Today In Soccer Can Be Awesome: The Dutch Team Ajax Team Melted Down Its 2021 League Trophy Into 42,000 Small Stars And Gave A Star To Each Of Its Season Ticket Holders That Couldn't Attend Games Because Of The Pandemic
AP- Ajax has melted down its Dutch league trophy to give a tiny silver star to all 42,000 season-ticket holders who were locked out of games during the coronavirus pandemic. The storied Amsterdam club published movie-like videos Wednesday of the Eredivisie trophy -- a wide silver plate — being torched and recast into small stars. A star weighing 3.45 grams (1/8 ounce) will be sent to supporters, Ajax said.
“After a turbulent year, we are ensuring our fans feel part of our championship,” said chief executive Edwin van der Sar, arguably the club’s greatest-ever goalkeeper.
The Dutch soccer federation gave Ajax a second silver plate as an exceptional gift to display in its trophy cabinet, the club said. Ajax played 30 of its 34 league games in an empty stadium this season.
This is something that I would've never said when I was younger as a typical American soccer hater that rolled his eyes at every flop and tie, but as I have grown older I have no problem admitting that soccer can be fucking INCREDIBLE. From relegation to tournaments where everyday blokes on pub teams can compete against superstars on superteams to hooligans lighting stadiums on fire after a regular season game win, loser, or draw. So I guess we can lump videos where a team acts like Tywin Lannister by melting down a trophy to give to its fans.
Sidenote: Goddammit that show was so fucking great before it fell off a cliff higher than The Wall
In America, you get a thank you letter, a PSL bill, and if you are lucky some shitty gift like a personalized pen with your season tickets in exchange for thousands of dollars. Oh yeah, and the ability to mention to every person you know that you are a season ticket holder. That's the best part about having season tickets, especially now that you can sell your tickets on (INSERT TICKET AGENCY HERE #NOFREEADS). That's coming from a former New York Mets season ticket holder, so you know it's true!
You can applaud my diehard fandom now…
Getting a piece of your team's championship trophy melted down is just so fucking cool. Not only because giving your fans a piece of the trophy from a season they couldn't attend is awesome, which it is, but because putting your soccer players who they probably pay more in a day than I make in a year next to a flame all for the sake of #content is beautiful to see. I've already devoted my EPL fandom to Chelsea, who were nice enough to place me in their hype video for this weekend's contest on the pitch against those wankers from Leicester City.
However if it's allowed, I think I have to become an Ajax fan when it comes to Dutch soccer footie based solely on this video alone. If it's not allowed then fuck Ajax with Ajax, even though I still think they pulled off a very nice gesture with those stars.