As a Timbers fan, I often take a look at the comments on the team Facebook page. Most times, they make me feel good about my team and my fellow fans, who I firmly believe are the most passionate, devoted and knowledgeable fans in MLS. But lately, the team’s continuing slide and front office slip-ups have led to a disappointing trend on these and other boards: bad-mouthing our team and our players. It’s not our way, and it needs to stop.
I’m not saying that things are perfect, or even particularly good, in Timbers land. I’m as mad as you are (and madder than most of you) about the deal that sent Troy Perkins to Montreal. I dislike Gavin Wilkinson and his plans as much as anyone, and I am all for complaining when there is a reason to complain. Part of what makes the Timbers Army strong is that it is interactive. We’re not just a chant machine that turns on at the start of games and turns off at the end. We tell the team what we think, even if it’s not all that pretty to hear.
There is a difference between complaining and turning on your team. RCTID – Rose City Til I Die – means that regardless of individuals in the front office, locker room or elsewhere, we support the team, always. When I see comments like “Ricketts sucks” or “My save of the week is the money I saved not buying season tickets”, it’s really disappointing. That’s not RCTID. That’s not Timbers Army. We don’t boo our players, our team.
If you want to talk bad about our players, or laugh about how glad you are that you didn’t support the team this season, we can do without you. We don’t want you to take up space that a real Timbers fan could be using, especially later on when the tide turns and we find success. You won’t deserve to be a part of it.
In short, if you’re looking for a team to support when it’s easy and ignore or bad-mouth when it’s hard, there’s a team in Seattle that you might like better. They’re used to fair-weather and bandwagon fans and you’ll fit right in. If, on the other hand, you love your team, feel free to complain about the mistakes being made with it, but stop short of booing our guys. Support the team (even critically) or get out the way and let through the thousands who will. RCTID.
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