New rule around ProSoccerTalk: I just don’t think I can write about the city of Los Angeles’ “SuperClasico” anymore. The game remains fair game, of course. But the label? I’m done.
The SuperClasico is the “rivalry” between wildly wayward Chivas USA and the far more stable MLS big spenders from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The spin was always hard to resist; national TV games and faithful promotion of the MLS company line will do that in my business. And there was a time when clashes between the Home Depot Center owner and tenant did have enough bitter bite to them, sufficient high-profile acrimony to qualify as must-see TV for MLS followers.
But as the LA derby has slowly deflated, fans, players and officials from the Pacific Northwest continue to demonstrate what a true rivalry is all about. And the real thing does not need false pumping and priming from marketing mavens and PR pros. That stuff takes care of itself.
Exhibit A is here. It’s from Seattle Sounders winger Steve Zakuani, who captures the Cascadia Cup (pictured with Seattle fans Saturday) essence as he talks about Saturday’s 1-1 draw in Portland:
We didn’t want our fans to drive down on the bus carrying the trophy and go back empty handed. We still have to play Portland in Seattle, that’s going to be a very important, a must-win game as all the games are.”
That image of a player understanding the meaning of a trophy to passionate supporters resonates.
I know there are fans and players who care about the Chivas USA-Galaxy meetings. But frankly, there aren’t enough of them to generate critical mass – not in comparison to the Cascadia Cup proceedings, anyway. And the intensity simply does not burn with the white hot heat so pervasive in points northwest.
Want a little more? Here’s what Sigi Schmid had to say about Portland’s outpouring of effort in Saturday’s contest:
For them it was a very emotional game. You saw by all their players that went out that were injured, cramping up and little niggling muscle injuries toward the end that they spent everything that they had. So from that standpoint I’m pleased that we were able to keep them at bay for the majority of the game.”
