Internet message boards buzzed with boastful activity. Newspaper articles forewarned of the coming invasion. All that was missing was some modern-day Paul Revere taking a midnight gallop down High Street while shouting "The Hosers are coming! The Hosers are coming!"
In central Ohio, one of the major storylines surrounding First Kick 2008 was the fact that approx. 2,300 Ontarians had descended upon Crew Stadium, making it the largest infestation of Canadians Columbus has endured since...well...the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. In fact, this show of support from the Toronto FC faithful probably even dwarfed the mass border crossing that occurred when Doug MacLean hired every man, woman, and child of Prince Edward Island to work for the Blue Jackets. Like they say, all records are made to be broken.
Nevertheless, with the help of their own supporters, the Crew shrugged off the bussed-in Maple Menace and dispatched of Toronto FC by the score of 2-0. Adam Moffat gave the Crew a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute, and then Alejandro Moreno buried the Hosers with a counter-attack goal from a wonderful Eddie Gaven feed in the 76th minute.
What follows is a collection of notes, quotes, stories, and general stupidity from my notebook...and since the fan angle seems to be getting the most play, we'll start with a bunch of stuff relating to the fans.
The Fans (Part I: The Maple Menace)
Toronto fans will be the first to tell you how great they are, which is a shame, because so many others would compliment them if they could get a word in edgewise. And let's face it-Saturday's show was amazing. From the upper deck, their tailgate looked like a swarm of fire ants attacking a brewery. Inside the stadium, the show was even more impressive. They filled the entire south end, plus nearly three full sections in the upper deck. They sang songs, they chanted, they waved flags, they batted balloons, they threw streamers and they made themselves the stars of the show before kickoff.
According to my good buddy Flick, his seat neighbor in section 107, a guy named Nate, looked around the stadium and sardonically turned the tables by saying, "Man, look at all those yellow shirts. This is by far the most fans we have ever brought to an away game."
Even Crew coach Sigi Schmid was effusive in his praise. "I think what Toronto did maybe takes the league to a next level," he said. "Maybe D.C.'s fans will say, 'Hey, we're pretty good. We're going to travel.' Then maybe our fans say, 'Hey, maybe we can bring 300 to Chicago.' It's just going to make the league better, and the atmosphere today was tremendous."
The Fans (Part II: Streaming Guille)
In one of the more comical events of the afternoon, the Toronto fans took to showering Guillermo Barros Schelotto with streamers as he lined up for a corner kick in the 39th minute.
Ooh. Streamers. Schelotto has spent his entire career playing before criminally raucous crowds in Argentina. Until the stuff being thrown at him has been lit on fire, I doubt Guille would even notice.
That's probably why it started raining smoke bombs in the second half.
"It was a very good show," said Schelotto afterward. "Toronto brought a lot of fans and smoke bombs and pyrotechnics. It obviously doesn't compare to Argentina, but for MLS, it was very exciting."
The Fans (Part III: Columbus Streams Back)
One of the best moments of the afternoon occurred in the 42nd minute. Just three minutes after Guille was showered in streamers at the Toronto end, Todd Dunivant lined up to take a corner kick just a few feet from the Crew's supporter sections. Dunivant was nearly mummified in black and gold streamers as Crew fans leaned over the railing and filled his ears with insults.
The rest of the stadium gave the supporters a large round of applause for their efforts. In the locker room, Frankie Hejduk savored that historic moment. "I think this was the first time our fans have actually thrown stuff at the opposing team, which is a good thing. That's how it's done all over the world."
[NOTE: Players are of course concerned for their safety. I get the general impression that they have no problems with harmless objects like streamers and confetti, but none of their remarks should be construed as a license to throw objects that can cause injury, such as rocks, coins, batteries, firecrackers, toasters, claw hammers, horseshoes (individual), rotary telephones, anvils, refrigerators, horseshoes (attached to a horse), live lobsters "liberated" from the tank at your local seafood establishment, running chain saws, rabid raccoons, rival fans that have been doused in cheap cologne and set on fire, etc.]
