As we gear up for MLS playoff crunch time this weekend, the Chicago Fire could be forgiven for feeling like it’s once again being portrayed as the bad guy. Aside from having the polarizing Cuauhtemoc Blanco in its lineup, the team’s supporters group, called Section 8, is often regarded as the most disliked in MLS, says the Chicago Tribune’s Luis Arroyave. They fire smoke bombs, use curse words in their chants and repeatedly heckle opposing players.
Which to a certain extent is all part and parcel to the game, but now that the Los Angeles Galaxy is coming into town, the Fire and its fans can’t help but feel the MLS brass will be rooting against them, too. If the Galaxy manages to beat the New York Red Bulls on Thursday, Sunday’s encounter becomes a playoff death match. And while league organizers would love to see both Blanco and Beckham make the postseason, they would probably go for Becks if they had to choose, because Becks means ratings and more publicity for MLS.
Neutrals will most likely be rooting against the Fire, too, which means that Sunday’s home-field advantage could rapidly evaporate once Becks and co. charge into town. Fire defender C.J. Brown says he’s “100 percent” certain the league will be cheering for L.A, as is striker Chad Barrett. “The Galaxy has won a lot of games in a row and if they make the playoffs, that would be a great story,” he said. “I hope we’re the team that knocks them out.”