Badges Of Honor
At World Cup 2010 in South Africa it was the buzz of vuvuzelas. Soccer now has its own unique sound track in the U.S.: the singing and chanting of the American Outlaws, who helped boost the U.S. national team to five shutout wins in five home qualifiers this year. Launched six years ago in Lincoln, Neb., in an effort to unite like-minded fans at bars and stadiums, AO has blossomed into a national network of more than 15,000 diehards. The grassroots outfit has already booked three charter flights with 516 members to the World Cup in Brazil (there's a waiting list of around 2,000), and half of its chapters were present at last Friday's 2--0 win over Jamaica in Kansas City. Among them was the 100th, Wichita, which was inducted on the eve of the game. Most chapters have a logo and the best represent a commitment to cause, community and country. Here are SI's favorites.
Sioux Falls, S.D.
Would George, Abe, et. al. be f√∫tbol fans? Nah. Times change
Virginia Beach
Besides Poseidon, home of 90th chapter is a youth soccer hotbed
Inland Empire, Calif.
SoCal legion aims high: galactic domination
Tucson
Home to a minor league team, MLS preseason and frightening AO
Omaha
Bison joins Creighton's Bluejay as a regional soccer emblem
Baltimore
Star-spangled Fort McHenry + sudsy Mr. Boh = charming
Brooklyn
Home of first U.S. Open Cup champ, roots here run deep
North Vermont
AO's iconic crossbones become skis on the slopes
San Diego
Surf, palm trees stand out in city where soccer cultures collide
Lancaster, Pa.
Passion extends even to Amish country
EXTRA MUSTARD ON SI.COM
See the rest on SI's new Planet F√∫tbol blog, at Soccer.SI.com
PHOTO
JASEN VINLOVE/ZUMAPRESS.COM (CROWD)
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