The Fans (Part IV: Victory To Columbus)
The players could not say enough about the support of the Hudson Street Hooligans, Crew Union, La Turbina, and whatever other brands of Crew-supporting souls banded together in the northeast corner. The supporters turned what could have been an embarrassing moment into one of their finest hours. They defended Crew Stadium as if it were the Alamo, except if Santa Ana were Canadian, and if the good guys won despite being vastly outnumbered. It was a heroic performance.
"I thought it was great how our fans stepped up to the challenge," said Schmid. "I know (some of them) were disappointed about the stage going in, but with all of them sitting together in the corner, I thought it was tremendous. To see all that black and gold, and all the flags, I thought it was great."
"It was an awesome atmosphere," said Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer. "Our fans rose to the challenge. Honestly, when I was at the stage end, I had a harder time hearing, and the back line had a harder time hearing me. So I think our fans were even louder than their fans."
"Our section over in the corner responded to all the hype over the Toronto fans," said Crew defender Danny O'Rourke. "Don't get me wrong-the Toronto fans were great. But we got a couple goals to reward our fans and they were really into it. It was great. Hopefully we can grow a big old army in that corner."
Alejandro Moreno made a beeline to the corner after scoring his goal. After the match, the Crew went to the corner as a team.
"We wanted to make a point to show them that we appreciate what they do," said O'Rourke. "We felt bad that the stage went in and took their turf away, so we wanted to make a point of thanking them. They put on a show today."
Frankie Hejduk summed it all up thusly: "As players, it makes us proud of this team and proud of this city when the fans are as loud as they were today."
Okay, on to some soccer...
The Moffat Rocket
The Crew took a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute when Adam Moffat chested down a Brian Carroll re-start pass, took a controlling touch, and then skipped a net-seeking missile past Hoser goalie Brian Edwards from 25 yards away. Schmid had often mentioned this aspect of Moffat's game, and the 21-year-old made him look like a genius on opening day.
"I've been practicing striking the ball in case I get some space and can have a shot," said Moffat. "I was fortunate that it found the back of the net."
Okay, that was much too modest, especially since it happened right in front of that maple-waving mass of booze-addled Ontarians. Nailing the sweet spot and then silencing the self-congratulatory cacophony of those crocked Canadians deserves a little more than "I was fortunate." Surely Moffat had something a little juicer to say.
"When I hit it, I knew it was a good strike," he said, when pressed further. "Sometimes you just know. It's a great feeling. Anytime I score, it's a surprise to me. (The Toronto fans) were loud. They've got great fans. But as soon as it hit the net...nothing."
Ah, that's a little better.
The Penalty Kick
Few things alter the complexion of a game like a saved penalty kick. The emotional swings that take place from the whistle & point to the saved shot are almost incalculable. Let's take a look at what transpired in the 44th and 45th minutes in the words of some of those who were involved.
First, Crew defender Danny O'Rourke was whistled for the penalty. He strangely leaped into the air and impeded the dribble of Toronto striker Jeff Cunningham. It was practically a basketball foul, as if Cunningham gave a shot fake and then drove to the lane, colliding with the airborne O'Rourke. O'Rourke, however, wasn't so sure. "I'd like to see a replay," he said. "I thought it was shoulder to shoulder, and I know I hit the ball with my thigh or shin. I was shocked when he called the penalty." Surely the shock would have subsided after seeing a replay, but nevertheless, the Crew protested the call to no avail.
Next up, Toronto striker Collin Samuel collected the ball. One might have thought that 96-goal man Cunningham would have grabbed the ball to convert the penalty he earned, especially playing in the stadium he christened with its first ever goal. However, TFC coach John Carver explained the process. "We spoke about it (Friday)," said Carver. "I said who wants to take the penalties, and Sammy said he did. If a player has that confidence, then I am fine with it."
With Samuel setting the ball on the spot, it was time for Crew goalie William Hesmer to shine...with an assist from Frankie Hejduk, who held a brief conference with Hesmer before the shot was taken. "Frankie came up to me and said, 'I have no idea where he is going, but I just want to get into his head and make him think.' Who knows? Maybe it worked. He did look a little bit timid before he took it."
Samuel's penalty was so weak that it might as well have been hit with Tony Sanneh's purse on a chilly October night. Hesmer dove to his left and made the save. "Normally I'll make up my mind to dive one way or the other," said Hesmer, "but this time I held for a moment, and then I actually over-dove it and gave up a rebound. Thankfully Moffat was there to come on over and bang it out of there."
