I can't believe I'm writing this...

Three weeks ago, a previously undiagnosed cardiac abnormality nearly killed me.  I needed emergency room doctors at Winchester Hospital to shock my heart back into a normal rhythm, or I wouldn't be typing this message today, and my wife and daughters would be without a husband and father.  While I'm better now and slowly starting to deal with my condition, I don't think I'd be human if I didn't come away from that experience a little shaken.

If those doctors hadn't saved my life, I would have been remembered in part as the guy who tried to convince people not to go to Revolution games.  I’m not sure I like that.  If I'm truly honest with myself, some of the greatest moments of my life have happened in Section 143.  I've made some great friends because I became a fan of this team.  At halftime of a game against D.C. United, I got a call from the Massachusetts Department of Social Services that informed me they were placing a 7-month baby girl in the custody of my wife and I - a girl we ended up adopting a year later.  To this day, that same little girl still talks about getting a high five from Slyde at the Seattle game last year.  Revs fans I only know from the internet sent unsolicited donations to the Scholarship Fund set up to honor my two brothers after they were killed in a car accident six and a half years ago.

While there hadn’t been much going on publicly with the boycott, behind the scenes, I had actually pretty busy with “Boycott the Revs” duties.  I had saved up to purchase Photoshop and some web site design software to help create a more professional look and feel (…a perfectly valid criticism, by the way), and was teaching myself how to use those tools.  I was probably 80% of the way towards launching a new, revamped, much-improved site with a goal of getting things up and running before the home opener.

But after leaving the hospital, I discovered I didn’t have the appetite for it any more.  In fact, I don’t really have the appetite to boycott at all.  It’s a lesson I should have learned six and a half years ago.  Nothing is guaranteed in life.  Apparently, it took something to happen to me to drive the point home.  Or maybe I just forgot for a while.

I’ve decided to live my life for myself and my family first.  And part of what I find enjoyable about my life is going to Revolution games with friends and family.  Could I have boycotted for a few years?  Probably.  But when your doctor says your risk of a severe stroke over the next ten years is roughly ten times greater than that of the average person, who’s to say you’ve got a few years?  A few months ago, a boycott sounded and felt like the right idea.  Now?  Well, now I think I’d rather spend my time and energy creating more memories and friendships than making a point.

I’d like to thank all of those who joined the effort and also offer my sincere apologies.  I know how this makes me look.  In all honesty, this is not how I envisioned my involvement ending, and I’m more than a little embarrassed by my somewhat sudden change of direction.  I had the best of intentions when I started, and whatever problems there were getting more people to go through with this is completely my fault.  I am truly sorry.

What can I do to help?

First things first... yes, the boycott is officially on.

Next, my apologies for not updating the site more frequently.  Work and my personal life keeps getting in the way.  The good news is that I've had something of a revelation in that regard.

I can't do this by myself.  Maybe at the beginning, I thought that I could, but as the last few weeks prove, this can't be a one-man show.  I need help - your help.

What can you do?  Let's keep this simple.  I'm looking for three things:

1.  Graphic Design help: As the folks at The Drug Is Football pointed out, it's harder to take the concept of a boycott seriously when the website does not appear to have a great deal of time or effort put into it.  It's not for lack of effort - trust me.  I'm just not real good at graphic design.

On the bright side, I should be able to move things to http://www.revsboycott.com pretty soon.

2.  "Why I'm boycotting": This week, I'm going to start a special on the site called "Why I'm boycotting".  The idea is simple - you're the best boycott advocates I can find.  All I can do is tell people why I'm boycotting, but my reasons may not be the same as yours.  So, let's let the world know the Revs have lost our business.

It can be one paragraph, one sentence, or a 3,000-word missive.  Doesn't matter to me.  I'll put it on the site.

3.  Spread the word: Talk to your friends and tell them why you won't be gong to Revs games any longer.  I'll have more about this later in the week with some suggestions on how to bring this up, how to talk to people about the boycott, and how to overcome objections.

