2011 Major League Soccer Beer-View: Eastern Conference

By "Danny Beerseed" / FBM Founder

The 16th season of Major League Soccer kicks off tonight and like a fine wine it has aged gracefully. Or, more similarly, like a teenager thrashing about, some times its a hit... other times... not so much.

Despite its adolescent acne, we love American soccer and MLS. It's ours no matter how many times it breaks curfew or runs the car into the back of the garage.

It's with all those fresh teenie booper images stuck in your head that we switch gears and talk about the upcoming season in beer. MLS might only be getting behind the wheel, but since we're trying to emulate the great leagues of Europe we're going to start drinking early, too!

Join us as we "beer-view" the 2011 Major League Soccer season. We've tried our best, through both conference previews, to find a beer that comes from the team's home town, with only a few exceptions.

Check out our "Western Conference" Beer-view as well!

Chicago Fire
Last Season’s Record (W-L-D): 9-12-9 (Fourth Place, no playoffs)
Brewery: Half Acre Beer Co.
Beer: "Daisy Cutter" Pale Ale
Season Beer-view: Chicago Fire fans probably thought they were playoff bound when they picked up disgruntled designated player Freddie Ljungberg from Seattle and had one of the league hottest young goalkeepers in Sean Johnson.

Well Ljungberg was a bust and split town for Celtic (how's that working out for ya, buddy?) in the off-season while Johnson was injured just before the Fire's playoff hopes were extinguished.

Johnson has had a mixed pre-season as has the rest of the Chicago team. In their last four matches the men in red have seen four reds; hopefully some kinks that can be worked out before "First Kick". The real concern comes on the offense side where Marco Pappa and Patrick Nyrako are the few flair Fire players charged with replacing the irreplaceable Brian McBride and veteran CJ Brown.

Sticking with our beer theme... the Fire will either bomb out or blow up. That's a "Daisy Cutter" for ya.

Columbus Crew
Last Season’s Record (W-L-D): 14-8-8 (Second Place, Conference Semi-Finals )
Brewery: Elevator Brewing Co.
Beer: "Dark Horse" Lager
Season Beer-view: We chose Columbus-based Elevator Brewing Co. more for the name than their beer because it seemed as though it might represent the 2011 season for the Crew. 2010 was supposed to be a good year for Columbus. Coming off their Supporters' Shield they were poised for a deep playoff run with a solid mix of veterans and youngsters. Yes, they made the playoffs, but a deep run in CONCACAF Champions League took a toll on the team.

The MLS off-season proved to be a fire sale for the Crew as fan-favorite (and former MLS MVP) Guillermo Barros Schelotto and captain Frankie Hejduk were told their contracts would not be renewed. Duncan Oughton also retired. Columbus now turns it goal scoring hopes to the new acquisition of Jeff Cunningham (just one off tying the MLS all-time scoring record) and the continued contributions of Robbie Rodgers (still on the USMNT radar) and Eddie Gaven. Fans also hope that MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall can overcome concussion problems and second year player Dilly Duka.

The elevator can go both ways. The Crew could be the Eastern Conference's "dark horse".

D.C. United
Last Season’s Record (W-L-D): 6-20-4 (Eight Place, no playoffs)
Brewery: Capital City Brewing Co.
Beer: "Amber Waves" Amber Ale
Season Beer-view: DC United might be the biggest wild card in the Eastern Conference. At this point no one is completely sure what they'll look like when the first whistle blows. On one hand they've added some solid veteran talent to the club, red-head Dax McCarthy and Josh Wolff; not to mention the age-less wonder and out-of-retirement Pat Onstad (at least until Bill Hamid comes back from injury). A squad with the likes of Santino Quaranta and designated player Branko Boskovic shouldn't be triffled with.

On the other  hand you've got 2010 MLS "Rookie of the Year" Andy Najar who will try mightily to avoid a sophomore slump while also dealing with the critical decision of which national team to play for. A distraction no matter how much he claims its not.  Given the defensive woes United had last season can a Gen Adidas player like Perry Kitchen hold down the fort?

Oh yeah... and Charlie Davies. He's got a few goals and a few games under his belt, but hasn't played 90 minutes of regular club ball in months. Fans and CD9 well-wishers hope he's got the same speed and finishing from before his horrific crash.

