Rebuilding Fan Loyalty At Toronto FC

Let's just lay out the cards for everyone; it has been a horrendous start to the regular season for Toronto FC. Winless in five games, yet to score a goal at home, things are as close to bottom for the club. Fans in Toronto are frustrated by not only the lack of success of Toronto FC, but by another season without the playoffs for the Toronto Maple Leafs and another lost season for the Toronto Raptors. Not quite at the same level as Buffalo or Cleveland, but Toronto is becoming a tortured sports city.

TFC Tidbits - March 28, 2012

What a difference four days make? Fresh off a lifeless and arguably pathetic performance against the San Jose Earthquakes, TFC bounces back with a passionate, dogged and determined effort against the top team in Mexico, Santos Laguna, in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals.

TFC Tidbits - March 24, 2012

After each Toronto FC game, PBP will provide 5 quick hitters on the match, the atmosphere and anything else that occurred at BMO Field.

Football Fashion: 2012 MLS Jerseys

MLS training camps are opening up this week, and with any season, we are all treated to new jerseys. Let's take a look at the 2012 kits for the upcoming MLS season. As you may or may not catch, not all the teams are listed as we are still waiting for a couple more teams to release their new jerseys.

What is your favorite? In my opinion I am partial to the new home jersey for the LA Galaxy. The sash is a great touch.

The MLS Cup . . . The Day After

A day after the MLS Cup and I am still cold. Even though I was fully draped in a Canada Goose jacket, toque, gloves and fully liquidated with a couple cold beverages it was a cold and windy night at BMO Field in Toronto. Most of you who follow football are familiar that the Colorado Rapids won the big trophy at the end courtesy of a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas due to an own goal from George 'Lil' John in extra time. But here are five key take-aways from the game.

MLS Cup In Toronto - Convincing Friends To Attend

COLORADO! DALLAS! SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY! MLS CUP EXCITEMENT ONLY IN TORONTO! CATCH THE MADNESS, CATCH THE TASTE! SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!

My friend and I have five tickets to this Sunday's MLS Cup Final at BMO Field. The game features the Colorado Rapids, champions of the Eastern Conference, yeah it makes no sense to me either, against FC Dallas, champions of the Western Conference. Both teams have never won the MLS Cup so a first time winner will emerge from BMO Field on Sunday night. The game should be a showcase event for the MLS, but I have to be honest, no one cares in Toronto and that's a shame.

Toronto FC - Arabe Unido

The fellas at Toronto FC Television put this highlight pack together illustrating the diving and rolling around that occurred in the Concacaf Champions League match last Tuesday against Arabe Unido. I cannot truly describe how amazing this video is and the music just adds that something extra. Ahhh, the joke of Concacaf continues . . . . 

TFC - NYRB Quick Hitter

After yesterday's thrashing at the hands of the New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC find themselves outside the playoff picture and will need to start picking up points on the road to give themselves at a shot at the playoffs. Regardless BMO Field is still the best play to watch an MLS match and have the best fans, even though they were slightly subpar in comparison to Tuesday's CCL match against Cruz Azul. Furthermore, the reception for ex-TFC player Carl Robinson was class and the fact that he did not celebrate his goal further illustrates his own level of class. Anyways, here is a picture from the game with Anthony, Yasir and myself.

MLS All-Star Game Quick Thoughts

Tonight the MLS All-Stars took on Manchester United at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. For the MLS, Manchester United represented their toughest opposition at an all-star event since when they battled Chelsea about four years ago.

The game was played in front of 70K fans and is considered to be the four largest North American audience to watch an all-star game live. Congrats, big accomplishments there kids. By the way the MLS lost 5-2. Here are some quick thoughts on the match:

1. Don't Tell Me It Is An Exhibition

At the end of the day, this match was shown throughout the world considering the popularity of Manchester United and should have been a platform for the MLS to showcase its talent and level of play. However, the MLS laid an egg against a youth team from Manchester. Granted some first-team players played for Manchester United but all of the goals scored where from reserve players and youth team players. In my opinion, the MLS should of taken the time to choose their players based on form and quality rather than star power, and built a team that would have been able to compete against a top tier squad. Granted it is one match, but one match in the US especially after the World Cup would have led to more exposure to the sport in North America. If, for example, the MLS was able to tie the Red Devils or perhaps win the game, it would have been the lead story on ESPN's SportsCenter and front page news through the continent.

2. Attendance Figures Don't Matter

I love how Don Garber, commissioner of the MLS, took the mike and declared that this was a success because it was the fourth-largest attendance for an all-star game. Does he know that most all-star games take place at NHL/NBA arenas and MLB stadiums? The only exception to the rule was the NBA All-Star Game in Dallas and that outdrew this event. Congratulations on the achievement, but really we all could manipulate stats to say that we are the fourth best at something. Did you know that I am the fourth best Greek Canadian at left handed pool north of Bloor Street in Toronto? Amazing!

3. MLS Scheduling Is Garbage

If you are professional sports team in North America, usually you are given a couple days off before and after the all-star game. Some leagues call this the all-star break, while in the NFL the Pro Bowl is held at the end of the season. Did you know that the Los Angeles Galaxy and Toronto FC both played the night before in critical Concacaf Champions League matches? Furthermore, the Seattle Sounders are playing their CCL match at the same time the all-star game is taking place. This is an absolute joke, because no professional team in North America should ever schedule a game before, after and during their mid-season showcase event.

I apologize for the rant, but please enjoy the highlights below; the Manchester United goals are spectacular. Oh by the way, these highlights are better quality than the actual coverage GOLTV Canada had for the match.

Titi In New York

Thierry Henry has signed for the New York Red Bulls and he will debut against his old EPL rival Tottenham Hotspur on July 22nd. Many will probably assume that this is another David Beckham deal, an aging ex-superstar coming over to North America for a final payday. However, this is a different type of deal.

Here is the big difference, Henry is a soccer star, while Beckham is star who plays soccer. That is the key! Signing Henry could be more of a watershed in the soccer world than Beckham’s was. He is the most accomplished player in Premier League history. He has won the World Cup, the European Championship and the Champions League. Furthermore, Henry could bring along former teammates, such as Patrick Viera and Robert Pires to the MLS. He could make MLS a legitimate option for the moderately diminished stars of tomorrow.

Beckham increased awareness, but has been mostly a lucrative sideshow considering his reality show, Victoria Beckham and quest for final glory with the English national team. Henry should give MLS a chance to build and market its own product. The timing of the move is perfect, as there’s zero chance of Henry hijacking the league to promote his outrageous return to the France squad for 2014.

Below are the best goal from Thierry Henry's career with Arsenal, this is just fabulous and I could watch this forever!

Join Me At BMO Field

Loyal Readers,

Are you bored? Missing football? Stuck celebrating Canada Day at a cottage while enjoying the warm weather? Wherever you may be join me at BMO Field, well you can't join me since you probably don't have a ticket, but regardless football is on television in North America. If you can spot me on your television I will send you a footie prize pack, seriously!

Enjoy!

Game - Toronto FC v. Houston Dynamo

Time - 7:00 P.M. EST

Channel - ESPN2 (USA) & Sportsnet (Canada)