Union Ultras road trip to San Jose

May 6th, 2009

I would have written this sooner, but I’m still recovering from the trip. I’ve got some painful blisters on my fingers from the guiro and mysterious bruises on my right leg.

7:58 a.m: MIssion Hills. Arrival. Mapquest decided to mess with my direcciones, but a quick call to Assessino and I’m at Michoacano’s place. Nice Ford Lariat, by the way.

Big thanks to Mich for all the hard work in organizing and setting up the trip for us. Though I felt better when I found out he secretly made a fortune selling the movie rights.

Simon is the first to greet me with a warm smile and an alcoholic beverage, also warm. Everybody is in high spirits. Some of the Ultras showed up at Mich’s last night to spray paint banners and cut confetti. After making the rounds, some of the guys got together for a cigar before the trip for good luck.

9:35: And we’re off! And the Tecate and Negro Modelo start to flow. ChivaMayor and Rey Misterio are jumping and dancing, Chimu and Assessino are having fun in the back, Turbo is making bad jokes. A good time is being had. In the front, people are relaxing. Some are trying to sleep.

10:03: Our first stop. Nothing really to report, except for how fun it is watching Jedik try in vain to find empty garbage bags inside gas station trash cans. I must be trashed.

11:48: The bathroom has now reached 127 degrees Farenheit.

-How did I get this Azteca America mike, Mike?

…and out of my drunken stupor and back to the road trip: Apparently we’ve stopped at Ray’s families’ place. Those were sweet tangerines.

A short later, we’re back on the road. Some time passes. Glyco and Assessino try in vain to mark up the asleep. Somebody managed to get me, though “Chivas” on one arm and “USA” on the other is weiner free I suppose.

3:52: Gilroy, California. From my days at neaby UC Santa Cruz, I remembering hearing about Gilroy as a weird little town. Well, true that. The air smells like garlic. There’s a garlic festival. Garlic stores, garlic signs, garlic garlic garlic. Even the girls taste like garlic.

Speaking of taste, the Dutchman Pizza Palace was our next destination. I had The Sampler, an awesome combination of potato skins, garlic bread and chicken wings. Mich made a joke when I claimed the last chicken wing that was “inappropriate”. Surprisingly, the garlic fries were tame. Everyone was scattered. At one point, me and Assessino were jamming inside Guitar Center.

From there, it was a short distance to the match.

6:32: Buck Shaw Stadium, Santa Clara, CA: Arrival! I met up with my twin brother Jon, and it was time to bring it.

7:38: The whistle blows, and the match has started.

8:47:  Rey keeps telling people to go to the bathroom in groups.

8:56: Justin Braun scores. I, for one, was so into our rhythm it took me a few seconds to figure it out. Believe me, there were others.

9:04: “REAL ULTRAS…YEAH RIGHT!!”

9:23: San Jose Earthquakes fans: A collective group of yuppy Birkenstock wearing, iPhone texting dirt merchants.

Could the trip have been any more successful? We successfully muted the 1906 Ultras, and stuck it to ‘em in more ways than one. We had security dancing with us. We put on a f#%&ing show! And the Goats took three points on the road.

After our security escort back to the bus, some of the 1906 Ultras though they’d try waving their fingers around like a bunch of fairies. Naturally, we mooned ‘em in retaliation. That’s the ass of a winning team, my not so Ultra friends.

Afterwards, we celebrated with some tasty In ‘N Out. Glyco donated some of his to the dumpster.

Then the long ride home, featuring an abundance of laughs and crappy sleep.

1:02: Mich is waking people to see if they’re asleep.

1:45: C IS FOR CHAT COOKIE !

2:08: Time to bring out the laptop. Too bad I’m so tired I keep typing the same three sentences over and over. Thanks for the Almost Famous wisecrack, Chimu.

2:33: Customer Service!

(z z z….)

7:25: Departure. Mission Hills. What a day (and night!).

9:03: Here I am at a Starbucks in my old neighborhood. I wanted to write about the trip, but I mostly didn’t want to fall asleep at the wheel. Damn yuppies…there’s a guy wearing a mask to protect himself from swine flu, only he keeps taking it off to sip his coffee and eat his sandwich. I desperately wanted to grab my laptop and beat the guy with it.

9:48: Inspired by the events of Saturday, I make a trek to Sam Ash.

Later that day…I bought maracas!

When all is said and done, boy am I glad I reluctantly decided to go to that away viewing party with Carlos last year. Thanks Union Ultras.

Pibe

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Chivas USA v. Seattle Sounders [video]

April 19th, 2009

Our friend Chris from the Union Ultras filmed a few moments of his game day experience during the 4/18 match against the new Cinderella  expansion team, Seattle Sounders FC.  Enjoy the videos and the 2-0 Chivas USA victory.

