Thursday, September 29, 2011

Gameday Preview: Match 32 at San Jose Earthquakes

Oct 1st at Buck Shaw Stadium

Previous 2011 match
Sporting KC 1 - 0 San Jose Earthquakes at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park June 17th, 2011 - Recap

Ref: Alex Prus @AlexPrus - (yes a ref is on Twitter! )(report via @RefRefs)

Links to Previews: (links added as they get posted online - None as of yet, check back as the game gets closer)
From Earthquakes Sources
Previous Match Video Highlights (from MLS - Microsoft Silverlight)
Get Microsoft Silverlight
Previous Match Highlights (from MLShighlights2011 - YouTube)


Twitter Rosters
Sporting Kansas City - #SportingKC - #SKC (rare)
San Jose Earthquakes - #SJEarthquakes

Social Media Match Up
Facebook
Sporting Kansas City 43k defeat San Jose Earthquakes 26k
Twitter
Sporting Kansas City 18k defeats San Jose Earthquakes 7k

Gameday Twitter Coverage (Starting approximately 5 hours before the game and ending 5 hours after)

Gameday Recap: Match 31 vs. Columbus Crew

Sep 28th, 2011 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park

Result: Win (Now we are in first place in the Eastern Conference!)
Sporting KC 2 - 1 Columbus Crew

Referee Report via RefRefs

Ad Astra SKC Gameday Preview Compilation

Links to Recaps: (links added as they get posted online)
Man of the Match Selections:
From Crew sources
Match Video Highlights (from MLS)
Get Microsoft Silverlight
MLS Highlights via YouTube


Fan videos from the park:

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

#SKCChat Transcript Sep 27, 2011

Host: Justin Mayhugh (@Justinmayhugh) from The Daily Wiz KC (@TheDailyWizKC)
Topics:
  1. Who do you think Sporting's MVP is so far?
  2. Who should start tomorrow: Teal or CJ?
  3. What should Sporting do with Jeferson at the end of the year?
  4. Starting XI?
  5. How are you feeling about Sporting's playoff chances
  6. Prediction vs. Crew
Tweetreach stats: 74,833 people reached by 501 tweets from 32 Twitterers.  Together we created 491,682 impressions about Sporting Kansas City.  Granted @KrisColvin is a big chunk of that with her thousands of followers, but together we can make a big impression that no other MLS supporters are doing.  And some of you may argue that for one hour this pollutes your Twitter stream with things you do not care about, but remember there are things besides Twitter you can do for an hour...  Also most people find they gain followers after participating in multiple chats.  If you contribute positively you will find that for the rest of the week you have more people to chat with.  In addition when you ever meet any of these people offline you will actually feel like you kind of know them!



Learn more about #SKCchat here.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Gameday Preview: Match 31 vs. Columbus Crew

Sep 28th at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park

Previous 2011 match
Sporting KC 0 -1 Columbus Crew April 16th, 2011 at Crew Stadium- Recap

Links to Previews: (links added as they get posted online - none as of Monday AM Sep 26th check back as game time gets closer)

From Crew Sources


  • Columbus Dispatch

  • Massive Report
Referee: Hilario Grajeda


Previous Match Video Highlights (from MLS - Microsoft SIlverlight)


Get Microsoft Silverlight



Previous Match Highlights (from MLShighlights2011 - YouTube)


Twitter Rosters
Sporting Kansas City - #SportingKC - #SKC (rare)
Columbus Crew - #Crew96


Social Media Match Up
Facebook
Sporting Kansas City 43k defeats Columbus Crew 21k
Twitter
Sporting Kansas City 18k defeats Columbus Crew 16k

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Chant Origins: I Believe That We Will Win

First Heard at a Sporting KC game: Opening night at LIVESTRONG park against Chicago, June 9th, 2011. Not sure if this dates back to Wizards days.

Based off of: Unknown.

History: The earliest known mention of the chant is 1994 in Syracuse, NY in 1994 at Bishop Ludden High School. The first person credited with origination is Jay Rodriguez in 1998 at the Naval Academy.  One of the commenters below (Mid'05) noted that they recall hearing it sometime between 2001 and 2004. Another Midshipman commenter noted originating it and was class of 2003. You may see some reports of a later origination at the Naval Academy in 2003, because the team apparently didn't do to well in the interval years and no one had a reason to believe that Navy would win.

