Eleven score and ten days ago Jason Kreis brought forth on this continent a new team, concieved in brilliance, and dedicated to the proposition that the team is the star.

Now we are engaged in a great Western war, testing whether that team, or any team so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.  We are now gathered on a great battle-field of that war.  We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those players who here gave thier lives that that team might live.  It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate - we cannot concecrate - we cannot hallow - this ground.  The brave men, playing and on the bench, who stuggle here, will consecrate it far above our poor power to add or detract.  The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they will do here.  It is for us the fans, rather, to be dedicated here to the chanting and singing, throwing of streamers and wearing of the Red which they who play here have thus so nobly requested.  It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored men we take increased devotion to that cause for which they have given the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these men shal not have trained in vain - that this team, under Kreis, shall have a new berth into the Cup - and that celebrations of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Rio.

Gem Tactics

How do you measure the heart of a champion? Those who are bold and brave enough to scratch, scrap, and claw their way to destiny? They allow others to take the spotlight, the news stories, and the praise. They crouch silently, but alertly. Then, when the stars align, they pounce with terrible fury. The final thought of a prey animal that has finally succomed to the predator must be something like, "I didn't see that coming" or maybe "Uh-oh..." Such will be the case with any team in our way. Little do they know we have secretly stalked them. Careful not to alert them to our presence. We have a unique opportunity to witness history unfold at a place where past, present, and future converge.

We played at paste
till qualified for Pearl
then left the paste
and deemed ourselves as fools
but this new Vision
and these New Hands
learned Gem Tactics
practicing Sands

Our past is behind us, the present is upon us, our future is in our hands. We just need to Take It

Put a candle in the window

"Guess I've got that old travelin' bone, 'cause this feeling won't leave me alone.  But I won't, won't be losing my way, no, no.  'Long as I can see the light."  -CCR

Last Saturday, prior to the RSL playoff debut at Rio Tinto, a group of Mexicans donning red and white stripes and bandit masks came parading down the middle of the walkway leading from State Street to the stadium.  These butts proceeded to curse (in Mexican) and yell derogitory remarks to bystandars along their way.  Oh how glorious it was to send them packing with their team down a goal in this 2 leg series.  

This coming Saturday will be opposite day.  I am my fellow loyal supporters will convrege upon the Home Depot center, and we will parade down the pathway to the enternace with quiet confidence, respectful of our hosts.  We will be noisy in the support of our team and do so in an intelligent manner.  We will not celebrate prematurely and we will leave the HDC with fond memories of a sound victory for RSL.  The home supporters will exit the HDC for the last time in 2008, not with satisfaction, but with dissapointment, a stark contrast from last weekend's home supporters' feeling as they exited Rio Tinto.