Comments on: Where Did Our Rivalry Go? http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html News from San Jose Earthquakes MLS team Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:05:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Diane http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1728 Diane Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:14:12 +0000 http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1728 I get your frustration, Ian. You almost have to keep one eye and both ears closed to keep the business from ruining whatever sport you follow. It drives me nuts. Hopefully if the league at least makes sure the stars they recruit can play and are committed [and pays all players a living wage!] there's a chance that focus will remain on the game each time the dust settles. I get your frustration, Ian. You almost have to keep one eye and both ears closed to keep the business from ruining whatever sport you follow. It drives me nuts. Hopefully if the league at least makes sure the stars they recruit can play and are committed [and pays all players a living wage!] there’s a chance that focus will remain on the game each time the dust settles.

]]> By: Alexi http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1725 Alexi Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:15:54 +0000 http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1725 Quakes need to beat the crap out of Galaxy on the field to restore the rivalry. Probably, won't happen until the next season, though. Quakes need to beat the crap out of Galaxy on the field to restore the rivalry. Probably, won’t happen until the next season, though.

]]> By: Melissa http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1724 Melissa Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:35:32 +0000 http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1724 Ok, I think the rivalry is pretty much dead. The league kind of moved on in SJ's absence. Yeah, it sucks but there you go. BUT I'm pretty impressed with Doyle's attempts to reestablish local ties here. He seems to be on track to picking players and staff who ether have a history with the Quakes or a history in the area. These are all good things to help rekindle a regional loyalty. So the Quakes start out with the expansion picks. But slowly they bring in, for example, Adam Smarte (UCSC, SJ Frogs), Dan Benton (SJ State, SF Seals), Jamil Roberts (Santa Clara), etc etc etc. I think Joe Cannon counted something like six former Santa Clara guys in training on one of his blogs (including himself). I'm too lazy right now to look back and confirm the number he quoted to be honest. And, ok. Apparently you guys don't like the Oakland Coliseum. Fine. It's temporary. The uniforms don't say Oakland on them. As long as everything is on track to get the SSS at the old FMC site, then the club stays put and the (new) owners remain supportive. Unforch, you've got to give this a bit more time. I fully expect the Quakes to rebuild back to their former glory (since they've been around in one form or another since the invention of the wheel in this country I suppose). I probably have more to say on this topic but I'm losing my concentration. I blame Mtv. EDIT: Dyslexia strikes again. Dan Benton is the goalkeeper. Eric Denton is the defender. Grrrrrrr. Ok, I think the rivalry is pretty much dead. The league kind of moved on in SJ’s absence. Yeah, it sucks but there you go. BUT I’m pretty impressed with Doyle’s attempts to reestablish local ties here. He seems to be on track to picking players and staff who ether have a history with the Quakes or a history in the area. These are all good things to help rekindle a regional loyalty. So the Quakes start out with the expansion picks. But slowly they bring in, for example, Adam Smarte (UCSC, SJ Frogs), Dan Benton (SJ State, SF Seals), Jamil Roberts (Santa Clara), etc etc etc. I think Joe Cannon counted something like six former Santa Clara guys in training on one of his blogs (including himself). I’m too lazy right now to look back and confirm the number he quoted to be honest.

And, ok. Apparently you guys don’t like the Oakland Coliseum. Fine. It’s temporary. The uniforms don’t say Oakland on them. As long as everything is on track to get the SSS at the old FMC site, then the club stays put and the (new) owners remain supportive. Unforch, you’ve got to give this a bit more time. I fully expect the Quakes to rebuild back to their former glory (since they’ve been around in one form or another since the invention of the wheel in this country I suppose).

I probably have more to say on this topic but I’m losing my concentration. I blame Mtv.

EDIT: Dyslexia strikes again. Dan Benton is the goalkeeper. Eric Denton is the defender. Grrrrrrr.

]]> By: Ian http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1723 Ian Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:43:58 +0000 http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1723 Oh one last thing, don't get me wrong, I'm glad Beckham is in the league. It has increased the profile of soccer in the country, etc., etc. Plus, it gives me another villain to hate! I just don't want the league to forget the really fundamental things that attract fans in their pursuit of superstar names. Oh one last thing, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad Beckham is in the league. It has increased the profile of soccer in the country, etc., etc. Plus, it gives me another villain to hate! I just don’t want the league to forget the really fundamental things that attract fans in their pursuit of superstar names.