The earliest recording I can find of the Naval Academy chanting "IBTWWW" is 2009.  But they did have shirts printed up in 2003 with "I Believe That We Will Win."  Recordings of this showed up from college basketball teams like Utah St. and SDSU around 2009/10.  It is also known to be heard at US Men's National Team games.  After the popularity exploded in 2014 with the World Cup, Jeff Eisenberg from Dirty Tackle did a investigative article on the chant origins with a lot of detail. If you like this chant this is a must read article.

History since 2011: Sporting KC used #IBelieveThatWeWillWin as part of the playoff marketing campaign with full paged ads, encouraging of the hashtag on Twitter and changes to their main home page. In 2012, IBTWWW was used as part of the ad campaign for the newly branded NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus).  For the 2014 World Cup it became much more popular after being used in a EPSN commercial featuring the American Outlaws.

Associated movement: Usually jumping in place (pogo-ing) once you get to the final line.  Others have pumped their fist (or two) in the air with each crowd response.

Lyrics:
(Call and Response)
Leader: I
   Crowd: I
Leader: I believe
   Crowd: I believe
Leader: I believe that
   Crowd: I believe that
Leader: I believe that we
   Crowd: I believe that we
Leader: I believe that we will win!
   Crowd: I believe that we will win!
(until crowd starts to quiet)
(Often restarted after fade out maybe 2 or 3 times max)

When you'll hear it: Maybe late in the first half if still scoreless, usually after a goal that gives us a lead, rarely after a goal that gets us equal. Possibly late in the game.

Listen to it recorded from Sporting Park:
"I Believe That We Will Win" Sporting Kansas City (downloadable) by AdAstraSKC

Sporting Kansas City 2011 Playoff Ad



Other MLS Clubs using it: New York Red Bulls (2010), Columbus Crew (2011)

2014 World Cup ESPN Promo - Celebrities


2014 World Cup ESPN Promo - American Outlaws

Find it on Twitter with Hashtag #IBTWWW

If you have more information on this chant, please comment below and will get the post updated.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Gameday Recap: Match 30 vs Phialdelphia Union

Sep 23rd, 2011 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park

Result: Draw
Sporting KC 1 - 1 Philadelphia

Ad Astra SKC Gameday Preview Compilation

RefRefs report (you can add your own thoughts on the refs!)

Links to Recaps: (links added as they get posted online)
Man of the Match Selections:

From Union sources
Match Video Highlights (from MLS)

Get Microsoft Silverlight
MLS Highlights via YouTube

Friday, September 23, 2011

Commonly Heard 2011 Cauldron Chants

Here is the link to the official chant sheet for the Cauldron, the main supporters group for Sporting Kansas City. Hopefully they will have their website up soon, so you can go right to the source!

Of the chants that are on the official chant sheet there are some chants that are not included and some chants that I have not heard all year while sitting in Section 102 (outside the Cauldron).

(Ed. note) Please note that strong language is used in some of the chants at the games.  I write the lyrics here not to promote nor condone unified public swearing, but it is because you will hear it at a game. In 2012, there will be an effort to get the South Stand chanting as well, but given the younger demographic there, we will be considerate and modify any lyrics to remove swearing. If you have a problem with the swearing in any of these chants talk to the the club or the Cauldron leadership.  I'm just reporting what you will hear, I'm not in charge of the chants.

Commonly Heard in 2011 (List)
Here We Go (First Kick)
Sporting Sporting Kansas City
We Love Ya
(Shots!) Everybody
I Believe That We Will Win
Hey! It's All Your Fault
Hey! Your Mom Says Hi
Vamos KC Wiz
Carefree
Mighty Mighty Wizards
You're Not Singing Over There
I Love Kansas City
I Like That Boon-boo-ree
Generic Player Chant
C'mon KC, Score a Goal*
Wings of a Sparrow*
Can't Beat Jimmy Nielsen*
Can You Hear Them Sing?*
You Suck Asshole*
Happy Gilmore
Omar
*Strong language PG-13+ (which is included in chants below)

Rarely/Never Heard in 2011 (List)
Home
Till the World Ends
Vermes' Army
We Love You Sporting
Soy de Wizards
Oh Mikey Money
Ryan Smith
Stephane Auvray
Craig Rocastle
Kamara Kamara
Roger Espinoza
Greatest Midfield in the World
Mama yo quiero ooh!
Wizards, Mi Buen Amigo


Commonly Heard in 2011 (Lyrics)


Here we go (Sung at first kick)
Here we go here we go here we gooooo
here we go here we go here we goooo ooo
Here we go here we go here we go
Here we go-o
HERE WE GO!

