A long entry for Week 6
Well, there has been quite the controversy this week. Without further ado, let's begin:
We lost horribly, I heard some people estimate the loss as 8-2 but I think it was more in line with 12 or 14 to 2. Anri (I misspelled his name earlier, one day I'll go back and fix it) field general that he is, picked our team apart and destroyed us with his excellent leadership. We had a ruptured achilles tendon and Richard Y is out for the season.
Now on to the controversy:
Monterey United had a player on their team by the name of August. August was a forward and he was destroying us with his speed and good play. Rumor has it that August plays on a college team. August was also being quite physical. This plays into yours truly's court. I may not be the fastest player on the field (okay, usually I'm the slowest person out on the field), or the best player out there, but I am usually the biggest player on the field. So I started playing physically with August, shoulder charging him a few times, putting him on the ground once. My brother Jacob and I started razzing him when he would lose the ball or miss a shot. I started pointing him out on corner kicks and telling my teammates that the ball was going to him. The breaking point came when there was an open ball at the top of the 18 yard box. The ball had popped out because Dan (our team) and August were fighting for it. I decided to slide tackle the ball in an attempt to clear it. I knew that August would try to kick the ball and this would give me an excuse to take him out. I was proved right in the next second as August jumped in to kick the ball as I slid and as I cleared the ball, I swept August's legs out from under him. August screamed like a wounded horse and I thought that I had broken his leg, but it was mostly just acting on his part to try and draw a foul. Everyone agreed that it was a clean play, his teammates included. I got up and trotted away from August. I was told later that he jumped up and tried to come after me but Anri grabbed him by the arm and stopped him.
When the play ended, Anri tried to get Tom, the team captain and president of the league, to sub August out so he could cool down. Tom refused. August lined up for the next play glaring at me, I mad dogged him back and pointed at him. Shortly thereafter I was closing on the ball when I saw someone come hurtling in from my right, I instinctively posted up and delivered a shoulder, assuming it was August. Instead it was Dan, who I put flat on his back. I found out that August came charging across the field and unloaded on Dan's back sending him careening into me. Dan claims I cushioned his blow, but I know better. Sorry Dan.
Pandemonium broke out on the field as August was yellow carded. According to FIFA rules (which we play by, well, except the substitution rules) August should have received a red card. Much yelling and broke out at this point on both sides. Once again, Anri told Tom to sub out August, I heard that there was a debate on this issue between Tom and Anri but I personally didn't hear it. Eventually, Anri's position ruled the moment and August began to leave the field.
From this point on, your humble narrator was too far away to actually hear most of the conversation that occurred so I will try to piece things together from the multiple accounts I have heard.
As August neared the sideline he was cussing and yelling at people on the field. Coach Z approached him and told him to calm down. Coach Z claims that he was going to ask August how he was doing but he never got the chance as August told him to "fuck off!" At this point one of our FO Babes, Nicole said, "Get off the field, fool!" Now here is where the stories really begin to differ according to some, August made the general exasperated comment, "Fuckin' bitch!" which was not directed at anyone, others heard him say, "Fuck off, bitch!" to Nicole and still others heard him say, "Fuck you bitch!" to Nicole. These are all similar comments so we may never know the truth. The comment caught the attention of FO Babe Autumn who had heretofor been engaged in a conversation with other FO Babes and not really paying attention. In fact Autumn claims to have never heard the initial comment from Nicole and there is every reason to believe her. Autumn claims that the battle of words escalated, Coach Z asked the side judge to calm matters down but was ignored and finally Autumn had been insulted enough that she began to hysterically yell and scream at August. According to other witnesses, Autumn immediately jumped from her seat, hysterically yelling and screaming at August. FO Babe Kristi told August that he was being a bad sport to which August eloquently responded, "Fuck you bitch." Rising to the occasion, Kristi politely riposted with, "You're a dickhead." To which August replied, "I'll kick your fucking ass, bitch." At which point, Kristi, sensing the rhetorical genius she had crossed swords with gave up the fight and chose the high ground of ignoring August. August also threatened other FO Babes with physical harm, something that mightily impressed his girlfriend who hung her head in shame...I mean hung her head with pride.
Autumn cried out for Chris to come off the field and kick August's ass to which he declined and politely made sitting gestures and asked her to be quiet. The ruckus stopped play and as the head field ref looked on at the spectacle, side judge Les finally walked over, talked to August and red carded him. He also instructed August to leave the field.
I could go on with more details of the hijinks which ensued but I think that you, gentle reader, now have a good accounting of what happened, albeit from my perspective far down the field by the goal.
On Monday, FO Babe Susie began the chain of emails which follows (I have only removed people's last names and email addresses to protect their privacy:

