BRADLEY AND ALTIDORE ON WRONG END OF ABUSE
Something is definitely vile about fan taunts directed at Toronto FC’s American stars
For two minutes Monday night, it was Michael Bradley against the entire “South Ward.”
Toronto FC’s captain stood in front of New York’s unhinged supporters group, gazing up at Red Bull Arena’s south stand as thousands unleashed a string of obscenities toward him.
Shirtless bros with their guts exposed raised double guns in an effort to show their over-the-top dislike for the U.S. captain, who began his professional career in New Jersey more than a decade ago.
“F— you, Bradley!” Reverberated on repeat inside the venue after Jozy Altidore received the same distasteful taunts throughout TFC’s massive 2-1 victory.
Needless to say, the level of vitriol seemed disproportional, almost vile.
Blamed for the United States’ World Cup failings, Toronto FC’s American duo shrugged off constant booing last week in Atlanta, where kid-friendly signage along a sideline rail referred to Bradley and Altidore as “big losers.”
It was the kind of heckle one might expect following such a disappointment.
Perhaps it was appropriate. There are repercussions when athletes and entertainers fall short of expectations.
“I’ve been dealing with this since I was young, It’s not going away any time soon ” Altidore said in Georgia. Or, like Altidore usually says, “It is what it is.”
But something about Monday night — maybe the venom, the hatred, the vulgarity — bothered him.
Was a line crossed?
“I thought it was a little bit classless,” Altidore said following TFC’s first playoff game, adding he “gave a lot” to New York when he first broke into MLS.
“There’s no loyalty anymore. I guess all bets are off,” he added.
You could sense the disappointment from a player — undoubtedly one of his country’s best — who inarguably is admired more in Canada and the Netherlands than he is back home.
All this despite being just the third American with 40 international goals and his country’s co-leading World Cup qualifying scorer (18) at 27 years old.
In other words, pinning the United States’ failings on Altidore makes no sense when you consider what he’s done compared to his fellow countrymen.
“Being disappointed with the World Cup, I get, I understand,” Altidore said. “The other stuff is a bit disappointing. I never was disrespectful towards these people. (New York’s) my first club. I have so much admiration for the club.”
He shouldn’t anymore. And neither should Bradley.
Quite frankly, the Red Bulls should be embarrassed by a fan display that became cringeworthy as it persisted before and after halftime.
Heck, American fans have turned to treating their own players — some of their best players — worse than they treat Mexican and Costa Rican opposition.
Did New York fans jeer Bryan Ruiz to that extent when Costa Rica knocked off the Yanks in a massive World Cup qualifier back in September?
Again, this wasn’t the kind of harmless jeering and jawing that occurred last week in Atlanta. It was something more — something that obviously stuck with Altidore.
“Nobody suffers more than the players,” Altidore said of missing the World Cup. “I get fans, they put a lot into it. We are nothing without our fans. But at the end of it, the biggest losers are the players and the program.”
Coach Greg Vanney described the consistent vitriol against two of his top players as nothing more than a “nonsensical” fad, a trend that will pass.
He questions some of the blame placed on his players by many American fans across MLS, who are ignorant to the idea Bradley and Altidore probably are two of the best players they’ve had.
Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch said as much earlier this season, arguing Bradley deserves that kind of respect and recognition.
“I think Michael should start to enter into the conversation for the best American player ever,” he said. “His game is so complete. He has become such an amazing leader for that (U.S.) team.”
Yet there’s a bizarre kind of hatred among American audiences for TFC’s aforementioned stars. They’re held to an unattainable standard while fellow U.S. internationals somehow avoid the same nastiness.
All the while, Toronto FC supporters squint across the border and shake their heads after witnessing what the American duo have brought to this city.
Ask TFC fans and they’ll tell you they wouldn’t take anyone else in the league right now.
Michael (Bradley) should start to enter into the conversation for the best American player ever. His game is so complete. JESSE MARSCH, Red Bulls coach