Well, there is not much to say here that has already been said in previous posts. I CAN say that despite the scoreless draw, KUDOS to BOTH keepers, Meola and Guzan. Of course, Meola gets a special nod from us, but it is encouraging to see younger talent like Guzan improving. It only bodes well for US Soccer!

In my opinion, the match was exciting, but the result was anticlimactic. Despite a solid performance all around, the Raging Reds just could not find the back of the net. Our chances were further hampered when Buddle left the match due to an injury in the 42nd minute. One only needs to look at Mike Magee’s face on the match highlights after missed his two attempts to put the Red Bulls on the scoreboard (i.e., the crossbar and Guzan’s big toe got in the way). The Goats had their chances, too, but nonetheless 0-0. We will have to wait until May 20 to see who wins the battle between the Teacher and the Apprentice.

The Fire are coming off an impressive 2-1 defeat of the Revs earlier today. So, next week will prove to be a critical match at home if the Red Bulls intend to establish themselves as a competitive side in the East. We have2 weeks to prepare for earning 3 points! Our Raging Reds need a boost of confidence, and we will do what we can. However, one should not discount the achievement of keeping a potent Chivas USA offense of the scoreboard in the Home Depot Center. I am sure their Goat loyalists did not roll out the welcome mat for our boys.

On another note, we staged our first successful Watch Party at Sportfriends Soccer Club in Wayne, NJ. It is SO much easier to have our watch parties there, where we have the place to all to ourselves, and we are not at the mercy of disinterested restaurant staff. I am looking forward to the next one already! Speaking of Sportfriends Soccer Club, in less than 2 weeks it will be the site of what is hoped to be an annual event. Please visit the web site to read up on this charity 7v7 adult men’s tournament, especially if you are interested in participating: Phil Diffley “SocCURE Marathon” Tournament.

In the case of yesterday��s result against DC United, it arguably does . . . IN THE SAME PLACE. Frankly, I am at a loss for words this week, trying to uncover the upshot of what has transpired thus far this season. However, the season is STILL very young, and I would rather get this whole ��funk�� out of the way just four matches into a 32-match regular season. Truth be told, NOTHING went the Red Bulls�� way. One can only hope this is a wake-up call to the team. Fortunately, it has come early enough to rebound from it, unlike last season where we nearly decapitated ourselves with the same result at home with less than a handful of regular-season matches left. Even Mother Nature was against us, but DC United did deserve to win . . . and they did, in humiliating style.

As I said in my previous post, I fear more “shake-up,” which might be detrimental in the short-term, but beneficial in the long run. Wait and see . . . The REAL tragedy of all of this is that the crippled team morale seemed to overshadow the first Red Bull goal scored at home by none other than #10, Youri Djorkaeff. -SIGH-

Speaking of humiliating, there has been some controversy surrounding Alecko ��Eskie�� Eskandarian��s goal celebration after his first tally. You can see it on the match highlights. Eskie clearly spits and does not swallow . . . . Now, if you read the match quotes, he shies away from admitting it was premeditated. Of course, not even this Ryan Suarez protégé is stupid or forgetful enough to think that his little ��routine�� smells of a carefully orchestrated antic. Creative? Yes. Humorous? Depends on who you ask. I could not care less about commercial product preferences, and I would prefer that professional players let their FEET do the talking. Eskie has certainly achieved that, BUT rubbing salt into the wound is not behavior I would want the young future professional players in this country or elsewhere to be mimicking. I urge everyone, including Eskie, to visit Joga Bonita for an entertaining tutorial of what The Beautiful Game is all about.

Now, here are my thoughts about the fan-player relationship, like them or not, instigated by yesterday’s circumstances. Soccer is for REAL athletes and REAL fans. DO NOT bother coming if you are going to sit so far away from the field that the players DO NOT KNOW you are there for them. If you are one of these people, please keep your comments to yourself. There is a HUGE difference between you and us, which should not need elaboration. If given the choice, rain or shine; cold or sweltering, we will be in The Corral doing what we are committed to doing, SUPPORTING our New York Red Bulls.

Yeah, it gets cold sometimes . . . wait until October. Yeah, it gets really hot sometimes . . . wait unil late-July/early-August. Yeah, it gets wet sometimes . . . . remember last year? Frankly, you do not need to or have to be fanatics like us. I would settle for just enthusiastic spectators, than the bumps on a log in the stands last week. In other words, if you do come, ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE! You might even like it! This really frustrates me, because if you know anything at all about athletics (and I am sure most of you soccer parents and players do), the athletes feed off the immediate environment (i.e., fan participation and energy). THE RED BULLS NEED US, whether you realize it or not.

Like our tagline says . . . ��GET INTO THE GAME, PEOPLE!�� If you are not, that is OK, just stay in the comfort of your own home. Just do not expect the product on the field to change dramatically if the ��product in the stands�� is unwilling to or simply does not change. For 90+ minutes on any given week, you must prioritize the New York Red Bulls�� ahead of yourself. THAT, my friends, is what being a REAL RED BULL FAN is all about.

