I'd like to welcome DJ Walker back to 3rd Degree. DJ has been with us for years and is back after a hiatus of a couple seasons. If you're new to 3rd Degree I'll tell you that DJ writes from a more fan oriented perspective that can be humorous, audacious, inspiring, maddening, and illogical, frequently in the same sentence. Hopefully you will enjoy his work, just don't take it too seriously. - Buzz

It was a night of firsts in Frisco:

- First regular-season sellout that didn't involve David Beckham or a Mexican International. It was a beautiful thing to see – a solid wall of people all around. Instead of being an oasis in a desert of empty seats, The Inferno was what a supporter's section should be, which is a vanguard of noise and insanity that the rest of the crowd follows. I spent the first half up front, waving a flag, jumping and singing and casting aspersions on the heredity of the opposing players. The second half, I'm not gonna lie, I went up a few rows and sat with the old-guard. We're none of us getting any younger around here, and I didn't have a spring training to get back in shape for this kind of thing. Frankly, by halftime, I was beat. Sad, but true. I'm also getting to the age where I actually want to watch the game sometimes. When you stand with a supporter's group, you don't watch the game nearly so much as you experience it. Not necessarily better, just different.

- First time I ever said to myself “Terry Vaughan isn't too awful tonight” (though I understand there is a strong body of dissenting opinion out there on this). I didn't see the Brek Shea's red card play until I got home and watched the replay, and I have to say, if it was one of our forwards getting that treatment when he was alone on goal, I'd want that call. Yeah, you can say it was a little harsh, but you can't really say it was out-and-out wrong. What I did see was at least one sequence where Mr. Vaughn correctly played the advantage when one our guys was hacked, then when the advantage didn't pan out, he blew the whistle and gave us the free kick. That, my friends, is quality reffing, no matter where you go in the world. Sure, the play was kind of rough at times, and maybe he let a little too much go un-whistled (if there is such a word), but what do you want? It's a Brimstone game. It was going to be chippy, if not downright dirty, at some point. Mr. Vaughn didn't lose control while at the same time letting the boys play. Again, good reffing; it's not an easy line to walk.

- First time to the Londoner (free scarf and free beer from the player-bought keg = no brainer). Not too many years ago, the idea of a huge soccer-friendly restaurant in the little town of Frisco was about as likely as a NASCAR bar in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Now there are several. Lochrann's, Irish Rover, and Londoners, just off the top of my head. Amazing. Oh, and the idea of the players buying a keg and handing out free drink tickets to the supporters . . . genius. Pure unadulterated genius. I mean, like, Nobel Prize genius. Good on you boys. We're not talking, by the way, about a Dixie-cup of warm swill either, but rather a full pint-glass of cold draft goodness. If you can judge the quality of an organization by the way they handle the small details . . . this is a good sign.

- First time I stood in the corner section. Not bad. I still like behind the goal as a supporter's section, but the corner is okay too. You lose the unbeatable view of goals that happen right in front of you, but you gain a better perspective of play on the opposite end. Not a bad trade off, it seems. I think the compressed configuration of the corner section makes the Inferno look bigger on television. Which is always nice. We had a nice view of Milton Rodriguez's incredibly audacious goal. Left-footed back heel? Really? I wasn't sure I had seen it correctly, but yeah, that's what he did alright. The British have a term for a shot like that – Cheeky. Cheeky means, roughly translated, 'You had no business either trying or making that shot, but it sure is cool that you did'. The more I watch this game (and it's only been around two decades, so what do I know?) the more I think sheer audacity is the sine qua non of a great goal-scorer. Think Rooney when he was a kid at Everton; he would try anything, he'd shoot from anywhere. No fear, no self-consciousness, just audacity combined with skill. It's the difference between goodness and greatness.

- First time meeting a lot of the newer Inferno Members. It's been about three seasons (he said with disgust and shame) since I've been to a game in person. That's WAY too long. It gave me great joy too arrive at the Red Lot tailgate section; I immediately knew I was home. Not to mention the fact I was handed some food and drink withing thirty seconds of arrival. Speaking of eating, is there a better comfort food than tailgate food? I've had, in terms of taste, preparation, and quality of ingredients, 'nicer' meals than I had Saturday, but never, ever, have I had a more satisfying or enjoyable one.

- First time I met Doug Quinn. I introduced myself, and asked him how he was able to arrange the biggest full moon in 18 years as an opening-day attraction. Without missing a beat he says “Well, I had to ask Lamar”. I like this guy. I like him a lot.

- Finally, speaking of Uncle Lamar, it was the first time a crowd of people have marched to the stadium and put a scarf on the statue of Mr. Hunt. Beautiful tribute. I heartily approve. I was trying to describe to one of the newer, younger Inferno folks about Mr. Hunt and his legacy. “Look around”, I said, waving my arm in a broad sweep covering the stadium, the restaurants, the shops, the traffic, the people, the music, the tailgates, and just the out and out fun that everyone was having. “Without Lamar Hunt, none of this is here. None of it.”

I think that about covers it, don't you?