Ah, yes. Mr. Moffat. Again.
As Samuel momentarily froze in terror over what had transpired, Moffat outraced him to the rebound and launched it over the crossbar a split second before Samuel could tuck the tap-in home.
Moffat said that the goal-saving clearance was nothing more than old-fashioned fundamentals. "It's something I've been taught since I was younger," he explained. "You start the same distance he is from the penalty spot, and when he starts running, you start running. If you do that, you're going to be the first one there. He was a bit casual, so I managed to get my foot in there and clear it away."
Schmid said the whole sequence was huge. "Those are the types of plays that change games," he said. "It's something that gives your team confidence and really gets the fans going."
For Carver, it was time to seek a new volunteer. "At halftime, I asked who wants to take the next penalty, and Cunningham said 'I'll take it.' So we'll work our way through the team."
And what of dear Danny O'Rourke, who, without benefit of replay, was unsure of his penalty? Did he feel any vindication by the save and clearance?
He cracked a mischievous smile. "The ball never lies."
The Fans (Part V: Hey, Hey, Good-Bye)
When Alejandro Moreno buried his counterattack goal in the 76th minute, he finished off both Toronto FC and their fans. Whereas Toronto had been controlling the second half up to that point, Moreno's goal devastated them. The Hosers spent the final 14 minutes aimlessly wandering around the field like 11 lost toddlers looking for their moms at the mall.
Up in the stands, the south end was silent, except for the pitter patter of Canadian tears. Meanwhile, the stadium echoed with Crew supporters' chants of "USA! USA!" and "Nah-nah-nah-nah, hey, hey, goodbye!"
"As many fans as they had, we shut them down," said Hejduk. "We shut them up a bit. I was actually smiling on the field late in the game when we had a throw-in or certain bits of possession. Normally I'm very intense and very into the game, but I think I had a couple smirks out there. In the past, we haven't killed off some games that we should have, but we did it today. I think some of that is because of the fans and the atmosphere."
Trillium Cup
Earlier in the week it was announced that the Crew and Hosers would be competing annually for the Trillium Cup, which is named after some kind of politically-honored flower that grows in both Ohio and Ontario.
After Saturday, the botanical rivalry doesn't feel nearly as manufactured as it did in the lead-up to the season. The Crew were selling it hard, but on media day, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman took the sales job to a whole 'nother...planet.
"I don't like Toronto," said Mayor Coleman. "We need to get them defeated this here Saturday and take this rivalry to a whole new level. I have been to Toronto many times, and I don't like Columbus being beat by Toronto; Columbus has to beat Toronto on every occasion. This is going to be a terrific rivalry. I know that our team, our players, our coach are going to send Toronto where they belong- back across the border! We're used to beating teams across borders. First Michigan-Ohio State; now Toronto-Columbus!"
Coleman wasn't just shooting off at the mouth though. He engaged in one of those non-monetary mayoral bets with Toronto mayor David Miller. The mayor of the losing city agreed to wear the other team's jersey at a photo shoot.
Scoreboard: Coleman.
That means that the next time Toronto's mayor cuts the ribbon at the dedication ceremony for a new hockey rink, beer factory, or moose brothel, he'll be doing so while wearing the glorious gold jersey of the Columbus Crew.
"Mean Guy" of the Game Award
During the fan forum held on March 19, Hejduk stated that the 2008 Crew needed to play like a bunch of "mean guys." As someone who can smell a cheap column gimmick a mile away, I eagerly asked Frankie who was this week's "Mean Guy" Of The Game.
"I think the whole team was one big mean guy today," said Hejduk. "I can't single anyone out. I thanked the team after the game because I challenged them to be mean guys, even though the word I actually used was (a naughty equivalent of 'mean guys.') As a team, we were mean today, and that's what we need to do week in and week out. Every guy on this team worked his (butt) off this week, and that's what we need. If I can single somebody out as a 'mean guy of the game', then we're not getting it done. We need every single guy, every single week."
That's good stuff. But so much for the cheap, season-long column gimmick.
