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http://www.columbussports.com/content/teams/columbus_crew/massive-change---new-view-on-the-crew.shtmlMassive Change - New View on the Columbus Crew
Winds are wafting from the Nordecke.
This not your daddy's Columbus Crew. Or even your older brother's, for that matter. The MLS franchise has been kicking around the futbol in the capital city since 1996, and in Crew Stadium since its inauguration in 1999. What a change it's been this year on the field, though. Having missed the playoffs for the entirety of recent memory, Columbus is presently the top team in all of MLS (13-6-4) at 43 points and is riding high off a 4-0 massacre of 2nd place New England that frankly could have been worse. That's right, sure goals were deflecting off posts and an early bicycle kick effort also just missed, but in a sign of the season the final still ended 4-0. Things are looking up for the for many reasons real, intangible and quirky. Here's a basic review of what's been going on.
Setting the Stage -- Before the 2008 season, a decision was made to eliminate the center north goal area stands and replace them with a new concert stage. The intention was to allow for more and better outdoor concert use of the stadium both after games and at other times. This met with initial opposition from loyal fan groups in the area, who though having moved around the north goal stands amongst various sections over the years were nontheless dismayed by pending displacement. Right now, there are three main organized loyal fan groups -- The Hudson Street Hooligans (who were involved in a proportiontely overblown mini-fracas with fans of English Premeireship club West Ham earlier this year during a "friendly"), the Crew Union Local 614, and La Turbina de las Amarillas ("Yellow Turbines"), a grass roots Latino community fan group that has joined the fun. All of these groups found themselves moved to the Northeast corner of the stadium for 2008, and the new area needed a name . . .
The Nordecke -- A great name, really. Though I'm not Austrian, Bavarian nor any other type of German, I understand that the name essentially means something basic - Northeast Corner. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the sense I get is that it's a cool name with a nod to Columbus' German heritage and a nation that harbors many soccer crazies and the famed Bundesliga. The Nordecke now houses HSH, Crew Union and La Turbina, and man is it a sight to see on game nights. Anyone who has been dismayed by handsitting Buckeye basketball fans or "down in front" at Ohio Stadium should check out the Nordecke sometime. Plus group tickets there are only $12, a far cry from what we pay at OSU. With young kids, though, you might want to choose some cheap upper deck seats and admire the vocal valiant from a distance.
Smoke Bombs have been somewhat of a problem, and were still prevalent in last week's 4-0 win over the Revolution, but when it comes down to it they're mainly harmless. The Nordecke has become infamous now for the lobbing of smoke signals after Crew goals, and for the lobbing of streamers at opposing corner kickers, etc... Fortunately, besides the aforementioned exchange of "tea and crumpets" with West Ham fans by the Hudson Street Hooligans, most of the Nordecke action has been fun and entertaining. The Nordecke has also become the home of great banners, and its denizens have now started an important new nickname, indeed a new identity and era, for the black and yellow . . .
The Massive -- This is what the ardent really call the team, which may be news to the casual fan. Basically, the Crew are a Massive team, and you really can't argue with that, now can you? It is the type of nickname that can stick and grow, which is exactly what its been doing. Every MLS visitor leaving the stadium has "Massive" etched in his mind, and for good reason. Impressive banners fringe the Nordecke proclaiming the massiveness of the Crew, and even the Columbus Dispatch and internet message boards are deeply in on the act. The Dispatch, for its part, has been providing the Crew with great reporting and columns through Shawn Mitchell and Michael Arace. Arace was slow on the draw when he tried to christen the team as the "Fighting Canaries", a nod to the yellow kits worn by the Crew, but those are already being referred to as Banana Kits. Arace reached a clever compromise, though, as he came to terms with the massiveness of The Massive nickname, and now writes of "the Massive Canaries", acknowledging that Nordeckers use only the term "The Massive" for the team. Call 'em what you will, you can still call 'em a success.
Guille -- This name is the key to the Crew, but this time we're not talking about a team nickname or a supporters' area. This is short for MF Guillermo Barros Schelotto, an Argentine hero of a footballer and probably the best player ever to don a Banana Kit. There, I said it and I'm sticking with it. Knowledgeable MLS fans will cry foul, not only for Schelotto's acting abilities on perceived dangerous plays and infractions, but also because Guille was not even named to the 2008 MLS all-star team. That was a massive tragedy, my friends, and it is realistic that Schelotto may end up the league MVP. He currently has 18 assists, a team record, and has also netted 6 goals while starting all 23 games and logging 1900 minutes for the top team in the league. His leadership and fortitude are immeasureable. Certainly, there is a swelling tide of support both local and now league-wide for the Argentine Ace to win the award. Best of luck Guille, and best of all we didn't even have to give you a wacky nickname. Update 9/11 -- The Columbus Dispatch is now reporting that Schelotto will not play in Saturday's road game at Toronto FC. Speculation is that it's Toronto's poor artificial surface that's a major factor here. It's officially and ostensibly a pulled left hamstring from Tuesday's practice session. We expect to see veteran (but Crew newcomer) Pat Noonan of former Revolution fame play in Guille's stead.