Sporting Sporting Kansas City (glory glory) (official Cauldron recording via Chirb.it)
Sporting Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Sporting Kansas City
The Wiz go marching on!

We Love Ya
We love ya, we love ya, we love ya
And where you go we’ll follow, we’ll follow, we’ll follow
Cause we support the wizards, the wizards, the wizards
And thats the way we like it, we like it, we like it
ooooooohhhhh oooooooohh ooooooohhhh ooooooh

(Shots!) Everybody - Chant Origins
EVERYBODY Shot shots shots
Shot shot shots shot shot shots shots
shots shot shot shots EVERYBODY
Everybody! by AdAstraSKC

I Believe That We Will Win (Call and Response) - Chant Origins
I
I Believe
I Believe That
I Believe That We
I Believe That We Will Win (ad infinitum)
"I Believe That We Will Win" Sporting Kansas City by AdAstraSKC

Hey! It's All your Fault
Hey! (Player) It's All Your Fault!

Hey! Your Mom Says Hi
Hey! (Goalie name) Your Mom Says Hi!
Hey Tally Your Mom Says Hi by AdAstraSKC

Vamos KC Wiz
Oooooooh KC wiz.
KC Wiz, KC Wiz
Vamos KC Wiz

Carefree (official Cauldron recording via Chirb.it)
Carefree, wherever we may be
We are the famous SKC
And we don’t give a Damn
Whoever you may be’
Cos we are the famous SKC

Mighty Mighty Wizards*
Everywhere we gooo
People wanna knoooow
Who We are
So we tell them
We are the Wizards, The Mighty Mighty* wizards (sometimes replaced with fucking)
We are the wizards, The mighty mighty* wizards
Shit on those bastards below
Shit on, Shit on,
Shit on those bastards below
(These last three lines are not always heard)

You're Not Singing Over There (sung to opposing fans)
You're Not Singing Over There
You're Not Singing Over There
You're Not Singing
You're Not Singing
You're Not Singing Over There
(Has also been heard as No More Sitting Over There)

I Love Kansas City (official Cauldron recording via Chirb.it)
I Love Kansas City! Sporting Kansas City! (repeat)

I like That Boon Boo Ree (Teal Bunbury)
I like that Boon-boo-ree (repeat)

Generic Player Chant
Kei Kamara - CLAP CLAP CLAP-CLAP-CLAP
Jimmy Nielsen - CLAP CLAP CLAP-CLAP-CLAP
etc, etc.

C'mon KC Score a Goal* (Yankee Doodle Dandy)
Come on, KC score a goal,
It‟s really very simple,
Put the ball into the net,
And we'll go stupid* mental! (*you will hear 'fucking' replace 'stupid')
DA DA-DA DA DA DA DA!
DA DA-DA DA DA DA!
DA DA-DA DA DA DA DA!
DA DA-DA DA DA DA DA!

Wings of a Sparrow*
If I had the wings of a sparrow
If I had the ass of a crow
I’d fly over (DC/Salt Lake/Houston, etc) tomorrow
and Shit on those bastards below
Shit on, Shit on,
Shit on those bastards below
Shit on, Shit on,
Shit on those bastards below

Can't Beat Jimmy Nielsen* (To the tune of 'She'll be coming round the mountain)

You can’t beat Jimmy Nielsen with that shit. (or shot)
You can’t beat Jimmy Nielsen with that shit.
Oh you can’t beat Jimmy Nielsen, Oh you can’t beat Jimmy Nielsen
Oh you can’t beat jimmy Nielsen with that shit!

Can You Hear Them Sing?*
Can you hear (Portland/Houston/Dallas, etc) sing? No-oh, No-oh!
Can you hear (Portland/Houston/Dallas, etc) sing? No-oh, No-oh!
Can you hear (Portland/Houston/Dallas, etc) sing?
I don't hear a single* thing (you will hear 'fucking' replace 'single')

You Suck Asshole* (As opposing GK readies a goal kick)
Whooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaa (arms outsretched, wiggling fingers)
You suck Asshole!


Omar (Britney spears chant)
Oooooooomar Oooooooomar
Ooooooomar Ooooooomar



After a Bad Shot (the Happy Gilmore)
1,2,3
Nice Shot Jackass!

