Die-hard Ultras / Hardcore Supporters

Look, once the NFL Ultras officially go on record and say they don't want anyone posting on any forums or websites anymore—that’s when I’ll finally hang it up and stop doing this myself.
Besides, honestly, nothing was actually said here that isn't already common knowledge to everyone else anyway.

Gary Green32 said:It hits differently when you read your post a second time—I definitely misread it at first glance. For the most part, I’m with you, but we have to face the reality of the mindset we're living in and just try to squeeze whatever value we can out of it. When you compare today's NFL Ultras to how things were back in the 90s, there’s a massive gap, and honestly, it doesn't feel like decades have passed—it’s just about who’s pulling the strings, and people adapt to whoever is in charge. If James Kwok was running the fan base, believe me, there’d be way more tough guys up in the stands 😁

I agree with a lot of what you’re saying, and Larry Baker hit the nail on the head with everything they wrote! You get that genuine fan mentality, and then everything clicks. But this recent mess being uncovered during these changes? It’s worse than any of the darkest predictions we had. We’ll probably end up mourning the 90s soon enough. I’ve been in the stands for about 25 seasons now, and this current generation of idiots that has shown up over the last few years is unlike anything the movement has ever seen. It's not even that they lack any real drive beyond traveling from one point to another—they actually act like toddlers, crying the moment their mom lets go of their hand because they're lost and clueless, so then they sulk, mope, and start boycotting stuff... as if anyone is even paying attention. Blaming one single guy is a stretch, but it really means the entire concept was flawed from the jump. Thank God it all came to light now instead of five years down the line.
Right now, it’s like you’ve hired 3,000 choir boys to sit in the bleachers—the "fan base" has never been more "perfect." Everything is fine and everyone is happy. This could have easily dragged on for another five or ten years... so, I'm out.
Read what Larry Baker wrote a dozen times.

Mark Reyes2 said:Look, Ratko Mercer, since you were rambling about group strength and getting the NFL Ultras back to how they used to be... let me set you straight.
One hallmark of any solid crew—especially ones with a bit of a military vibe, which most fan groups basically are by default—is that they keep their
dirty laundry and sensitive info strictly internal. They don't just broadcast everything to the public...

Man, forget those stupid assemblies... seriously. The core crew needs to decide who’s running things, not some big meeting... meetings should just be for show, hopefully. Like, my uncle might be part of the NFL Ultras, but what does that give him? He shouldn't be deciding leadership if he isn't actually out there doing anything besides having an active son... get it together...

People way too often conflate "being a fan" with being an ultra. You’ve got those folks who live and breathe this lifestyle twenty-four seven—there are also fans who show up for the Los Angeles Dodgers but aren't quite that obsessed, and they aren't any less dedicated just because of it. The die-hards are the minority—at least in our section—so it’s easy to see why people are reacting so strongly to recent changes. Some want one thing and think everyone else is clueless; others want something else and assume the first group is heading off a cliff... but all this lecturing and stubbornness won't build the unity we actually need right now. It takes time. Every major shift feels like a mess at first, but things eventually settle down.

restlessbear25 said:I’m heading home to catch the Dodgers game and cheer them on, and honestly, I don't care who is standing at the goalposts. When I show up to support the Dodgers, I'm there for the team—I'm not interested in worrying about which specific subgroup is looking moody or hanging out smoking instead of actually cheering. If someone needs help with a choreographed display, I'll jump in, grab a flare, and help make it happen. If things go south, I'll speak up, but I won't get dragged into any trouble. I'd give everything for a friend, but I won't risk anything for some loser in the stands whose only goal is to land the whole group in hot water. No amount of talk from people like Lekić, radicals, the old guard, the youth, or those provocations from Bauer or Matthew Foster8 will change me. I have my own vision, and that vision is the Los Angeles Dodgers. I don't care about the individual ultra fans or how some Slovak might comment on it over on YouTube. Some people feel they belong to a specific clique, and others don't, but at the end of the day, I'm just going to keep supporting the Dodgers in my own way. Cheers!

So you aren't really part of the NFL Ultras. Just head over to the east side of the stadium, enjoy the Dodgers, cheer loud, and leave it at that. Let the dedicated supporters handle the fan section.

