As fans, sitting on the couch last Saturday twiddling our thumbs while the league celebrated opening weekend kind of sucked. For the players, I’m sure cabin fever is running rampant. After a long offseason and what seemed like an even longer preseason, the 2016 regular season is finally upon us. We’ve dusted off our jerseys, our scarves are still clean, the coolers are packed, our voices primed and ready. It goes without saying- we’re ready to get this show on the road.

You would think a rivalry game between two clubs with a lot of history, a match including the current league champion no less, would have a little more fan fare. I guess the league spent it all last weekend. Our match tomorrow didn’t even make the USL’s “Week 2 Featured Games” on their Facebook page. The old guard doesn’t get much respect anymore. Good thing we don’t need it. We do our talking on the field. We stake our claim in the standings. At the end of the year when the paint has chipped on the new toys, we’ll be the ones left showing everyone how it’s done.

2016 is a big year for the city of Pittsburgh. This summer we’re celebrating 200 years as a city. Pittsburgh has had a long and storied history with plenty of ups and downs. When times are tough we don’t disparage. We put our heads down, bust our asses, and come out the other side stronger. There may not be a lot of blue collar jobs around these days, but we still have a blue collar heart. The Hounds are the same way. They could’ve rolled over during bankruptcy two years ago, but instead the front office worked their butts off and made the club the best it’s ever been.

Benigno Numine. You may hear or read that a few times this summer. It’s Pittsburgh’s official motto. Translated it means “By the Favor of the Heavens”. When I read heavens in plural, I can’t help but think of Greek mythology. One of my favorite gods is Apollo. Apollo always strived to be the best of the best, but had a hell of a temper when provoked. I expect the Hounds to take a page from his book. The club built themselves back up to the playoffs after a rough 2014. Now it’s time to take it even further. We’re entering in the fourth season at Highmark Stadium, and still without a home playoff game. This is the year we’re going to change that. This is the year the Hounds will become the best of the best. This year the teams of the Eastern Conference will fear our fury.

“He [Apollo] came down furious from the summits of Olympus, with his bow and his quiver upon his shoulder, and the arrows rattled on his back with the rage that trembled within him. He sat himself down away from the ships with a face as dark as night, and his silver bow rang death as he shot his arrow in the midst of them. […] all day long the pyres of the dead were burning.” – The Iliad

Both the city of Pittsburgh and the Riverhounds are our crown jewels. Both are going to shine in 2016.

It says it on our scarves this year.

BUILD A BONFIRE!

#UNLEASH