Because We Got Kei (added at the playoffs) - You Tube
We weren't scoring goals until we Kei
We weren't having fun until we got Kei
Now we're top of the East And I know Why
Because we got kei, Because we got Kei, because we got Kei
Da, da, DA, da, da, da

Rarely/Never Heard in 2011 (List)

Roger Espinoza
De De Der
Roger Espinoza!
De De Der
Roger Espinoza

Oh Mikey Money (Michael Harrington)
Oh Mikey Money,
You are the love of my life,
Oh Mikey Money,
I’d let shag my wife,
Oh Mikey Money,
I want pretty hair too

Ryan Smith (no longer with the team)
Ryan Smith, Ryan Smith, running down the wing,
Ryan Smith, Ryan Smith, running down the wing,
Feared by the league,
Loved by the Wiz,
Ryan Smith, Ryan Smith, Ryan Smith.

Stephane Auvray (Tune Thats Amore)
When their team has the ball and we're up gainst a wall
There is Auvray
And when he gets it back we are back on attack
Stephane Auvray

Craig Rocastle
Ohhh Rocky Rocky
Rocky Rocky Rocky Rocky Rocastle

Kei Kamara
Kamara Kamara
We love ya, Kamara
Score us a goal today

Greatest midfield in the world (the Entertainer)

Oh oh oh oh
We have the greatest midfield in the world
We don't know any of their names
Maybe by the next game
But we still have Davy Arnaud oh oh

MAMA YO QUIERO OOH!
Mamá, Mamá yo quiero oHhhhhhhhhh
Mamá yo quiero oh...
Maaaaamáááááá yo quierooooooo
mamááááááá
que gane Wizards oh...
que gane Wizards oh...
que gane Wizards todo el año es carnaval

*WIZARDS, MI BUEN AMIGO*

Wizards, mi buen amigo
esta campaña volveremo a estar contigo
Te alentaremos..... de corazón.........
Esta es tu hinchada que te quiere ver campeón.
No me importa lo que diga.
Lo que digan los demas..
Yo te sigo a todas partes..
cada vez te quiero más..


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Potential Chants: Hey Blue!

Name of Song/Chant: Hey Blue!

To the tune of:
Hey Jude by The Beatles

Lyrics:

Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better
Better, better, better, better, better, oh!

Na na na, na-na na na
Na-na na na, hey Jude
Na na na, na-na na na
Na-na na na, hey Jude

Original person suggesting: @Mass_St_Mob (see below for storyline)

Heard at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park: Never, but has been sung by Cauldron in the past.
Heard from other MLS supporters groups: Unknown

Why it works: original song WELL KNOWN, could be used to support the team after a goal scored against us, Jude turns to Blue easily, minor change of lyrics, short = easy to memorize, could be picked up just after being heard at a game
Why it might not: Too slow, not sure of other specific timings where it may be useful


Video: Original

Video: New lyrics with old song for Sporting KC fans:
Pending

Video: Soccer fans chanting:
 

Also found a version of the Michigan Ultras chanting for Soony Saad.

Re-inspired in 2011:

First Sporting Kansas City Tweetchat #SKCchat

This week marked the first ever Tweetchat dedicated to Sporting Kansas City (Tuesday September 20, 2011 8:30-9p).  While I have been wanting to have this for a while, it just came about spontaneously because a few people bought into the idea pretty fast and we were all online at the same time!  If you have never heard of a Tweetchat here is a quick primer...

Using a single hashtag (like #SKCchat) at a specific time with a third party client for Twitter like Tweetchat (my favorite) or Tweetdeck, you can see all the people talking about a single subject.  It is just like a private chat room because everyone is using the same hashtag, but given the very public nature of Twitter, ALL of your followers have the potential to see it.  Hopefully a few of them will be curious and then they will join in too.

The nice thing about an interface like Tweetchat (online only, not mobile) is that it has quick buttons for RT, reply, favorite and block user.  If you really like what someone said, retweet it to all of your followers.  And no worries about multiple retweets of the same comment, typing is the new sound of applause!  With a Tweetchat you can grow the online community and find more people to collaborate with.  I have used these techniques with great success in my other job as a hospice doctor with hashtags like #HPM (Hospice and Palliative Medicine) and #HCSM (Health Care Social Media).

And using some basic free social media tools like Tweetreach we can see that the 9 just over 2,500 Twitter accounts, making nearly 12,000 impressions with only 50 tweets.  

Here is the transcript of the inaugural chat (in reverse chronological order).

We hope you join us for the next one and on into the future.  If you are ever interested in hosting we would like to rotate it among different people. Click here to indicate times you may be available.