If you are a so-called ��Euro-snob�� or a ��snob�� of another country��s brand of football, just remember NOT to compare apples with oranges. Besides, if you like any soccer other than MLS that much, nobody is keeping you from living within walking distance of your favorite team��s home stadium. MLS is not going to grow and become more competitive without ample fan support. So, if you want what we want, then get involved . . . NOW! There is no better time than the present, as MLS and its franchises, especially Red Bull, are willing to invest significantly to win fans over (and back, for that matter). When was the last time YOU were able to sit and have dinner with a USMNT player? Only MLS, only the NEW YORK RED BULLS, and and only NOW!

Without alienating potential Red Bull fans, we want you to know what it takes to be one. Do you have what it takes? BE HONEST!

YIRB,
RagingBullNation

PS

Another reminder, we have extended the registration deadline for The Phil Diffley “SocCURE Marathon” Tournament. Please register online at http://www.phildiffleyfamilytrust.com/.

PPS

Keep your eyes open in theatres near you beginning May 12 for www.goalmovie.com.

Oxymoron? . . . Perhaps. At least you could not blame anything on the weather this time around, but the gridironed turf???? MLS should OUTLAW that junk! Hurry and bring on Red Bull Park . . . PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!

If you watched last night’s match against RSL, then you know what I mean. It was enough to unsettle your stomach for Sunday dinner this holiday weekend. To be honest, and I always try to be in an optimistic sort of way, the Raging Reds were fortunate to draw (again) with RSL. You can catch up the details written by people who get paid to do so, but my “nuts-n-bolts” assessment is:

The defense was solid, with an extra-special nod to Tony Meola, who came up BIG when called upon. A silly foul by the defense cost us 2 points, but thanks to Amado’s first goal of his 2006 MLS campaign late in the second half, the Red Bulls left with a point . . . BUT WHERE IS OUR OFFENSE!? Excepting a flash of brilliant persistence by Amado, he, Buddle, and Djorkaeff all seem to be struggling. We need more desire, connection, execution, and consistency! I guess that is a mouthful, eh?

I know this news is nothing new with a rumors buzzing about two Senior International slots open, Ronaldo, Zidane, maybe Ronaldinho, when he pops over hear in August? Whatever . . . All speculation aside, I hope MoJo and his staff figure out the 3-point formula, because I personally do not want to endure another draw-laden emotional roller-coaster like last year. The excessive draws cost us more sure footing in the standings last year!

What is even more important is that this Red Bull team starts getting results, or I personally fear another shake-up is around the corner. With the amount of investment put forth thus far by Red Bull, I truly believe the new owner means business, and will make the necessary tough “business decisions” to advance their corporate agenda. Now, some of you may not like the “C-word,” but corporations generally are in the business of winning, figuratively speaking. Austrian or American, there is no reason to suspect that Red Bull is any different. I want the Raging Reds to WIN, and we are committed to doing our part!!!!

I have no specific solutions to offer. I just say what is on my mind . . . It is good to be the “Chief” of your own blog. Instead, I will let the armchair critics and keyboard jockeys conduct their war of words and opinions. Instead, I urge you to turn your focus with me to April 22, which poses a couple of challenges: 1) as far as timing is concerned, this second Atlantic Cup clash will be a pivotal one for many reasons; 2) as a LEAGUE and as part of a collective group of SOCCER FANS, we must ACT RESPONSIBLY!

I am not compelled to go into details, but there are a lot of things that we can do as fans, that the league and the RBFO can do, to facilitate the enjoyment of The Beautiful Game by those who truly love it and enjoy expressing their love for their team, and not by those with ulterior motives. Enough said on this topic. I do not want to beat the dead horse, but I will glady bring our passion and pride to bear to beat the feathers off of DC United. We know we are capable, and the time is NOW! Get it done, Raging Reds! WE ARE BEHIND YOU ALL THE WAY!

On a lighter note, many of you have come to enjoy (and even expect) our videos to be posted regularly in the Bull’s Eye View. Unfortunately, the transition of our website, including many functional enhancements, are not glitch-free. Since the first New York Red Bulls match on April 2 in DC, I have had the INAUGURAL BULL’S EYE VIEW INSTALLMENT completed. ** However, you have not been able to access it until now. Do not worry! There is more of this “indie-film” genre coming your way this season, as long as my camcorder does not eat my tape, again. I am no Sundance Festival award winner, but perhaps I could win your heart over to us?!

While our Webmaster works tirelessly to complete the transition, I hope you enjoy our new site and the “jerry-rigged” version of B.E.V. It is better than no B.E.V. at all, and it is certainly more entertaining than the RSL match highlights, TRUST ME!

Lastly, as many of might know from our activities last year as MetroNation, our club seeks out opportunities to reach out to needy organizations, groups, and individuals who comprise our “soccer family” (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Hurricane Katrina outreach) RagingBullNation’s first major charity event for this season will be the The Phil Diffley “SocCURE Marathon” Tournament next month. We encourage teams to participate. It is an unprecedented event for a family in dire need. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated, and we will have media coverage.

