Ground Braking

I can't shake this notion that I'm somehow not a "real" Fire fan because I'm not going to the groundbreaking ceremony in Bridgeview this afternoon. However, it's that exact feeling that reinforces the notion that I have other things to do, other priorities that have to take precedence sometimes.

During the off-season, I typically need to get as far away from the Fire as I can. A lot of mental energy goes into what I do to support this team, and I just need a break at the end of a draining season. So, on the one hand, I'm pretty comfortable with the desire/necessity to take, at the very least, the rest of the calendar year off after the close of the MLS season in November. I'm sort of dreading my next column for the website on those grounds, although I can probably rant about FC Dallas and ReAL Salt Lake's misguided notions of "tradition."

The other thing that bugs me to no end with regard to American soccer is this notion of what a "good fan" or a "real fan" really is. There seems to be a point where supporters of this or that team, whether it's MLS or the USMNT, draw this line in the proverbial sand and declare that only the fans on their side are the "real fans." This almost singlehandedly dooms many supporters clubs, and sparsely populated sections are littered with their remains. Unfortunately, I can't shake the feeling that Fire fans are very close to that point right now, and I don't feel like there's anything I can do about it.

Except sit, unrepentantly, at my desk churning through search program data when the shovels hit dirt for the cameras. This does not make me any worse of a fan than those who took the time to witness the event. Just different, and different is good.