Posted on 8th Feb 2012 @ 5:14 AM

Time to Join the Crowd

In making the recent move to Ruffneck Scarves I find myself once again returning to my roots. This marks my first week at the Soccer Scarf Capital of the World, headquartered in Seattle’s industrial neighborhood known as SODO. 

Geographically, I am back working in the downtown area for the first time since my career began with the original Sounders. Their offices were a few floors above F.X. McRory’s and across the street from our hulking home venue, the Kingdome.

Figuratively, I find myself in a place I haven’t experienced since boyhood. My insatiable teenage appetite for soccer drove me 80 miles up the freeway on a fairly regular basis, to see the likes of Micky Cave, Mike England, Steve Buttle and the lads work wonders under the Dome.

For my entire professional life I have worked in sports, rarely paying to see a game but paying a certain emotional price by keeping my partisan feelings under wraps for the sake of professionalism. See, there’s no cheering in the press box, and besides, there’s a job to do.

Now I am a fan once again, free to scream and shout, free to join the throng that throws such strong support behind the Sounders. I’m also entitled to sulk if the situation warrants, yet I’m an optimist who foresees mostly sunny days and celebrations in our collective future.

I’m excited. On match days I will be trading in my suit for a scarf, swapping my credential for a ticket and lending my voice to an ever-growing chorus. It feels good to be home.

by Frank MacDonald