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Canadian content hits the spot

LARRY MILLSON

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 12:31 PM EST 26/07/08

Toronto's Dwayne De Rosario scores a penalty winner as the MLS All-Stars edge West Ham 3-2 ...Read the full article

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  1. K P from Canada writes: It was wonderful to watch a match in real time, with a hometown crowd.
    I hope this does wonders for the league in North America.

    Only downside was the commentary by CBC. They chose to interview the MLS Commissioner while play was in progress which was not very good. Soccer , due to its non stop action, requires a different approach than hockey!
  2. D R from Canada writes: I was at the game and the atmosphere was fantastic a good number of West Ham supporters came over from the UK and really added to it. I'm guessing that what happened during the national anthems didn't get broadcasted because if it did there would be a huge backlash by now.
  3. Frank Godfrey from Canada writes: Pretty good game considering it was an all-star game of sorts. The format of MLS stars playing against a good club side is the best one in N. American team sports. The enthusistic Toronto support for MLS should speed up Vancouver and Montreal in joining the league.
  4. Young Gunner from BMO Field, Canada writes: Great night at the BMO! Loved the whole experience. And GOD BLESS us fans who sang our anthem proudly after that perceived slight. And Mo, please bring home DE RO!!!!
  5. Ed Flynn from Saint John, Canada writes: Agree with KP. That interview didn't work. It's not done during an EPL game perhaps for good reason.

    While I only saw the last 20 minutes it was easy to notice a game of this format is far and away better than any of the North American sports' all star games. I'd rank them in this order of quality from best to least: MLB, NHL, NBA, NFL.

    MLS v West Ham was a quality game and the footballers were clearly working hard to contest balls, advance and defend. YELLOW CARDS! You rarely if ever see a penalty in the NHL all star game. I don't watch enough NBA to say how many fouls are called in that All Star game. Baseball is somewhat different but you won't see a hard slide into second base. The Pro Bowl is a joke.
  6. B Z from Toronto, Canada writes: Great Game, Great Night.

    After getting rain, rain, and more rain ... the Gods gave us a beautiful night to highlight Toronto.

    Everyone, myself included, really thought they weren't going to sing our anthem. Why on earth did they not put the Canadian flag out there to begin with when the English and American flags were is beyond me.

    It was even nice to see Bitchy on the Big Screen last night ... can someone tell me where she's parked during games?
  7. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: It will be tough being forced back into low scoring, talent lacking matches at BMO Field after that display. TFC is getting better but you could see why they didn't have more players in that game. Major League Soccer showed that it has some real stars. Blanco's second goal (and not to mention the back heel pass to set up the first) was magical; David Beckham's one touch ability is unreal; Jonathan Bornstein is a superstar in the making; and there isn't a more scary, flow stopping centre mid in North America either in club play or internationally than Shalrie Joseph. But the tide of the match really turned when two Toronto boys came on - Jimmy Brennan and Dwayne De Rosario.

    Let's start "Bring Home D-Ro" chants at TFC matches. Can we get Shalrie too?
  8. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: BZ, she is always perched above the media gondola on the west side. There is a permanent box up there with a TFC logo that is her home during matches. You can always sea the seagulls flying a safe distance away from the stadium while she pokes her head out.
  9. Michael Peters from Toronto, Canada writes: Would love to see D-Ro back in Toronto. I'd move back from Vancouver for the summers if this ever happened.

    Very entertaining match. Too bad the City of Toronto hasn't yet listened to the fans and installed real grass at BMO and committed to it being an SSS. Some day. Some day.
  10. P Scott from Canada writes: Great match. Loved watching Beckham actually demanding the ball, having a great time. Got to show those who have forgotten that he really is a world-class footballer.

    Proud of the TFC fans and everyone in attendance.

    But can we please have grass already?
  11. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: Michael, after this week and seeing what's possible for soccer in Toronto, that "day" may be closer than we think. Those of us who love this game and have always wanted it to work properly in Canada despite the CSA trying to ruin everything that's good about Canadian soccer, owe a bit of gratitude to MLSE - whether we like to admit it or not.
  12. Michael Peters from Toronto, Canada writes: B I - I plan on sending many an email and making a few phone calls to Mr. Miller and friends to see what deal is. BMO field is owned by the city. I pay to Gawd they don't find a way to screw this up!
  13. B Z from Toronto, Canada writes: Thanks BI but last night from the Big Screen she was out and about with her trainer.

    For once I would love her to make a fly bye for everyone...half time show.