From: Susie
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 3:38 PM
To: Daniel
Subject: What's the big deal?

FO Gunners,
We don't talk much. I've had verbal interaction with only a few of you, but
I feel that I am a part of the team. On that note, I feel it is necessary
to clarify what happened yesterday, since not all the players heard the
interaction between the other team's player number 4 and the spectators. I
was facing the player when he said to shut the f*** up b****. It was
directed at the spectator who told him to get off the field. He went on
swearing at all of us and eventually threatened physical harm. I am under
the impression that some of you don't think it's such a big deal, but please
try to understand that it was a big deal. Consider your mother or sister
being yelled at and threatened by a stranger. I'm sure you would not want
her to keep quiet and let that person go on yelling and threatening her.
Rather, I would hope that you would want her to yell and scream and get the
attention of those who could do something about it. At yesterday's game I
approached the line judge, others defended themselves and yelled back and we
made got the attention of those who could do something about it, i.e., the
refs. I am told that this will be resolved by the disciplinary committee,
but I feel it is imperative that I write a letter to Tom Moore expressing
that as captain of his team and president of the league, he should have
intervened yesterday in reprimanding number 4 or at least should take action
now. Furthermore, he should take action on evaluating the competency of the
ref from yesterday's game because he missed so many calls on unnecessary
roughness which I feel lead to the whole outburst.

I will continue to attend games and cheer my favorite team on. You are the
team that plays your hearts out at every game. I will support you and I
will do it without being yelled at or threatened. I feel it is important to
make a big deal out of this because it is a big deal. Player #4 was out of
line on the field and off the field. The ref was at fault as well. If he
continues to miss calls, it will lead to more frustration on the field and
more outbursts. But if there is a next time, he won't leave the park alone
because I've got Marina police on speed dial. I have a right to watch the
game in peace and not be forced to leave by some fool who can't control
himself.

Please support the people who support you.

Sincerely,
Susie
Supporter, Spectator & Spouse


From: Martin
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 4:06 PM
Subject: RE: What's the big deal?

I was right there as the situation unfolded. What none of our spectators
seemed to realize is that by screaming back at him they caused the
situation to escalate. I would have preferred that they handle such
outrageous behavior on the part of a boorish opponent with calm, reserve,
and dignity. I was especially disappointed that the spectators continued
to scream after the issue was brought to the attention of the linesman,
and even after the lout was granted a red card and told to leave the field.

His initial comments were in fact swear words uttered in frustration as he
was being coaxed off the field, but not directed at any of the ladies.
Some comments were then addressed to him (when he was clearly angry and
frustrated) complaining of his choice of language in the presence of women
and children. His inexcusable but predictable response was to direct his
anger at our fans. Had we simply ignored his profane utterances (which
any clear-thinking adult surely must realize was the best course of
action) he would have wandered off and calmed down, and he would never
have told anyone to shut up. In fact it would not have become a big deal.

I feel that the opposing team did all they could to try to end the
escalating violence on the field by taking him off. I don't think we can
fault Tom or the referees, as they meted out the most severe punishment
allowed, a red card. We should try to learn from this episode, and
exercise restraint when affronted by the presence of such an insignificant
jerk.


From: Chris
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 4:29 PM
Subject: RE: What's the big deal?

I would like to address this...