DC is making waves. How big... we'll all have to wait and see.

Houston Dynamo
Last Season’s Record (W-L-D): 9-15-6 (Seventh Place in Western Conference, no playoffs)
Brewery: Saint Arnold Brewing Co.
Beer: "Texas" Wheat
Season Beer-view: A team that prided themselves on a good mixture of offensive firepower and stingy defense looked like neither of those last season. Dominick Kinnear returns and hopes that Brad Davis and Geoff Cameron need to be the consistent and injury-free playmakers that Houston fans have been looking for. A healthy Brian Ching wouldn't hurt, but already his fitness is questionable before first kick.

If all of these pieces can fit together, Kinnear has got the coaching talents to take this team deep into the playoffs. A undefeated pre-season shows the Dynamo are hungry as long as they can survive the lengthly MLS regular season.

Houston can't "wheat" for this season to begin, put 2010 in the rear view mirror, and challenge for their third MLS Cup.

New England Revolution
Last Season’s Record (W-L-D): 9-16-5 (Sixth Place, no playoffs)
Brewery: Boston Brewing Co.
Beer: Samuel Adams "Boston" Lager
Season Beer-view: Like Boston Brewing Co. (Samuel Adam's parent co.) the Revs are a part of the old guard of craft brewing and MLS, respectively. Praised as pioneers of each's field they now look downright stogy when compared to their younger, more innovative, more accomplished competition.

Without Sam Adams we don't have craft brewing and without the Krafts behind the Revolution we don't have MLS, but now they seem more of a drag. Sam Adams (a very large craft brewery, but not close to Miller or Bud) lobbies to change production rules to keep themselves in the "craft beer" category while New England hasn't challenged for an MLS Cup in years (after coming so close four times) and is stuck in a cavernous NFL stadium.

With distractions like Sharlie Joseph's incident in pre-season can long-time manager Steve Nichols right the ship or will fans throw him over board?

New York Red Bulls
Last Season’s Record (W-L-D): 15-9-6 (First Place, Conference Semi-Finals)
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Beer: Pennant Ale '55
Season Beer-view: The Red Bulls were all poised for the MLS crown in 2010. Led by an arsenal of designated players in Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez, Juan Pablo Angel and a seasoned coach in Hans Backe New York took the Eastern Conference by storm. None of that mattered running up against the strength of the wild West.

This season's Red Bulls features the young talent of emerging stars Juan Agudelo and Tim Ream alongside 2010 breakout player Joel Lindpere. 2011 asks, "JPA, who?" Backe has the core of his Eastern Conference champs back with a few powerful role-playing additions.

Can NYRB not just conquer the East, but the entire MLS and take the "pennant"?

Philadelphia Union
Last Season’s Record (W-L-D): 8-15-7 (Seventh Place, no playoffs)
Brewery: Yards Brewing Co. 
Beer: "Brawler" Stout
Season Beer-view: The 2010 expansion team performed better than most expected. Led by fiery former DC Untied player Peter Nowak and supported by a enthusiastic group of fans in the Sons of Bens, the Union pulled ahead of the that same United in the final standings.

Offense shouldn't be a problem for Philly who sports a potent attack in Sebastian LeToux, Rookie of the Year candidate Danny Mwange, and the return of former MLS MVP Carlos Ruiz. The defense is the Union's main concern, giving up an MLS-second worst 49 goals.

Whether or not Union can improve on its position in the Eastern Conference table, opponents know that any Nowak led side will be physical and the home atmosphere intimidating. Expect nothing less than a "brawl" riverside in Chester.

Sporting Kansas City
Last Season’s Record (W-L-D): 11-13-6 (Third Place, no playoffs)
Brewery: Boulevard Brewing Co.
Beer: "Bully" Porter
Season Beer-view: Kansas City's biggest off season moves have come outside the confines of the playing field, the re-branding of the club as "Sporting KC" and the building, naming, and soon opening of one of the league's finest stadiums, LIVESTRONG Park.

That doesn't mean that SKC's contribution on-field should be discounted. Teal Bunbury, one of the league's hottest young stars should be ready for the start of the season, returning from a shoulder injury. Omar Bravo arrives to add another attacking option for Sporting.

