The hypocrisy of drugs in sports
June 8, 2013NBA News: Cavs to have $19 million in cap space this summer
June 8, 2013The Yanks were playing their first World Cup qualifier in 2.5 months. They were trying to keep momentum from a 4-3 win over what was essentially a German “B” team that was missing 15 first team players and featured several young Germans earning their first cap. The friendly against Germany served as the second tune up for June’s world cup qualifiers with the first being back in Cleveland over a week and a half ago.
That night over a week and a half ago 27,000 sports fans flocked to downtown Cleveland to take in a world class sporting event. They weren’t headed to Progressive Field to watch the Tribe take on the Reds in “The Battle of Ohio”. Instead it was a rowdy group of soccer fans who packed the lower bowl and the open club sections of First Energy field to watch U.S. Men’s National Team take on the visitors of Belgium in an international friendly.The boys representing the stars and stripes got smoked by the new darlings of Europe, as the Belgians freely ran passed U.S. defenders in route to a 4-2 victory. While the team looked horrid against the talented Belgians, there was however, a group of Americans who shined bright on the warm May night. It wasn’t Dempsey, Altidore, or Howard who earned high praise against Belgium, instead it was Cleveland soccer fans.
Led by the support of the local chapter of The American Outlaws, Cleveland packed in to the available seats of First Energy stadium draped in American flags, bandanas, jerseys, and Captain America costumes. It was more than a game, it was a spectacle of national pride. It was a party.
The party started several hours before kickoff at the official pregame party of The American Outlaws at West 6th’s The Blind Pig. Herds of die hards, casual fans, and those there just for a few (or many) beverages filled the place from wall to wall, dancing and singing to the Americana laced jams such as “Shook Me All Night Long” and “Party in the USA”.
Leaders from the The American Outlaws Cleveland chapter as well as nationals led the crowd in chants that ranged from “When the States go marching in…” to a personal favorite of mine, “USA aint nothing to F*** with”. It was a colorful crowd both literally and figuratively and with the crowd at a fever pitch, the announcement was made that Cleveland had sold its American Outlaws tickets allotted to them by U.S. soccer faster than tickets sold in Seattle, the city considered the soccer Mecca of the United States. If you aren’t impressed by that statement consider that Seattle has sold 50,000 plus tickets for Saturday’s Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps rivalry game.
Four days after our boys took a beating against Belgium, the US took on Germany in our nation’s capital. It was the first time U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s faced the team for which he starred for as a player and coached to the 2006 World Cup Final. This U.S. team looked like a completely different group with the insertion of Michael Bradley back in the midfield after he was unavailable for the match in Cleveland. Bradley controlled the midfield against a young, overconfident German team and led the Yanks to a 4-3 win over the world’s number 2 ranked team. While this was far from Germany’s “A” team, a win against a powerhouse like Germany is always something to be proud of. Not only did the win against Germany give Klinsmann bragging rights over his home country, it drove the German media mad, and gave the Yanks some momentum heading into three very important world cup qualifiers in June.
After defeating Costa Rica in the snow, and drawing Mexico in Azteca in their previous two qualifiers, the US entered Friday in a three way tie for thrid in the final round of World Cup qualifying known affectionately as “The Hex”. The top three finishers in the 6 team group automatically qualify for Brazil 2014 while the fourth place finisher has a home and home playoff against New Zealand who won the Oceania qualifying region.
With 7 games remaining and 3 in the next two weeks, the time for friendlies was over. It was time for our boys to get back to work, and what better place to do so than Jamaica’s national stadium in Kingston, known as “The Office”.
And what better place to watch the game, than at the home bar of the Cleveland chapter of The American Outlaws, Mavis Winkle’s in Independence.
I made the quick trip down I-77 to meet some friends at an Irish Pub filled with rowdy Americans. You see, everyone who watched Friday’s game at a participating American Outlaws bar received free beer for showing their support. What better way to attract new fans than offer up some free booze?
A cold, wet evening in June quickly morphed into The 4th of July as we entered the bar. From the moment we walked in we were greeted by the friendliest group of sports fans you’ll ever meet. Members of the American Outlaws went out of their way to welcome my friends and me. Instead of looking down upon a group that featured mostly casual fans, the Outlaws opened up their arms and said the more the merrier.
“Miller high life until it runs out guys, enjoy!” Our host instructed us as he tracked back to his place at the front of the bar. This crowd was not as large nor as wild as the group that gathered before the Belgium match at Blind Pig, but two dozen USA fans dressed in their Outlaws’ t’s, jerseys, and flag bandannas created an atmosphere that made you proud to be an American.
Before the game the crowd took part in the popular call and response, “I believe that we will win“. And whether you were there as a die hard or just someone looking for some free booze it was almost impossible not join in with the positive energy provided by the crowd.
After the US opened the scoring in the 30th minute on a Jozy Altiodre header from a Graham Zusi cross, the place erupted. College kids, parents, grandparents, everyone in the bar joined in on what has become known as “The Miracle Chant”.
“U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!”
It’s a special feeling knowing everyone in the place, whether they’re an American Outlaw, a casual fan, or just an old dude meeting buddies for a 50th high school reunion took pride in the US goal.
The game slowed down for the next hour as neither team could muster many great chances, luckily though the keg kept flowing. A night which seemed sure to end in a 1-0 USA victory got flipped upside down when Jamaica scored off a free kick in 87th minute, sucking the life out of everyone in the bar. It was set pieces that had plagued the US in their last trip to Jamaica when the Reggae Boyz beat the United States 2-1 in the previous round of World Cup qualifying.
