It's not his fault: MLS Cup referee Baldomero Toledo -- who was widely excoriated for his lax officiating during Sunday's Colorado-Dallas clash -- has come out in defence of his performance in the league's showcase match.
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"I was told this was a very special game, we were in Canada for the final," Toledo said. "I figure, it's Canada, November, these fans don't want soccer. They want a fistfight. Like hockey. So I did what I could. I really thought Conor (Casey) and Ugo (Ihemelu) were going to go at it. They didn't. What, were they afraid of red cards? I never give out red cards."
Added Toledo: "Also, it was damn cold. I didn't want to take my hands out of my pockets."
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Quality over quantity, or something: Major League Soccer is hailing the overnight ratings for MLS Cup 2010 as a runaway success. The league sent out a press release Tuesday morning, reading in part:
"MLS Cup 2010 was, without question, the most-watched championship game is league history according to a vast array of metrics, including:
- Games involving FC Dallas
- Games won by the Colorado Rapids
- Games played in Canada
- Games with which Matthew Good had anything to do whatsoever
- Games of which the Toronto sports media was actually aware
- Games played in a 16-team MLS
- Games decided by an own goal
We look forward to setting a whole new variety of records next year at MLS Cup 2011, between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Sporting Kansas, in Tallahassee, Florida."
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Stranger than fiction: The league's championship game was decided on a play in extra time in which a substitute striker's toe-poke took a deflection off of a defender and turned into an own goal. At the precise moment of the toe-poke, said striker injured himself and was forced to leave the game, bringing his team down to 10 men for the remainder of extra time. Then, with mere moments left in the game, the defender guilty of the own goal cleanly struck a shot at the opposing goal from 12 yards out, only to have it parried away at the last moment by a goalkeeper whose visage approximates the offspring of a member of System of a Down and a billy goat.
Sometimes this stuff just writes itself.
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Speaking of billy goats: Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens, upon hearing the final whistle, immediately turned to the traveling Rapids supporters behind him in the north stands at BMO Field, and let out a mighty, cathartic roar. Pickens spoke on Tuesday about his reaction.
"I was actually trying to taunt the Dallas fans on the other side, but I lost my bearings," he said. "I apologize if there were any small children among our fans who got frightened."
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Saving the best: After refusing to grant media access in the run-up to MLS Cup, FC Dallas striker Jeff Cunningham finally broke his silence on Tuesday, speaking about his team's agonizing fall-from-ahead defeat -- and his oh-so-close last-second attempt at goal that was cleared off the line by Colorado defender Drew Moor.
"Being back in Toronto, and hearing that reception from the crowd, I wanted to remind the fans what I'm all about. And I think I did that."
Cunningham says the loss won't be his final game, especially as he is only two goals short of the all-time lead in MLS scoring.
"To make sure I have time to reach that record, I'm hoping for a new five-year contract... maybe six," said Cunningham.
The Reserve Squad attempted to reach former Toronto FC coach John Carver for comment; however, all phone numbers provided had been disconnected.
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Winter Wonderland: After suggesting on Sunday that the league would be looking at the possibility of a fall-winter-spring schedule, MLS commissioner Don Garber responded Tuesday to some of the criticisms of the plan -- specifically, the impracticality of playing in the winter months in Canada and the northern U.S.
"Look," said Garber. "I understand the weather concerns. We're looking at a lot of different options. Perhaps the northern teams could play their winter games in southern climates. A split schedule of some kind. For instance, maybe Montreal could play half of their games in, I dunno, Puerto Rico or something"
Minutes after Garber's comments, Montreal Impact fans could be seen burning an effigy of Garber on rue St-Catherine. Youppi was taken away in handcuffs, The Reserve Squad has been told.