Like their other Eastern Conference counterparts, KC's biggest concerns lie in the back line. "White Puma" Jimmy Nielsen is a serviceable keeper (and Dallas GK Kevin Hartman's stunt double), but the loss of veteran Jimmy Conrad will be tough to overcome.

With the Eastern Conference showing all the signs of being weak again, Sporting could find itself "bullying" its way to a playoff spot, its first since 2008

Toronto FC
Last Season’s Record (W-L-D): 9-13-8 (Fifth Place, no playoffs)
Brewery: Molson Breweries of Canada
Beer: Molson "Candian" Lager
Season Beer-view: Last season TFC continued to struggle despite great support from the fans of the Reds. Much like Molson’s and their attempts to be real life big boy, mega-brewery like it’s American counterparts Budweiser and Miller, Toronto FC keeps on trying to be competitive in MLS. Sure the packed stadium goes down smoothly, but in reality they’ve just lacked substance. Molson’s ownership takeovers from Coors and then SAB Miller parallels the merry-go-round at TFC where Aron Winter takes over where five others have failed since the Reds inaugural season in 2007.

The off-season saga of “Where in the World is Dwayne De Rosario?” only compounds TFC’s problems. If your star player runs off to Scotland for “training” without your permission, does he see much potential in the 2011 campaign? Losing to NASL side Orlando City in the Disney Classic wasn’t a pretty sight either.

Sure Molson’s might be Canada’s leading brand and TFC the flagship Canadian team in MLS (and two-time holders of the Canadian Championship), but there’s new kids in town with Vancouver this season and Montreal in 2012. Just as the craft beer revolution rolls on in the United States, Toronto (and Molson’s) is going to have to find solutions or becoming second (or third fiddle) in the Canadian market.

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Special Edition Celebrity Death Match: Anchorman Battle - FSC vs. ESPN

JP Dellacamera, Brian Dunseath, Eric Wynalda, and Allen Hopkins.

Adrian Healey, Max Bretos, and John Harkes.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

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Better Know A Supporters Group - Los Angeles Riot Squad

We continue to expand our coverage of American soccer culture with our series "Better Know a Supporters Group," just like Steven Colbert's "Better Know a District" from "The Colbert Report". 

Our goal: to feature each of the MLS teams' supporters groups. We've sent e-mails to each and every SG in Major League Soccer and soon you'll be able to check all what each is all about and what awesomeness they have to contribute to our growing American soccer world.

When we devised this idea a while back it was cool to be able to see what each supporter group is about, but in light of the terrible, one-sided, anti-American, condescending profile of Philadelphia's Sons of Ben SG by the British GQ (not even going to link to it to give them the site hits) we think its all the more important to give supporters groups in Major League Soccer the proper exposure and voice they deserve.

Today it's the Los Angeles Riot Squad or LARS, supporters of, you guessed it, the Los Angeles Galaxy.

As told to the Free Beer Movement by LARS member Isaac Menchaca.

Basics

MLS Club: Los Angeles Galaxy

Stadium: Home Depot Center

Year SG Founded:

2001 – After a loss, Kevin Hartman approached a few and offered a deal. Put together a group of about 100 fans to stand, sing, & support the team and they’d get a beer keg. The rest is history.

Section Name (if other than SG name): 137/138

Any other SGs apart of your section? No.

Location of SG in Stadium (section #, side, direction): Section 138, Southeast Corner

The Meaty Questions


What are the origins of your groups’ name?

The name ‘Riot Squad’ is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the infamous Los Angeles Riots of 1992. People have often thought we’re trying to act hard or be hooligans, but true to Riot Squad nature, we’re simply having a laugh.

Favorite chants/songs?

“Riot Squad We Are Here”

Why is sitting in the supporters section the “best seat in the house”?

Who’s sitting? Standing with LARS is a different type of supporter’s experience. We don’t practice afterschool or in the offseason. This isn’t glee club. We aren’t hooligans (even if we do attract the occasional Elijah Wood wannabe). We’re there to support the team, watch a game with friends and have a few beers.
It’s that combination of a laid-back, fun loving attitude along with smart, witty chant & song selection that gives you the best of both worlds in LARS. You can support the team, pressure the visitors and not feel like you have to complete a full workout in 90 mins.

