Chivas USA

Chivas USA is a branch of Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas), one of Mexico's most popular teams. The team has a fierce rivalry with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

History
The Mexican Chivas has been around since 1908. Because of the rising number of Mexican immigrants living in Southern California, Chivas had a very large following in Los Angeles. So Chivas USA was founded in 2004 and had their first game in 2005. The team's original plan was to field only Hispanic players - but after a four-win first season, the idea was scrapped. Chivas USA has a very large following in the Hispanic community, despite having only two Mexican players. Chivas won 10 games the following season, and last year they won 15 games in reaching the Western Conference Semifinals before losing to the Kansas City Wizards.

Current Situation
Chivas USA is off to a rocky start this year. Despite the addition of goal scorer Alecko Eskandarian and Swiss international Raphael Wicky, they are 1-2-1 with eight goals scored against, third worst in the league. Eskandarian, Wicky, and star forward Ante Razov have all been injured, and their best player, Sacha Kljestan, was suspended for a game. Chivas is sure to find their form after their key players return from injuries, but Chivas fans should be a little worried at goalkeeper Brad Guzan's inability to keep balls out of the goal. He has only 12 saves this season. That means of the 20 shots on frame, 40 percent have gone in. For a goalie, a 60 percent save rate is pretty bad. Heck, it's unacceptable, especially for a player of his caliber.

Fun Fact
Chivas USA coach Preki is one of the most successful players in MLS history. In his 10-year MLS career, he scored 79 goals and tallied 112 assists. The eight-time all-star and two-time MVP played spend most of his career with the Kansas City Wizards, where he won the championship in 2000. Preki played until he was 41 years old. Now 44, he may want to put on the Chivas uniform to help his team climb back to the top of the western conference.

Why People Like
Hispanics living in Southern California have obvious ties to Chivas USA, but they are slowly becoming more and more popular among casual soccer fans as well. After sitting in the Galaxy's shadow the first year, they have established themselves as the best soccer team in L.A. Fans that are tired of L.A.'s recent fall from greatness unimpressed with the Beckham phenomenon find solace in supporting Chivas USA. Despite Chivas' success, their attendance is still second to the Galaxy.


Why People Hate Them Chivas USA isn't exactly the most marketable team. With most of their fans being Hispanic and the majority of them being hardcore soccer fans, it can be intimidating for the average fan to support a team as beloved as Chivas USA. Simply put, there fans are too crazy for some. Chivas USA also has the image as a "team full of Mexicans," when it couldn't be further from the truth. But with success comes popularity. I predict in the next few years, after Chivas USA has won its first championship, they will have as many supporters at the Galaxy. That is, if they break out of this early-season funk. Getting beat by the Galaxy 5-2 in their first meeting of the season certainly didn't help.

#1 Fan
Considering Chivas USA has a hard time in general getting fans, they've have had a really tough time getting any A-listers, or B-listers even, to come out to their games. Chivas USA even started a promotion called "the Shirts off their Backs" where they give their uniforms away to fans after every home game. So anyways, this is the best I could do: Ladies and gentleman, Chivas USA's token celebrity fan: Morrissey. The lead singer of The Smiths was spotted wearing a Chivas USA jersey last year. (I know this is stretching it, but it's the best I can do. Hell, I can't even tell you that this is 100% Morrissey. But let's be honest - the guy is pretty weird, so it's totally not surprising the Englishman to sport a Chivas USA soccer jersey.)

Best Player
Tough call here - it's really between three players: Ante Razov, Sacha Kljestan, and Brad Guzan. Razov is the second-leading scorer in MLS history with 109 career goals. last year he scored 11 goals for Chivas USA, and 14 the year before that. Kljestan is the future of the franchise and perhaps American soccer. The 22-year-old midfielder is one of the stars of the U.S. Olympic team that will be competing for a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Guzan is the best young goalie in the U.S. (even though he is struggling this season). Guzan was THIS close to being signed to Aston Villa, a team in the world's best soccer league, the English Premiership. These three players are the most important players on the roster, and they all must step up this season if they want to change the direction the team is heading.

Venue
Like the L.A. Galaxy, they also play their games in the Home Depot Center. But unlike the Galaxy, Chivas USA isn't filling up the stadium. Since 2005, when both teams began to share the Home Depot Center, the Galaxy have averaged 24,067 fans. Chivas USA has averaged on 17,186 fans. That is a difference of nearly 7,000 fans. That's a lot of dough. Galaxy games tend to utilize the grass-covered upper-area of the stadium, where fans can bring picnic blankets and enjoy the game for cheap prices, while Chivas USA games do not.

Simers Says
Just thrilled that Beckham is playing for the Galaxy.

This picture just scared the crap out of every Chivas USA fan.

Verdict
If you actually like to watch decent soccer, Chivas USA is your team. While they don't have Beckham or his fine-looking wife to look at during games, they actually play good soccer. If you are a fan of good soccer and have an interest in the future of American soccer, Chivas USA is the team to support. Games are way more exciting (the crowd is much livelier) and tickets are cheaper. And there's always the chance you'll run into Morrissey.