Northern lights the way in Bradley’s MVP chase
We’re divided by more than the 49th parallel and our divergent opinion of Nickelback. Donut holes, too.
It’s become crystal clear that Canadian and American soccer fans have vastly different opinions of Michael Bradley.
The American expat isn’t just respected in Canada’s largest metropolis, he’s the face of a franchise, an icon when it comes to soccer in Toronto. It’s not the same in the U.S. Not at Mapfre Stadium, certainly, where Bradley and the Yanks have featured — and won — on a number of big World Cup qualifying days.
As e xpected, Bradley was roundly booed during Tuesday night’s goalless Eastern Conference final in Columbus. Just like he was in New York and, before that, Atlanta.
One could argue he’s the most hated man in U. S. Soccer — a tier above embattled President Sunil Gulati and ex-coach Bruce Arena.
Yet TFC’s general, the club’s captain, is widely respected in the Big Smoke for being the linchpin that helped morph the Reds from perennial losers to MLS Cup favourites in three seasons.
Victor Vazquez might be TFC’s “most outstanding” player this season.
Jozy Altidore might be Toronto’s “Best Attacking” player this year.
While Sebastian Giovinco retains the award for “Most Talented,” Bradley undoubtedly has been Toronto’s “Most Valuable Player” this season.
Anyone watching Tuesday night knows Bradley’s name deserves to be on the league’s MVP shortlist ahead of Giovinco.
His ability to control tempo and slow things down amid the chaos of a road playoff fixture is something that doesn’t show up on stat sheets or post-game highlight reels.
The role he played in stymieing the Crew in their building was overlooked because it’s impossible to quantify how he directs traffic and communicates.
Toronto FC needed one of its bigger players to be even bigger Tuesday night with Altidore and Giovinco watching from a nearby suite.
Imagine if roles were reversed and the Atomic Ant was playing alone without Bradley and Vazquez in supporter roles. Toronto FC likely would have been on the brink of elimination.
Instead, the Reds accomplished what Bradley boldly stated they needed to do — what Bradley wouldn’t let them fail to do.
“The mindset isn’t different ( without Seba and Jozy). The mindset is to win,” Bradley said with a tone and deadpan that Canadian MLS fans have come to appreciate.
South of the border, however, it’s viewed differently by those with an anti- Bradley slant who repeatedly pin the United States’ failings on their captain.
He’s been called everything f rom arrogant to entitled to money- hungry while attempting to establish a legacy in a market that respects him instead of a country that’s turned on him.
Truth be told, it’s been a hell of a lot of fun watching him hold less and less back when asked to comment on the shade that’s constantly thrown his way.
Bradley fired back earlier this year when Fox Sports pundit Alexi Lalas took a shot at him.
“You make sure you don’t forget who the ( people) along the way are who had a lot to say,” Bradley responded. “One of the recent ( sayings) that I’ve seen that I like is, ‘ The lion doesn’t care about the opinion of the sheep.’ ”
After being jeered by 72,000 fans in Atlanta last month, Bradley smiled when responding to The Canadian Press.
“I hadn’t been on the field for two steps and I had a few nice things yelled at me,” he said.
Then Bradley stood up for his teammates after the New York series almost didn’t go their way.
“They feel like the only chance they have is to stir things up and make trouble,” he said of the Red Bulls.
He followed that up by taking a parting shot at Columbus Tuesday night before exiting Mapfre Stadium.
“I’ve got bigger things to worry about than whether a few people in Columbus don’t like me,” Bradley said of the constant boos he received.
They dislike him even more after he nonchalantly said the Crew have “fallen behind” other MLS markets in terms of atmosphere and attendance.
Telling the truth is something he’s revered for in Toronto, a place he’s called “home” for multiple seasons.
“Now we get to go back ( home) next week in front of 30,000 people with the season on the line,” Bradley added.
It’s bizarre to think the United States’ captain returns to Canada to earn the respect he deserves.