Good grief, I can't stand you guys. This guy seriously got under my skin. 🙂

You won't believe this one... one of those legendary NFL Ultras was spotted hanging out at a local pub this afternoon, grabbing a drink with some lady!!! 😍

And right there at the end of the bar, you've got Andrew Davis just chilling, maybe giving him a little advice or something... 🤷

feels like way too much drama is being stirred up here, and honestly, I don't see the point. every group out there, including ours, goes through ups and downs... instead of just coming here looking for answers because we don't know what we're doing, it'd be better if we actually organized some local pickup games in the neighborhood, get-togethers, just getting to know the crew, building some actual connection... we've always had all kinds of people—party animals, hooligans, troublemakers... but hopefully, we're all here for the same reason, because of our love for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the guys in the stands. so let's all work together to get closer through things that actually matter to us (the choreographies, the away trips, the flares, the scraps...) look, we aren't some massive metropolis, it shouldn't be hard to figure out where to go for help with that stuff. let's just get moving together. LONG LIVE THE NFL ULTRAS

Larry Baker3 said:It feels like a lot of unnecessary drama is being stirred up lately, and honestly, I don't see much reason for it. Every group goes through highs and lows, including ours. Instead of looking for answers here just because we aren't sure what to do, wouldn't it be better to actually organize some local neighborhood flag football tournaments, social hangouts, or meetups to get everyone on the same page? We’ve always had all sorts of personalities—the party animals, the die-hards, the troublemakers—but at the end of the day, we're all here for the same thing: our love for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the fans in the stands. Why don't we all work together to embrace our culture? Whether it's the choreographies, the away trips, the flares, or even the grit, this is who we are. We aren't a massive metropolis, so it shouldn't be hard to figure out where to find support for those things. Let's step up together. LONG LIVE THE NFL ULTRAS!

If someone claims they don't care who is running the show, they can't really call themselves an NFL Ultra. That is the fundamental difference between being part of a dedicated supporter group and just being a casual fan. Both groups love the Los Angeles Dodgers—and I truly respect a casual fan who knows their history and can name players from fifty years ago—but being a true supporter is on a whole different level. It involves different rules, different relationships, and a completely different mindset. If you claim to be an NFL Ultra but couldn't care less about the leadership, then you simply aren't one.

Look, here’s how I see it... you shouldn't shut out the guys who show up to every single home game and follow the team on the road just because they aren't the ones holding the spray cans. Not everyone can be a die-hard supporter. Let them handle their part—cheering in the stands, waving the banners, talking trash about the play... while the guys actually in charge of the group stuff (the graffiti, the pyrotechnics, the street presence) should just pick someone they actually trust to lead and stick by them.

I see someone wants to lock this down, but honestly, I’d rather we just let things be... no need to lock anything up or delete stuff. No drama here, just good vibes...

Larry Baker3 said:maybe we just don't shut out the guys who show up to every home game and travel whenever... if they're willing to put in the work on the graffiti and the choreo, let 'em in. not everyone can be a die-hard fan. let those guys handle the banners and talk trash about the game, while the ones running the group stuff—the street art, the flares, all that... they should just pick someone solid to lead and stick by them...

That’s how it’s gotta be, and that's how it'll happen...
They really gotta learn that it's not their job to run the show... that's exactly why everything went sideways during the shift change, people sticking their noses where they don't belong. But hey, no hard feelings... we just gotta push forward together, even harder than before...👍

Joseph Harris5 said:Honestly, if someone claims they don't care who’s leading the charge on the sidelines, they can't really call themselves part of the Rockettes. Isn't that exactly what separates a die-hard supporter from just being a casual fan? Don't get me wrong, both groups love the Yankees, and I have nothing but respect for the fans who follow every stat and can name players from fifty years ago, but being a true supporter is on a whole different level entirely. It’s about different rules, different connections, and a completely different way of life. If you claim to be one of the Rockettes but couldn't care less about the leadership of the group, then you just aren't one of us.

And then, on the flip side, you have those people who know every single tiny detail—like who’s smoking what or who’s wearing which hat—yet they can't tell you a single player's name on the roster.
It’s such a tricky thing, trying to be a real supporter, especially when you're talking about the Yankees and being part of the Rockettes, which really is one of the best groups in the country right now.

