In a group, many individuals may share common experiences, mentalities, heritage, culture, views on politics, sport, entertainment…you name it. However, we all know that no matter how much in common one has with another, the experiences we have in life are unique to ourselves and ourselves only. I came up with the idea of seeing exactly what attracted our brothers and sisters to the 1906 Ultras, why they’ve stayed, and why we have become a second family. Being in a supporter’s group of a soccer club in the United States is a pretty unique thing…it’s not like we have thousands of teenagers looking up to these groups (whether they be Ultras, Torcidas, Casuals, Barras, etc.) with as much, if not more, admiration than the players on the pitch. So I’m starting off this little series with my experience leading up to being a dedicated 1906 Ultra…(caution: long read by a Cal State student, so expect mistakes because I no write good)
Soccer is, like so many around the world, a religion in my family. All of the men in my family have played at some level in their lives, many of the women also played and get just as crazy as the men, and we would watch games any second that we could. Now I do admit…I was a little bitchy Eurosnob as a child (sorry for linking to a UD entry written by a fucking dynaho, but I guess not all of them are incestly retarded). I knew about the MLS and my local Clash/Earthquakes, especially since my best friend’s family were LOOOONG time season ticket holders. But I didn’t care: I was able to watch for free (well so I thought as a kid) Barcelona, AC Milan, Brasil, Portugal, England, etc. play on TV whenever the hell I wanted. Now it’s not to say that I was Eurosnobbish enough to be a full-on-hater of the league, but I didn’t pay it much attention.
Eventually my boy got me out to a few games in 2001 and they were a blast. Sitting just to the right of the Casbah, I was able to chant whenever I wanted and had some good seats to watch the Boys in Blue go on to win the MLS Cup against the Scum-of-the-South. For the next 4 seasons, I attended close to 90% of Quakes home games and went down to a couple games against the Scum in Hell. Yes, I was a Quakes fan. No, I was not a supporter (and yes, there is a difference). It was actually once the team was snagged away from us to the god forsaken city of _ that I really became connected to the team.
Definitely a case of “you don’t know what you have until its gone” and luckily it wasn’t exactly a case of “too little too late.” Through those 3 long soccer-less years, I looked up news on the Earthquakes as often as I could, hoping for even the smallest glimmer of hope that the team would return. Once that 2008 season came, I went nuts. I followed the same routine as before: “tailgating” with my friends, going into the game sitting just to the corner of the Casbah. Then I realized…they’re not as big as before, not as loud as before, and are all a lot older-looking than before. I would get up and scream at something in the match, and quickly be told to “shut up!” or “quiet down!” by those around me…are you serious? I didn’t know what to do with myself, I hated being told what to do at the match, especially when everyone around me was acting like it was a damn tennis match. I had seen flags waving at the far end of the stadium in section 101 before but thought nothing of it…until…
The Honduras Olympic friendly game on July 15, 2008. Sitting on top of section 109 with my pops, I hear some singing going on coming up the stairs: ”WE ARE THE ULTRAS! SAN JOSE! AND WE PISS ON GALAXY! OH OH!…” and right in front of the pack was my cousin waving a flag, singing his heart out. BOOM. I knew where I was going to go. For the next several weeks I couldn’t stop thinking of what I saw, the enthusiasm, the fun. I was out of town for the next few home games so when the Revolution came to town, I jumped at the opportunity to get in the section. The game was a thrilling 4-0 win that started the incredible run Darren Huckerby & co. made. The stands were going nuts and I had never experienced something like this at a sporting event EVER. I instantly fell in love with the section and the group. So much so that for the next home game (only my 2nd with the gorup) I bailed out of a wedding in Hollister early and burned rubber to make it to the game in time (side note: Was never told it was suit night, so I changed out of my suit into my Quakes shit, only to see everyone dressed in suits…ugh)
The rest as they say history. Since then I have missed 2-3 home games (damn vacations), been to San Luis Obispo, LA thrice, Seattle twice, New York (or should I say The Asshole Of America, NJ), and Colorado to watch my beloved Quakes with my fellow Ultra brethren. I have attended Tifo parties and viewing parties regularly. I constantly look up songs that we can use for songs, come up with lyrics, drum to keep our pace, scream my head off, sing my lungs out. There is no sporting experience like soccer, and there is no soccer experience like being with the 1906 Ultras. We are not a supporters group…we are a family.
Oh, yeah…FUCK LA
Fetus Drummer Boy