My Life As A LAFC Supporter

If you haven't heard there is a new Football team in Los Angeles and I'm not talking about the Rams or the Chargers, I'm talking about LAFC (Los Angeles Football Club). LAFC is the newest club in MLS (Major League Soccer), and yes I am a LAFC supporter aka fan.

Now before I really get into the love of new soccer (football club) LAFC, let me share with you about how I became a fan of the beautiful game. We are going to go way back to the mid 80's, when I was a kid in elementary school there was not really a professional outdoor soccer league in the United States. As a kid growing up I loved and still do love sports. I wanted to be a professional athlete as a kid, then as I got older I desired to be a sports journalist. Alright back to pro soccer in the United States, there was one league I followed MISL and my team was the Los Angeles Lazers. I loved going to Lazer games, I even attended the 1987 All-Star game. The Lazers folded in 1989, so there really wasn't any soccer to watch in Los Angeles, so I just became disconnected with soccer. 

Then in 1994 the FIFA World Cup was in the United States, and I watched every game I could, especially if the United States or Mexico was playing, but even after the US and Mexico got eliminated I watched the entire tournament. Because of the World Cup I wanted to keep on watching soccer. So being born and raised in Southern California and being half Mexican on the weekends there was always the Mexican league on TV. I needed a team to cheer for in the Mexican league so I asked my dad what part of Mexico my grandpa was from, he said Guadalajara, and I noticed there was a club called Chivas from Guadalajara, so they became my Mexican team.

At the time I had no idea that Chivas were the most popular and most hated team in Mexico, kind of like the Cowboys, Yankees and Celtics are in the United States in football, baseball. and basketball. I enjoyed watching the games, but I just wanted a LA team, also being 2nd generation Mexican and half Mexican I did not speak or understand Spanish.

In 1996 soccer in America changed forever, MLS had it's first season. Being that I've always supported my local Los Angeles sports teams (Kings, Dodgers, Lakers, Rams), I was a Galaxy fan, in fact I had season seats during their last season at the Rose Bowl (2002), but driving to Carson was just way too far, and the ticket prices sky rocketed my seats went from $15 a game to $60 a game. In 2005 the league added Chivas USA to MLS, so being a Chivas de Guadalajara I became a supporter of Chivas USA, I even had season seats in 2007 (their best season), but the drive was again just too far driving all the way to Carson. Make a long story short, Chivas USA had terrible ownership and the club folded in 2014. Now I did consider going back to being a supporter for the Galaxy, but the rivalry between Chivas USA and Galaxy just caused me to not go back, plus with the fact, a member of one the Galaxy support group pissed on my leg in the restroom at Home Depot Center as I was at the urinal, so I was to put it lightly a little bitter towards the Galaxy.

Right after Chivas USA folded MLS granted Los Angeles new expansion club, set to play in 2018, under new ownership (thank God), the new owners were and are a LA celebrities (Magic Johnson, Will Ferrell, Nomar Garciaparra, Mia Hamm, Ruben Gnanalingam). The name of this new club, Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). So of course this would eventually become my new MLS club. During this time I didn't really watch too many MLS matches. But as 2018 MLS season was approaching the PR department and those who work for LAFC, were doing an amazing job promoting the club. Owners like Will Ferrell were on talk shows promoting the club. Also there was a stadium being built, LAFC would not be sharing the StubHub Center with the Galaxy, which Chivas USA did, and that was one of the many things that hurt Chivas USA (I could literally write a whole blog and the disastrous ownership of Chivas USA). The new stadium was being built on the same location of the old LA Sports Arena in Exposition Park in Los Angeles right nest door to the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, right in the heart of Los Angeles.

Also during this time, even before the club had played a game, supporter groups started forming; The Empire Boys (the group I'm part of), The Black Army 1850, District 9 Ultras, Expo Originals, The Lucky Boys, LAFC Cuervos, just to name a fewf. But together we are the 3252. 3252 is in the North End of the stadium, in consists of 3252 seats (except we do not sit, we stand the entire match), also 3+2+5+2=12, which represents the 12th man, and if you've ever been to a LAFC match, you know how loud the 3252 is. being in the 3252 is a experience in itself, you will lose your voice, you will lose some calories, by jumping for LA Football Club.

