Los Angeles Riot Squad
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The Los Angeles Riot Squad is an independent supporters' group for Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy. It is a multi-ethnic group of soccer fanatics who contribute to make the Galaxy's home game atmosphere more festive and intense.
Inhabiting Section 138 of the Home Depot Center, the openly obstreperous group of supporters brings their own unique style of English Chants to every Los Angeles Galaxy match. The Squad sings, chants, and yells in support for the Galaxy while giving the team a distinct home advantage.
The group was founded at a US Open Cup match at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, California, and proudly boasts membership ranging in the hundreds.
The Riot Squad is one of three supporter groups for the Los Angeles Galaxy officially recognized by the team administration.
The group motto is "Veni Imbibi Vici", while its official song is You Can Never Rest Easy written by Art Robles.
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[edit] Honda SuperClasico
The group is famous for taunting same-stadium rival Chivas USA during SuperClasico games and always is in impressive full force for games against the Galaxy's opponents. In an Open Cup match in 2005, the Squad stood just yards away from Chivas keeper Brad Guzan, chanting and singing the entire match. Guzan conceded five goals in a 5-2 Galaxy victory.
On June 16, 2005, against Chivas, the group waved around blow-up ChivaGirls dolls (an allusion to their rival team's muses, mostly of Mexican blood) for the entire match.
On June 8th, 2006, the Riot Squad unveiled a new banner targeting Chivas yet again. This time the emblem from the film Ghostbusters was altered to include a goat rather than a ghost and was displayed prominently on the north end of the stadium. As a result, stadium sound plays the ghostbusters theme song at derby games when Galaxy scores a goal.
Recently, on September 30, 2006, the Squad posted a sign reading "Crazy Bob's Discount Goat Meat,"[1] a reference to Chivas head coach Bob Bradley and the Chivas mascot, a goat.
[edit] Road Trips
The group made road trips to see the G's take on the Earthquakes in San Jose. The rivalry between the clubs on the field has been spirited and so has the happenings in the stands.
The group makes a yearly trip to Chicago where, in addition to attending the game between Galaxy and the Chicago Fire, the Riot Squad faces on the Fire's own supporters' group, Section 8 in a match for the golden latrine.
[edit] Player of the Year Award
The LARS Player of the Year is voted by the members of the Riot Squad, in addition to the team awards given at the end of every season.
Alexi Lalas (2002)- Kevin Hartman (2003)
- Ryan Suarez (2004)
- Herculez Gomez (2005)
- Cobi Jones (2006)
