Wednesday, September 25, 2013

MLS to Fan(atics): We'll Pay You to Stop Cursing

M.L.S. Tries to Mute Fans’ Vulgar Chants

For decades, soccer officials in the United States simply wanted some fans in their stadiums. Now they have them, and some of those fans have brought an unexpected problem: a vulgar chant, in the vein of more notoriously rabid soccer fans in other countries.

Hardly clever, it is only three words — an insult directed at the opposing goalkeeper — but enough to give M.L.S. officials fits as they hear it spill over into live television broadcasts. The chant’s simplicity is what makes it appealing or appalling, depending on your perspective. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of the NYT.

Kicking Back Comments: While I get it, I find the whole thing a bit silly. MLS is worried about its image on TV and with (parents of younger) fans, and is doing something (really clever) about it.

That said, it seems a bit Big Brother-ish to try to mute fans en masse. What about singular fans? What about coaches or players who "let slip" some inappropriate language?

It would not be the 1st time an on field microphone picked up an irate player or coach ... what about that when it gets out on TV?

It's funny, I took Jr. to the Brazil match the other night at Gillette and he was really amazed at the difference in atmosphere from that match to MLS. His comment was ... "... MLS is kind of boring ... ." I choose to use "sterile", but the point remains that MLS could be running the risk, in making The American Game more attractive to its base, but taking some of the fun out of it for the rest of us who are fans.

BTW, I don't think it is just soccer that has this "issue" ... has anyone gone to a college hockey game and been greeted to an opposing player getting a penalty. On their way to the box the crowd generally yells ...

Seeeeeeeeeeya A$$h0%& ........

Funny stuff that doesn't seem to cause a rip in the space-time continuum. I think we can get out of our bubble every once in a bit and take some good natured spirited language.

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