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Smoke bombs are a no-no.

You know who I'm talking about. That guy swilling a few too many in the row ahead of you and is throwing around the f-bombs when it's obvious you have your 10 year old at the game with you. The gang that boos and insults the opposition incessantly. How about the fans who throw things onto the field?  What right do these people have to be at the game, many of us ask. It's a little deeper question than you might think actually.
 
Some of these examples, and other ones you can easily think of yourselves, are pretty obviously answered. The language and booing we can't do much about, except maybe to nudge the guy and point out the kids sitting nearby, but even that might not work. The drunk should probably be escorted out. Throwing items should be cause for expulsion, right? Not so fast, though, as Columbus fans have learned lately at Crew Stadium.
 
Hapless to say, hooliganism has arrived in the capital city. Maybe, just maybe, though, we have nipped the bad aspects in the bud and we might salvage the good. Here's what's up: The construction of the new stage area behind one of the goals at Crew Stadium caused relocation of some different fan groups and the end result was that a number of die-hard and somewhat boisterous bands such as La Turbina, the Crew Union and the Hudson Street Hooligans (yes, that's what they call themselves) sitting together. By the law of unforeseen consequences (or by conspiracy theorists "pre-planned results"), these various groups together have created a very rowdy and loyal area of the stadium that usually chants, sings and stands almost the entirety of each home game.
 
We would typically call this result "fantastic", and it is in many respects and probably will be. The problem, though, became the smoke bombs. And the chucked beer cups. Batteries and pennies anyone? Is this Camp Randall Stadium? As wicky wacky Cincinnati coach Sam Wyche once told an ill-mannered Bengal crowd, "You don't live in Cleveland!"  Take heed, Crew crazies!!
 
Fortunately, it seems like they have. The last home game had no smoke bombs, just some streamers on opposition corner kicks. MLS commissioner Don Garber has asked that streamers only be thrown after goals. Picky, picky I say. The hooligans are starting to police themselves, because they realize they have a good thing going, and they're getting noticed. And frankly, this isn't Chelsea v. Arsenal in London, it's the MLS in Cowtown, USA. But as the fan groups still dress crazy and sing and chant, and yes perhaps throw some streamers, we've injected some excitement into our city that you can never find amongst the chirping crickets at an OSU basketball game.   As long as I don't get hit with a battery or a beer, it's just fine by me. Just watch your language, hooligan.

Tags: columbus crew, mls