Brag. What makes your SG one of the best supporters groups in MLS?

When your SG can successfully put together a list of people whose skin you’ve gotten under which includes the city’s mayor, the team’s less than exemplary DP, and on average, about an opposition player per game, you’re doing something right.

There are many supporter groups that can claim being the “most organized” or the “loudest” but eventually that kind of support turns into ‘white noise’ for a professional athlete. When all the songs/chants are the same as the ones you hear in every stadium in the league, and when the drumming drones out the voices of the supporter, in many ways it makes the atmosphere a positive one.

A place like Seattle, with 30,000 fans every game should really be more intimidating, but the only constant you hear from players is how much they “look forward to playing in Seattle’s atmosphere” – it’s not intimidating. It’s like Disneyland.

Just a season ago in LARS we were widely criticized for making a USMNT player cry shortly after he missed the cut for the World Cup Roster; needless to say, if a player is busy thinking about what the Riot Squad is saying to him, he’s not having his best game on the field.

We’re not afraid to say / chant things that are going to sting. We know better than to do something stupid and pointless like throwing out racial slurs, talking about a player’s family, or anything else that crosses a line. But other than that, we’re very comfortable walking that line.

The constant criticism is just further confirmation that we’re doing things that no other supporter group is doing.

Great Game(s) in Team History?


It’s probably a toss-up between the 2002 final and 2005. Any time your team can reach the final stage and take the whole thing home, it’s pretty exciting. 2002 probably gets the not simply because of the reward at the end of so many struggles in previous MLS Cups.

Predictions for this season?


Top three finish. Once you get into the playoffs, it’s a toss-up.

Losing Edson Buddle would have been a disaster, but picking up Angel changes the situation from a “loss” to an “adjustment.” Other than that Bruce has addressed quite a few of the team’s concerns. The defense has gotten depth and experience on the bench. The team addressed the lack of a left midfielder with two young players, and some depth was also added to the front line.

Why Major League Soccer? Why American soccer?


Why not? Even though I understand what is meant, this question often throws me off. It’s like asking an Ankaraspor fan why the Turkcell Superlig, or asking a Colo Colo fan why the Primera Division de Chile.

L.A. is our local team, MLS is our local league, and that’s pretty much the extent of it. I get that the question makes allusion to the many who only watch EPL, or La Liga football because they view American soccer as “less than” but I really feel that the questions should be directed at them. They’re the ones with an explanation to give. For the rest of us, “I Love L.A.” is enough in our hearts.

Some of us adopted the teams we love as soon as they were formed, others who are considerably younger, have had the fortune of actually growing up with these teams, and the rest were usually dragged along by friends or coworkers and decided to stay.

It’s hard to explain why we love our teams, and I still think you’d be better off asking the “MLS sucks” crowd.


Ladies and gentlemen.... the Los Angeles Riot Squad. Learn more and/or join them by visiting their Facebook page.

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VIDEO - "Chasing The Dream: The Jay DeMerit Story"

UPDATE: Read our interview with the co-directors of the re-named "Rise and Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story."

Vancouver and USMNT defender Jay DeMerit's story is one of the greatest rags to riches stories ever. Never on Major League Soccer's or the National Team radar, he paid his way to England, was spotted by  Championship side Watford in an exhibition game and leads them to Premier League promotion as their captain. His exploits also earned him a spot on the Yanks World Cup roster and a starring role in South Africa this summer.

Now all of this is the subject of a new documentary that will make its debut in the fall of 2011. "Chasing The Dream: The Jay DeMerit Story" is the real-life "Goal! The Dream Begins" and Jay's story puts Hernan Munez on the backburner.

Check out the trailer. We're working with our friends, The Shin Guardian (where this clip was first spotted), on securing an interview with the film's maker, and, of course, the film's star.

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VIDEO - Major League Soccer Season Preview

We snagged this goosebump enducing video from our friends at The Shin Guardian, but they, and us, are urging anyone who's jonesing for the 2011 Major League Soccer season to post this up.

FBM friend, ArkJayB has been rocking the YouTubes with all his great American soccer productions so check this one out and check out all his other work. You won't be disappointed.

Let's make the 2011 MLS season the "Year of the Free Beer"!

