"I Love It."

Pic via Kyle Robertson, Dispatch

That's what Frankie had to say about the atmosphere in the Nordecke this weekend in another great article by Michael Arace.

"I love it. I've heard some people say that (boisterous fans) are minor league. It's not minor league at all. It's the sport. In Italy, Spain, South America, that's the atmosphere. As a player, I get so psyched because we're starting to get that European feeling here in America. And it's not un-American. We're all one. Wherever you come from, if you show that passion for the game, that's what it's all about."

And Schelotto always has something funny to say,

"The fans are getting into it," Schelotto said, "but we need better referees."

To control the crowd?

"No," he said with a smile, "we just need better referees." Amen to that.

And, Ralston even had some nice things to say,
"To be honest, I thought that was the best atmosphere the Crew has had in here in a long, long time. That was a real good crowd."

But, we need to self police better. I think we get so into the game ourselves that we are focusing on the field and not an idiot a few seats over from us who throws a beer or bananas or whatever on the field.

Because I think by every "yahoo" who throws something, there should be a Hudson Street or Crew Union guy somewhere in the vinicinity. Point em' out or talk to them yourselves. Say if I, "see you throwing that crap again I'll carry you out of the section myself."

They are giving us streamers on the field and looking the other way to smoke bombs in the stands. Why isn't that enough? Why do some have to push it more? Why do you have to throw a smoke bomb on the field at a player? That is pretty messed up.

Arace sums it up best:
"That Ralston stepped up the pace of his corner kicks because of streamers might be within the parameters of home-field advantage. But throwing bottles and batteries is not. There ought to be a crackdown on such potentially injurious shenanigans. They must be eliminated posthaste, well before chicken wire, moats, armed guards and police dogs become necessary."