To horn or not to horn, that is the question

Not much in the news today — the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal has a story on the stadium deal, but there’s not much new information there — so we’re going to dive into another issue. (There will be some news later today — check back for an update from Center Line’s Jeff Carlisle on the potential signing of Jean-Philippe Peguero.)

There’s a big discussion over on BigSoccer concerning fans’ use of plastic horns. Banned throughout the Quakes’ previous history at Spartan Stadium, the horns made an unexpected reappearance at McAfee Coliseum on Saturday.

To put it mildly, the horns’ reemergence has not been met with anything like enthusiasm by a substantial portion of the fan base. Horns add little besides charmless noise to the atmosphere at a game. We have particular empathy for the unfortunate parents who purchase the horns for their children, only to have the youngsters use them inside the house after returning from the game.

Over on BigSoccer, there are a number of people who do not support reinstating the ban, a fact that surprised us at first. Once we saw their reasons, though, it made sense: banning the use of anything in the Bay Area is going to meet with objections simply because of the live-and-let-live nature of the people here.

We think that an exception needs to be made when it comes to the horns, however. The question being debated on BigSoccer is whether there should be horns or not. The issue that is really at stake is this: Is the stadium atmosphere going to consist of songs and cheers using human voices, or will the stadium buzz like a bee hive from kids blowing horns? Ultimately, there’s no middle ground. Voices can’t compete with continuous, loud blasts from the horns.

It wasn’t evident at the cavernous Coliseum, but the songs from the Casbah can fill a stadium. At Spartan Stadium, as fans outside the North End became more familiar with their cheers, chants, and songs, they would join in. This phenomenon was enhanced in recent years as many long-time Casbah members, seeking a better view of the match and now able to afford a bit more, purchased season tickets closer to midfield. Songs that were once confined to a supporters’ group were picked up in pockets throughout the stadium and spread even more from there. Given another decade and the emergence of a second sizable supporters’ group, the 1906 Ultras, we think significant portions of the stadium would join in.

What a great atmosphere that would be! More than that, what a great boon to ticket sales it would be. Why? It would create a unique experience for fans. Fans can hear those horns at any professional baseball or football game in the Bay Area. We think part of what makes Earthquakes games attractive to newcomers is that they’re different from anything else in town, and the chants, cheers, and songs of Earthquakes fans are a big part of that.

We’re all for freedom of expression. Defending the horns on those grounds, though, doesn’t make sense — you can’t express much with a horn that plays one note, just like you couldn’t play a tune on a piano with one key. We much prefer the most versatile instrument of all: the human voice.

Quakes in race to acquire Jean Philippe before transfer deadline

Peguero Jean Philippe was last seen in the MLS with the New York Red Bulls. Photo by Howard Smith/isiphotos.com

With the MLS transfer deadline quickly approaching, the San Jose Earthquakes are in hot pursuit of Brondby and Haitian international forward Peguero Jean Philippe, a source has told CLS.

Read more

Doyle confirms Zinha interest

San Jose Earthquakes G.M. John Doyle confirmed that the Quakes had begun their pursuit of Mexican international midfielder Antonio “Zinha” Naelson.

Doyle also stated at practice on Tuesday that the buzz created by the news had been “blown a little bit out of proportion,” but then added that he and head coach Frank Yallop would be heading up to Seattle to take in Mexico’s friendly match with China on Wednesday, with an eye towards watching Zinha play and gauge his interest.

“We’re going to have a cup of coffee with him and just say hi and just explore things” said Doyle.

Doyle added that should San Jose succeed in landing the Toluca attacker, he would likely play as a second striker, and not as a midfielder. It’s also clear that Zinha would count as the Quakes’ Designated Player.

“Lew Wolff has always said ‘Hey, if you guys want [a DP] and we need one, then we’ll get one,’” said Doyle. “But Frank and I want to make sure it’s the right guy.”

Tuesday’s stadium news

Today, we’ve got good news and bad news.

We’ll give you the bad news first: a major earthquake is a near certainty in the next 30 years. The good news? A major Earthquakes stadium is a near certainty in the next two years.