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The Free Beer Movement in Vegas: "And Then they Took The Beer From My Hands"

One for you and one for you....

I don't really know how it happened. I woke up feeling fine and yet by mid-way through the morning, listening to former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas regal the crowd with tales of his playing days, I wanted to kill myself.
No, no... it wasn't listening to Lalas speak. He was hilarious. Listening to the wild haired man of the 1994 World Cup turned clean cut (although still with a decent mop) ESPN commentator was simply enjoyable. The guy can give a speech.

I was hungover. Yes, the Free Beer Movement guy; a connoisseur of the finely fermented, the salaciously sudsy, the beautiful beer had a rager going on. It was one part mind-numbing pain and one part shame coursing through my head. I blame countless Miller Lites that were consumed the night before (Damn you light beer... so easy to drink. At least craft beer you have to take down slowly!). I blame drinking them to get the liquid courage to approach Lalas and introduce myself (yup... excited like a school girl to have met him). I blame the endless string of FBM fans handing me beer after beer saying, "You're the Free Beer Movement guy.... you deserve a free beer!". Sure, I'll take one, but probably not ALL of those.

You all will be happy to know that not once did the thought ever cross my mind; one that so often has been uttered by greater men (and women) than I in these darkest, cabeza-crushing times, "I'm never going to have another drink again."


A few hours later the hangover (helped, as usual, by one more beer) was gone and I was standing in front of a room full of American Outlaws members, the group's founders Korey Donahoo and Justin Brunken, Lalas, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl and other assembled guests.

Here's what I opened with:

Beer and soccer... it's elementary my dear Watson.

You see this beer and soccer idea is very serious stuff, backed by all sorts of statistics and what-not. In reality, of course, the Free Beer Movement is much more simple that this (otherwise my tiny brain couldn't run this half-assed operation); it's about the American soccer community; it's about welcoming and educating soccer newbies; it's about.... beer. That's the keystone (pun intended).

To make my point all the more obvious I launched several PBRs into the crowd. Thesis proved. The Free Beer Movement really is an "atmosphere enhancer" as I would later say.

Lalas and Wahl look thirsty. I mean, come on, it was after noon already.

I hop off the stage and walk over to the gentlemen of the day, AO's distinguished guests and hand them two of the most undistinguished beers in America.

And then they took the beer from my hands. The rest of the speech could've been a complete disaster (it wasn't), but at that moment I just bought a U.S. soccer legend and American's leading soccer journalist a beer.

I came to twenty minutes later covered in sweat (not really) and to a large ovation. Apparently I had given I halfway decent speech to the assembled.

At the core of my presentation were a few keys (see the whole FBM presentation):

1) The Free Beer Movement's goal is to "Build American Soccer One Beer at a Time" 

2) Beer is the medium, soccer is the message. 

3) The FBM is a grassroots program where soccer fans take it upon themselves to buy "soccer newbies" a beer (or two or three), educate them about the game, and generally make sure the newbie is enjoying him or herself. 

4) American Outlaws must maximize EVERY game and EVERY opportunity to recruit new fans at their chapter bars and the idea of the Free Beer Movement can provide those opportunities. 

5) The greatest assets that AO  (beyond the success of the National Team) has is its game day events and the atmosphere at chapter bars. The community it has created is a powerful and attractive to potential new fans. 

6) FBM will be working with AO to develop a "bar program" to help chapter bars "unite and strengthen" through member recruiting new fans/members, retaining current members, and returning both over and over again. 

7) At the core of the FBM "free beer philosophy" is the very serious economic argument that for soccer to grow in this country we need a larger base of fans investing money through tickets, merchandise, etc to provide U.S. soccer and American soccer teams with more capital to invest in growing their teams, facilities, and ultimately their fans.

Being a part of the American Outlaws Rally was an unbelievable event. If you're not a member of this group I highly encourage, no... I insist that you join them right away. If you consider yourself a fan of the USMNT team then get on board.

I'll leave you with a series of photos of the Free Beer Movement at the event:

Prepare to be amazed!

The FBM Swag Set Up.

Complete with beer, of course.

A very enthusiastic FBM fan (Ryan R.)

Me telling Grant Wahl how it is.

Endorsement #1.

