Dwayne De Rosario is very talented.
Let’s start the conversation there. No matter whether you’re a DeRo person or if you fall on the MeRo side of the debate, you should be able to agree to that. You don’t score 16 goals and add 12 assists unless you have talent.
And as much as fans want to hold onto the idea that the MVP award is actually for the most valuable player to his team it’s not. It’s for the best player in the league in a given season. In 2011, DeRo was MLS’ best player.
However, with De Rosario nothing is simple. What should be a proud day for Canadian soccer fans is clouded by people’s perspective on the intangibles that surround the player - the cheque signing, the perception that he doesn’t show up for Canada (which is patently ludicrous), three teams in one year, cancer in the room, etc.
DeRo is a complex athlete and there are few observers of the game in Canada that don’t have a strong opinion of him one way or another.
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However, today is not a day to dwell on the negatives. The truth is that DeRo has had a remarkable career in MLS and today’s award can be viewed as a celebration of that. Four times he’s won the MLS Cup, he scored a MLS Cup golden goal, won a golden boot, was playoff MVP twice and now he’s the league MVP. If MLS had a Hall of Fame he’d be a first ballot lock. And, he still likely has a few years left in him.
For a Canadian to accomplish that is something to be celebrated.
With today’s win, DeRo has captured pretty much everything he can in MLS. Debate can turn to his place amongst the all-time best in the league. On that front, as it was with the MVP vote, there will likely be no consensus. The debate, however, will be interesting.
It always is with DeRo.