Real Salt Lake vs. Chivas USA - Contest for tickets

Great Idea for a contest Denz.

Being in Seattle for the cup is an untouchable moment. When I got to the hotel after the game, the elevator doors opened to a Gals fan slumped against the wall looking like someone had died. As an immediate reflex, I let out a short laugh before deciding not to be rude. He bowed his head back down after looking up and seeing me in my jersey as the source of the laugh . It totally solidified the win for me. Incredible. AWKWARD elevator ride.

Sometime in late 2005 we had a player hit a goal of the week nominee (it might have won, I’d love it if you could help me remember which goal it might have been). The highlight on the website featured my Vuvuzela blowing louder and longer than the announcer on the microphone screaming “gooooaaaallll”. I was in junior high at the time and I showed everyone who would give me the time. This was before our seats at the RioT put us on TV regularly and before they played my celebration of the Columbus leg-1-goal 5 times at Qwest field before the Cup (which later made the DVD). It was a very proud moment then. This summers vuvuzela controversy definitely raised this one up on the favorite memory list. There will never be anything like that first time I had something tangible to connect me to the team.

I always hated Atiba Harris. My brother and I heckled him pretty regularly for his atrocious play with his back to the goal. I didn’t understand the game nearly as much as I do now, I underestimated how hard it is to finish, and I hadn’t realized I should never blast a home player. Even though I’m a much ‘better’ fan now than I was then, I still love the time I got a reaction out of him. He had let a defender usher him out of bounds, and gave up the throw in. This was right in front of our seats at Eccles, and I lit him up for being so weak on the ball. As he went to mark the defender from getting the throw he said to the opposing player “man, these fans are assholes”. Fittingly, it was against Dallas. After last week my venom for him is at an all time high. He tops my list of “Athletes I’d Most Like to Punch”. I hope I come up with a poster worthy of my hate for the home turn of that series this year. I’ll take suggestions.

Honorable Mentions:
*Joking with Kyle at the FIFA tourney. Really any interaction with those guys off the pitch is a treat. Always so happy to talk to a fan when they get caught in public.
*First time I had forgotten I had my tattoo, only to be reminded as I looked at a mirror. If the team didn’t last another day, the tattoo would be worth it for the memories I’ve already had.

So I’m guessing either the Driving-Through-The-Drive-Thru-Backwards story or the time when I yelled “Bachelor Reject” at Joe Cannon at that All-Star party probably won’t be too impressive, since you were there for both of them, huh?

My whole “argument” is based around my favorite player on this squad; Andy Williams.

Ever since he was picked by the club in the expansion draft I have loved his skill, craft, and pure class. Many people loved to bag on him for being “lazy” but I saw what the man was actually doing. You dont have to run like a chicken with your head cut off to be good. For the first 3-4 years I supported him with my whole heart, loved what he did for us, and was likely the loudest person in the crowd when he was announced in the lineup/as a sub. In 2007 I was up in Salt Lake and saw Andy and his whole family. It took me a second to believe it was really him, just sitting there and enjoying himself. I didnt want to be the dumb fan that ruined a family occasion so I just walked up, said “are you andy williams” in a thick jamaican accent he answered “yes”. I said “I dont want to interupt you and your family, just wanted to be sure it was you. I love your play and what you do for RSL.” Instead of just brushing me off, like I expected though, he continued to talk to me for a couple minutes before finally saying “bye” and to be sure to come out to more games. I was in total shock. The guy was just that, a guy. Really down to earth.

Then came the awful news of 2009 with his wife.

I convinced everyone I knew to show appreciation for him as soon as I found out. Hell, I went on facebook, bigsoccer, the blogs, etc begging people to show their support for him and his family. The 77th minute of the first home game after the news was official about his wife, the entire crowd did the most simple thing they could, chant his name in appreciation. Andy showed his appreciation to us after the game, something I wont ever forget. From there, its history.

The guy is a legend of the game and surely is the first (and only) legend of Real Salt Lake.

How does one, who’s been there since the beginning, pick out their favorite moment in RSL history? It could be when I met Andy Williams at Biaggis, It could be the time my date nearly dropped my camera, and as I reached down to grab it, Will Johnson scored what became the goal of the year, causing me to miss seeing it happen in person.

Or it could be the best birthday ever. My fiance’s birthday landed on the day of MLS Cup 2009. As a birthday present I took her to Seattle to root on the boys. The entire weekend was remarkable, but winning the cup and watching RSL, and RSL fans celebrate was incredible. Even when I nearly poked out her eye with the zip-tie that was holding the flag to the pole because I hugged her so tightly! The highlight of the trip, however, was the dinner she and I shared at a quiet restaurant overlooking the bay, and it was there I decided I was going to marry her.

But I think the best RSL memory is not one that happened on the pitch. It has been the time RSL matches have allowed me to spend with my boys, sharing a passion of mine with them, teaching them about the beautiful gam, and enjoying every time they begin chanting “Ole, ole. ole, ole, Real Salt Lake,” in the most random places. They make up their own chants, and they’ve even gotten others who sit near us to join in. All-in-all,

Thanks for the memories!