Yes, despite the fact that someday the ground may shake beneath it, the big news today is that the “San Jose soccer stadium (is) closer to reality,” as the Mercury News puts it.

San Jose and a team of developers have agreed to a $132 million deal that sets the stage for a major league soccer stadium near the airport as early as 2010.
 
Terms of the deal must still be formally approved by the city council next month. But Monday’s financial agreement between city officials and Earthquakes owner Lew Wolff and his partners is a giant step toward building the stadium and an accompanying retail, office and hotel project on the 75-acre site on Coleman Avenue.
 
“If and when we pull it off, it is going to make me feel - well, at my age, that would be a great accomplishment,” the 72-year-old Wolff said from his Los Angeles office. “It would cap off a long time of development in San Jose.” Wolff developed downtown San Jose’s Fairmont and Hilton hotels and also owns the Oakland A’s, for whom he is working to build a new stadium in Fremont.
 
San Jose leaders also cheered the tentative agreement Monday because it would funnel at least $17 million into the city’s general fund - which is perennially racked by deficits.
 
According to terms of the deal, Wolff and his partners would pay $132 million for 66 acres of the former FMC manufacturing plant. Of that, about 18 acres will be set aside for the 18,000-seat soccer stadium and parking.
 
The city bought the land in 2005 for $81 million.

We’re going to pause for a moment to emphasize those numbers. The City of San Jose is currently paying $6 or $7 million a year from its general fund to pay for the purchase of that land. Under the terms of this agreement, not only will the city be able to get out from under those payments, but it will realize a profit of over $50 million on the sale of the property which it first purchased in 2005. That’s a 59 percent profit in just three years. We don’t know the details, but that sounds like an amazing deal for the city.
It’s too early to celebrate, but we’re a whole lot closer to that party than we ever have been.

Behind the scenes at the home opener

It didn’t make the TV broadcast, but the pregame events on Saturday included the ceremonial presentation of San Jose’s two MLS Cup trophies to team owner Lew Wolff by the board of directors of Soccer Silicon Valley. It was a big moment for all of us and for our members since it signified that we had, at long last, achieved the goal of having engaged, local ownership for the team. (At least one other goal, a new stadium, remains.) Here’s what went on behind the scenes.

(left to right) Don Gagliardi, John Jussen, Jay Hipps, Freddy Adames, Ned Zuparko, Lori Hibbett, Merryl Zuparko, Mike Turco, Colin and Owen McCarthy. Photo: John Todd, centerlinesoccer.com/isiphotos.com

12:45 My cell phone rings. “Where are you? We’re supposed to be at the elevators now.” It’s Merryl Zuparko, board secretary of the new SSV Community Foundation. I have apparently spent too much time at the Club Quake tailgate. With all the smiling faces there, as fans got reacquainted with friends old and new, it was hard to tear myself away. I was also helping Scott French, managing editor of Major League Soccer magazine, line up interviews with long-time Quakes fans to get their perspective on the team’s return. Fortunately, I was also aware of the time, so when Merryl’s phone call arrived, my wife Krystal and I were already walking up the BART ramp towards the East Side Club, where we’d find the elevators and the rest of the board.

12:50 We show our tickets and invitation to the pre-game VIP party, which I have now mostly missed. SSV president Don Gagliardi tells me I was smart to stay so long among the jubilant fans at the tailgate — the mood is festive in the East Side Club but also more subdued. There’s always a strong business element to events like this, and these parties cater largely to sponsors and other corporate partners. Everyone is having a good time, though, and the food and drinks on offer are impressive. Don tells me that he spoke to Lew Wolff earlier, who thanked him for SSV’s efforts and said, “We couldn’t do this without you.” I kick myself for missing that conversation but appreciate the sentiment all the same.

12:53 Things are still getting organized at the elevators so I pop into the party to grab a couple bottles of water for me and Krystal. I run into SSV board member and former Club Quake president Mike Turco inside and he gives me a quick briefing on what food is being served where and points out the two bars that have been set up. Cognizant of the schedule, we’re about to leave when we spot Earthquakes and A’s president Michael Crowley. We stop for a brief chat which turns into something longer as the two Mikes discover that they both grew up in the South Bay at about the same time. Names are passed back and forth (”Oh, I remember him. What’s he doing now?”) as shared roots are discovered.

