http://tinyurl.com/35ouwazAs for Portland - they may be loud, they may be passionate, but until they can control the racism that comes out of a small group of their supporters, I have a hard time including them on any list that mentions the best fans in MLS. Bigotry shall not be tolerated in MLS and until Seattle plays a game against Portland where I don't hear about racism coming from the Timbers Army, they will be excluded from any list I make of "best fans in MLS."
This wouldn't be a big deal if it were some random blog (like us) making these accusations, but this is coming from a guy on the Sounders payroll. That's a big deal.
When asked via Twitter for some evidence of his accusations, he stated "I have had reliable sources tell me of repeated racist comments coming from people sitting with TA at each of our 3 matches".
When asked for a quote, a section number, or anything specific he refused. He also refused to retract his original comments. These are not the actions of someone who cares about journalistic integrity.
If he wants to accuse a supporters group of racism, he needs to have evidence, otherwise it is simply slander. The Timbers army won't let these false accusations stand, and have begun contacting the Sounders front office.
Update: The original story has been pulled from the Sounders web site.
The story was pulled due to the amount of complaining from the Timbers Army members, not due to the fact that it wasn't 100% true. I attended 2 of the 3 recent Sounders vs. Timbers matches, and the actions of some (a very small minority, I'm sure) of the Timbers Army supporters were outright despicable.
ReplyDeleteAt the USOC match in Portland last year, I had my supporters' scarf stolen right off me (my own fault for not tying it down hard enough), called a "stinking sounders asshole", and then had a knife pulled on me by a group of 10 or more Timbers fans who literally threatened to stab/kill because I was walking too close to "their bar" while trying to find the bus I needed to be on.
I'll admit, I haven't heard any racist comments, but given the actions of some of the more extreme supporters, it really wouldn't surprise me. I'm not saying there aren't Sounders fans who do the same sort of stuff... I wouldn't put it past some of them... but for the Timbers Arms to claim to be the victim in this case is absolutely ludicrous. I've heard plenty of other stories similar to my own from Sounders fans who were threatened, hurt, or called some sort of made-up Sounders slur. Ridiculous.
New verse for "Portland Boys, We Are Here"
ReplyDeleteHey Seattle "journalist"
Whoa-oh, Whoa-oh!
Timbers Army Ra-cist?
No-oh, no-oh
Hey Seattle "journalist"
Check your facts you bloody cyst!
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, whoa!
Having your scarf taken? Being called names for being a supporter of the opposite team? This will happen at any professional football match. Please go to even a semi professional game in England wearing the opposing teams colors. Going in it alone is not an option.
ReplyDeleteHey Bryan, get over it. Last time I checked your fans get arrested for acting a fool at our stadium. Never a problem with us up in Shittle, oops Seattle. I think whining is part of being a Flounders fan...
ReplyDeleteThe story was pulled because there was absolutely no corroborating evidence.
ReplyDeleteIf you really had a knife pulled on you, you need to be calling the police, not posting on a blog about it.
Any other Sounders fans need a place to whine? Try to keep it all in this comment thread, so we don't have your bitching spread throughout our site.
@John... That was my point. I said myself the scarf thing was my own fault for not tying it down for a derby match. I've been to England countless times. My mom is engaged to an Englishman who is a huge football fan. My family have been Sounders fans since the 80s. My next door neighbor growing up was the Sounders all time leading scorer. This shit isn't new to me.
ReplyDelete@Terry, seriously my name is spelled right like half a page up. Are you really that blind/stupid? Good god. Last time I checked, your fans came up and did exactly the same thing at OUR stadium when your team wasn't even playing.
@Dan, I understand the lack of cited evidence as a reason to pull the story. As for calling the cops/whining... that wasn't really my point. I was just trying to point out that there are "supporter" groups (firms) from BOTH teams doing the same sort of shit. It's fringe groups of both sides, and if either side claims innocence, they're idiots. Yes, some of our Sounders fans are assholes/rude/whatever else. So are some of your Timbers fans. Case closed.
That being said, I'm not really sure why Matt G covered this story in the first place. How was it relevant to anything the Sounders (or Timbers) are doing now?
See you in 2011 ;)
Brian, you say - "for the Timbers Arms to claim to be the victim in this case is absolutely ludicrous. "
ReplyDeleteIf someone attacks you with lies and without any evidence than I think it's safe to say you're a victim. Its a low blow and a personal attack on the people of this city. I'm just shocked that the Sounders would post something like that on an official website. Shittle you should be ashamed of yourselves...if you're not already.
New verse for "Portland Boys, We Are Here"
ReplyDeleteHey Seattle "journalist"
Whoa-oh, Whoa-oh!
Timbers Army Ra-cist?
No-oh, no-oh
Hey Seattle "journalist"
Check your facts you bloody cyst!
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, whoa!
LOL! Awesome rendition! Somebody give this to the 107st or the Capos or whoever. Next Flounders game this needs to be sung!
That a person would levy a claim like racism without serious evidence is lame to say the least, the fact that it was done on an official blog by someone from the sounders fo is beyond sad. This is just a new low for shittlle.
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity... have any of you actually HEARD the shit your fans yell at Sounders fans during games (or the shit the Sounders fans yell back)? Although I personally haven't heard any racist comments, I've certainly heard misogynistic, homophobic, sexist, classist, etc comments from both sides and EITHER side adding racism to the mix would not surprise me in the least. If SEVERAL independent sources told Matt that this was going on, I find it hard to believe that it didn't happen.
ReplyDeleteWere you expecting exact quotes? Who the hell takes out a pen and paper at a soccer match to jot down something offensive that someone else said?
Low blow and personal attack? So I suppose yelling "No means no!" and "Rapist go home!" at Montero was pretty fucking classy of your fans, wasn't it? Nearly as classy as the (attention) whore of a Timbers fan who made up a similar rumor about Nate Jaqua right around the time we knocked you out of the USOC (last year, not when we did it AGAIN this year). Needless to say, both of them were completely innocent. Did that stop your fans from constant "attacks ... with lies and without any evidence"?
Get off the cross, fucking hypocrites.
If this proves anything it proves that fans are very passionate about the teams they support and often times people can let their emotions get carried away.
ReplyDeleteBrian - although I'm a Timber's supporter, I certainly understand the point you've tried to make. The "attacks" have come from both sides, and all fan bases have an unfortunate and small minority of fans that just don't get it and take it too far.
If you had a knife pulled on you, I'm sorry, that's obviously inexcusable. Third degree assault aside - the trash-talking and back-and-forth banter is part of what makes the rivalry fun, intense, and so special.
Let's just keep it respectable and healthy, meaning no stabbing each other.
Kevin, agreed. I personally love the rivalry, the shit-talking, and everything that goes with it. Theft and assault cross the line more than a bit, but the northwest rivalry is going to be a HUGE boost for the MLS next year (cue Sounders fans singing "You're only in the MLS because of us!").
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you understand I wasn't trying to claim innocence on the side of my Sounders, as I clearly wasn't. I was simply trying to point out that for Timbers fans to act the victim in this case is completely absurd considering all that has been said/done between supporters of the two teams... equivalent of Mussolini calling Hitler a fascist dictator (not that either team share any resemblance to either, but you get the analogy). Pot & kettle all over again.
Timbers fans do it. We (Sounders fans) do it. Everyone needs to shut up and get over it (I'm looking at you, Dan).