GameThread For Tomorrow Night

by Martin Shatzer on Jun 9, 2025 6:29 AM EDT

There was a FanPost on Sounder At Heart a couple weeks ago basically saying that all other MLS blogs on SBNation are inferior because we have less participation in GameThreads than SAH. Typical Sounders fan attitude.

If you look at the numbers though, he's right. Now I have several reasons why I think this is the case, but rather than discuss them, let's try to prove him wrong instead.

Tomorrow night's United match is at 10:00pm on ESPN2. I'm going to be sitting at home watching it on my TV. You're probably going to be sitting at home watching it on your TV. Let's all sit at home and watch it on our TVs together.

This is a big match for United, and I want it to be B&RU's biggest GameThread. Can you help me make it happen?

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I'll try to post what I can

My problem is having a desktop computer (don’t judge me, it was virtually free) that sits on the 2nd floor while my TV is on the first floor.

I’ll try to post before kickoff, at halftime, and afterward, though.

Black and Red United

by ChestRockwell on Jun 9, 2025 7:00 AM EDT reply actions

Quality vs. quantity

I pretty much never post during games, like to focus on the game but I’ll be with you in spirit. Besides, the quality of Chest and Shatz analysis (along with other SB posters) more than makes up for quantity of posts on the Seattle blog, half of which are the posters trying to figure out the rules of the game or research the history of MLS. (we kid because we love Seattle! Before I create an avalanche of comments once the West Coast wakes up…)
Plus we don’t have to wear rave green jerseys which can only be seen as an advantage. (and that’s not a joke)

by Irrlicht on Jun 9, 2025 9:08 AM EDT reply actions

Gamethread up more than a day early?

Trying to boost your numbers?

Just kidding.

Oh! I just added to your total! Dang!

by Cornchops on Jun 9, 2025 10:24 AM EDT reply actions

To be clear, THIS is not the GameThread. This is an advertisement for the GameThread, which will go up 2 hours before kickoff Thursday night as usual.

But thanks for stopping by.

Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.

by Martin Shatzer on Jun 9, 2025 11:59 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Definitely.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Jun 9, 2025 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

Cross post

Hi Shatz— you should cross-post your 3 questions with the Sounders guy. (though I did have a bad trip flashback of Josh Wicks as keeper. We have improved dramatically on that front…)

by Irrlicht on Jun 9, 2025 12:18 PM EDT reply actions

shouldn't be difficult

you want to make the gamethread the biggest ever? all you will need is 8 comments…..this commentary nearly accomplishes that.

try injecting your fanbase with some enthusiasm…..

certainly looking forward to tomorrow night!

by chinsmd on Jun 9, 2025 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

Aw, that's so cute.

Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.

by Chris Pendley on Jun 9, 2025 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions

We’ll inject our fanbase with enthusiasm while Garber continues to inject yours, with, well…

They're coming.

by Bald Pollack on Jun 10, 2025 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

A few thoughts from an apparently disengaged fan…

I’ll be the first to admit that even though I read my favorite soccer news/blogs almost every day (including B&RU), I often refrain from posting unless I really have something worth sharing - especially while a game is being played. Why? Because "posting for posting’s sake" takes away from the overall quality of discussion. Isn’t it preferable to have less high-quality discussion, rather than more low-quality discussion (which is really how these things end up anyhow)? For example, why would I care to go back and read this drivel (taken from Seattle’s recent thread):

[Start]
Goal ZAKUANI
by Coug1990 on Jun 5, 2025 11:01 PM EDT reply actions
Holy wow
by BrianL on Jun 5, 2025 11:01 PM EDT reply actions
Oh Montero just missed another one
by BrianL on Jun 5, 2025 11:04 PM EDT reply actions
Montero is dangerous from there
by Coug1990 on Jun 5, 2025 11:04 PM EDT reply actions
[End]

"Holy wow" Give me a moment to process that one, gents - that’s some profound analysis.

The originating fan post from the Sounder At Heart blog is for all intents and purposes, tantamount to a pissing contest, which would be fine if pissing contests mattered. But since they don’t, it’s a little frustrating to see our trusty B&RU authors bite at the bait of a childish taunt. Not only does having comparatively less gamethread commentary say nothing about the quality of B&RU "fan participation," it says nothing about the quality of the B&RU blog. There are many reasons why we may have less gamethread comments – game attendance being the most obvious choice. The only logical conclusion to be drawn from few gamethread comments is that less people are sitting at their computers during game time. I’m not sure I see that as a bad thing. Even if it’s true, it’s only trivially true. The factoid says nothing at all.

by break away on Jun 9, 2025 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

taken from your gamethread....not exactly profound comments either....D'oh!

here are 3 of the 6 total comments…..
[Start]
Speaking of Philadelphia…
We have more points than Philly!
by Brendanukkah on May 29, 2025 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, about that…
Related: How’d the hell they pull that off AT Houston?
They’re coming.
by Bald Pollack on May 30, 2025 3:44 AM PDT up reply actions
D’oh!
by Brendanukkah on May 30, 2025 7:21 AM PDT up reply actions

by chinsmd on Jun 9, 2025 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

D'oh is right!

