In the beginning of the 2012 season, