Some things the Southsiders need to get right

February 22, 2012 at 11:28 pm | Posted in MLS Season 2012 | 5 Comments

Lets give them credit: the Southsiders have improved enormously since the old days at Swangard. Back then they were to drunk to chant properly or to sing properly. When we moved to Empire to start our MLS campaign the Southsiders did well, but they scored an own goal when they were out-performed by visiting Seattle Sounders fans. When we moved to BC Place, they were again outperformed by Portland Timbers fans.

C'mon guys, get it right!

Make no mistake about it, in spite of a rather slow start, I believe the Southsiders will be the equal of both the Sounders and the Timbers fans this year. This is good news for the Whitecaps. Organization and unity are the keys to the Southsiders’ success, as is support from the club itself.

Here are things they need to get right.

1. Learn “White is the Colour”. The Whitecaps have omitted this song from the winning 1979 campaign from its match day menu. This is nothing short of a scandal; both Bob Lenarduzzi and Carl Valentine should be ashamed of themselves. Just because Bob and Carl have brought dishonour on themselves does not mean the song should not be sung by the Southsiders. Learn it and sing it loud and proud…

2. Get the “White”…”Caps” cheer right. This cheer, which we got right at Empire, mysteriously disappeared once we got to BC Place, and it did so because the Southsiders got it wrong. Rather than waiting for the response from across the pitch, which is the proper way, Southsiders in sections right next to each other repeated it quickly back and forth to each other… Wrong!!! The “White”…”Caps” cheer is meant to roll from one side of the stadium to the other like a wave. All of the Southsiders should chant “White” together and wait for the rest of the stadium to chant “Caps” back. This way we will get the awesome “wave” effect going back and forth across the stadium. That stupid bird should get it right too…

Just some suggestions… Roll on March 10!

5 Comments »

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The whole run up to the season start has been quite low-key from a marketing perspective. One measley Skytrain blitz, and that’s it? I’m waiting for something to kick into gear — bring back that blonde bombshell with the painted-on kit. Have a “Meet Your Whitecaps” open-door meet ‘n greet at BC Place, do somethin’ creative, inspiring or memorable for god sakes.

Comment by RR— February 23, 2012 #

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- I agree the Whitecaps have got the pre-season promotion all wrong. They should have done another pre-season countdown or something to capture the city’s imagination. Frankly it has been a complete flop. If we don’t have a sell-out March 10 time to fire a couple of people…
  
  Comment by whitecapsfan— February 23, 2012 #
  
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Despite my distaste for the song, I see your point re: White is the Colour. However, it would make for a really crap chant. Too convoluted and too fast, in my opinion.

Also, why don’t you join up, suggest this on the Southsiders forum, sit with the Southsiders and start the chant yourself?

Comment by Brenton— February 23, 2012 #

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- Brenton: thanks for the invitation, I might just take you up on that, though my anti-social tendencies make me a bit of a lone wolf!!! I would have to be a “Southsider in absence” because I sit on the halfway line! I still do the chants, however, and my mission is to get the sleepy folks in our section to start chanting too…
  
  Comment by whitecapsfan— February 23, 2012 #
  
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  - What’s it like at the halfway line? Definitely out of my price point, so I honestly wouldn’t know.
    
    Are you surrounded by white-collar psychopathic bosses who spend more time on their BB devices than watching the match? Trophy wives reading their soft-core novels? Any young families? (although a lack of infants might not be altogether a bad thing).
    
    I enjoy the boisterous atmosphere, but not big on the language once it crosses into beer-spilling (literally) F-bomb territory.
    
    Comment by RR— February 24, 2012 #

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