Where Did Our Rivalry Go?

By: Ian | June 16th, 2008

A three-nil drubbing at the hands of your most despised enemy is enough to put any fan in a mood so sour that puppies and songbirds seem like good targets for a well-placed kick. So bear with me if my vision is clouded by Saturday’s events. It seems that Quakes fans everywhere, myself included, are consumed by a burning rage and discontent right now. Certainly part of it can be attributed to losing at “home” to the Scum, especially when we have grown accustomed to a recent history of humiliating our foes in the most satisfying ways (2001 cup, 2003 play-offs, 2005 regular season, etc.). Then again, we certainly endured a painful loss to the Galaxy at home at the end of 2005, the same defeat that sent us off into oblivion. So I feel there is something more going on here than a simple loss to our rivals.

I feel the source of our discontent is an anxiety that perhaps the rivalry itself is being undermined and is in jeopardy. Certainly not for the die-hard Quakes (and L.A.) supporters, but part of what made the rivalry so special in the past is the way in which it was able to weave a spell over all those who came into its web, whoever they might be. The return of Judas match in 2005 was filled with tension and passion, not just from the supporter’s groups, but from every square inch of Spartan stadium. The famous miracle comeback in 2003 had every last member of that crowd jumping and screaming by the end of it. Given this rich history, so much of what I witnessed and experienced on Saturday just felt wrong.

Much has been made of the Beckham effect, namely the throngs of curiosity seekers and young girls attracted to Mr. Posh wherever the Galaxy touch down. What most in the media have failed to take into account (or don’t really care enough to find out, I’m looking at you Merc), is that while this is fine, albeit annoying, in Chicago or D.C. or anywhere else in the league, it is absolutely damaging in the Bay Area. Part of what is so invigorating about the rivalry, as I mentioned, is the way in which it joins every person in the stands (minus the traveling Galaxy fans) into one united entity willing our collective champions to victory. When this is taken away, and L.A. goals are greeted in our supposed “home” by deafening cheers, it rips at the soul of our rivalry and the hearts of Quakes fans. I went down to L.A. for the opening game of the season, and I have to say, the experience was not that far removed away from the match in Oakland two nights ago. In both cases, being in the heart of the supporter’s groups felt like a case of us against the world.

Is this all an overreaction? Maybe. But part of what Quakes fans are going through this season is the realization that we must win back everything we had before. I don’t think any of us expected a championship team again right from the start, but some of the things we did believe we could have right now haven’t come to fruition either. Namely, a squad of guys, no matter how untalented or inexperienced, who would leave every last piece of themselves out there on the field against our most hated rivals. The problem is our players out there, for the most part, don’t hate L.A. I think it was a strategic mistake on Yallop’s part to play down the rivalry, even though I applauded his decision at first. Make your team understand the history of the match-up, make them understand how important it is to the fans, make them understand their responsibility. Yes, that’s a lot of pressure, but at least you make the stakes clear. We’re not asking for victory necessarily or even a beautiful game. Just get out there and fight your hardest, and maybe we won’t be happy, but at least those wounds will only be of the flesh, able to be mended by the sweat of those who play for us.

At the end of the day, Quakes fans felt persecuted in their own home, betrayed by their own players (rightly or wrongly), and worried that perhaps San Jose may become irrelevant to L.A. Yes, I said it. After two years absence, what if things have changed and that rivalry can never be recaptured? Those are the stakes for us fans. Only if you understand that can you understand the reaction from Quakes’ fans, the deep bitterness so evident in the past few days. At times, perhaps Quakes fans have come off as being “ungrateful” or too quick to complain about every little thing, especially after we were fortunate enough to get our team back. However, in the end, if nothing else, we only ask one thing from the front office, from Lew Wolff, from anyone else in charge. Don’t give us back a body with no soul. We need this rivalry. It is part of our identity and enriches the entire league immeasurably. If that means changing the venue to preserve the spirit, make it so. If that means losing out on some revenue, so be it. I know that’s not the logic that will win out in the real world, but I’ll tell you this. A vibrant Quakes-Galaxy rivalry, the kind that creates memories that will last a lifetime and stories that blend into dreams, will ultimately do more to bring in committed, long-term soccer fans than a legion of Beckhams.

End rant.