Dear Media, Stop asking about Danny Dichio
Members of the Toronto media wanted to know if Danny Dichio was going to start for the Hosers next week in D.C., at which point TFC coach John Carver had had enough.
"I am not going to give anything away because people will hear this interview," said Carver. "I will go away now, and I'll analyze it, and then think about it. I want to set the record straight about Dichio. Dichio is going to have a large part to play for this club. He hadn't started today's game because I thought the pace of the other two lads could cause some problems, and it did. So let's forget about these things. Let's not go personal with Danny Dichio and ask why isn't Danny involved, why isn't he playing, and will he start in the next game. Danny's got a big part to play in this."
The Fans (Part VI: Why MLS Is Cool)
As TFC was coming off the field, young Crew fans crowded around the tunnel and were hurling the tried and true insults of the adolescent mind....."Canada sucks! Toronto sucks! You guys suck!" etc. (Actually, according to William Hesmer, this was also the sophistication of the insults he received from the adult Torontonians, but that's not important for this anecdote.)
As Jeff Cunningham jogged toward the tunnel, the kids' tune changed slightly when confronted with the presence of the Crew's all-time goal scoring co-leader. "Toronto sucks! But Jeff, you're still cool!"
Cunningham stopped running and said, "I'm still cool?" Despite a tough and emotionally-charged loss, Cunningham plastered a smile on his face and gamely signed autographs for the young Crew fans before resuming his sprint to the locker room.
Home games before tax day
Crew GM Mark McCullers is a staunch believer that the Crew should not host any games before Tax Day on April 15. A quick look at the kick-off conditions for the last three openers seems to reinforce McCullers' point:
04/07/2007: Cloudy and 30 degrees.
04/15/2006: Sunny and 70 degrees.
04/02/2005: Rain and 37 degrees.
Considering that the Crew were opening their home schedule in March this year, Saturday's sunny skies and 46-degree temperatures had to be considered a blessing.
"We got really lucky," McCullers said while walking the field before the game. "This is as beautiful as you could hope for in March, and we're sitting squarely between two fronts right now. A day or two either way and it would have been miserable. I think the sunshine is a good omen. Ohio weather is hit or miss this time of year, and we were long overdue for a hit."
Nostra-Dant-us
Crew away-game television analyst Dante Washington had a brilliant day in terms of on-the-spot predictions while watching the game from the upper deck. In the 26th minute, Brian Carroll's aerial pass found Adam Moffat in the open field. As Moffat chested the ball into the acres of open space, Dante said "Goal" before Moffat even took his second controlling touch and uncorked the 25-yard laser that gave the Crew the lead. ("It's what he does," Dante offered after the high-fives had subsided.)
Later in the half, when the Hosers were awarded a penalty, Dante was relieved that Samuel was taking the penalty instead of Cunningham. "Samuel ran and grabbed the ball, and that's just crazy," he said. "He's going to miss. He's cold. He hasn't been involved in the game. Will's going to save it."
From Dante's mouth to Hesmer's hands.
Tucker's prediction
Dante wasn't the only one in the prediction game. Crew team administrator Tucker Walther confidently told me before the game that he was expecting the Crew to win "three or four to nothing."
Since the final score was 2-0, I asked if I should put him down as 50% right or 67% percent right.
"You should put me down as 100% right," he said. "The guys won. They got a shutout. And all of my goal predictions come with a built-in plus-minus of one goal. Since the guys scored two goals, it was within the plus-minus."
Yes, but Tucker said "three or four", not just "three."
"The actual pick was 3-0," he explained. "The 'or four' was just to demonstrate the plus-minus system. I didn't feel like I had to say 'three or four or two to nothing' since I thought you'd be smart enough to figure it out."
Okay. Fine. If Chris Bradley can make temperature predictions on the nightly news based upon a "Three Degree Guarantee", I suppose Tucker can make soccer predictions as the "Within One Score Guarantor."
DP Eddie
Eddie Gaven is entering his sixth MLS season, so sometimes it is easy to forget that he is only 21 years old and therefore still serves as the shy, soft-spoken, picked-upon kid brother to many of his teammates. (Along with Robbie Rogers, of course.)
