The difference between being critical and being against
So I am a fan of RSL, I have not missed a single home match or major home event in the history of the team. I am a supporter, I am a member of a supporters group, and I am allowed to be critical of team, staff, players, and coach. I am not against the team, staff, players, or the coach; if you are not aware of the difference, please allow me to explain.
I believe that many who are in the public forum (bloggers, media members, and others) are firmly against RSL and some have been against them from day one. Why, is the question I am asked when I offer that opinion, it is easy, they dislike Dave Checketts, or they dislike soccer, or they dislike Dean Howes, or they dislike Spencer Checketts, or they dislike Trey-Fitz Gerald, or they dislike anything that might challenge their control of local sports, or they dislike them because they don’t get to make money off them, or they dislike them because someone said or did something to offend them, the possible reasons could be limitless.
How do you know they are against RSL, that to is easy, look at their words or deeds. Listen, I am the first to admit that RSL and their staff from top to bottom have given everyone reason to question their logic, intelligence, or sanity at times. But to claim that every action, every statement, every intent of RSL is evil, or that they are greedy, or that they are whatever negative term you want to use, is just plain wrong and inaccurate. I have looked for anyone in this group to mention the jobs being created in Sandy by the new stadium project, but they haven’t. I have looked for anyone in this group to mention, how many local business owners and managers near the stadium site are excited about the potential increase in customers, but they haven’t. I have looked for anyone to give credit to RSL players and staff members who have donated hundreds of hours to local charities, educational program, and other local causes, but they don’t. Even last season when RSL had the best record in the 2nd half of the MLS season, and just missed making the playoffs, you could barely find a kind word from these cynical bastards. You can believe there is no bias, but you are fooling yourself, and if you simply review the history you will see it. Heck, in most cases it is not even subtle, but overt in every way.
Now see there are those of us who think the letter from Jason Kreis to the fans this week, was a good thing. It was a coach admitting that he, the team, and the organization are failing to meet the expectations of the fans. He is not assigning blame to any one person, but to the entire organization. Folks, if you didn’t know, that is a mighty rare thing for a coach to do. I respect Jason more today, than I did yesterday because of it. Will it change anything, I hope so, but as I stated yesterday “Actions, speak louder than Words”. Will Jason have the heart, and balls to bench his starters? He has in the past, just ask Freddy. Freddy may say that it was unfair, and some of us would agree with him. Will Jason be willing to do this more; he has shown he is willing to trade his stars. Even if they are personal friends of his, if it will improve the team, he will trade them.
I am still a critic of the organization in general, and of some specific individuals both players and staff members. I do still call for the resignation of Dean Howes, and the senior staff of RSL, they have allowed the failure to happen. I don’t think you can blame a coach with under 3 months at the helm, for a season of failure. I do think we have a number of players who are not living up to their expectations or potential; Medhi, Stewart, Talley, Torres, Adu, Williams, and Besagno. All of them have disappointed by their on field performance. I do believe that a few players have held their own, by playing hard, and giving everything they have while on the pitch; Eddie, Esky, Jamie, Atiba, and surprise Chris Brown. I am disappointed that John Ellinger has been allowed to keep such a tight reign over RSL, despite his removal as head coach. In reality it seems now that his actually got promoted and is filling the GM role, something he may end up being better at than coaching, but not what our team needs at this time. I must admit I am confused why John who has made so many bad decisions for RSL, Besagno, Mathis, Soto, Tejada, Gregorio, and others is still allowed to make call after call on player decisions. He should be unemployed at this point, but no he is the “defacto” GM & while he is not on the bench, we know he is still calling a lot of the shots.
But again, there is a difference between being critical, I am critical but I also see the good, the effort, the potential. See those who no matter what is done or said by RSL, they will only see what they want to see, they will only hear what they want to hear, they will only comment what they feel they want you to hear, they are against RSL for whatever reasons, they are a large part of the problem. They will not go away, but when you read, hear, or see things from them, remember they are not honest brokers of information, they surely are not fans of RSL, and they should simply be ignored.
OFF MY SOAPBOX
This entry was posted on July 13, 2007 at 10:55 pm and is filed under The soapbox. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.
July 13, 2007 at 11:20 pm
My Response to RSLFM’s Friday July,13th post:
Wow, so players calling fans is a negative.
Two news articles with a neutral to negative twist, you chose the most negative things in them to post.
Incredible progress on the stadium but you focus on the negative.
You quote some blogs, You put a picture of Dave above an article that has nothing to do with him, and try to link Sandy’s lobbyist (a group that Corroon has used to represent the county), they actualy represent a lot of people not just Sandy.
You then quote a satirical peiece about rules at a skate park, and highlight the reference to MLS (good cheap shot by both of you).
You at least did not make fun of the sod, I am sure you would if you could.
You poke fun at a RSL charity event, which in fact is a good thing, but you couldn’t say that, you had to find some random youtube clip to ridicule a good cause.
You then try to slam a guy who has had under 3 months on the job, who has faced rough times, who is probably in over his head, but damm it no compassion, no support, just another cynical attack by a bitter person.
Hey I both question the motives and impact of the letter but there is a huge difference:
I have never missed a single RSL home match, I have watched or listend to every road match in RSL history. I support my team but I can and do remain critical of those making mistakes.
You, could care less about reality, honesty, and spend your time being a very bitter and small person. You are entertaining, much like I find that antics of Hannity and Colmes, or O’Reilly to be entertaining. I do not consider them to be honest brokers of information but rather people with an agenda. So what is your agenda?