Here are a few variations to tweet out to encourage other people to come join the discussion (all are short enough for Twitter):
  • #SKCchat Tuesday 8-9p Talking all things #SportingKC
  • Come find your fellow #SportingKC fans at #SKCchat Tue nights 8-9p
  • Can't get enough #SportingKC? Love Twitter? Then come join #SKCchat Tue 8-9p
Look! #SKCchat even got coverage over at The Daily Wiz KC!

Here is a highlight reel from the chat to give you a taste of it (using Storify):

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Goals for Good

Soccer fans are passionate about their teams and as we have been looking at Supporter's groups across the MLS, I was glad to see a strong streak of philanthropy in many of them. Many, including Sporting KC's Cauldron, have events and tailgates that raise money for local initiatives. One of the simpler but potentially very effective charitable efforts was the Philadelphia Unions "Union Fans Assist." Building off this model and the novel reverse naming rights of LIVESTRONG Sporting Park from Sporting KC, we wanted to make it simple for KC fans to show their solidarity for the team and the community.

The premise for Goals for Good is easy:
1. Sporting fans like to see Sporting players score goals at LIVESTRONG Park
2. Just under 20,000 people attend each match at home
3. If everyone who attended pledged a small amount of money for each goal at home we could magnify the glow after each goal scored.

Four initial organizations were chosen for the 2011 season that represented a variety of interests so that 95% of people would find at least one they would pick.

Now here is where it got a little complicated. Ad Astra SKC is not a incorporated organization, and frankly we don't want to worry about handling other people's money. Also we don;t want to take away any tax benefit you, the person making the donation, may receive. So we made this a pledge campaign instead of a donation campaign. You only need to promise to donate. The action is on your honor. To make it easier to remember, you will be emailed (by Ad Astra SKC, not the organizations) as pledge invoice at the end of the year.

The 2011 Goals for Good campaign was kicked off September 1, 2011 and as of September 20th we have 9 pledges raising $15/goal for a total of $360 this year. Click here for updated 2011 totals. Sounds small, but we realize we started a little late this year and our widespread recognition to SKC fans is relatively small. But just imagine...

If 2% of fans who attend Sporting games at LIVESTRONG (18,500 x 2% = 370),
...donate an average of $2/goal
...and Sporting Kansas City scores an average of 25 goals at home /year

$370 x $2 x 25 = $18,500 pledged!

And if 10% of fans (1,850) donated $1/goal = $46,250 That's amazing!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Do I Chant Wizards or Sporting?

A classic dilemma.  A puzzling puzzle.  In the heat of the moment what do you chant? Sporting or Wizards (or even Wiz)?  With a team like ours, you have choices, but we are most effective when we pick the same words to the chant.  Otherwise it sounds all muddled and then the people chanting lose momentum as they try and figure it out.

Now officially we are no longer the 'Wizards', but Sporting Kansas City, Sporting or Sporting KC.  (Apparently SKC is not an official name, although personally I think it would be best for Twitter but that's another story.)

So far the Cauldron regulars have it all pretty well sorted out, but with so many new people in the Member's Stand, you have new people learning it every time. So from listening to the Cauldron all season here is what I have gleaned as the songs and the names you use.

Official Cauldron Chant Sheet for reference (PDF)

Wizards
Everywhere We Go (Mighty Mighty Wizards)*
We Love Ya*

Wiz
Vamos KC Wiz (Ohhhhh KC Wiz)*

Sporting

Go! Sporting Go!^

SKC
Carefree*

Mixed
Sporting Sporting Kansas City (Battle Hymn of the Republic - Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!)*  - uses Sporting Kansas City and Wiz

Key
^=suggested chant, not in regular rotation
*=chant in regular rotation

Monday, September 19, 2011

Potential Sporting KC Chant: Bar-Be-Que

Name of Song/Chant: Bar-Be-Que

To the tune of:
Vindaloo by Fat Les

Lyrics:

Bar-Be-Que, Bar-Be-Que
Bar-Be-Que, Bar-Be-Que, Na-Na
Bar-Be-Que, Bar-Be-Que
Bar-Be-Que, Bar-Be-Que, Na-Na
Bar-Be-Que, Bar-Be-Que, And we all eat Barbeque!
We're gonna score one more than you!
KC!

