An ode to a decade of Toronto FC
Do you remember when news of Toronto FC's existence first spread through the city? When the name "Inter Toronto" was trashed in favour of a more palatable "FC" and the colour red was chosen for Canada's first MLS team?
What did you make of the first crop of players on Mo Johnston's 2007 team? Of Jim Brennan, the club's first signing, or of Carl Robinson, Maurice Edu, Marvell Wynne, Greg Sutton, and the countless others who forged their names in TFC lore?
What did opposition players make of the unprecedented atmosphere at BMO Field, when their backs were painted with red and white streamers for the egregious act of taking a corner kick?
Of seat cushions blocking out the sun as Danny Dichio made history in 24 minutes, an entire city swelling with pride at last?
Of the carousel of chaos, coaches sacked left and right, front office ineptitude, on-field embarrassments, countless names, and countless faces?
What did you make of Collin Samuel's midriff? Of Gabe Gala scoring against Real Madrid? Of Chad Barrett's hustle, often unrewarded? Of Nick Garcia's disastrous career end? Of Nana Attakora's breakthrough start?
Do you remember when Rohan Ricketts rolled into town? Rick Titus' cameo? Adrian Cann, Adrian Serioux, and the Canadians who returned to live a new dream?
Do you remember how you felt when Dwayne De Rosario came home?
When he scored his first goal of many?
When his hat-trick paved the road to silverware and painted the picture now known as the Miracle in Montreal?
When he was joined by Julian De Guzman in midfield?
When he and teammates faltered in New York on that rainy evening?
When he was traded away on April Fools' Day?
When he was replaced by Maicon Santos, Nick LaBrocca, Miguel Mista, Joao Plata, Ryan Johnson, and the countless others who tried, and failed, to claim Toronto as their kingdom?
How cool was it to see Torsten Frings wear a Toronto FC shirt with pride? To see the unknown Danny Koevermans become a hero?
How proud were Torontonians when Matt Stinson, Oscar Cordon, Doneil Henry, Ashtone Morgan, Keith Makubuya, and Nicholas Lindsay donned the red shirts of their home town?
How hurt were you, then, when Frings and Koevermans faded away, when Aron Winter brought with him little but winter's cold, when Paul Mariner waxed on about black cats named "Stuart Pearce" as fate toyed with broken hearts?
When Toronto FC was "the worst team in the world?"
Was Andrew Wiedeman really the best finisher in the modern era?
Was Terry Dunfield's goal on that rainy night chance, or destiny?
Remember Robert Earnshaw's backflips? Jonathan Osorio coming to Toronto, and becoming its favourite son? The good days, and the bad?
Why did Ryan Nelson bring on Maximiliano Urruti, only to trade him away 37 days later?
Was Gilberto kidding when he said he would score 20-plus goals?
Was Jermaine Defoe really the "Bloody Big Deal?"
It was Michael Bradley all along.
He's led this team to newfound heights. He's seen many teammates come and go; some, like Julio Cesar, passed by only for a moment, but saw, even then, the signs of something great.
Toronto FC had, finally, grown into a formidable team.
TFC needed a man seeking similar redemption, and found it in Jozy Altidore.
The team needed an icon, and found it in Sebastian Giovinco.
The club needed a coach to guide them, putting aside his own ego, his own dreams, his own desires, for the full sacrifice of the club; in Greg Vanney, the club found exactly that.
It's taken Toronto FC a decade to get to the MLS Cup final, when it's taken many, many teams far less time and afforded fans much less agony in doing so.
It took a come-from-behind effort, time and time and time again, against all odds, against the toughest opponents, even against bitter rival Montreal.
Here now the Reds stand one match away from glory.
To those who were there when it first began, this day is for you.