Trust me I know I've left some stuff out, like the signing of Carlos Vela, and drafting the team through the expansion draft, but I don't want this to go too long. But the long wait was over, the 2018 MLS season came. Due to the fact that Banc of California Stadium was not going to be ready until April, LAFC had to play their first 6 matches on the road, and they put up a remarkable 4-2 record, picking up 12 of a possible 18 points. In their first ever game they played the Sounders in Seattle (one of the toughest stadiums to win in, with some of the loudest supporters in the MLS and the defending Western Conference Champions). LAFC went in and beat the Sounders 1-0, with a beautiful goal (the first in LAFC history) by Diego Rossi.

Well after the first game I was hooked, and watched every game I could. Now I really wanted to go to a game, but just could not afford it (you've heard of putting your kids through college, I'm working two jobs to put my lovely wife through college). Well on July 15 as I watching the World Cup Final I received a message from an old friend Jacob Mann, asking if I wanted his tickets for the LAFC match against the Portland Timbers (thanks again). So I asked my wife if I could go and she said I could go if I clean the restroom and clean the kitchen (sometimes being married is like being a teenager, if you want to go out you have to do chores). So of course I cleaned the kitchen and restroom drove to the APU Metro goldline station and headed to LA to attend my first LAFC match. Needless to say the experience from walking into the stadium, pregame, and of course the match. The result was a 0-0 draw, but now I was even more hooked, and I knew next I had to be in the 3252. So I sent out a tweet asking if there were any supporter groups out where I live in the Inland Empire, and I was pointed to the Empire Boys.

Once I got hooked up to the Empire Boys I started going to viewing parties and a meet and greet and a local brewery. Then on October 12 I saved up some money and was finally able to attend a match in the 3252, with the Empire Boys. Needless to say this was not your ordinary match. When I arrived to the Banc, the weather was beautiful. I got their early had two $4 beers, in the 3252, sang the national anthem with the 3252 (which happens at every game), the at around the 32 minute rain came along with lighting, so because of the lighting the game was on a weather delay. We all thought it would not be that long, I was really hoping it wouldn't be long because I had to be at work in Rancho Cucamonga at 5am. During the weather most of the fans in the stadium, except for the 3252. During the entire weather delay the 3252, was still chanting, singing, jumping and banging on the drums. The match finally started up again, with LAFC being down 1-0, LAFC ended up winning the match 4-2, with one of the goals, being this beauty from Carlos Vela. 

That night I didn't get home until 2AM, but made it to work by 5AM, with just 2 hours of sleep, and it was totally worth it. Being part of a supporter group is amazing, it's a brotherhood and sisterhood. You can act like a total nut, by signing, chanting, jumping, and not look crazy because you have 3251 other people acting the same way. Before the game started someone asked me; "Is this your first game?" I said; "No I sat in section 222 earlier in the season." She said; "No that didn't count this is your first game." Well she was right! LAFC ended the regular season with 57 points, a expansion team record in MLS, the playoffs ended in a way that we may not have liked, but the future of this club looks more than great. Hopefully in 2019 I'll be able to attend more matches, money is still tight. If you're reading this and you have not attended a LAFC match I strongly encourage you to go, even if it's not in the 3252. You might bump into Will Ferrell like I did at the Houston match.

In closing I'm in the process of trying to do my own podcast called The LAFCPunk, it will be covering LAFC and throw a little punk music in there. I have no idea how to do a podcast. I'd love to interview different members of the 3252, game reviews, game previews. If you'd like to help me out let me know and contact me at jasonarellano77@gmail.com, I live in Alta Loma. 

Watch party with the Empire Boys and Black Army

Will Ferrell greeting the 3252

Pouring down rain and the 3252 is still going at it 

Victory Chant after every win

My Life As a Blenderhead Fan

As the title of my blog; "My Life As a So-Called Punk" I love punk music, and the "punk" lifestyle. The first punk band that I really got into, and opened the door to punk rock music was Blenderhead. The year was 1994, and one night my mom said she was going to the Christian bookstore, and asked if I wanted to come and look for music. Keep in mind at this time there hadn't been a decent "Christian" band since "The Crucified" broke up, most Christian music to me just sucked and was lame (sorry but not sorry), but I went hoping to find some old Crucified album. Now keep in mind this was 1994, way before the Internet, with YouTube, iTunes, Spotify; so finding new music was a lot more difficult back then, especially if you were into punk and underground music. We arrived at the bookstore and I headed straight to the music, and right away there was a end cap from a new record label called Tooth and Nail Records (check out my previous blog on Tooth and Nail records), right away I noticed they had; "The Crucified" self titled album which I had but on a recorded tape, I was super excited. I also found "Bow" an album from the hardcore band Focused, a band I had seen play with The Crucified a few years back, before The Crucified broke up, so I grabbed that CD too.