12:57 Water in hand, Mike and I emerge from the party along with fellow board members John Jussen and Lori Hibbett and resume waiting near the elevators which will take us down to field level. There is one less field pass than there are people waiting, so Krystal volunteers to watch from the stands. It’s neither the first nor last sacrifice an SSV spouse will make — just as Wolff said, “We couldn’t do this without you,” SSV’s board members could all say that of their significant others as well.

1:02 It’s elevator time! Quakes staffer Niki Shinn ushers us on board and we drop into the bowels of the stadium beyond the center field wall. Among the equipment back there is a large, flat apparatus that looks like a flatbed trailer, marked “Pitching Mound Mover” in foot-tall red letters. Who knew such a thing existed?

1:05 As we walk through the cavernous space below the stands, I scope out our fashion choices for the day. I’m in a blue SSV t-shirt while John, Don, and SSV’s first president Colin McCarthy have opted for blue Quakes jerseys from years gone by. Mike and Freddy Adames are sporting black jerseys but I am suddenly stunned when I read the name and number on the back of Freddy’s shirt: “Beckham 23.”

“Freddy,” I blurt out. “What are you wearing?”

I am obviously not the first person to comment on Freddy’s attire as he replies with a pained expression. “It seemed like a good idea this morning.”

Closer inspection reveals that it’s a Real Madrid shirt, so at least it’s not, you know, completely evil. As we walk along the perimeter of the field towards home plate and the player tunnel, I pull Freddy’s scarf lower on his shoulders so it at least covers up the “Beckham” on his back.

1:12 We arrive at the player tunnel and the trophies appear. I’m carrying the 2001 cup and Don gets 2003. They are, as always, a magnificent sight, symbols of so much that was so good. I point out to Don that the ‘01 trophy is made of sterling silver while ‘03 is silver plated, a fact that becomes obvious when I hand him the significantly heavier ‘01 to compare. We’ll have to win another one so we can find out if MLS has cut back on the trophy budget for everyone or if they were just picking on us that year.

1:15 A number of Fire players exit the field via our little inflatable tunnel. John Jussen shakes Cuauhtémoc Blanco’s hand on the way through. I believe it is the only time all day when someone in an Earthquakes shirt makes physical contact with Blanco without Blanco immediately dropping to the turf and rolling around as though he were in severe pain.

1:18 Freddy’s shirt again becomes the topic of conversation. Someone — I think it was either me or Lori — suggests that he wear it inside-out. The idea is immediately echoed by pretty much everyone and a near riot is averted as Freddy complies with our demands brilliant idea. It actually looks pretty good, although people may be confused when they see he’s wearing something manufactured by a company called “sadida.”

1:22 We’re on. The PA announcer narrates as we approach Wolff and Crowley with the trophies, although he mistakenly identifies our president as “Dan” Gagliardi. We all wince for a split second, but we’re all enjoying this too much to get too upset. What’s a misplaced vowel among friends, anyway?

1:22:30 I walk past Wolff and Crowley, saying, “This thing is pretty heavy — you don’t actually want me to hand it to you, do you?” They smile and say no, thereby giving me a further chance to loft it over my head and turn slowly around, showing it off to the whole stadium. I forgo the traditional ritual of kissing the cup, maybe because I’m being demure or maybe because I remember the tongue bath it received from Jimmy Conrad in Columbus. “Dan” smooches it up with ‘03, however.

One last thing: There was one other item that we presented in the ceremony. Perhaps some of you reading this attended SSV’s MLS All-Star Game viewing party last year at the Britannia Arms. (We called it that because we had to, but it was really a party to celebrate the announcement made the day before the game that the Quakes would take the field in 2008.) At that party, we had a poster, printed on acid-free stock with archival inks, proclaiming “Thanks, Lew!” in six-inch letters over an enormous Earthquakes badge and the closing text, “From Everyone at Soccer Silicon Valley.” By the end of the night, that poster was filled with signatures from grateful fans. On Saturday, we finally had the perfect opportunity to present it to Lew, so we did. Presentation of the poster was not actually on the agenda, and it gives me a bit of a thrill to see that our group’s independent, unorthodox nature, so obvious in SSV’s early days, can still show itself when needed.