As for this weekend, let’s forget the immediate past and pack Giants Stadium; making it very INhospitable for DC United and their fans this Saturday! Be there, or be quiet!! GO RAGING REDS!!

YIRB,

RagingBullNation

** PS If you have dial-up Internet service, it might load by tomorrow. If you have broadband, show a little patience, and ENJOY! It will be worth it!

PPS

Remember to vote on Johnny’s new name, too! We will make the formal announcement of his new name, and possibly other nicknames among our ranks, at our Roadside Roundup on April 22!

What a whirlwind weekend! After I claimed my house back when my sister, niece, and nephew (Little Bulls . . . in a CHINA SHOP!) departed for New Hampshire, I had to quickly gather my thoughts and energy for THE INAUGURAL RED BULLS MATCH!! . . .

Despite Mr. Lalas’ recent decree that the “Satanic” air horns were banned from Giants Stadium this season, we were not shy about introducing horns of a different type, which I think will be a trademark of our group. Anyway, Red Bull delivered on its promise for an Inaugural Extravaganza, complete with live entertainment and abundant, complimentary food and beverage, including SugarFUL and SugarFREE RedBull, of course. While a 3-point match result for our Raging Reds would have been the “icing on the cake, ” it was still an exciting match for more than 35,793 fans; the second-largest crowd for a home-opening MLS match at Giants Stadium. So, now our Red Bulls have two draws in as many matches . . . sound grimly familiar? Frankly, starting off your season as a new club, with a new image, against your archrival and then a perennial MLS finalist and still coming away with points is impressive in some respect. This is not to say that we did not expect to come away with points, but 6 are better than 2, which are better than 1 or none. However, there are 30 more matches left in the regular season . . .

The site of our Inaugural “Roadside Roundup” was Lot 18A, which is the exception for now, and not the rule (i.e., Lot 15B/C). We were bumped by the Energy Station, a high-flying motorcycle jumping act, and thousands of fans and Red Bull representatives. SHEESH! Actually, reuniting at the Roundup for a few hours in advance of the Energy Station activities that kicked off at 5 PM was VERY enjoyable, especially since our new banner made its debut. Looking back on last year, the renewed energy and excitement was really noticeable both inside and outside the stadium. After many hugs, kisses, laughs, food, laundry (I forgot my shoes and was wearing sandals with socks; see the most recent installment of Bull’s Eye View), and drink, we all headed to the Energy Station, where we certainly made our presence known with our unique bull horns. Talk about paparazzi . . . SERIOUSLY!! However, we were ALL outdone by one especially recognizable “character.” I cannot give you his name, because YOU need to help us decide it by voting on our homepage. Needless to say, all of us together created quite a stir, and helped get the crowd in the mood.

After this madness and fun, we retuned to our “camp” to retrieve our new drums and props, which we put to good use in The Corral (Section 115). Although, we arrived a little later than we would like, we did catch the skydivers as we were making our way to our section. You might have been alerted to us if we were permitted to hang our banner in front of our section, yet you knew where “The Fort” was located . . . ???? Furthermore, as usual, security seemed to have forgotten that we STAND in our section for EVERY match. Somebody needed to notify the people behind us. Regardless, we managed to make our presence known, both sitting and standing, without incident, and even making new friends. We even stood at halftime for Wyclef and Shakira!!!

Now many people were buzzing about Pele et al, but honestly all we caught was a brief halftime handshake with Pele and Alexi. However, if you had VIP Bull’s Eye Lounge passes, you would have had your chance to chat and get autographs from ALL of the former NY Cosmos in attendance before the match. I hope to have a B.E.V. segment on how the “other half” celebrates in the future. While I have these passes with my season tickets, I enjoy being with my Nationals outside at our Roadside Roundups, especially if the weather is a little better!!

As is customary, many of us greeted the players after the game and showed our support for the team. However, this time it was in the Bull’s Corner Pub, and not necessarily out by The Bubble. The Pub provided and excellent and more intimate atmosphere for players, staff, and fans to mingle.

As we were making our way back to our cars to head home after a long day, an Aramark employee needed a jump-start. Now, if you are familiar with our Statements of Purpose, charity is a major focus, but for an organization who charges exorbitant prices for concessions and beverages? Hmmmmm . . . Since this person promised to reciprocate our charity in the drink lines, we “jumped” at the opportunity to help. Yes, we did another good deed for the day. Overall, I feel really good about how RagingBullNation is growing and the future success of the Red Bulls! Next up is RSL, but we will need 2 weeks to get ready for another Atlantic Cup clash on April 22 vs. DC United.

If you are not incentivized to “Get in the Game” by now, then you are clinically dead, or just not a sports fan whatsoever. Regardless, of your tastes in entertainment or amusement, it was really hard NOT to be entertained or amused last weekend! Come back soon, y’all!!!

YIRB,

RagingBullNation

PS

In addition to the Raging Reds, RBN also keeps tabs on our Boys of the Stars and Stripes. Stay tuned for USMNT v. Jamaica tomorrow night! Incidentally, our Calendar is an excellent source of information about our activities and other soccer-related stuff!