    Too bad she can't keep the raccoons away from the West side stands. Toronto-San Jose game...yes...a real fat raccoon was having a panic attack before the game...it was having a hard time finding an exit when most of us were taking our seats before the game.
  14. pablo o from Canada writes: I want to see this kind of level of soccer in and out every week from TFC. An enjoyable free flowing game, I was pleasantly surprised!
  15. jay bow from new york, United States writes: canadians are an absolute disgrace for booing national anthems... its unbelievable how insecure canadians are. - embarrassing
  16. pablo o from Canada writes: Just a comment on the whole flag thing (intentional or not). Isn't it ironic that if there was no booing at the flag mishap, we would be hearing how Canada has no passion, that the Americans would had had a field day if this had happened in the U.S. etc. etc.
    I'm all for respecting other nations anthem. But a perceived insult is an insult regardless!
  17. Port Credit Bill from Canada writes: Great game the atmosphere was electric and everyone there had a great time. Big problem was getting into the stadium, it took me 20 minutes! They had maybe 3 ticket takers at the South Entrance, smarten up MLSE!
  18. bruce t from Boston, United States writes: Excellent match! Very entertaining. I think the MSL has it right bringing in a good foreign club for the match. And kudos to the Toronto crowd. You guys are an inspiration to the rest of the league. Reminds me of the bleachers section at Fenway. Would love to see Montreal and Vancouver follow suit with the passion in their own SSS stadiums. Looks like Toronto needs to expand BMO to accomodate the frenzied demand!
    I hope the whole league learns from Toronto. If possible a stadium needs to be soccer specific for the intimacy, and on public transit close to the city center. This will assure your base. The Revolution and many other teams fail miserably at this even though the Revs are a very successful club. I think they now realize they can't build their season ticket base through suburban soccer mom's and their kids. Gillette is too cavernous and too far away here.
    Anyways I digress, nice job Toronto! Bitchy is too cool.
  19. Young Gunner from Toronto, Canada writes: Bornstein is SICK! Love that guy. We were chanting "Sign him up" a lot of the game.

    Can everyone who writes on these forums, and lives in Toronto PLEASE EMAIL/WRITE a letter to your CITY COUNCILLOR demanding real grass? I'm going to write my councillor everyday and annoy the s*@t out of them. This field turf has to go!
  20. Young Gunner from BMO Field, Canada writes: Imagine they'd forgotten the 'Star Spangled Banner' Jay Bow? Imagine if the Stars and Stripes had been placed upside down on a flag pole and marched through the stadium? Oh ya, that's happened to us Canadians(World Series 92' as an example). We've had our flag stomped on by an American Women's, yes Women's, hockey team! We didn't disrespect America. We booed the MLS and it's poor planning. And btw, isn't it because of Americans that we have to call football, "soccer"?
  21. jay bow from new york, United States writes: without america..there would be no MLS.
  22. jay bow from new york, United States writes: also - the us womans hockey team did not do that...it was a rumour to motivate the canadian team.
    seriously, get over it. be bigger than that
  23. Neil No more last name from Canada writes: jay bow - maybe you should pat yourself on the back??

    Not the first time Canada's been slighted by an American sports org. as noted above.

    you'll have to excuse our insecurity
  24. Young Gunner from Toronto, Canada writes: Dude, I don't need to go trolling on American websites to stir-up shiite. Why don't you blog on the NY Post website? Oh wait, no one CARE's about football (soccer for you guys) there! You're really from Columbus aren't you Jay Bow?
  25. asdf asdf from Canada writes: "canadians are an absolute disgrace for booing national anthems... its unbelievable how insecure canadians are. - embarrassing"

    With all due respect to the US, I don't really think that the fans were booing the US national anthem as some sort of statement about the country so much as they were booing the fact that they weren't going to play the Canadian one.

    Even still, booing during any country's national anthem shows a lack of respect and should never occur for any reason. Yet it shows just as little respect to make generalized statements about a nation of people based a noise made by some football fans.
  26. Nick Geek from Edmonton, Canada writes: A quick complaint about CBC from the Colonies...apparently they didn't feel the need to inform us out here that the All Star Game would be tape-delayed. The What's On section of their Sports website, the tv listings and the promo that played on CBC at 5:00 MST ALL said the game would air at 7 pm ET. When the Simpson's started I went to the computer to watch it online. Yes, the video player said it was "In Progress", BUT, the last straw was that it was blacked out here. Way to go CBC--what is the big deal if I watch it live on a 2 inch square instead of my tv 2 hours later? Personally I had a work event to attend at 7 so even though I had looked forward to it I didn't get to see any of the game. There might be 10 people in Edmonton who would watch the game on line at 5 pm--CBC what is your problem--you seem arrogant or perhaps just incompetent??
    Alienated (again) in Edmonton
  27. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: It was a hiccup on the game operations part for MLS to say "British and American national anthems" instead of just saying "national anthems" so we would have waited for the Canadian one at the end. We really thought the Canadian one wasn't going to get played - and we weren't the only one. You could see all the MLS brass (Americans) feverishly typing into their blackberrys to see what was going on.

