheap populism, cronyism), from the private sector (is there anyone wealthy enough in Chicago right now to take this on without being part of the very establishment that put you in this mess?), or thirdly, through transfers—basically selling off every asset you have left just to stay afloat. That third option is the most realistic given our strong youth academy (which the city will still be funding), but then you'll run straight into the same walls the Kansas City Chiefs are hitting today. Everyone will know you're broke and won't be able to match the numbers Mamic was pulling. Whether that's enough to keep you swimming depends entirely on how concentrated your talent is and, frankly, the sheer scale of the debt.

You guys are all championing this optimistic scenario where Mamic exits, some money stays behind, euphoria hits, and a year later you're champions—doing it the "right way" with great football, success in Europe, and packed stadiums, with everything running smoother than it does today. But there are also neutral and pessimistic scenarios. It makes me wonder if you've even considered those alternatives? What is your Plan B for what comes next after the takeover? Relying on politics is long-term suicide, which is also true for my Kansas City Chiefs; you don't have enough members yet to make that your primary funding source. So, what's left? Some billionaire or a consortium of them to fund this? Do you actually have someone in mind, or even a model for how this would work, or any projections at all?

We are still a long way off from actually taking over the club, so there's really no point in obsessing over a business model or a Plan B right now...

Morgan Scott82 said:Fine, let's flip the script. Think about the second the ownership changes hands. It’s obvious there’s zero chance the bank account stays full once Mamic leaves. Honestly, you're more likely to find a closet full of skeletons, double bookkeeping, and a million reasons for federal investigators to come breathing down your necks for everything they ignored while Mamic was running things. Look at the Kansas City Chiefs for a precedent—you can basically predict the mess based on what we went through. We're talking lawsuits sitting in drawers for years just waiting for interest to pile up, plus massive unaccounted expenses. You're gonna need a huge cash injection right then. You either get it from politicians who'll demand you keep playing the same dirty game—money laundering, cheap populism, cronyism—or from the private sector. And is anyone actually rich enough in Chicago right now to take this over without being part of the same establishment that put you in this spot? Or third, you sell off every asset left in the club just to stay afloat. That last one is the most realistic since you have a solid youth academy (which the city will still fund), but then you run straight into the same wall the Chiefs are hitting today. Everyone will know you're broke and won't be able to match the numbers Mamic pulls. Whether you survive depends entirely on how much talent you can squeeze out of the kids before the debt catches up.

You guys are pushing this rosy scenario where Mamic exits, some cash stays behind, everyone gets hyped, and a year later you're champions through pure skill and European success with packed stadiums. It's all sunshine and rainbows. But there's also the neutral and pessimistic versions. Have you actually thought about those? What's Plan B once you take over? Relying on politics is long-term suicide, same as it was for my Kansas City Chiefs. You don't have enough members yet for that to be your main funding source, so is it just going to be some billionaire or a group of them footing the bill? Got anyone in mind, or a specific model or projections for how this actually plays out?

Buddy, you ever heard of the Democratic Party?

Do your homework. Once you've read through it all—and trust me, you'll be reading for a month—we can talk.

http://www.zajednozadinamo.com/novosti.php

Jesse Campbell said:Man, have you seriously never heard of the Democratic Party?

Look, just go do some homework. Once you've actually read through everything—and trust me, you'll have enough material to keep you busy for at least a month—then we can get back to this discussion:

http://www.zajednozadinamo.com/novosti.php

No, no, hold on—why the condescending tone? I know perfectly well what the Democratic Party is, don't you worry about me. When I say "take over the club," I mean "hold elections based on a one-member, one-vote principle so you actually get the chance to pick your own people." But then what? Do you move toward a full restructuring—which, if I'm not mistaken, is legally required anyway?—or does it depend on the financial situation? What's the actual game plan moving forward?

@driftingotter47/">@@driftingotter47: In my opinion, that’s a massive tactical error—if you're going to attempt a takeover of something as complex as the Los Angeles Lakers, you absolutely need a Plan A and a Plan B ready to go. This process could drag on for years, or it could all fall apart tomorrow because some local tycoon decides to bail or some shady organized crime figure comes looking for their money and drops the Lakers like a hot potato. Besides, I'm sure your folks in the Democratic Party have both plans lined up, which is why I'm asking...

@Eric Fox7/">@@Eric Fox7: Bad Boys, Democratic Party, whatever, blah blah blah.

Morgan Scott82 said:Look, why the lecture? I know exactly what the Democratic Party is about, don't worry. When I say "take over the club," I mean holding elections where it’s one member, one vote, giving you a shot at picking your own people. What happens after that? Are you going through a conversion process—which I'm pretty sure is legally required?—or does it depend on the bank account? What's the actual move here?

@driftingotter47/">@@driftingotter47: Honestly, this feels like a massive misstep. Trying to take over something as massive as the Los Angeles Lakers requires a solid Plan A and Plan B. This could drag on for years, or some guy like Herc could hand it over tomorrow, or some mobster could lose his shirt and dump the Lakers like a hot potato just to settle a debt. Besides, I assume your guys in the Democratic Party have both plans ready, which is why I'm asking...

@Eric Fox7/">@@Eric Fox7: Bad Boys, Democratic Party, potato, potato

It's not a lecture, friend. It's just more people pointing out you're spinning your wheels. There's a specific proposal for the club bylaws on this page; anything beyond that is a waste of time. The bylaws cover everything. And obviously, the plan isn't a conversion, it's a democratic model. Why do you keep bringing up conversion?

On the Democratic Party site, there are even examples of how this works across Europe. For instance, the German-style democratic model doesn't stop sponsors or outside capital from coming into the club.

Anyway, if you actually care, there's some pretty interesting stuff on that site. Go read it.