In the beginning there was Cobi, Hurtado and… well, Shue. And I was lucky enough to be there in 1996. I still have my program from the LA Galaxy’s opening day with a dread-clad Cobi on the cover. Two years prior to that day, in the summer of my Junior year of High School, I sat in that same Rose Bowl stadium and watched the USA play Colombia. I sat behind the very goal that Balboa’s bike sailed so slightly past. I also, unfortunately, watched a man sign is own death warrant as he put a ball into his own net.

I recall this because those two games would set the foundation of my soccer fan experience. It would also set the bar for what is at stake in the soccer world, the hype, the passion, and the gravity… and it had me right from the start.

Beginnings are on my mind today as I start a new chapter in my fan experience. That chapter is the one I hope to share with all of you every week. I hope to bring you an unashamed fan’s perspective of the game. Don’t get me wrong, I was down-right ashamed of many points of last years season, but I was never ashamed of being a fan.

Since this is my first entry, I will attempt to familiarize myself to you. I am a season ticket holder, and yes I did renew my tickets despite last year’s dismal display. I have played soccer since age 5 all the way through my Senior year of high school. I still play three times a week, despite my body’s urging to take certain days off. I am born and raised in the Inland Empire, and lived four years in San Diego while in college. I hope to use this space to deliver to you recaps, insights, and news from our spot in the Galaxy.

What I expect of a reader is call me out when you don’t agree. I have every intention of allowing this to be a two way street. If you don’t agree, then have the stones to say so in the comments. While I promise to respect your opinions, I make no such promise to agree with them.

With all that said let’s have a fantastic year and hope our boys can bring home some silverware, or at least make the post-season.

Jrodius