Lalas signing my 1996 New England Revolution figurine of him. Ebay, baby.

Endorsement #2.

Cheers, everyone. Thanks for
supporting the Free Beer Movement.

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American Outlaws Vice President Justin Brunken on the Free Beer Movement

If there was any doubt about us killing it at the American Outlaws Rally this past weekend let's dispel those terrible thoughts with this glowing endorsement of our act from AO Vice President Justin Brunken.

My favorite part (besides when Justin talks about how awesome we are) is the apparent posse that he's rolling around with in the video. This guy is big time!

Brunken's comments come from video on MLS Insider's blog. Note: the video calls Brunken the AO President, but he is the vice president. Korey Donahoo is AO's president.

Don't believe everything you read... unless we write it.


American Outlaws in Vegas: The Rally So Far from mlsinsider on Vimeo.

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In Vegas, It's All About The Fans: American Outlaws Rally Coverage

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared on The Shin Guardian and was written by Free Beer Movement founder, Dan Wiersema, an attendee and speaker at the event. More coverage of the FBM's speech and presence at the event coming tomorrow.

The old adage “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” shouldn’t hold true when one is talking about the first-ever American Outlaws Soccer Supporters Rally which took place this past weekend. From prime presentations by former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas and FIFA Presidential candidate/Sports Illustrated soccer writer Grant Wahl to the simple act of hanging out with 100 of your closest AO friends, an event like this needs to be talked about from sea to shining sea.

AO's Fearless Leaders: Justin Brunken (VP, left)
and Korey Donahoo (President)

For Outlaws President Korey Donahoo and Vice President Justin Brunken this weekend’s events were the culmination of months and months of leg work finding a location for the rally, nailing down speakers, filling gift bags, and getting sponsorship commitments from companies like Golazo Energy Drinks, Pepsi Max, Parlaid Clothing Co. and Fox Soccer Channel. After all was said and done, a visibly exhausted Brunken acknowledge that every late night was worth it.

“We didn’t really know what to expect,” he said of the rally which was attended by over 80 members of the American Outlaws. “It was surprisingly smooth. It was awesome.”

Brunken said that the Rally’s main goal was to energize their members, network, exchange ideas, and talk about what works (and doesn’t work) for AO without the pressure and hectic schedule that would have accompanied a weekend tied to a National Team game.

“Everyone I talked to had an amazing time,” Brunken added.

The American Outlaws Rally featured speeches and Q & As with the Outlaws leadership, Lalas, Wahl, Little Feet, Free Beer Movement, and a sneak preview of One Goal’s new South Africa film “Laduma”.

Alexi Lalas, duh.

It was Lalas, member of the 1994 and 1998 USMNT World Cup squad and current ESPN commentator that got the festivities rolling in the morning. For as enamored as AO members were with Lalas (especially as the real Ginger Prince partied with fans both nights in Vegas), he was just as impressed by the organization. Lalas called his speech “a love letter from me to you”.

“From the bottom of my heart… thank you,” Lalas told the assembled audience, both hung over and wide-eyed. “We’re all a part of this soccer family.”

The former Serie A and Major League Soccer player recalled his days playing for the national team, from his youth days to his days as general manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy less a world-wind tour of his own exploits, but how the fans have shaped him and how they’ve grown since his early days from “pockets and pockets” of U.S fans to crowds “that were getting bigger and bigger” each time the USMNT stepped on the field.

“I feed off of you. You have passion from the bottom of your soul,” Lalas said.

He continued, “The people who have done the work off the field have done just as much as we have on the field” to grow the sport.

In the afternoon AO members saw a moving presentation and appeal from Little Feet founder Trevor Slavik, whose program donates one LF soccer ball to kids in need across the United States and the developing world every time someone purchases one on their own. Slavik spoke of the power that a soccer ball could have for good in the world and challenged AO members to go back to their chapters and become a part of his “Little Feet Army”.

Sports Illustrated head soccer writer and FIFA Presidential candidate headlined the afternoon (although had a tough act to follow, the Free Beer Movement’s Dan Wiersema!) Wahl’s arrival on stage was met by a Golazo-fueled crowd. The soccer-specific energy drink company out of Seattle made a real meal of Wahl’s candidacy printing posters and handling out American flags to AO members; and all of a sudden a simple speech became a political rally (and an impromptu march outside became another Wahl campaign video).