There you go - three simple ways you can help.  Please send me an e-mail at revsboycott@gmail.com if you wish to contribute or if you have your own ideas for ways to help.

Thanks.

- Mike

Press Release: Frustrated Revolution Fans Set to Boycott Their Own Team

Contact: Mike Marshall

Email: revsboycott@gmail.com

Website: http://revsboycott.blogspot.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FRUSTRATED REVOLUTION FANS SET TO BOYCOTT THEIR OWN TEAMOrganization Urged to Make Changes to Improve On and Off the Pitch

BOSTON, October 14, 2012 / - Boycott the Revs, a fan advocacy group created with the goal to enact positive changes within the New England Revolution organization, today announced the launch of a formal boycott of all Revolution tickets, merchandise and concessions effective at the end of the 2012 MLS Regular Season in response to the club’s poor performance in recent years both on and off the pitch.

Help Needed!

The most common question I've been asked so far is, "What can I do to help?"  I didn't have much of an answer until now.

This weekend, I'll be sending out a press release to any members of the media that might be interested.  To me, that pretty much covers all of the New England Sports Media as well as the national soccer media.

That's a lot of e-mail addresses.  I don't have enough time to gather those e-mail addresses and write the press release.  That's where you come in.

Over the next few days, I'd like to ask anyone who's interested in contributing to spend 15 minutes gathering e-mail addresses for members of the media you think might be interested in spreading the word about the boycott.  Post them here, on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or send an e-mail to revsboycott@gmail.com.

This weekend, we'll compile the e-mail addresses, and send out the Press Release.

Thank you in advance for your assistance and your support.

Letter to Jonathan Kraft

Text of the letter I mailed off to Jonathan Kraft this weekend.  Copies of the letter were also sent to Don Garber and Brian Bilello:

Mr. Jonathan Kraft

1 Patriot Place

Foxborough, MA 02035

October 6, 2012

Mr. Kraft,

I represent a group of fans and supporters of the New England Revolution who are very concerned about the long-term future of the franchise.

Since acquiring the New England Patriots in 1994, you, your family and the Patriots' management team have committed the time, effort, resources and passion necessary to build the franchise into a benchmark, best-practices organization - across all aspects of operation - in the National Football League... indeed, in all of major professional sports.

After nearly 17 years of Kraft family stewardship, would you honestly contend that the New England Revolution franchise represents a benchmark, best-practices organization - across all aspects of operation - in Major League Soccer? Can you honestly claim that you, your family and the Revolution management team have committed the time, effort, resources and passion necessary to build the organization to such a level?

We believe the answer to all of those questions is a definitive “no”. 

Sign the Petition!

Our petition is now live!

Be sure to sign it if you plan on joining the boycott.  This does little to no good if the organization things this is just me and a couple of my buddies because they won't take us seriously.

A couple of guidelines before you sign, however.

1.  Do NOT sign the petition if you do not plan on boycotting.  We won't be taken seriously if we aren't willing to miss games.

2.  Use your real, full name.  Any idiot can add a bunch of fake names to an internet petition to make it look like there's more people who care than there actually are.

Our Plan

In recent years, Revolution fans have tried to voice our displeasure in numerous ways.  We've tried chants.  We've sent e-mails.  We've worn paper bags on our heads.  We've had meetings with the front office.  Hell, last year things got so bad, we simply walked out on our own team.

All of that was met with the same general response from the organization: "We feel your pain.  We're going to work hard to get things headed in the right direction... you're still coming next week, right?"

That's the only thing we really haven't tried -- not coming back next week.  Or the week after that, or the week after that.  We haven't tried not giving them any money until they can prove that they "get it".

So, that's our plan.  Effective at the conclusion of the 2012 season, anyone who wishes to join the boycott will no longer purchase Revolution tickets, merchandise, or concessions until such time as our demands are met.  Simple.  To the point.  And highly effective if done by enough people.