Original person suggesting: dada3345

New lyrics with old song for Sporting KC fans:



Soccer fans chanting 'Vindaloo' version:


Chant Origins: From Wikipedia:
It was released as a single in 1998 and recorded for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The song was originally written as a parody of football chants, but was adopted as one in its own right and became a cult classic. Much of the song consists of the phrase "nah nah nah" and the word "vindaloo" repeated over and over by a mixed group, occasionally interspersed with lines such as "And we all like vindaloo" and "We're England; we're gonna score one more than you".

The song's name comes from the vindaloo, a type of very spicy Goan curry. It is often eaten by football supporters in the United Kingdom (and other nations) accompanied by large quantities of lager, after matches or as part of a "lads' night out".
Heard at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park: Section 102 June, July, August 2011, reportedly tried in the Cauldron also in 2011.  Became a standard in mid to late 2012.
Heard from other MLS supporters groups: Unknown

Why it works: original song already popular soccer chant, mild taunting of opposition, hard consonants (sound better from a large crowd), lyrics changed to local theme, short easy to memorize, could be picked up just after being heard at a game
Why it might not: Barbecue may be seen as too silly, original not well known by average SKC fan 

Gameday Preview: Match 30 vs Philadelphia Union

Sep 23rd at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park

Previous 2011 match
Sporting KC 0 -0 Philadelphia Union June 22, 2011 at PPL Park - Recap

Links to Previews: (links added as they get posted online)

From Union Sources
Previous Match Video Highlights (from MLS - Microsoft SIlverlight)
Get Microsoft Silverlight


Previous Match Highlights (from MLShighlights2011 - YouTube)


Twitter Rosters
Sporting Kansas City - #SportingKC - #SKC (rare)
Philadelphia Union - #DOOP

Social Media Match Up
Facebook
Philadelphia Union 81k defeats Sporting Kansas City 43k
Twitter
Philadelphia Union 19k defeats Sporting Kansas City 18k

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Sporting Kansas City News Sources

**Updated January 8, 2013**
New sources added**

Here are the sources (28!) that are automatically fed to the Ad Astra SKC Twitter account (@AdAstraSKC) to help spread the news about Sporting Kansas City. You can find the majority of them in the blog roll on the right side of the page as well. I strongly encourage you to go visit them and leave comments. (For more on why your comments are important - read here)

Official Media (4):
Sporting Kansas City Main - Twitter - Facebook
Out of the Blue (Mar 2012-present) Main**
Out and About (Jun 2012 -present) Main**
By The Numbers (May 2012-present) Main**
Academy Way (March 2012-present) - Main**
Fan Forum (March 2012-present) - Main**
Anything But (Oct 2012 - present) - Main **
Kansas City Star/The Full 90 (Charles Gooch, Terez Paylor, Tod Palmer others) - Main - Twitter

Blogs (18):
Down the Byline (Mike Kuhn) (Oct 2006 - present) - Main - Twitter - Facebook
Sporting Times (James Staritt) (Feb 2010 - present) - Main - Twitter - Facebook
Examiner: Sporting KC (Thad Bell) (May 2010-present) - Main - Twitter
The Daily Wiz (Alex Englen [former editors Justin Mayhugh, Andy Edwards]) (Jul 2010 - present) - Main - Twitter - Facebook
Sporks Take (Tony Felich and Mark Kapfer) (Feb 2011-present) - Main - Twitter
Fountain City Soccer (Alan Hainkel) (Mar 2011 - present)- Main - Twitter
The Footy Chronicles (Isaac Knopf) (Apr 2011 - present) - Main - Twitter - Facebook
Ad Astra SKC (Christian Sinclair) (Apr 2011 - present) - Main - Twitter - Facebook
The Oz Blog (Bryan McBeth) (Aug 2011 - present) - Main - Twitter - Facebook
Bleacher Report: Sporting KC (Alan Hainkel) (Sep 2011-present) - Main
Sporting KC Reports (Grace Rogers) (Nov 2011-present) - Main - Twitter
South Stand SC (Christian Sinclair, Matt Killingsworth) (Nov 2011-present) - Main
Sporting Militia (unknown) (Nov 2011-present) - Main - Twitter
This Sporting Life (unknown) (Dec 2011-present) - Main - Twitter
Fake SKC Blog (unknown) (Dec 2011 - present) - Main - Twitter
The Sporting Post (Sklyar Rolstad) (Jan 2012 - present) - Main - Twitter
brettroenigk (Brett Roenigk) (Jan 2012-present) - Main
Talkin' Touches (Andy Edwards) (Jan 2012 - Present) - Main - Podcast (see below)