There were 2 other albums that caught my eye as well. They say don't judge a book (or an album) by it's cover. But these albums had real awesome covers. The first one was "Pokinatcha" by mxpx, the second one was; "Prime Candidate for Burnout" by blenderhead. So I grabbed these 2 albums as well. When I got home I listened to all 4 of them, and I loved all 4 of them, but the blenderhead album, I just couldn't stop listening to, this album was and still is amazing. I loved the power of the music and I really loved the lyrics. The lyrics weren't what your average "Christian" band talked about, they were very punk rock and even went political, I loved it.

I'm not going to go through every song in the album (which I could), but that would completely bore most of you. But I cover a couple songs that to this day I really relate with. Perhaps one of my or my favorite song on the album is "Purgatory" Here are the lyrics...

Blood sucking maggot infested media machine. Ways to be cool and ways to be seen. Tell you when to jump and when to scream, just tune in at 8:15. It must be a drag to fit in a stupid game where nobody wins, I'd rather be myself, then just blend in with all the cans on the shelf. Licking the flames of conformity hell, being a poser sure is swell. Is that really you? I can't tell. You look like every other soul for sale in coformity hell. Jimmy and Jody and Buffy and Skip all have perfect hair and perfect hips. Jazzercize, step aerobics and thigh master too. Shakes and powders and pills for you...

The part I love the most is; "I'd rather by myself, then just blend in with all the cans on the shelf." For any of us from the punk/hardcore scene, we are a different group of people, and most of us are not ashamed of it, we go against the flow and against what mainstream music, fashion, and lifestyle most people live, we do not blend in with the cans on the self.

I truly do love all the songs on this album and highly recommend anyone who likes punk especially bands like Descendents and Fugazi to check out this album. 

The second album of blenderhead was "Muchacho Vivo". I'll be honest when I first heard this album I was not a fan of it, it really was a change from their last album, but I eventually really liked it a lot. In fact one of my friends didn't like it all and gave it to me for free. As a blenderhead fan in a church youth group I would get flake, because they didn't sing about Jesus, I also got the same flake for wearing a Sometime Sunday shirt. I really didn't care too much what people thought I still continued to listen to Blenderhead, in fact I had a dwarf hamster that I named Mr. Blenderhead.

I only got to see Blenderhead in concert one time, it was in 1995 in Anaheim with mxpx and The Crucified, to this day one of the best shows I've ever seen live. One of my favorite memories from the show, was when Blenderhead was playing the song Soapbox, and part of the song when it says; "spare change" people started throwing coins on the stage, and there was a quarter and the bassit says, "Dude it's a quarter!" and Billy Power dove and grabbed it. I thought as a 17 year old kid these guys were rich rock stars, but found out they weren't. A year later I had the privilege of meeting Billy Power (lead singer) at the Tooth & Nail Festival at APU. I remember my friend and I were just hanging out in line and he just came up to us, introduced himself and we hung out and talked for a while it was real cool. A few years later we would correspond through email. For those who do not know Billy Power now has an awesome podcast Urban Achiever, check it out, it's one of my favorite podcast.

The third and last full length album was; "Figureheads on the Forefront of Pop Culture". This album came out while I was working at my church bookstore, we got a copy to play for a sample, the manager let me buy it for $1, best deal I ever got for a CD. I'll never forget hearing the first song; "I Gave Her My Heart She Gave Me a Pen" I felt Billy's pain and I just wanted to give him a hug> During this time we had been emailing back and forth so I knew that he was going through a divorce. Lyrically this album is very heart felt, musically I just love it. It's still a go to album for me. Well I don't want this go to long. But to Bill Power and blenderhead, I'd like to dedicate this song "Thank You" by Descendents to you, as a thank you for your music and how it impacted my life. Bill from listening to every podcast, this may embarrass you, but I mean it, your music change life for the good. So if you could please share this blog it would be awesome. Oh yea if you don't have it check out a book Bill wrote about that '95 tour called "Bottle Breaker", I still need to buy my, but I have heard great things.

blenderhead 7 inch which I still have.