• • •Today’s Salinas Californian features a column by our own Embele Awipi about Saturday’s game. Go there for quotes from Ramiro Corrales and Quakes executive VP David Alioto.

The Quakes are still a work in progress

Like life its own self, the San Jose Earthquakes are a work in progress on and off the field. Here’s where we’re at so far. Read more

Shea Salinas Post Game Interview

Shea Salinas talks to Harvey Rañola (and others) about how he defied the laws of geometry with his nightmare miss, and how he’ll be staying away for blogs until he can redeem himself.

One more thing to note is that he promises that he’ll never miss a sitter again. Shea, I know you’re staying away from blogs, but do keep in mind that we’re going to hold you to that promise…no pressure.

Frank Yallop Post Game Interview

Frank Yallop gives Embele Awipi his take on the Earthquakes’ performance against the Chicago Fire.

David Alioto Interview

Embele Awipi chats with San Jose Earthquakes Executive Vice President David Alioto…who’s kind enough to give us a shout out at the end.

The arm of our favorite Joe Cannon also makes a quick cameo.

Post-game press wrap up

There are so many good things to say about yesterday’s match, the first home appearance for the Earthquakes since October 29, 2005. We’ll cover the pre-game tailgate and other activities later this week. For now, we’ll focus on the game itself.

Ann Killion of the Mercury News hits the nail on the head — everything was great except the final score. Compared to the team’s first match, where there was really nothing to take away and build on, the Quakes showed improvement all over the field, and only some bad luck and a man of the match performance from Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch kept the home team from coming away with at least a point.

Killion’s comments from GM John Doyle (”There were a lot of things that you look at today and say, ‘That was good’,”) and head coach Frank Yallop (”It was night and day. All our stage fright from last week was gone. That’s encouraging.”) tell the tale, but we heard several fans observing that the team was beginning to play a recognizable variety of Earthquakes soccer: shutting down opponents, utilizing a short passing game to keep possession, and always — always — playing hard for the full 90 minutes. This should be a source of optimism for Quakes fans everywhere. Despite the lackluster showing against the Galaxy, we think few would argue against the idea that, if they continue to jell, this appears to be a team that’s capable of making the playoffs.

There were some problems, of course. Rookie midfielder Shea Salinas missed a crucial sitter in stoppage time and is sure to take some criticism for that, despite the spark he provided when he came on in the 59th minute. The Merc’s Elliott Almond focuses on the near misses in his match report, and his story notes that Kei Kamara came to the defense of his teammate, saying “He’s not the only one to miss a goal today.” Yallop also came to the rookie’s defense, telling Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle that “he might have nightmares about that shot, but Shea’s a good young player who made a huge difference when he came on the field. Look at his performance rather than the one chance he missed.”

Debbie Arrington of the Sacramento Bee took a wider look at the match in her story, noting the historical significance of the team’s first home game in over two years:

“When they announced we were leaving, we were crushed,” said Cochrane, a former Santa Clara star who went to Houston with the former Quakes franchise. “I was thrilled the day I was asked to come back and thrilled (the home opener) is finally here.”

John Doyle, a Quakes legend as a player in the team’s early days, returned to be general manager. Frank Yallop came back to coach.

“We had nothing, but it took Lew Wolff and Dave Alioto and their team to get it back,” Doyle said. “People all over Northern California want us to make it successful.”

Said Yallop: “Just seeing the guys come out on the field, I got a lump in my throat. … I’m very, very pleased and proud of the way they played. (But) we’re a new team, building and learning.”

Arrington even noted the front office’s nod to the fan’s role in the team’s return:

Members of Soccer Silicon Valley, the grassroots group that campaigned heavily for a quick MLS return, presented team owner Lew Wolff and president Mike Crowley the Quakes’ 2001 and 2003 MLS championship trophies that had been on display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame after the original team’s demise.

“We started one and a half years ago and worked very hard for this moment,” executive vice president David Alioto said afterward. “This is pretty special.”

That, however, is a story for tomorrow. See you all then.

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