Last Thursday's post about whether to boycott Newcastle United's rumored summer trip to Dallas prompted spirited discussion on the blog and in other social media. We need to call it a rumored trip because the club has yet to confirm its participation in the Dallas tournament this July, or for that matter, the Premier League next season. Whoever is promoting the Dallas event couldn't be blamed for looking elsewhere after NUFC's mortifying performance at Leicester City on Saturday, the finger-pointing afterward and today's utterly absurd official statement that the club is "focused on our current situation." As opposed to...not being focused on it? Ignoring it, maybe? That they feel obligated to say they care is all you need to know.
The much-photographed banner in the away stand at Leicester - "We don't demand a team that wins, we demand a club that tries" - encapsulates last week's boycott debate here and the entire dilemma of being a Newcastle United fan at this low point in the club's long history. No one likes a glory hunter. Many of us in the United States who support Newcastle by choice rather than birth are making exactly that statement. Anyone can throw on a Man U shirt and brag. The fan who picks Newcastle wants to hope and dream and suffer and celebrate in a way that trophies alone can never embody. OK, maybe we didn't anticipate this much suffering. But true fans are willing to endure anything for at least the prospect of something greater.
Which of course is what's absent at Newcastle under Mike Ashley and his minions. If the aim isn't to triumph in the end, what's the suffering for? If the aim is profit over victory, isn't a fan played for a fool to contribute, regardless of whether Ashley feels the impact? To say a boycott wouldn't have any effect misses the point. The point is whether we can live with ourselves when we give money to this cause, to the slow undoing of the club itself.
That said, it's more disturbing and saddening to see American fans tweeting about finding another club than ignoring the current situation just because Newcastle United is coming to America. If you can go to Dallas and enjoy yourself in the face of all that's going on, better to do that than give up. Maybe we should all go to Big D as a form of defiance. Maybe we should do it as a giant middle digit to the current management. Maybe we should just not let Mike Ashley ruin our fun.
Because, in the end, Mike Ashley is not Newcastle United. He won't be in charge forever. Even at my somewhat advanced age I'm likely to see this tyranny pass, and owners take over who will at least want to succeed. When that happens I intend not to have burned my black-and-white-striped shirts. I intend to be chanting and quaffing and traveling all the more proudly in them, because I survived this nightmare. That's what being a fan means. Especially when you picked Newcastle United in the first place.
Bob - You've said everything I've thought to myself throughout this season.
As a "non-native fan", it'd be easy to be a City, United, or Chelsea supporter. But that's not why each of us chose NUFC. It wasn't because it was easy or because they're rated well in FIFA. For most of us, I'm sure it was because we identified with something the we understand NUFC to represent; whether that be its geography, club or player mentality, play style -- whatever. As you've pointed out, being a fan or a supporter is not about being able to win a bar argument on who has won more titles.
Being a fan is about declaring allegiance to your club - and meaning it- and wading through the muck with those like-minded individuals next to you. It's about sharing the misery, the complacency, the joy/sadness -- sharing all of the emotions with being a fan and not allowing a little adversity (I know, a lot is better wording) to discourage from the club because, "in the end, Mike Ashley is not Newcastle United" - and NUFC will continue to be once he is gone.
I consider us privileged to have a forum like this to discuss the club. Thanks for that opportunity and most of all, thanks for listening.
Posted by: B Gords | 05/04/2015 at 11:42 AM
I picked the Toon 8 years ago and its true that I didn't anticipate THIS much suffering but I don't care. It's the Geordies and their love for their club that hooked me. Mike Ashley can't ruin what it means to be a Geordie and to love your club. He also can't destroy the love we adopted Geordies have.
That being said it is HORRIFIC right now. Absolutely horrific.
~ josh
Posted by: Josh Bryant | 05/04/2015 at 02:02 PM
If NUFC are in Dallas this summer, I will be coming down for it. I can understand why someone might boycott, but I cannot hold to that position.
I think back to Bobby Robson's comment listed on another popular Newcastle site which asks "what is a club". The club is not just ownership or management, it is more than that...especially to those of us who choose Newcastle and the roller coaster ride; lows and highs.
I remember Tiote scoring the fourth v. Arsenal, Ben Arfa's wonder goal against Bolton where he dribbled through 8 players, Cisse beating Chelsea with a swerving kick to the corner of the net that left Petr Cech shaking his head, I recall Cabaye's goal to beat Man U at Old Trafford and Perez flipping in a little back heal goal earlier this year. I remember meeting a number of fine American and foreign Toon fans a few years ago when Newcastle came to the United States.
It was only a few months ago we all hoped that despite not having a large enough squad, we might break into the top 7 after a run of several straight games with wins and points.
It is rough...hard to watch...but I have to accept the horrific (good word) with the hope that we may survive, invest and someday succeed.
To the guys who run this blog: I and many others appreciate this forum and your contributions...even if life sneaks up on us with more important things. Hang in there. We will.
MNTOONARMY9
Posted by: MNTOONARMY9 | 05/04/2015 at 03:55 PM