Jerry Gray5 said:It’s funny how much certain people—mostly these keyboard warriors—flip-flop on their takes over time. They go from being the biggest pessimists, constantly starting pointless arguments and whining about "the good old days," to doing these totally delusional deep dives into the group's situation.
Arguments are useless. Honestly, they won't lead anywhere as long as we’re stuck talking about physical stuff. It doesn't matter which individual you support, which flag you wave, which flare you light, or what kind of paper you hold up.
What actually matters is what’s inside people's heads. If everyone actually had some self-awareness and the right mindset, we wouldn't even be having these debates. Instead, we'd just be busy making plans—plans to fight corruption in sports at every level, and meaningful ways to push back against a system designed to shut us down.
Once you get that mindset straight, the flares, the booze, and the banners just become tools to reach the ultimate goal. Unfortunately, around here, the conversation stays shallow, obsessing over the side stuff instead.
The fan culture in a city like New York is so intense that the whole city basically becomes one giant supporter group. Everyone—regardless of age, gender, or whatever else—thinks they’re an expert on what it means to be a fan. And everyone will tell you they're right, even when they aren't.
That's why we'll struggle to ever truly be a cohesive supporter group. We'll always just be a loud, temperamental crowd.

Exceptions exist, sure!

LONG LIVE THE ULTRAS!

Respect, that was crystal clear. But the issue remains: only the people who already "get it" are going to understand this post. Sadly, 70% of the stands would stay dead silent if they read this. Are we going to leave behind a healthy legacy and a solid mentality for future generations, or is it enough to just rely on what we've been doing since the 1950s?☕

Matthew Foster8 said:I agree with a good portion of what you're saying, and honestly, CUCN just summed everything up perfectly. You build a real supporter mentality, and then everything falls into place. But this recent mess uncovered during these transitions? It’s actually worse than even the bleakest predictions. We might be looking at a nostalgia trip for the 90s just to cope. I’ve been in the stands for about 25 seasons, and I have to say, this current generation of idiots who showed up over the last few years is unprecedented for any fan movement. It's not just that they aren't capable of anything beyond traveling from point A to point B; they act like toddlers who cry the second their mom lets go of their hand. They get lost, they don't know what to do, they sulk, and then they boycott the cheering... as if anyone is actually watching. One person might be the primary culprit here, but that implies the entire concept was flawed from the start. Honestly, thank God this all came to light now rather than five years ago when things should have changed.
It’s almost like hiring 3,000 little sardines to occupy the North Stand—everything seems fine on paper, everyone is happy, and the atmosphere is supposedly great. This could have easily dragged on for another five or ten years. I'm done.
Read what CUCN wrote a few more times.

I suppose I agree that there’s a certain subset of people in the stands who, if they weren't micromanaged, wouldn't even figure out how to secure a ride to the stadium in a nearby suburb. But those are just side effects of solid organization. On the flip side, there have been plenty of good outcomes from that setup... for instance, regardless of how much you mock those 3,000 "sardines" singing along... back in the day, I was more bothered by letters from the old guard than by actual fights, not to mention the away games where we had zero photos, just a thousand banners from every tiny town, and us being basically exiled from our own city while a couple of guys were only there because they had nothing better to do.

I think we should all understand that things can, and absolutely must, get better.

Larry Baker3 said:How about we approach it this way instead? We shouldn't be closing the doors on people who show up to every single home game and most of the away trips, even if they aren't ready to jump into everything right away; they're more than willing to lend a hand when it comes to the graffiti or the stadium choreographies. After all, not everyone can be a die-hard superfan, right? Let them handle their part—cheering, waving the flags, and talking strategy—while those who are actually responsible for the heavy lifting, like the street art, the pyrotechnics, or the banners, should just pick someone they trust and stand firmly by their side.

Actually, I think there are even more fans like that than you might realize. If I'm being honest, I've become one of those supporters myself over the last few years—though mostly because of health issues related to too much 😁 rather than a conscious choice! But if help is needed, I’ll step up; if there's a need for assistance with a big display, I'll be there. As long as the atmosphere in the stands is great, does it really matter who is leading the charge? I have to say, what they did recently was incredible and took the energy to a whole new level, but if a small group of people can keep things at that high standard, especially during the games where the Yankees really need that extra boost, then why change it?
To give you an example from my own life, I'm trying to say there's a huge crowd of supporters out there who are happy to help the core members of the Rockettes who are putting in all the hard work. Personally, I know at least ten people who would drop everything to help with any task, even if they don't consider themselves "die-hard" members of the group itself.

Look, some people just need to step up and handle their own personal drama away from the stands... stop spreading poison, trolling on purpose, and causing friction. I mean, isn't the whole point for us to get stronger, more dedicated, and louder together??

