Scummy assholes, or friendly and generous?

So the MLS Cup weekend has come and gone and now we're left with the reports and reviews, or in this case, a review of the reviews.

With the game itself not being fantastic, a lot of opinion has focussed on the part TFC fans played.  One opinion is represented in this Big Soccer article which rather dramatically suggests "Toronto FC fans are officially the biggest bunch of scum, frauds, jokes, and assholes I've ever seen in the history of MLS."  This sweeeping generalisation of all TFC fans is based on the "fact" that some TFC  fans left early as a way of protesting MLSE.  While undoubtedly many fans left early for whatever reason, and there were many empty seats by the end of the game, it's a very small minority who would have done so as a protest, most people who were still angry enough probably didn't even go in the first place, which is definitely a shame as I agree with the opinion it wasn't the right time and place for a protest, but to tar everyone with the same brush is more than a bit ridiculous. 

A very different viewpoint is expressed in this letter from Portland Timbers supporters, posted on the Red Patch Boys forum, thanking supporters for their friendliness and generosity and putting on a great weekend.  Of course other TFC supporters groups played their part in organising different events, pub crawls and get togethers over the weekend, including the supporters summit, and hosting Dallas and Colorado fans for pre and post game drinks.

So which is true, are TFC fans the petulant crybabies who spoiled MLS Cup weekend for their own selfish purposes in order to embarass MLSE?  Or are they the generous hosts, eager to show their visitors a good time and foster goodwill among travelling supporters from all across the league?  Well the obvious answer is neither of those options, and both of them.

I'm going to take a guess here and say that the writer of the first linked article didn't actually visit Toronto, and instead just watched the game on TV, and though I haven't watched the game again yet, despite PVRing it on both GOL TV and TSN2, I can imagine it didn't make for the most captivating spectacle.  At kick off, the stadium looked fuller than it usually does at the beginning of TFC games, but that number slowly dwindled, as fans gave in to the cold, caught trains or beat traffic, and only a small percentage stayed around for the trophy presentation. 

The atmosphere was muted, and if it wasn't for Marvell Wynne and especially Jeff Cunningham, would have been even more so.  The 100-200 travelling supporters from both Colorado and Dallas certainly did their part, and kudos to them for making it out here, but for the Toronto crowd the lack of a team to really love or hate meant that the atmosphere was always going to reflect the game, which unfortunately didn't provide the excitement needed to ignite much fervour.  It could have been better, the 2008 all star game at BMO started with a similar subdued atmosphere amid talk of protests, but by the second half the quality attacking play and tight scoreline meant that despite the lack of any real chanting, there was the definite buzz of a knowledgeable crowd that had been sucked into a good football game.

I'd hesitate to say it was just about the game though, the attendance and atmosphere have steadily been getting worse over the last couple of years at games TFC is involved in as well.  The fact is that after 4 years, the novelty has worn off, and the continued mediocrity on the pitch and feeling of exploitation by the front office has drained the enthusiasm of many of the more casual fans.  Add in the confusingly small effort made by MLS and MLSE to promote the game to the more casual unconnnected fan, and it's not really a surprise that that buzz wasn't repeated.  So while it is ridiculously over the top to say TFC fans are the biggest bunch of scum...etc, the "best fans in MLS" tag that still gets thrown around really doesn't apply to TFC fans as a whole any more either.

Where TFC suporters did prove themselves though over the weekend is in the strength of the hardcore minority.  The events that were organised and staffed by supporter volounteers were truly worthy of applause, and the welcoming of opposition supporters at both formal and informal events was genuine and enthusiastic, building bridges with a "we're all on the same side really" feeling.  So thanks to all who organised and attended events and showed TFC fans can throw a hell of a party. 

Scum, frauds, jokes, and assholes?  Nope.  Best fans in MLS?  Nope, not any more.  Best supporters groups? Well, TFC is definitely very much still in the running for that one.