    Regardless, shows how much Torontonians and Southern Ontarians love our country that we sang "O Canada" three times last night - getting louder each time.
  28. jay bow from new york, United States writes: no not from columbus - but what would be wrong with that if i was?
    wow you echo the hatred felt by so many canadians - because of your inferiority complex you have with america
  29. L T from Canada writes: jay bow,United States writes: canadians are an absolute disgrace for booing national anthems... its unbelievable how insecure canadians are. - embarrassing ________________________ As noted by some posters, the fans weren't booing the US anthem. Btw, this is ridiculous thing to do - when I hear booing of the US anthem, I actually start to cheer and sing the Star Spangled Banner as I have many Amer friends and I know the lyrics. But jay, you should realize though, that US fans are not immune to booing the Canadian anthem - I remember the first time I saw this happen during a Yankees-Jays series back in '85 and was shocked - just found a reference to it on the net... "During the 1985 season, the Yankees were in a tight race for the American League Eastern Division title with the Toronto Blue Jays. Before the first game of a key four-game series with the Jays that September, Sheppard introduced opera singer Robert Merrill, who often sang the National Anthem at Yankee games in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, who proceeded to sing "O, Canada" out of respect to the visiting Jays. Many Yankee fans booed the Canadian National Anthem. Before the next game, Sheppard reminded fans of how Canada was America's ally in two world wars, a partner in NATO, and had helped get some of the American hostages out of Iran, and that their anthem should be respected and not booed. His reprimand was not heeded, and the fans booed the anthem again. The Yankees won the first game of that series but dropped the next three and lost the Division title." (Looks like karma...) Enough said. Back to the game... I'm just starting to appreciate TFC so it was great to see the MLS All-Stars in an entertaining game. T-F-C! T-F-C!
  30. Michael Peters from Toronto, Canada writes: People, jay bow has an opinion set in stone. It's not even worth responding to posts from people like him. Let's move along and talk about the footy and leave the stupid politics to another thread.
  31. drago04 1 from Toronto, Canada writes: Great game last night. The best game I've seen at BMO, but I was a little disappointed that Del Rosario didn't get more love from the T.O. crowd. He's probably the best player this country has ever produced, but he doesn't get enough respect/love from the media and soccer fans (TFC fans included). Actually either does the National Team. The current team is the best that Canada has ever produced, Juan de Guzman is amazing.
    So I agree with B.I it's time we start chanting for Mo to bring him back home. As for B.I's comment about "owing a bit of gratitude to MLSE - whether we like to admit it or not. Disagree with you on that one. What makes TFC special is the fans.
  32. mike rii from Canada writes: That a boy, DE RO.

    I know everyone from Scarborough was cheering for him. Bring him home, Mo.
  33. asdf asdf from Canada writes: It's Julian de Guzman. Juan Guzman was a Toronto Blue Jays pitcher.

    Sadly Owen Hargreaves was the best football player this country has ever produced, whether he wants to recognize it or not. I'm a big fan of De Rosario though, and would love to see him at TFC sometime in the future.
  34. Soccer Coach from Calgary, Canada writes: Great game though I hope you can convince the city to get some grass in the stadium. Couple of questions - why were they watering down the pitch at haff time? Seems strange thing to do to an artificial field. Secondly the streamers being thrown at the people taking corners - seems rather childish to me and have never seen that at a premiership game - any particular reason they are doing this other than peeing off the player taking the corner?
  35. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: Drag, without MLSE and particularly Richard Peddie there wouldn't have been a Toronto FC. Even if the fans make TFC what it is today (and soon the players have to take over that role), the knowledgeable TFC historian - if such a young team can have historians - knows who made this happen and give kudos where its due. Do you know of ANY other sports and entertainment company that was seriously pursuing a MLS club for Toronto? There wasn't a single other group that took a gamble on this vision which the supporters have run away with. Without MLSE footy fans in Toronto would have been busy ignoring the Toronto Lynx playing out of Etobicoke Centennial.
  36. Neil No more last name from Canada writes: Soccer Coach - re:streemers from the corner

    Booze and trying to pi$$ off the opposing player
  37. Malc F from Shanghai (of Toronto), China writes: So what actually happened during the national anthems?
  38. drago04 1 from Toronto, Canada writes: My bad, I meant Julian de Guzman. FYI there is still tickets available for Canada vs Jamaica on August 20th.
  39. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: Malc F from Shanghai (of Toronto), China writes: So what actually happened during the national anthems?

    The announcer asked people to stand up only for the English and American national anthems, not relaying the message that the Canadian one was going to be played later. Given that MLS is an American league and we were playing against an English side, many fans rightfully due to the lack of communication thought that either the Canadian anthem wasn't going to be played or that it was played long before anyone got to the stadium.

    The announcer should have just said "anthems" instead of specifying which nationalities they were - that way people would have patiently waited for the Canadian one instead of getting riled up in a semi-drunken haze. Anyway, being proud and on that evening slightly misguided Canadians, the fans sang the Canadian anthem throughout the English and American anthems anyway. But you know when I was in Chicago for a TFC match a couple of weeks ago, we sang the American national anthem word for word because the Americans there didn't seem to know it and sat silently through the entire song. So now we are even, I suppose.

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