A Different Kind of Outlaw
 

Wake up, America. You have your own soccer team. Unite. Strengthen. That's one of the slogans of a fledgling organization devoted to supporting United States soccer that call themselves the American Outlaws. I'm a member and if you love U.S. soccer, you should be too. Some buddies and I have started a drive to get our own local chapter going and we're looking for anyone that loves the Stars and Stripes to join us. We are the American Outlaws: Greenville Brigade.

Admittedly, we're a little nuts about this stuff. On May 28th of this year, the U.S. Men's National team (USMNT) traveled to London to take on the Brits in Wembley Stadium. The game started at three in the afternoon when the majority of us would generally be working. So what did we do? Every last one of us took off work for the day to head over to the Pirate's Den to watch the match. What's missing a day of pay when you can hang out in a bar, get sloshed and cheer on the Yanks? The match didn't go so well for the MNT, we lost 2-0 and played like utter crap, but the company, except for a couple of English supporters that were there, was excellent. The American flag was hung prominently near the section we took over, a lot of us were wearing U.S. jerseys and scarves or in some instances, American Outlaw gear, every fist was clenched around a tall cold one, and we were yelling our throats sore.

What a way to spend an afternoon.  If you love soccer too, why wouldn't you want to join us? We're loud, we're proud, we are the Outlaw crowd! It's easy as pie. Check it out.
First off, we are totally on the MySpace at www.myspace.com/americanoutlawsgreenville. From there you can link to the official MySpace of the American Outlaws or just go straight to the official American Outlaws website at www.theamericanoutlaws.com. It's just $15 a year to join up and when you first sign up, you get an Outlaw t-shirt, an American flag bandana, and a nifty pin that you can use to poke Mexican fans with. I hate Mexico. They are the worst fans in the world and their team can all go screw themselves. Which they probably do anyway. Alright, my rage has subsided. Back to the Outlaws.

We were back at the Pirate's Den a week later to watch our boys take on the Spanish National team in Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Spain. The Yanks played a pretty good first half, but we bunkered down in the second hoping to preserve a nil-nil tie. That didn't happen because Xavi of Spain broke down our defense in the 78th minute to stick the ball in the back of the U.S. net. But we were still out there, cheering on the boys and throwing back the beer. Before this article hits the newsstands, we'll be right back out there on the 8th of June, hoping for a miracle against Argentina. At least this one is on home soil. We might have a chance. If Argentina brings their "B" team. And we get to play 13 players to their 11. And if Argentina shows up drunk. That sort of thing.

Things look much more promising the week afterwards, when the MNT takes on Barbados on the 15th of June in the first game on the two year road to potentially play in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It's all happening at 5 p.m. down at the Den. Come on out and support your team. Meet up with some rabid soccer fans and generally just have a blast. I hope we'll see you there. We'll be the large group in the back, waving flags, displaying scarves, and going hoarse from singing and cheering the whole time. You know you want to be there.

A couple of notes about last month's article. I was right about the Red Wings (watching them hoist the Stanley cup for the fourth time in 11 years was utterly glorious), wrong about the Pistons (I still can't believe a team that couldn't beat Atlanta or Cleveland on the road beat us TWICE on our home court…argh), and to make up for grading Tiebreaker's based on a buddy's information, I'm going to go check out a sporting event there in the near future. I'll let you know how it goes.

One last thing. Euro 2008 kicks off the first weekend of June. ESPN is actually showing the games for the first time and I can't freaking wait. Outside of the World Cup, the European Soccer Championship is the best national team tournament in the world. I was actually in Germany in 1992 while the tourney was being played and Germany made it all the way to the final before losing to Denmark (who shouldn't have even been in the damn thing…long story) 2-0. Being there was what got me addicted to soccer. I had played soccer a lot as a kid, but I was unprepared for what went on in Germany that summer. It was insane. Anyway, my buddies and I have all picked our teams and are raring to go. Again, if you like soccer, why wouldn't you want to join us?
 
Aaron Carpenter

The author of this article can be reached at aaronraycarpenter@gmail.com.