Touché !

I guess I just dislike the concept of gamethreads. As you rightly pointed out, we have our fair share of pointless banter.

by break away on Jun 9, 2025 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

break away, I agree that the number of comments in the game thread has nothing to do with the quality of this blog, or of any blog. I’m not sure why it means so much to chinsmd.

On the other hand, I would guess that Shatz posted this because blogs with more comments are generally viewed as better than blogs without. That doesn’t mean it’s actually true, but I’d certainly have no problem if the gamethread had more posts and more posters.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that it would be nice for it to be popular, but it’s not going to change what I do or my level of enthusiasm.

Black and Red United

by ChestRockwell on Jun 10, 2025 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions

For whatever it's worth

I don’t really think the number of comments in a gamethread says anything about the relative passion a fanbase may have. I said as much when the Philadelphia guys called us out in the opening match. I don’t view the gamethread as anything more than a fun way for fans to share the experience. Lately we’ve been getting between 10-20 different commenters and that’s when it can be fun. As a way of analysis, it’s pretty useless. There have been weeks where I was essentially the only guy posting in ours and that’s definitely lame.

If you guys get bored, feel free to hop over to S@H. Done right, the cross-talk can be fun. As you can see, many of our guys aren’t above popping onto your site. As long as it’s not out-and-out trolling, I say the more the merrier.

Because if it's not Love | Then it's the bomb ... | That will bring us together

by Jeremiah Oshan on Jun 9, 2025 1:25 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

completely agree. I enjoy the back and forth banter between sites.

I’m glad it’s adding attention here at B&RU.

by chinsmd on Jun 9, 2025 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Sharing the game experience definitely has its merits; I guess I never really thought of the gamethread as filling that void though. In any case, I certainly can’t argue with preferences - to each his own!

by break away on Jun 9, 2025 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with BAR

Gamethreads are more about conveying impressions than in depth analysis. Of course, quality posts and posts from other supporters make the discussion more interesting.

by magistermilitum on Jun 9, 2025 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Holy hell, I keep thinking I can't hate the Sounders any more than I do

And then they throw another layer of douchiness out there. WE HAVE TO WIN THIS GAME!

by Brendanukkah on Jun 9, 2025 1:49 PM EDT reply actions

I saw Josh Wicks in the Metro station after the RSL US Open Cup game

If I hadn’t been basking in the glow of victory and instead been thinking about the game 8 days away, I would have gone up to him, put a hand on his shoulder, and said, “I understand.”

by Brendanukkah on Jun 9, 2025 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

glad to assist in the madness. also glad DC snuck past RSL and will be the US Open Cup.

by chinsmd on Jun 9, 2025 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Just wait until you have to deal with Timbers fans.

by magistermilitum on Jun 9, 2025 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions

They hate the Sounders, right?

So far, they seem alright.

by Brendanukkah on Jun 9, 2025 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

From my experience, some Timbers fans like us plenty. I can’t remember if it was the Barra or the SEs (or both together?), but there was a banner in 2008 at RFK in favor of expansion to Portland.

Then again, I’ve also been told by a Timbers fan that Portland is the only proof that a “football culture” (nearly vomited just typing that) can sustain itself in the US. So obviously they have their dickheads, just like any group of supporters.

Black and Red United

by ChestRockwell on Jun 10, 2025 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I really am excited for the Pacific Northwest Rivalry corridor that's going to come into MLS next year

Those are going to be some passionate matches, undeniably. I just pray to god the fanbases don’t get any more insufferable.

I’ve checked out some YouTube clips of the Timbers, and I like what they’ve got going on. This tifo display is at least on par with anything the Barra’s ever done. Timber Jim is one of the greatest mascots I’ve ever seen. And they’ve got a proper shade of green as their color.

by Brendanukkah on Jun 10, 2025 2:08 AM EDT up reply actions

proper shade?

What do you mean proper shade of green? Its not like any self respecting side would wear rave green or anything… oh… wait….

by Irrlicht on Jun 10, 2025 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Timbers have two shades of green next year:

Ponderosa Green and Moss Green (aka yellow).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTCn5SkiWVY

I’m glad Portland and Vancouver get MLS squads - it will make the league all the more interesting. The problem I have with Portland is that their entire concept as a city is to be “anti-Seattle” in everything they do. I lived in Oregon for 3 years and was inundated with the negative attitude that they had to be more liberal than Seattle, more eclectic than Seattle, etc.

I’ll give it to them though: Timber Jim and cutting rounds off a log is a great tradition, and their fans are passionate.

by magistermilitum on Jun 11, 2025 1:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Hmm

I liked the green (I guess the Ponderosa Green) and white look better. And their logo looked pretty sweet, so I don’t hope they mess that up too much. Very Leeds United, while still definitely being true to Portland.

Clearly you know Seattle and Portland better than I do, but I’m really excited to see what these new teams can bring to the league.

by Brendanukkah on Jun 11, 2025 2:07 AM EDT up reply actions