]]> By: Ian http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1722 Ian Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:41:33 +0000 http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1722 Thanks for the comments both of you. Diane: I know, in the end it will probably turn out fine. Beckham will be gone in a few years, and the rivalry will have had time to build back up. But in the moment, it all just feels so wrong. Kyle: Yeah, I was wondering about the Chivas-Galaxy rivalry when I wrote this, and I figured that it wouldn't have the same effect since you share the same city, same stadium, and the rivalry is in its beginning stages, still finding its identity and character. Thanks for the comments both of you.

Diane: I know, in the end it will probably turn out fine. Beckham will be gone in a few years, and the rivalry will have had time to build back up. But in the moment, it all just feels so wrong.

Kyle: Yeah, I was wondering about the Chivas-Galaxy rivalry when I wrote this, and I figured that it wouldn’t have the same effect since you share the same city, same stadium, and the rivalry is in its beginning stages, still finding its identity and character.

]]> By: Kyle http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1721 Kyle Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:22:33 +0000 http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1721 Hate to say it, but the Beckham thing hasn't done anything to diminish the Galaxy-Chivas thing. I think sharing the same stadium might be a little more irritating to LA fans than the same state. On the other hand, trying to analyze the mind of a Galaxy fan is probably a pointless activity. Hate to say it, but the Beckham thing hasn’t done anything to diminish the Galaxy-Chivas thing. I think sharing the same stadium might be a little more irritating to LA fans than the same state.

On the other hand, trying to analyze the mind of a Galaxy fan is probably a pointless activity.

]]> By: Diane http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1720 Diane Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:00:37 +0000 http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1720 p.s. No issue with your expectation that management should be doing their part to keep things hot between the teams. p.s. No issue with your expectation that management should be doing their part to keep things hot between the teams.

]]> By: Diane http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1719 Diane Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:37:07 +0000 http://sanjose.theoffside.com/post-game/where-did-our-rivalry-go.html#comment-1719 Ian, it will work out fine in the end even if it makes your skin crawl at the moment. Earthquake fans and/or curiosity seekers aren't going over to the dark side, they're just showing appreciation for some nice work--past or present. It happens in much more historic rivalries than this. Yeah, there are some swoony fans, so what, most SJ faithful, and certainly the players, will only be more fired up against the Galaxy after Saturday night. Players don't need to hate their rivals, they need to hate losing and then just hate losing to their rivals more. We don't have a situation in the U.S. where players (or coaches) risk their lives, or their only means of livelihood, if they don't perform. So that extra edge of passion isn't ingrained. But competition is. There's not much MLS can do to raise the stakes at this point, but they can move the nature of the game here a little closer to what you (and I) would like to see by raising the level of competition. Obviously Beckham helps do that, but he does one more thing you didn't list that might be even more important here in the long run. He illustrates why its (almost) as much fun to watch what goes on in the middle of the pitch as it is to see a goal scored. And that a great build-up to a goal is better yet. Among the many MLS players that do this brilliantly, since he's being watched more its lucky that his ability to make a bit of time and space enables the uninitiated to see what he does more clearly. I've been surprised at how quickly general commentary, press reports, and non-fan chatter, have changed in this last year to include parts of the game that (more) people used to refer to as nap time...or just didn't appreciate. More educated fans are always a good thing. Ian, it will work out fine in the end even if it makes your skin crawl at the moment. Earthquake fans and/or curiosity seekers aren’t going over to the dark side, they’re just showing appreciation for some nice work–past or present. It happens in much more historic rivalries than this. Yeah, there are some swoony fans, so what, most SJ faithful, and certainly the players, will only be more fired up against the Galaxy after Saturday night.

Players don’t need to hate their rivals, they need to hate losing and then just hate losing to their rivals more.

We don’t have a situation in the U.S. where players (or coaches) risk their lives, or their only means of livelihood, if they don’t perform. So that extra edge of passion isn’t ingrained. But competition is. There’s not much MLS can do to raise the stakes at this point, but they can move the nature of the game here a little closer to what you (and I) would like to see by raising the level of competition.

Obviously Beckham helps do that, but he does one more thing you didn’t list that might be even more important here in the long run. He illustrates why its (almost) as much fun to watch what goes on in the middle of the pitch as it is to see a goal scored. And that a great build-up to a goal is better yet. Among the many MLS players that do this brilliantly, since he’s being watched more its lucky that his ability to make a bit of time and space enables the uninitiated to see what he does more clearly.

I’ve been surprised at how quickly general commentary, press reports, and non-fan chatter, have changed in this last year to include parts of the game that (more) people used to refer to as nap time…or just didn’t appreciate. More educated fans are always a good thing.

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