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Union Ultras One Year Anniversary Event

January 13th, 2009

Join the official CHIVAS USA supporter group the Union Ultras for their first annual BBQ-Potluck at Victoria Park in Carson to celebrate their one-year anniversary. This Union Ultras event to kick off the 2009 season of the MLS club Chivas USA will start at 1pm with pick-up soccer games to be played through out the day.

Come celebrate with the Union Ultras and have some good food during a festive day of family fun. This will be a potluck style event with people set to bring Steak, Chicken, Carne Asada, Rice, Beans, Salsa Verde and more of the same or different is welcome. We will have a few coolers for the Sodas, Cervesa/Beer and Water however more are welcome.

If you have want to have some fun playing futbol/soccer bring your cleats and shin guards if you like to use them. While this is a celebration, lets all remember the Union Ultras will be making some group decisions asking all it’s member to come bring your family and vote. The Union Ultras believe a pure democracy rules the day and wants all of its members to have their voice heard.

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Post Game Thoughts

August 16th, 2008

I often wonder if this season is already over for Chivas USA. Not to be a skeptic but when you look at all the injuries, the lack of experience of the young players, and some questionable substitutions from Preki, even a Stevie wonder can see that time is running out for this team. Last night, Galaxy robbed Chivas USA of 2 points with an Alan Gordon header in stoppage time to draw 2-2. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story of the game.

Galaxy came in loose and firing on all cylinders in the first half. Goats USA looked shell shocked by the energy and pace that Team Beckham was willing to imposing. After going 1-0 into the second half, LA’s no. 1 pub team withered and faltered, thus they lost the lead. All looked pretty good for the goats going into stoppage time, but then it happened. The clock struck 12 o’ clock: Jim Curtin (all 6’4” of him) failed to mark Goatkiller Gordon on a set piece and BANG! It was all over.

Honestly, it’s almost impossible to ignore the potential of what could have been a great season for Chivas USA. At this point, one point is one point, but against the Galaxy, it might as well be no points. There are no moral victories for Chivas USA fans, this team is hurt and many fans (not including myself) are starting to lose hope. There are no reinforcements on the way, there are signs of a new stadium on the horizon, and there is no word on Jorge Flores missing persons file. Fan favorites are not always the best players on the team, but with M*A*S*H* unit for a roster, Chivas USA needs all the help it can get. Like I said, I’m not losing hope, but…………..time is running out.

GAME NOTES: Zack Thorton has decent skills for 350lb. man. It was nice to see Preki on the sidelines again, but why was he talking to himself on the way to the locker room at halftime? Roberto Nurse has nice looking braids, that’e the most positive thing I can say about him. Roberto Pires should fight Jesse Marsch in the UFC octogan. My money is on the Marsch. Who can forget the dropkick on Beckham last year? I miss Alex Zotinca, that butt head. Atiba Harris made a guest appearance in the game and made defenders looked foolish. Does Carey Talley have a mullet? Carlos Ruiz as trade bait? Good luck with that. The Union Ultras (the Official Chivas USA supporters) unveiled their new banner with players and Preki on it. Well done. It did have Jorge Flores’ image on it, so he was there at least in spirit. Carlos Ruiz as trade bait? Good luck with that. Maybe Thorton should try professional wrestling.

John Sandate

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Chivas USA Viewing Party Saturday!

August 6th, 2008

Join the Ultras at the Black Watch Pub .

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Chivas USA vs. Galaxy

July 13th, 2008

I‘ve debated since the end of tonight’s game as to how negative I wanted to be writing this. Think about it. Chivas USA had a chance to separate itself from the jewel of the MLS in the Western conference standings. It had a chance to prove that it was no longer a compliant, financial slave to AEG. It had a chance to quiet all those lame and biased Los Angeles soccer journalists with their closet love for the LA Galaxy. Oh well, it’s never a fairy tale ending with Chivas USA. I’m resigned to admit it now. Call it fatalism, I guess.

Until Chivas USA regains its magic, it will forever be a franchise that flails under a Galaxy franchise that is anything but a jewel. So what’s this about magic? What am I talking about? This Chivas team has heart and soul. It has players that have the courage to fight and not surrender. It doesn’t depend solely on one player with international fame to generate interest, nor does it depend on one player to score all the goals for the team. The magic that I refer to is the one that players like Maykel Galindo brought last year and to a limited degree, Paco Palencia and Ramon Ramirez in past seasons. This team is solid enough to play with anybody in the league and beat most of them. However, based on last nights 1-1 draw, Chivas lacks a talisman like a Pavel Nedved or Juan Roman Riquelme to elevate this team to the next level. Make no mistake, this team can pass and defend. Landon Donovan disappeared last night. David Beckham was ineffective. Carlos Ruiz was punked by Guzan and defenders time after time. Jesse Marsch and Pablo Nagamura played keep away with the Galaxy midfield and often made them look silly. However, in front of the box, our forward attack had the finishing, finesse touch of the Incredible Hulk.