First and foremost this was/is a big deal and I do not think anyone is
saying otherwise. That player's behavior was inappropriate without
question.
In my view both the Head Ref and the other team captain should have taken
immediate control of the situation both on the field (prior to Dan getting
hit) and off of the field. The other player should have been both given an
immediate RED card and ordered to leave the field for INTENTIONALLY going
after another player. There should be no tolerance in this league for
malicious actions. As far as all of that goes, that guy is a punk.

With that said, we as individuals need to be the ones who should take
inventory of our actions and reactions. However infuriating another
individual's behavior is we need to let the official people handle the
situations. And granted, yesterday, those officials did a very poor job of
doing so. But we do not want to be the ones that entice our escalate an
already heated situation. Believe me when I say I have seen my share of
physical confrontations and for some of you I know it is the same. And as
such you know that the last thing anyone really wants out there is a fight.
There is no physical harm that comes from one idiot running his mouth.
However, when we choose to engage that very same idiot with our own
repsonses (justified or otherwise) we have the potential to spark a violent
situation that could have lasting repercussions.

I am not trying to say that Sunday's experience was not something worth
getting mad about. In fact I am very mad and so is Autumn. I'm just saying
that it was not something that was worth having one of us potentially get
really physically hurt over. Fighting is a dangerous business and when you
are dealing with someone like him it becomes more of a hazard because that
individual has already displayed a total lack of judgment.

So make no mistake, I believe I can safely say that WE (Gunner Babes and
Players) are all a team and we should all support each other and I think
that we do.


From: Richard
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 4:33 PM
Subject: RE: What's the big deal?

+1


From: Autumn
Sent: 3/22/2004 5:26 PM
Subject: RE: What's the big deal?

Let me just say as a wife, supporter, fan, friend, and the official team
heckler...We, as women and Gunner Babes, have the right to DEFEND
ourselves and not allow behavior that is disrespectful, unwarranted and
flat out wrong.

Without disrespecting my husband, I have to say our actions were
warranted and justified! WE have the right to say NO, you will not
treat me or talk to me in that manner. WE have the right to make a BIG
deal out of it. WE have the right to defend ourselves when someone has
crossed the line of disrespect. WE, as women, can cry and yell for the
refs' attention especially if someone is disrespecting us and we (I)
feel nothing is being done fast enough. WE, as women, have the right to
"MAKE A SCENE" especially if something is wrong.

I will not sit around and let someone disrespect me no matter who they
are. It hurts me to know that my own husband is saying we need to take
inventory of our own actions and reactions. I will not sit back and
allow someone to treat me like that and he knows that.

When the team is on the field, do they take inventory on their actions
when someone is talking shit or taking cheap shots. Or do they try and
take him out either with a clean hard (sometimes very HARD) hit, or
another cheap shot? Be honest. Why should we, as fans, be under a
different code of standards? The teams does not under "take inventory
of its actions and reactions" every time someone is talking shit. Isn't
it, yeah lets take this punk out. I do agree with one thing my husband
said and that is this situation was handled poorly with Tom and the
middle ref especially if there was violence already on the field, which
apparently there was. There is no reason why violence needs to come off
the field and anger be directed toward the fans, your wives, your
significant others, and your friends.

I am apologizing to the team if I embarrassed any of the team members
especially my husband, yesterday by not allowing someone to continually
disrespect me and any of the women that come out and support the team.
But I am not sorry for my actions. My actions are warranted and
justified! I was defending us from a stupid ass who runs his mouth. We
are just apart of this team than anyone who, as Jeremy says, is out
their running and sweating. My husband thinks I should have calmly got
up and spoken to the refs. Sorry, I have emotion. I have respect for
myself and other women who sit by me week after week in the cold, and
freeze our asses off just to make sure you as a team know you are
supported and loved. I will show my emotion because that is who I am.

Susie, Elizabeth, Kristi, Jen, Nichole and Raina... We are women, we are
the Gunner Babes, We will ROAR!

Your Gunner Babe,
Autumn


From: Carlos
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 2:31 AM
Subject: Re: FW: What's the big deal?

Well...

First of all, let me say that I've only known all of you for a few weeks,
and have seldom spoken to you, but its been enough to understand, and
appreciate the support all you guys provide for us. Believe me when I say
that such support is critical to a player's psyche, particularly when we're
down on the scoreboard (which is usually the case), it is what keeps us
going.