Player/Media Blogs (0)

Photo-centric Blogs (2)
(More photos, may offer some analysis):
Sodagraphics - Main - Flickr - Twitter - Facebook
The Back Post (Thad Bell) (Apr 2008 - Present) - Main - Twitter - Facebook

Podcasts/Radio Show (4):

Byline to the Backpost (Mike Kuhn and Thad Bell) (April 2010-present) - Main
Talkin Touches (Andy Edwards and rotating guest, formerly Andrew Wiebe) (unknown date of first podcast?) - Facebook - Main (only 2012 forward)
Sporting KC Radio Show (Josh Klingler) (July 2011-present) - Main
The Footy Front (Isaac Knopf and Alex Englen) (Jan 2012-present) - Main

Video Blog (I will not say Vlog. Oh dammit I said it):
None...yet
But check out Josh Whisenhunt's YouTube uploads for some inside scoops!

RELEGATED Blogs, podcasts etc. (12) 
(placed here if they haven't posted in over 3 months, dead links, or have noted they are closing their blog):
The Offside: KC Wizards (various) (Feb 2007 - Aug 2011) - Main
Kansas City Soccer Review (AG, Spoon/KC Hoolie, George Shook (OG)) (Jan 2008 - July 2010) - Main
Hillcrest Road (Cotton, Heineman, Ficklin) (Jan 2008 - July 2008) - Main (cached)
Sam Pierron's Fantastic Voyage (Sam Pierron) (Mar 2010 - Oct 2010) - Main
Stoppage Time (Feb 2011 - Aug 2011) (Charles Gooch) - Main (Supposedly to be resurrected)
SuPorting Club KC (unknown) (July 2011 - Dec 2011) - Main (dead link) - Twitter
The Front Men (Alex Englen**) (Apr 2011 - Jan 2011) - Main - Twitter - Facebook
Cal Williams (Announcer) (Apr 2011 - Nov 2012) - Main - Twitter
Kronberg Chronicles (Eric Kronberg - GK) (Aug 2011 - Sep 2011) - Main - Twitter
Oz City Soccer (dead link)
Metro Sports - KC Wizards blog (dead link)
KC Futbol (dead link)
MySpace - KC Wizards
Sporting KC The Sporting Way (Jan 2008 - June 2011) - Main RELEGATED Jan 2013
Sporting KC The Junior Way (Oct 2009 - Mar 2012) - Main - Twitter RELEGATED Jan 2013

If I am missing yours, or you need to update information, let me know christian@adastraskc.org
Please link to this post, do not just copy the info.

Gameday Recap: Match 29 at Real Salt Lake

Sep 17th, 2011 at Rio Tinto Stadium

Result: LOSS
Sporting KC 0 - 1 Real Salt Lake

Ad Astra SKC Gameday Preview Compilation

Links to Recaps: (links added as they get posted online)
Man of the Match Selections:

The Oz Blog - Jimmy Nielsen (SKC)
The Daily Wiz KC - Nick Rimando (RSL)

From RSL sources

Match Video Highlights (from MLS)
Get Microsoft Silverlight

Twitter Rosters
Sporting Kansas City - #SportingKC - #SKC (rare)
Real Salt Lake - #RSL - #ClaretAndCobalt (rare)

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Ad Astra SKC History

Founded: May 10 2011
Founder: Christian Sinclair

The initial goal was to use social media to effectively get more people in the new LIVESTRONG Sporting Park cheering loudly for our team. I was a new season ticket holder in Section 102 and wanted to take this unique opportunity to bond with my fellow fans around me. A group of just under 20 people exchanged info over email and Ad Astra SKC was born.

Since then we have led chants in our section with poor to fair results (I'll be honest - getting 20 relative strangers to cheer when you are not sitting next to each other is just plain hard.), made our first tifo (large overhead banner) to honor Jimmy Nielsen on his birthday, started a pledge drive for Sporting KC fans to support local charities when Sporting scores at LSP, maintained active Facebook and Twitter accounts, answered questions for other fans on the main Sporting KC Facebook Fan Page, and encouraged a positive feeling of support to Sporting KC players, staff, and fans.

In September 2011 , the web site was created to maintain a better archive than Twitter or Facebook really functionally allow for. We are open to posts from fans so please submit them if you are interested.

For 2012 we will be moving to the South Stand GA to be closer to Section 115 - The Wedge, started by Matt Killingsworth and to be around more families given the nice advantage of the included kids season tickets. We hope to see you over there next year, and if you are in section 102 this year feel free to stop by and say hi.

