The Streamer Issue (Otherwise known as Streamergate)

My comments to Morgan Campbell on his posting "Pardon the streamers":

"I like streamers. If players are not going to be showered by money in the MLS at the very least they should be allowed to experience the joy of being showered by colourful, swirling paper of another kind. There is a beautiful symbiosis in this. People are just taking pot-shots at the best run team in the MLS. I say more streamers next game. And more goals like the Velez header on that beautiful ball from Robert. And more wins. And someday soon, a trophy. And then...more streamers."

Beautiful ball by Robert

I couldn't believe how open Marco Velez was for TFC's lone goal against New York on Thursday when I saw it live from my seat in section 122.

At the time I attributed it to poor defending.


But post-match everyone was talking about the beautiful ball played in by lefty Laurent Robert.

Said Coach John Carver who was in close proximity to Robert in the technical area:

"It was a great header, a great ball in by Laurent..."

Said Velez:

"I made eye contact with Laurent and he took a quick free kick and he found me inside the box."

As you can see from the video, it was a great, quick ball. And to think I for most of the match kept telling my buddy beside me that I didn't think Robert was doing much out on the wing.

Info Source 1 / Info Source 2 /

Streamer in the wind

Last night TFC drew with NY Red Bull 1-1 in what was a meeting of two evenly matched opponents.

It felt more like fall than spring out there in Section 122 and for a while my buddy and I thought it was going to snow.

Before the game he was bemoaning the fact that he hadn't brought a hat - thinking it was going to rain. But by the end of the match I was complaining about the fact that I hadn't brought gloves to combat the cold wind coming off of the lake - gloves my buddy had remembered to bring.

My beautiful TFC scarf did help to keep me warm - so that's what those things are for !

But it wasn't really THAT cold. It was cold enough to remind you of how beautiful it is to watch football while exposed to all of the elements that nature has to offer. The only thing missing was a natural grass pitch - the smell of which always arouses the senses.

But the plastic pitch is what allows us to have football year round here so I won't complain. The setting last night was beautiful enough.

And I've just recalled a particularly beautiful moment in the middle of the second half where a long, red streamer got caught up in the swirling wind at mid-field and did a long dance there for us.

It seemed a happy streamer, dancing there, embodying the relentless joy of TFC fans...