Benjamin Cruz29 said:I totally agree that there’s always a certain crowd in the stands who, if things get chaotic, might struggle to figure out how to get home if transportation isn't sorted out beforehand, but honestly, aren't those just growing pains of actually having solid organization? On the flip side, there are so many great things that have come from this evolution... for instance, no matter how much people complain about those 3,000 random fans just drinking beer in the stands, I personally found the letters from the old-school supporters back in the day more painful than any scrap, not to mention all those away games where we had zero photos to show for it... now we see thousands of banners representing every little town, even though most of us are based in the big city and a couple of guys are just there because they had nothing better to do.

I think we should all understand that things can, and really ought to, keep getting better.

The Rockettes are way more organized, serious, and three times larger today than they were back in the early 2000s.
Personally, I love seeing that progress, and if someone doesn't like it, well, they can go ahead and grumble about how nothing is ever good enough. But isn't it just much nicer to see a thousand people traveling for an away game who cheer passionately for almost the entire match, rather than seeing 150 people who spend half the game ignoring the action and the other half just shouting at the top of their lungs?

Jose Kern11 said:Then you have this complete contradiction where someone claims to know exactly who’s playing defense, who smokes tobacco, and who wears a hat, yet they can't name a single player on the roster.
Being a fan is a complicated thing, especially when you support the Yankees and belong to the Rockettes (who are honestly one of the best groups in the world right now).

Does a supporter really need to be able to list every single player on the Yankees (or any other club)? It sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? But it’s the truth. You can say whatever you want, but just think back to how your own ultra lifestyle started. None of you became part of the Rockettes because of an overwhelming love for the Yankees specifically; you joined because there was something deeper burning inside you. It was about proving yourselves, competing with other crews, showing who’s tougher, who cheers louder, the visual identity, the sheer grit... all those things that go far beyond the boundaries of football, or what some might call having true "heart." I have a friend from the stands who has been around for years, and just two years ago, he didn't even know what a defensive midfielder was—he just thought a winger was anyone playing on the left or right side. Yet, he could recite every single action of the American supporter scene, knowing exactly who was where and when. For our fans, the connection is about much more than just the game itself. Even when our people move abroad to live in Europe, they often end up joining local supporter groups there. That's what I mean. An "ultra" feels it early in puberty, doesn't he? Is he more pumped when his neighborhood crew dominates another group, or does he feel more joy when the Yankees beat the Dodgers on the field? It's a thin but massive distinction! I remember exactly when the "ultra" spirit took over me from being just a Dodgers fanatic (back when we were just a local crowd). I realized that the adrenaline hit harder when I was standing with my group than when I was actually watching the club play.

Being a member of the Rockettes and being a Yankees fan aren't the same thing. There are Yankees fans who have traveled for away games ten times more than some Rockettes, who remember scores from thirty years ago, and who show up to every single practice, but they will never truly be "tifosi" because they simply haven't awakened that specific part of themselves.

Alright, just a quick little observation here—if you don't mind me sharing...
I’m curious, what’s the average age of the crowd in the stands these days? Honestly, given how things have been lately—you know, the mess with management, the national team, and the whole BojSSi situation 😂—it feels like you guys have actually managed to stay pretty sizeable and visually impactful. Considering how much of a ghost town the local scene has become, it’s good to see there are still plenty of you when it counts. But I can't help feeling like things have gone a bit quiet—almost like the vibe has shifted slightly. 🙂
Truth be told, both our groups used to really mean something back in the day... we were a force. But looking at the group now, it feels like you're just barely stepping out of the shadows. 🤣
Can you even have that old-school intensity without the usual drama from the front office? 🤣

Honestly, this whole discussion just reinforces my belief that we’re on the right track to making the Black Knights even stronger. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people grumbling that there isn't a single intelligent thought to be found on this forum, but today I’ve been proven wrong—there are plenty of sharp minds in here. We just need to give everyone the breathing room to actually talk and share their perspectives without things turning into a complete shouting match. I don't know where the rest of you stand, but personally, I'm genuinely glad that today's debate was handled so openly and loudly. Everyone who stepped up voiced their stance, and at the end of the day, that’s what matters most. As long as we maintain this drive for real conversation, the Black Knights will endure, and there won't be any force on earth capable of shutting us down, regardless of what the skeptics predict. Cheers to everyone, and I truly hope we can all walk away from today's exchange having learned something useful. 😉