Are you ready for some futbol?

[Jim Umber]

For the record, I agree with Rover. You've all probably noticed. Every word out of their mouths proclaims bigotry, or at least chauvanism (thanks, Rover, I think that is actually a better word for it). And I agree with Rover that that is wrong.

I agree that the whole thing may be only a marketing ploy, but if so it is still evil!

I will repeat that if a US team went down there and spouted off even half as much as they are, there would be riots in the streets. They'd never get to play their first game. It's just wrong!

But I'm actually looking forward to seeing them play. I truly believe that they are in for a very rude awakening. I've watched the Mexican league play for several years and never been impressed. I think their first few games will be jokes. The only real question is, how long will it take for them to recover from their shortsidedness?

[SoccerPrime]

To Torres I say this: "Down with Mexican football, hello to American soccer".

[Jim Umber]

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

To Torres I say this: "Down with Mexican football, hello to American soccer".

Hear, hear! We're in agreement on that one!

[Jose Luis Luviano]

I think that the Bottom Line here is that we have been Trolled by some master Wind Up Artists.

Ramon Ramirez has a TV. He saw what happened in Jeonju & Columbus.

But kind of like the casinos set lines not based on how they think the game will turn out, but rather to generate the maximum amount of betting on both sides, Ramirez said that he's going to "introduce Mexican soccer" to us Unwashed Gringo Masses just to Troll us. Ramirez knows that this isn't your father's US Soccer, with college players & indoor players that get run out of the stadium by Mexico.

The same thing is true of Haskell, Vergara and everyone else in Chivas' management.

The only reason they made up those "Goodbye Soccer, Hello Futbol" shirts was to sell tickets.

It's Howard Stern syndrome. People that like Howard Stern listen to him for 2 hours a day, to hear what kind of crazy thing he will say next. People that hate Howard Stern listen to him for 3 hours a day to hear what kind of crazy thing he will say next.

[Rover]

Originally Posted by Jose Luis Luviano

I think that the Bottom Line here is that we have been Trolled by some master Wind Up Artists.

Ramon Ramirez has a TV. He saw what happened in Jeonju & Columbus.

Absolutely agree, which is why I started originally by saying I won't give them what they want--love or hate. I'll give them indifference.

I do find Ramirez' comments and the whole seedy cheetos marketing campaign ironic. Just for fun, I dug up FIFA's technical report on the Jeonju Woodshedding. It's at this link:

http://2002.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/02/en/020617/2/13v4.html

Most illuminating quote:

“From the game, you could really see the underestimation of the Americans by Mexico, as well as Mexico being too confident. It was a very good game, but filled with fouls."

Seems like some people just never learn.

[clarette]

I think the seedy cheetos are hilarious, actually...

They haven't played a single MLS game yet but think they like own the league or something, most of their "stars" are Chivas reserves or are considered expendable to the *real* Chivas by Head Goat Jorge for whatever reason, and they have bleeping cheerleaders with a weird Charlies Angels logo.

:D

[Arelius]

[QUOTE=Rover]OK, well that's where we're differing. I couldn't care less about CDG. My focus is what's best for RSL, MLS, and American soccer.QUOTE]

Chivas will capture the U.S. Hispanic market in much the same way Freddy Adu has captured the kiddy market.

By the end of this season, you will see indicators (in the form of an increased average attendance at the MLS matches) that Chivas is in fact good for MLS.

[Rover]

[QUOTE=Arelius]

Originally Posted by Rover

OK, well that's where we're differing. I couldn't care less about CDG. My focus is what's best for RSL, MLS, and American soccer.QUOTE]

Chivas will capture the U.S. Hispanic market in much the same way Freddy Adu has captured the kiddy market.

By the end of this season, you will see indicators (in the form of an increased average attendance at the MLS matches) that Chivas is in fact good for MLS.

Yes, we'll see.

I wonder if the "U.S. Hispanic market" is so monolithic as to fall for sc's marketing. The same "passion and history" that we're told will drive sc to the top can cut both ways. All those America, Cruz Azul, and Necaxa fans (among others) might not be so willing to support sc when they've detested the daddy club their lives. And Central American fans, who don't always feel done right by their northern neighbors, may not be so easy to win over either, especially when their own players are on other MLS rosters (can you say Carlos Ruiz?).

In 1998, MLS expanded into Miami to tap into the huge South Florida "Hispanic market." Four years later the team folded. Why? Because the Cuban- and Venezuelan-Americans, who were the target audience, are baseball fans by and large. They're as Hispanic as anyone (whatever that actually means), but the geniuses at MLS headquarters didn't do proper market research.

The sc's will draw well, at least at first, from the novelty factor if nothing else. Once everyone realizes it's a gimmicky minor league farm team for daddy back in Guadalajara, interest will wane. That may take a season, or five. But it will happen. Expectation rarely survives contact with reality--especially in the long term.

We'll see.

[Jose Luis Luviano]

Originally Posted by Rover

Yes, we'll see.

The same "passion and history" that we're told will drive sc to the top can cut both ways.

Good points, Rover.

The Galaxians/Barn Burners/Loyalists/Screaming Eagles etc will find their sections overflowing with Pumas/America/Comunicaciones/FAS fans when Chivas visit.

Which is entirely the point of this whole exercise....to sell tickets.

Can the Rice Eccles concession stands rustle up some Pupusas?

[Arelius]

Rover: “I wonder if the "U.S. Hispanic market" is so monolithic as to fall for sc's marketing.”

Absolutely not, however the great majority of Hispanics in the US are Mexican.


Rover: “All those America, Cruz Azul, and Necaxa fans (among others) might not be so willing to support sc when they've detested the daddy club their lives.”

Excellent point, however, most Mexicans have two clubs they support; their #1 club and (secondarily) Chivas (because it only uses Mexicans – never foreign talent). If the only “Mexican” club that is in the MLS is Chivas, most Mexicans will support them. Now, if Club America were a part of MLS, then many of the Mexicans here would support them instead.


Rover: “In 1998, MLS expanded into Miami to tap into the huge South Florida "Hispanic market." Four years later the team folded. Why? Because the Cuban- and Venezuelan-Americans, who were the target audience, are baseball fans by and large. They're as Hispanic as anyone (whatever that actually means), but the geniuses at MLS headquarters didn't do proper market research.”

I couldn’t agree more. These Hispanic countries have baseball as their premier sport.