I know in my heart there is only one person that can bring the magic I speak of to the pitch and it ain’t Chris Angel or David Blaine, his name is Adolfo “Bofo” Bautista. This player possesses the type of skill, technique, and magic that this team lacks right now. I’m pretty sick and tired of losing or drawing against lesser quality MLS squads because we can’t finish. Bautista is also a player in desperate need of a change and the Chivas fans would now have one Mexico’s most dynamic players to cal their own. Imagine Sacha to Bautista to Razov to Galindo, Goal.

In the meantime, Preki is going to have to stop watching “Hoosiers” and not get himself red carded. His team needed him and it would take more than Dennis Hopper to run the picket fence to break the Galaxy 8-man defense.

Did I mention that I’m a Chivas USA supporter? Well if it isn’t obvious by now then it should be. I’m biased and I hate the LA Galaxy. Chivas USA lost last night. Not the game but the chance to step on the throats of all the haters.2

Random notes: MLS teams should hire Oliver Stone to investigate the MLS-favoring-Beckham WAY TOO MUCH. I got tired of seeing Chivas USA players getting whistled for being within inches of Golden Balls. Tom Cruise was at the game administering IQ tests to potential Scientologists. Attiba Harris should be pissed for being subbed out. Que paso con Claudio Suarez? Raphael Wicky is getting surgery. Gone and soon to be forgotten. Burling is a beast. He needs header practice though. Can someone tell Panchito Mendoza to pass the ball instead of running like an escaped convict? He needs vision. Like the Franc Ribery kind. Ante Razov is back and he’s pissed. Not good for MLS defenses. Don’t call him old either. Anthony Hamilton makes me wish we still Laurent Merlin. No he doesn’t. Yes, he does. Sacha should keep his emotions in check for Galaxy games, they refs have his number. He’s potentially Chivas USA’s first mega-star. Too bad you can’t get his authentic adidas jersey anywhere in Los Angeles or Southern California. He’s from Orange County, but you have to special order his jersey and wait 4-6 years to get it. Actually, you can’t get any authentic Chivas USA jerseys anywhere in LA. Now if you’re a Galaxy fan, that’s different.

John Sandate

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Chivas USA vs. Chicago Fire

June 24th, 2008

Tonight, Chivas USA won its fourth game in its last six contests. An awesome display of offensive attack and top level goalkeeping from Brad Guzan must have surely made MLS bigwigs gush with joy. Especially, since Chivas’ 2-0 drubbing of the once-might Chicago Fire was on ESPN2 before a national audience. This was Chivas USA soccer. Check that, futbol. The players may have changed slightly from past line-ups (again) but the voracious pursuit to put the ball in the back of the net was something not to common in the MLS. Don’t believe me? Even with one man down, Chicago still could not find the net in the seond half. Chivas USA is not an offensive juggernaut as of yet, make no mistake about it. However, you have wonder if Preki’s sadistically-intense practices and Denis Te Klose’s Ajax influence are starting to morph into a league version of “Total Football”. Don’t laugh. This team never stopped pushing forward and always had players shifting around to defend the ball and keep the attack flowing. Intense defense and sublime passing. The Fire look flustered.

The crowd was significantly larger than recent Chivas USA games and you can thank Chuatemoc Blanco for that. His Club America fans came out in droves. This was good for the league and most importantly, for Chivas USA finances. Unfortunately, this game also brought out the bad seeds, too. Club America’s infamous supporters, La Monumental, also came out to get their “Blanco” fix and brought their shanks to the game to celebrate. You may have spotted them during the telecast; they took off their shirts to show off their beer guts and Mexi-mullets and proceeded to spend the entire night trying to taunt Chivas fans in section 104. Thankfully, trouble was averted due in large part to the Department of Home Depot Security and a few dozen or so Las Angeles County sheriff’s deputies WITH GUNS. Oh well, it really is a double edged sword when Chicago fire comes to LA to play Chivas USA: good for business, bad for living free. Kudos to the Chivas USA front office for taking extreme security measures again to protect all the fans.

Here’s what I learned from this game about Chivas USA and not in any particular order. Raphael Wicky is still world class-quality, when healthy. Sascha Kljestan obviously is close to becoming the next Clint Dempsey or better. Pancho Mendoza is a better left back than left wing. Justin Braun plays better when knows he’s 6’3” 215lbs. Ante Razov can still play, no goals but 2 assists. Claudio Suarez is old, real old. Can he still defend? Damn skippy. Last, a copy of this game should be sent to every European football team that is in need of a goalkeeper who plays smart and fearless. I don’t think even MLS-hater Steven Cohen can’t argue that Guzan is world class now. Tonight’s game was really a global tryout for Brad Guzan. If Chivas USA doesn’t get at least 6 million in a transfer fee for this man, than something is wrong.