But the Yanks wouldn’t settle for the draw and the subsequent 1 point earned from a tie, they wanted all 3 points earned from a victory.
The US pressed forward and in the 92nd minute, Michael Bradley whipped in a low cross to midfielder Brad Evans. Evans possessed the ball with his back to goal, turned and fired with his right foot into the upper corner of the net securing the win in the finals seconds, and giving the Cleveland American Outlaws all the more reason to keep the party going. The man known for his left foot set the crowd on fire with right. Evans ecstatically pulled his shirt over his head and sprinted to the corner flag as he teammates mobbed him.
“U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!”
The goal gave the US a 2-1 victory and more importantly moved the team into first place in The Hex standings with 6 games to play. The loss virtually eliminates Jamaica, leaving just 5 teams with a real shot at finishing in the top 3.
The American Outlaws mantra is “Unite and Strengthen” as they try to organize and grow the fan base of US soccer. With free beer, USA chants, and the team winning in the last minute, the Cleveland chapter of the American Outlaws no doubt succeeded in gaining some new support on Friday night.
The Yanks resume World Cup qualifying Tuesday on ESPN against Panama in front of what should be a special crowd in Seattle, but right here in Cleveland on Rockside Road off of I-77, the Cleveland chapter of The American Outlaws will be drinking, singing, and cheering on our boys in style.
21 Comments
Love seeing the USMNT coverage on the site lately. Looking forward to the rest of the qualifiers and (hopefully) World Cup. Wish the games were on a channel people actually get though.
Thanks for coming out last night… and last week. We’ve been having a blast! It’s all about the game and getting people together to have a good time watching it.
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We’re at Mavis Winkle’s for EVERY GAME… no matter the day, no matter the time. We hope to see some more new faces this summer as the USMNT continue to qualify for the 2014 World Cup as well as compete in the Gold Cup for a berth into the Confederations Cup!
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Even if all that ^^^ makes no sense… we still want you all to come out and catch a game… you’ll be addicted in no time!
Still don’t understand why the “Cleveland” Outlaws watch matches in Independence. I don’t live in a city to drive half an hour into the suburbs to do things.
Great story! The USA vs Belgium match was a fantastic event for all of Northeast Ohio. Met fans from all over the Midwest and Northeast part of the country who drove in for the match. Green Bay, St. Louis, and New York to name a few. Jamaica was a thrilling match too, but I was hanging in a packed bar with the AO Akron crew just slightly south. NE Ohio is a strong soccer community.
Great article. I have been in DC for the past 11 years and always enjoy a USA game at old RFK. Glad to see a good turnout in Cleveland.
Let’s be honest… soccer is still a game enjoyed more in the suburbs than the cities. The Akron Outlaws likely have few members who actually live in the city of Akron, and I’m sure the Cleveland Outlaws are the same. NBD.
What a blast that game was! Great prelude and recap, Ryan. I thought for sure the win was blown with that set piece goal in the 89th minute for the Reggae Boyz. I was livid. Never expected Brad Evans to be the hero, but that was a world class goal and he deserves every bit of the credit for the win.
I’m also glad that that I don’t have to burn my Jozy Altidore jersey… he’s looked completely different over the last two games. Not just in scoring goals, but in holding the ball up and making smart runs.
are you trying to say you cannot drive down 55th street and see all the random pickup games of soccer going on in the street? it kills outgoing rush-hour traffic on Carnegie in the summertime as well, right?
and what about inner-city stickball?
Haha, nice. Only if we transported a part of the city of Sao Paulo to 55th street and then transported the entire city of Cleveland back to 1910, respectively. I hear Samsung is getting pretty close with that technology, though.
the power of ARM processors at work.
And the misunderstood power of graphene! It won’t be long before the government is using sheets of graphene sewn into our clothing to read our thoughts and control our bodies, and I for one welcome our new Japanese overlords.
It isn’t official, but the games can be watched at the Old Angle in Ohio City
Great article. The game was a blast. Live soccer can be amazing. If anyone is interested we have started a small facebook group that is looking in to what it will take to get MLS in Cleveland. Check it out here https://www.facebook.com/BringMajorLeagueSoccerToCleveland
you know Samsung is a Korean company, right?
I do… now. Whoops.
don’t worry. everyone will know after the first wave 🙂
Honestly. What the hell is up with that? We can’t even watch our national team in our nation?
Anyone know where the Columbus AO meets?
The reason we are in Independence is Mavis Winkle’s is willing to accomodate us for every game. Being an official chapter of AO is conditional on having a “home bar” that will show every USMNT game, with sound.
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We have looked high and low, far and wide for a more centralized (read downtown) location… when a USMNT game conflicts with the Indians, Browns, Cavs… places are not willing to accomodate us. We were told by some that we would also be trumped for OSU games… Mavis Winkle’s is willing to open early, stay open late and host us without question.
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That said, we’re always looking to host our watch parties wherever we can get the most people together to enjoy the game. If you have ideas of somewhere downtown that would be willing, we would absolutely check it out! You can email suggestions or contact info to Cleveland.Outlaws@yahoo.com or Drop us a message on FB or Twitter @AOCleveland:disqus
All chapters’ info:
http://www.theamericanoutlaws.com/chapters
unfortunately the home country picks the broadcaster.