Grant Wahl, duh.

But like Lalas, Wahl’s speech wasn’t really about him, but about the incredible growth of U.S. soccer, and more specifically, the fans’ role in that growth. Catering to his audience he singled out American Outlaws for a lot the sport’s recent strides. He pointed specifically to the Outlaws’ show of support for USMNT forward Charlie Davies during the 2009 World Cup qualifying game against Costa Rica in Washington DC. AO (along with help of this soccer publication) was able to organize and mobilize the “9th Minute Tribute” for Davies at this game that took place less than 48 hours after his career-threatening car crash.

Through the smoke bombs and “number nine” signs emerged the fact that the American Outlaws had landed on the nation’s soccer radar (and did not go unnoticed by Davies, who indicated to Wahl, in an interview coming out in this week’s SI, that the gesture was incredible motivation for his recovery).

“You guys have something going on here and I can’t wait to see what’s next,” he said.

He pointed out that American soccer fans were a part of an extraordinary time in the sport’s history here.
“We’re all creating this American soccer history. Not many countries get to do that.”

That’s what made this weekend’s American Outlaws Rally so crucial because it gave members of this supporters group and opportunity to work and talk and play with other member that are writing the next chapter of this country’s history in terms of soccer. The Outlaws are a shining example of the strides that it has made.

AO was founded in Lincoln, Nebraska, as President Korey Donahoo joked, a “soccer hotbed” in 2007, to “unite and strengthen” American soccer supporters. Sam’s Army paved the way, but AO has taken the baton and pulled around the bend. Today, less than four years later, the organization has nearly 4,000 members in 46 official chapters and every state in the nation.

Through strong brand identification, passionate support in the stands, and, like every growing movement in world today, a great grasp of social media, the American Outlaws has become THE United States soccer supporters group, eclipsing Sam’s Army and even U.S. Soccer’s own “Supporters Club”.

Wahl accurately pointed out that with membership like AO’s “any city in America can now be a soccer hot bed” because of the Outlaws’ work.

For one weekend in March it was Las Vegas, Nevada.

Photo Credit: Renee Krenk Photography

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Better Know A Supporters Group - Vancouver Southsiders

Welcome to the second piece in a new feature on the Free Beer Movement site to expand our coverage of American soccer culture. It's called "Better Know a Supporters Group" just like Steven Colbert's "Better Know a District" from "The Colbert Report". 

Our goal: to feature each of the Major League Soccer teams' supporters groups. We've sent e-mails to each and every SG in Major League Soccer and soon you'll be able to check all what each is all about and what awesomeness they have to contribute to our growing American soccer world.

When we devised this idea a while back it was cool to be able to see what each supporter group is about, but in light of the terrible, one-sided, anti-American, condescending profile of Philadelphia's Sons of Ben SG by the British GQ (not even going to link to it to give them the site hits) we think its all the more important to give supporters groups in Major League Soccer the proper exposure and voice they deserve.

Read our previous Supporters Group Profiles.

Today we're featuring one of Major League Soccer's newbies, although not new to the American  (or Canadian) soccer scene, Vancouver Whitecaps and their supporters group, the Southsiders.

As told to the Free Beer Movement by John Know, President of the Southsiders.


The Basics

Photo Credit: Ty Altman

MLS Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Stadium: Empire Field (temporary for 2011), BC Place Stadium (permanent home as of October 2011)

Year SG Founded: 1999

Section Name: The Southside

Any other SGs apart of your section?

Not at this time, although we are working on getting some regional sub-groups established on Vancouver Island (The SouthIslanders) and the Okanagan (The OK Insiders). We also have a group of fans sitting on the west side of the stadium in the proverbial “posh” seats who have cheekily named themselves “The Prawnsiders.”

Location of SG in Stadium (section #, side, direction): south end behind the goal out to the SE corner.

The Meaty Questions

What are the origins of your groups’ name?

Photo Credit: Christopher Endersby

As many of us are painfully aware, the 1990s and 2000s were dark days for North American football supporters. It was an era when football clubs bought into the philosophy that "family-friendly entertainment" would draw legions of suburban families with young children through the gate.
True football supporters soon found themselves displaced by soccer moms and small children who were more interested in silly mascots and T-shirt contests than the game in front of them.