As for tonight, everything went right.

John Sandate

Disclaimer:
The following article is written from the perspective of one Union Ultra member and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of all the Union Ultras. The Union Ultras believe in the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press. They also reserve the right to pontificate those freedoms while drinking incessantly.
Noi Soli. Sine Metu.

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My Two Cents

June 19th, 2008

Chivas USA lost another home game to a seemingly weaker opponent. I can think of few other words that can describe losing to Real Salt Lake, but pathetic might be too harsh. Then again it’s almost clockwork that Chivas USA finds a way to lose a game rather than just go for the jugular and impose it’s will. There was nothing flashy, exciting, or even interesting in this game. Unless you like countless, wasted scoring chances, marching bands playing USC fight songs at a soccer game, or RSL players diving continuously in the last 20 minutes, this game had all the entertainment value of a C-Span press conference.

I don’t like sounding negative, but I can’t drink the kool aid all the time. This was not Chivas USA football. This was a new line up of players coming off the injured list starting in place of players who helped this team win three out of the last four games. I believe in loyalty and rewarding players that deserve it, but this line up looked flustered and lost at times. Change is a good thing, but unlike Barack Obama’s campaign, this was not change I could believe in. This seems to be the time of the season where players start to step up and contending teams start to assert themselves for a run before the MLS all-Star game. Chivas seemed to be the victim of over-coaching. For example, Jorge Flores was rewarded for his 3 goals in four games by sitting on the bench for both halves of this game. This seemed like change for the sake of change.

Real Salt Lake came to play, however terrible to look at it may have been, they imposed their style and walked away with 3 points. By Preki’s own admission those players that started for Chivas USA were not “sharp” and as a result, Chivas USA soccer was dull tonight. The 4-5-1 that RSL ran was as easy on the eyes as Britney Spear’s shaved head, but there was no denying Robbie Findley’s speed on the flank and the constant strain he put on the Chivas backline. Proper respect to him and all the RSL divers that slowed the game to a grinding halt.

It’s hard to come away from this game and think that this team is the defending Western Conference champion and started this 2008 MLS season with high hopes. Now, I’m just praying that this team gets healthier and we stick to a successful starting XI.

On the way out of the stadium, a driver spotted Jorge Flores driving out with a dejected look on his young face. The driver asked him why he didn’t play tonight. He yelled back, “I don’t know, ask the coach.” Maybe change isn’t always a good thing.

John Sandate

Disclaimer:
The following article is written from the perspective of one Union Ultra member and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of all the Union Ultras. The Union Ultras believe in the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press. They also reserve the right to pontificate those freedoms while drinking incessantly.
Noi Soli. Sine Metu.

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Why Im an Ultra by El Assesino

May 26th, 2008

Ever Since I can remember I’ve always been a Futbol Fanatic and my team and passion had always been C.D Guadalajara. Some of my earliest memories involve going to El Estadio Jalisco and watching Chivas play. However, being from Los Angeles, growing up it became harder and harder to travel to Guadalajara and see my goats in person. I watched all of their games religiously and read all of their latest news on the internet but I started to feel disconnected from them. I was addicted to them and watching them play once a year in Los Angeles wasn’t enough to satisfy my needs. I needed to be Alentando en el Tablon (in the stands watching them and cheering them win or lose every weekend). All though I continued loving them wholeheartedly I needed a new drug to satisfy my addiction. When C.D Chivas USA was announced in 2004 my prayers had finally been answered. I finally had a team of my own in MY CITY and in MY COUNTRY. As the first year came and went I had finally found my drug, La Droga de mi Corazon, La Razon por mi Locura but it soon became apparent that with a new team new traditions were needed as well. I began to realize that this team needed a barra brava (Supporter group) of their own regardless of what occurred and happened with Guadalajara. It was then that I began to find others who felt this same way, and the UNION UL7RAS were born. We were a group of individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds who all had one thing in common, our love for Chivas USA. It was then that this group began forming its own identity blending the Ultras style of Europe with the Barra Brava style of South America. We made our official debut at a 2008 pre-season friendly against Columbus in Santa Clara and ever since then the movement just keeps growing and getting stronger. We’re not going anywhere and we can’t be stopped. This is our time. WE ARE CHIVAS USA, AND LOS ANGELES BELONGS TO US. SOMOS LA HINCHADA DEL REBANO GRINGO, LA QUE NUNCA ABANDONA. NO SOMOS MODA, NI NOS PAGAN, ES POR AMOR.

– El Assesino

Check out this Video of our Debut at the HDC

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Join Us Next Saturday!

May 19th, 2008

Chivas VS. Crew

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