Moreover, in any sport and at any level, players have to conduct their
selves, whether in or out of the field, with professionalism towards other
players and fans as well. In addition, the immediate authority, in this case
the refs and captains need to take instant and proper action whenever this
rule is violated. When this does not occur, there must definitely be a
request by the concern party to the authoritative body of the league to
take action on such matter.

The above applies to Sunday's event. I believe that the ref (specially the
field ref) did not take the appropriate action that should have been taken
immediately. By doing so, further spectacle by that person would have been
avoided. Therefore, I strongly believe and encourage that there needs to be
action taken on both, the player and ref. In my opinion the action against
the former should be permanent disqualification from the league, and it
should be taken on the key following grounds:

* His extreme reaction was clearly deliberate, vengeful, and threatening to the well being of others.

* He acted on a false premise of deliberate violence against him, which is a result of his lack of professionalism and understanding of the concept of a 50/50 % (divided) ball that two players go for.

* He clearly immature and has anger issues that he cannot control, as we were able to witness right after the incident as he got up screaming like a mad man .

* He has no respect for people in general, and undermines any form of authority in the game as he demonstrated in and out of the field.

* He is a threat to the safety of other players, and the spectators as well (keep in mind that women as well as children go see the games).

* As a result of all the above, he has and will spoil the fun of the game for other players and spectators, can clearly cause physical damage to players as well as fans, and his mere presence will cause an uncomfortable environment for players and fans for future matches.

Lets keep in mind that all of us are a team and thus are committed to each
other, therefore we need to take responsibility in ensuring a healthy
environment where all of us can have fun and enjoy Sundays, and the beauty
of the game which all parties: players, concept of the game, refereeing,
and the spectators make a part of.


From: Dan
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 5:38 PM
Subject: RE: What's the big deal?

Martin,

I felt that the field ref and the Monterey United team
manager/captain/coach/League president did too little to clam the
situation.

Here is the list of facts as I know it.

• The field ref didn't gave out the red, it was the sideline ref who gave
out the red.
• And is was only after our spectators raise their voice and brought it
to the sideline ref (Les) attention.
• It wasn't Tom (League President) who sent him off the field, it was The
General who sent him off the field.
• I talked to Tom about the incident between the two halves, his position
on his player's conduct is that the player was "provoked" by one of the
spectators and no action is required by the league. ( This is my biggest
complaint to the league).

I was hit from behind and leveled me to the ground. I am a big kid and I
am used to taking hits. It takes a lot of force to take me down to the
ground and it was a big hit. It was intentional ( He told me he will do
it and it was obvious to many and it should've been obvious to the field
ref ) and that play could've resulted in serious injuries. It is
should've been a RED card according to the FIFA rules. Tom knows this and
he agrees that the player should've been given a RED card.

I felt that the field ref and Tom could've done a lot more than just
sending the player off the sideline.
• If the field ref controlled the game from the beginning, perhaps all could've been avoided.
• If the field ref gave him a red card after he leveled me to the ground, perhaps all could've been avoided.
• If the field ref send him home after he threaten the spectators, perhaps all could've been avoided.
• If Tom talked him and calmed him down after the player level me to the ground, perhaps all could've been avoided.
• If Tom sent him home after threaten to hurt the spectators, perhaps all could've been avoided.

The thing that makes me really furious is how he defended the conduct of
his player. He told me that his player is "provoked" and no action is
required by the team or the league. He told our spectators to pipe down
when he did nothing to pipe down his player.

It makes me furious to hear Tom say that his player was "provoked". I was
knocked down to the ground. I could've been seriously hurt. He hit me
intentionally and he wanted to hurt me on the field. He put things in
motion. He wasn't provoked, he asked for it. Do you really expect the
fans to witness this and say nothing? Is that really reasonable thing to
ask the fans/supporters to pipe down when they were threatened. I expect
that from the by standards, not the fans. DMDC Babe are our fans. They
even have T-Shirts and wear them every game. We stink and they still
come to every game. Tom can tell his wife to pipe down. He can't. His
wife doesn't come to the game. She is not a fan. She doesn't care.