In 1999, diehard fans of the Vancouver 86ers decided that enough was enough. They abandoned their seats in the grandstand and made a habit of congregating in the pitch-level beer garden behind the goal at the south end of Swangard Stadium. There they knew they could get away with standing through the whole match, pint in hand and voices in full song... all without drawing complaints from the parents mortified by the occasional curse word or rude hand gesture. They generated a real football atmosphere, without the need for computer screen prompting for them to "make some noise".

At first, the group called themselves "The Carlsberg Crew" - so named for the official sponsor of Swangard's beer garden. The following season, they changed their name to "The Canterbury Court", as the beer sponsor had changed between seasons. Realizing that the group might have to change its name each and every season, we opted to call ourselves "The Southsiders".

Favorite chants/songs?

Our anthem is “Boundary Road” (tune of John Denver’s “Country Roads”), but we’re also known for singing the loudest and most obnoxious “O Canada” you’ve ever heard. We’ve got an arsenal of songs in the repertoire that are older than many of the clubs we’ll be playing against. Just wait, you’ll see!

Why is sitting in the supporters section the “best seat in the house”?


Because we are the atmosphere. We don’t need a scoreboard with video graphics of clapping hands to tell us when to make noise. If I could tell the uninitiated one thing, it’s that they are going to have some of the best laughing fits of their lives in the Southside, because some of the things you end up singing are as much shocking as they are hilarious.

Brag. What makes your SG one of the best supporters groups in MLS?


We are the oldest SG in Canada, and we have been around longer than the vast majority of SGs in the USA. We support the oldest professional club in North America. Aside from a two year break following the NASL collapse, we’ve had a professional team here for 37 straight years. We are a city with proper football history and rivalries. Only our Cascadia cousins in Seattle come close, with Portland being the next runner up.

Greatest game(s) in team history?

Photo Credit: Susan Harris

- The 1979 semi-final win over the NY Cosmos, and the subsequent championship final win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies are obvious choices. How about…

-Opening BC Place in 1983 v. Seattle Sounders, winning 2-1 in front of 63,000 people!

- A 7–0 demolition of the Tennessee Rhythm in 2000 was a masterpiece to watch.

-The allegedly “semi-pro” Whitecaps (as Canada’s Toronto-centric media would have you believe) defeating “major league” TFC 1-0 in Toronto during the 2008 Nutrilite Canadian Championships. Beating them 2-0 at home the following year was even sweeter!

-Caps defeating Portland 3-2 at PGE Park in the 2009 USL-1 Playoffs – perhaps the most exciting, entertaining football match I’ve ever witnessed.

Predictions for this season?


A first year of important lessons, but good signs of progress. A second place finish in the Cascadia Cup derby with Seattle and Portland. Our first Voyageurs Cup (the above-mentioned Nutrilite Canadian Championship). A heartbreaking second round exit from the playoffs.

Why Major League Soccer? Why North American soccer?

For us, it’s not about Major League Soccer. The Southsiders have supported the Vancouver 86ers / Whitecaps through many different leagues since 1999, with many of us being longtime supporters well before that, point, even going back to the NASL days. The club could be in division two or three and we would still be supporting them. All football jobs and leagues have expiry dates… but true support lasts forever, and your heart goes wherever the club goes. MLS is just the latest chapter in 37 years of Whitecaps history. We’re glad to be there, but we don’t need to see an MLS patch on the jersey sleeve to know our boys in blue and white can compete with the best.

For more information and/or to join the Southsiders.

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What Happens In Vegas.....

Will actually be reported right back here....

Lame, huh? That you'll actually get an insiders look as the Free Beer Movement heads to Las Vegas for our speaking engagement at the American Outlaws Rally this weekend.

Drinks, soccer, more drinks, America, drinks, more soccer.... sounds like the perfect FBM weekend if you ask us (which, of course, you didn't).

Follow us on Twitter and the ol' FaceSpace for all the action (if we're sober enough to do so) of the FBM in LV.

We'll be back to regularly scheduled programing, including the next installment of our "Better Know a Supporters Group" series, on Monday.


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