Ad Astra Logo History

Gameday Preview: Match 29 at Real Salt Lake

Sep 17th, 2011 at Rio Tinto Stadium

Previous 2011 match
Sporting KC 2 -0 Real Salt Lake August 3rd, 2011 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park - Recap

Links to Previews: (links added as they get posted online)

From RSL sources
Previous Match Video Highlights (from MLS)
Get Microsoft Silverlight

Twitter Rosters
Sporting Kansas City - #SportingKC - #SKC (rare)
Real Salt Lake - #RSL - #ClaretAndCobalt (rare)

Social Media Match Up
Facebook
Real Salt Lake 76k defeats Sporting Kansas City 42k
Twitter
Sporting Kansas City 18k defeats Real Salt Lake 11k

Player Specific Fan Clubs

**Updated Jan 2012**
These fan clubs use Twitter to help you learn more about your favorite Sporting KC players. They are all fan run, so they need your love and support to keep going. Check them out, give them a follow, some love and watering and they in turn will help shine a light on the great athletes on our team.

It will be interesting to see how many other fan accounts pop up over the years.  Also I wonder what will happen if a player gets traded, loaned, etc.  Personally I will always like this crew since they are really the first team I have gotten to know well, so I will continue to be interested in their career paths with or without Sporting KC.  Personally I think Matt Besler and CJ Sapong are next in line for a fan club. Happened soon after the original posting of this blog.

(Alphabetical order)

Korede Aiyesgbusi (Twitter - @KoredeAiyesFans hosted by ?)
Teal Bunbury (Twitter - @TealBunburyFans hosted by @darshben)
Matt Besler (Twitter - @BeslerFans hosted by ?)
Aurelien Collin (Twitter - @Collin78Fans hosted by @SklyarRolstad)
Kevin Ellis (Twitter - @KevinEllisFans hosted by ?)
Kei Kamara (Twitter - @KamaraFans hosted by @SklyarRolstad)
Jimmy Nielsen's Head (Twitter - @PumaHead hosted by ?)
Soony Saad (Twitter - @SoonySaadFans hosted by @slmanning7)
CJ Sapong (Twitter - @CJSapongFans hosted by @I_am_McBeth and @KrisColvin)
Graham Zusi (Twitter - @GZusiFans hosted by @presleylewis)

When this post was originally put up in Sep 2011, there were 5 Twitter accounts, since then it has exploded. Anyone know if any other team in the MLS has fans that do this?

Photographers

Of course you can see the official Sporting Kansas City photos on the Facebook page any time. But there are a number of great photographers taking pictures of the team at games. You should check them out and maybe hire them the next time you need a photographer?

Thad Bell at The Back Post (Webpage - Gallery - Facebook - Twitter)
Unknown photographer at Sodagraphics (Webpage - Flickr)
Brian Davidson at Photography by Davidson (Gallery)

If you take photos at Sporting Kansas City games consider uploading them to sharing sites like Flickr or Picasa.  If you would like to allow your photos to be used on this site, I would be happy to give you credit! christian@adastraskc.org

Chant Origins: Everybody! (AKA Shots! Everybody!)

First Heard at a Sporting KC game: US Open game at BVDAC against New England Revolution May 25, 2011
Based off of: Shots by LMFAO (NSFW)

Lyrics:
Clap! Clap! Clap-clap-clap! Clap! Clap! Clap-clap-clap! Clap! Clap! Clap-clap-clap-clap! EVERYBODY!
Alternate Lyrics: Shots! Shots! Sha-sha-Sha! Shots! Shots! Sha-sha-Sha! Shots! Shots! Sha-sha-Sha-Shots! EVERYBODY!

When you'll hear it:
On any Sporting Kansas City corner kick, or free kick in the offensive zone. Occasionally with a Matt Besler throw-in.
Listen to it recorded from LIVESTRONG Sporting Park:
Everybody! by AdAstraSKC

Other MLS Clubs using it: None known

Submit a Chant

Have you heard a great song that would be even better when yelled by thousands of Sporting KC fans?

Is there a player you love that need his own song?

We want to hear your ideas! You'll get the credit for suggesting/writing it, and we will work with you to create a video to help get other people excited about it. In 2012 we might try it out in the South Stand GA near (or in The Wedge section 115). Eventually if it gets enough attention we can talk with The Cauldron to see if it can start getting into the chant rotation.