As a captain, I am really glad that our fans got him off the field. If he
came back to the field, odds are pretty good that somebody would've been
seriously hurt and/or some criminal charges. Ultimately, it was the babes
who got him off the field, not Tom or the field ref.

D.


From: Jacob
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 9:29 AM
Subject: RE: What's the big deal?

First off let me say two things: 1) Thank you GB's for coming out to
every game and being as supportive as you are, it is definitely
appreciated by all and 2)I agree with EVERYBODY to some extent.

Often, on the field, many of us skirt that imaginary line between giving a
player a hard time in the interest of throwing his/her game off and going
too far. I like to think that we know where that line is, but often times
we cross it. It is at that point that we, as Chris puts it, must take
inventory of our actions. In this way we can understand what has driven
somebody to react a certain way. In this case, we actively went after
August in an attempt to throw his game off. Everything that we did was
perfectly legal and giving a player a hard time verbally is just part of
the game sometimes. What we failed to take into account was the fact that
Mr. August does not respond well to his frustration. Add to that the fact
that this is not the first game in which he has been the focus of our
defensive efforts and it becomes easy to understand how one more hit would
drive him over that line. It was at this point that his maturity and
professionalism failed to be present when instead of speaking to the
officials himself about any concerns he had in regard to our fair play, he
reacted by throwing an illegal hit on Dan. This warranted definitely a
yellow card if not a red for the blatancy with which his revenge was
sought. I think that the ref took into account the fact that he had been
a target of action to slow the number of points being scored on us and
mitigated his response as he saw fit. At this point Henri knew that
August needed to come off the field to cool off a bit and give the angry
members of our team, myself included, a chance to calm down. At this
point, the only official type person who had not done what they should
have was Tom in not sending August off the field immediately.

Here's where things go bad. It doesn't matter what August was saying as
he came off the field in anger, especially considering the fact that it
was not directed at any of the fans, he was frustrated and making general
comments. He was venting. Nicole then piped in with "Get off the field,
fool." She might as well have poured gas on a fire set on top of
unexploded ordinance. We all know what happened after that.

Good on you, ladies for defending yourselves at all times in your lives,
but shame on all of us for not controlling ourselves in a situation that
could only be further escalated by rash responses and continuing
comments. We all should have taken a deep breath and calmly alerted the
officials to the fact that matters were escalating. David, Chris, and all
of the other players who stood back to let the officials handle the
situation, however poorly or well they did, were right in doing so. Their
going to the sideline would have only resulted in physical violence. I am
glad that they yelled at me and brought me to my senses.

August's language, tone, and threats were not those indicative of a mature
young man and were over the top. I agree that he is a punk, but the
comments made to further his anger and embarrassment were not indicative
of the mature adults that sit on our sideline. All of the events leading
up to his explosion need to be taken into account before we pass
judgment. I feel that August deserves a reprimand, but not to the extent
that he is not allowed to play anymore this season. I would expect no
less than an apology to the GB's and Dan, but he deserves an apology in
return for the comments made to him to incite his rage on the sideline.
He should have to sit out the next game as punishment for not being able
to control himself, but we should not, in any way, feel superior to him in
that several of us, myself included, did not exactly control ourselves
either.

Please take a moment to relax, stop focusing only on how you as
individuals may have been wronged, and put yourselves in August's shoes.
Would you have behaved any better? I know that none of the individuals
affiliated with this team would threaten fans with physical violence, but
I think that August was only reacting defensively in the only way he knew
how at the moment. It doesn't make it right, but he could have and might
have done worse had he been pushed even further without Les stepping in.
The next time something like this comes up, whether it be at soccer or any
other time in your life, take a moment to calm down and put the situation
into perspective. Will making more comments help or hurt the situation?
Sometimes it's best just to walk away or in this case to calmly approach
and alert the nearest official while not paying any further attention to
the asshole yelling behind you.

Jacob

And there you go. I will talk about this week's game in my next post. I will also continue to post emails as they come up.
- posted by David @ 3/24/2004 08:18:00 PM