I was and am a big supporter of Julian de Guzman during his time in Toronto. He was often under appreciated for his role on the field. The designated player tag comes often at the peril of its recipients and JDG, as the first DP with Toronto, certainly became a victim of that status.
Even when his critics were at their harshest - calling him uninterested, overpaid and a piece that didn't fit - I tried to point out his benefits. A defensive midfielder often goes unnoticed and if they're doing their job, it's a fair bet that's what they'll be - unnoticed. That's why, in the interest of fairness, as the Julian era begins to be dissected and the history written, that I feel it's neccesary to provide some balance to that context I have carried.
This kind of reporting does not come easy - too often the press can get carried away in a singular incident, building it beyond its moment into something far worse - but I feel this carries some weight.
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On June 23, Toronto took on New England. It was just the third game since Aron Winter had been fired after a disastrous start to the 2012 season and Paul Mariner was now in charge. The Reds carried the play for much of the match and led 2-0 heading into the final 20 minutes. In the 71st minute, some awfully pedestrian defending by DeGuzman directly allowed New England back into the game with their first goal. Most already know the end of this story and the Revolution equalized in the closing moments. For supporters, who had seen much of the same the week before as Houston stormed back from a two goal deficit, it was flooring. You could feel the collective air - bouyed by Armed Forces day - sucked out of the stadium that day.
As Toronto fans went home dejected by another gut wrenching finish, the Reds first ever designated player went out on the town to party.
As I said off the hop, the press can have a tendency to blow things beyond proportions. But given that for the second game in a row Toronto had given up a late game two goal lead, in a season where there was very little to cheer for and any result would have been a reason to celebrate, to see their star (and sometimes captain) throwing a blow out cruise party following the disappointment certainly sent the wrong message.
It will lend fuel to the fire that during his time in Toronto he was less than committed to his craft and more interested in the lifestyle it afforded him. It perhaps even lends context to Paul Mariner's cryptic, somewhat disparaging, comments about the player since his departure.
It matters little now that he has moved on to another squad. Less than three weeks after the 'De Guzzi Boat Party' he was shipped off to Dallas for a prospect and what largely amounts to salary cap space. Those that saw him for the player he was will continue to follow that line of logic. Those that didn't will just use this as another reason to say good riddance.
One thing is clear though, Julian's time in Toronto wasn't black and white, despite what the immediate historians would have you believe. He was neither deserving of the local whipping boy tag, just as he was never the under appreciated football saint some wanted him to be. Myself included in the latter.
Julian was Julian. A talented local player, towards the end of his career, who could never have, and didn't, live up to the hype that comes with that status.
He wasn't the first to follow that storyline. But, as it did with Dwayne DeRosario, this one too ends on a 'Lonely Island.'