The latest example occurred on media day. Fresh off a stint with the U.S. Olympic team, including a stoppage-time, game-winning goal from the penalty spot, Gaven's Crew teammates have teased him that he will be the Crew's high-priced Designated Player under the so-called Beckham Rule. To that end, Gaven has been given the nickname "DP Eddie."
When Gaven was called upon to do a TV interview, the team was immediately abuzz with chatter about DP Eddie soaking up the limelight and basking in the media's ever-present glow. Duncan Oughton, naturally, took it to another level by acting out what he imagined to be a typical DP Eddie television interview:
Duncan as interviewer: "Eddie, what does football mean to you?"
Duncan as DP Eddie: "What does football mean to me? I'll show you." (He reached into his pocket, pulled out an imaginary wallet, grabbed an imaginary wad of cash, and then created an imaginary two-handed fan-out of $100 bills.) "THIS is what football means to me."
Interior decorating
During the Metapan pre-season friendly, Dwight Burgess, Dante and I did a quality control check on one of the suites. ("Yep! Heater's working!") Inside the suite was a framed picture of Oughton in action. Dante looked at the picture and shook his head in dismay.
"That is the worst piece of interior decorating I have ever seen," Dante lamented.
Upon learning of Dante's comment, Oughton waved it off. "Dante miraculously comes up with these witty quips when I am a safe distance away," he scoffed. "He should be a man about it, but the big fella will not say them to my face because he knows the retaliation will be immense."
In the end, Duncan conceded it was strange that suite holders would be subjected to his likeness. "Maybe they are behind on their payments, and they don't get a better picture until they pay up."
Farewell, Jim
Saturday's official attendance was 13,843. Sadly, it should have been 13,844. On March 12, the Crew community lost a dear friend in Jim Nelson. Eleven days earlier, Jim went for a walk. He slipped on some ice and hit his head. He fell into a coma and never came back. I have given up trying to make sense of the senseless.
Some of you have met Jim, and those who have know that he was always a friendly presence at Crew events. The post-game scene in the tent seemed strange without him. I would occasionally chat with Jim after games. The best time to do so was after losses. Losses can be frustrating as a fan, and even more so as a journalist. Traipsing around a sullen locker room is never fun. But a quick chat with Jim could always be counted on to boost one's spirits. He'd be disappointed in the Crew's loss, but after a few jokes and a few doses of "we'll-get-'em-next-time...unless-we-don't," one couldn't help but chuckle at the patent absurdity of letting a soccer match sour one's disposition.
For those who never met Jim, if you own a Crew license plate for your car, or if you see one on the road, those plates were Jim's baby. He organized the petition drive and did all of the paperwork to make those license plates a reality. So every time you see a Crew license plate on the road, give a nod to Jim.
Gosh, it was this time last year that I was on a roll with Jim regarding content here in the Notebook. During the first Notebook of the season, I had made some sort of comment about the Katie Witham Stalker Club, in reference to those who admire the Columbus Sports Network reporter. Jim sent me an email saying that just because he grabbed her and tried to carry her away, it didn't make him a stalker. He attached a photo of himself carrying a smiling Katie.
The next home game, I had printed a comment from my good buddy Flick regarding a banner that read, "Brad Evans Down on the Pitch." It was clearly a play on the Bob Evans jingle, but Flick joked that "it's almost like that person is rooting for an injury. If Evans blows out his knee, the person who made that sign is going to look like a (jerk.)"
The day the comment was published, I got an email from, who else, Jim Nelson. See, Jim made and hung most of the banners displayed around Crew Stadium. "No, I'm not rooting for an injury," he wrote. "Geez...I think this team has had enough to last a few seasons into the future!"
When I talked to him in the tent after the next game, we joked that I had him under constant surveillance, which is how I was "unwittingly" coming up with Nelson-related Notebook topics.
Okay, I am babbling now. But I felt Jim deserved a section of the Notebook. He was a great ambassador for the team and a friend to every fan. He will be missed.
Rest in peace, Jim. I'd ask you to put in a good word with the soccer gods, but between a sunny day in March and saved penalty, it looks like you were already on it. Thanks.
Questions? Comments? Played high school soccer with me and randomly picked me out of a stadium crowd after 16 years? Feel free to write at sirk65@yahoo.comSteve Sirk is a contributor to TheCrew.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
