It’s been a bad start. No doubt about it. And, anyone can make reasons to find another distraction, another use for their ticket money, another way to spend their time.
But that’s not what an Emerald City Supporter does. We get stuck in. It’s what we’ve always done. Whenever our club is on the brink, we grab the rope and pull them back.
In fact, this week marks the eight year anniversary of just such a situation. You see, we may be bemoaning the Sounders bad start this year, but it could be much worse. We could be bemoaning the bad start of a team named Seattle Alliance, Seattle FC, or Seattle Republic. No kidding. Eight years ago this week, we voted on our club’s new MLS name, and Sounders wasn’t even an option. That’s the way MLS wanted it, but that is not what they ultimately got.
Through the hard work and dedication of many Emerald City Supporters, the MLS Seattle group was forced to acknowledge the groundswell of Sounders fans and offer a write-in option. That write-in option won, as 82% of ballots had some form of Sounders written in. In fact, you can go back through the public portion of our forums, and read the threads that mobilized our members, and the greater soccer community. Read about the daunting task, read the ‘don’t bother’ replies from some of the detractors, and experience their process as they used Democracy in Sports to save our past from obscurity and protect our future. I encourage every member to take a moment and read some of these threads. Click here and browse up to Page 32. It’s worth your time. Read how ECS members, former capos, and other leaders took it upon themselves to organize, call, email, write in, fight, and ultimately toast to our Seattle Sounders FC.
This is part of our legacy, YOUR legacy as an Emerald City Supporter. Hold that in your hearts.
This Saturday, as you stand in the Brougham End with your fellow Faithful, and we watch our boys take on an old foe, keep this with you: WE ARE THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR CLUB. Believe in the men who wear our crest, inspire them with your energy and passion, and drown out the nay-sayers with your voices.
This is our home. This is our city. This is our Seattle Sounders FC.
Heather Satterberg, Co-president
photo by Tepid00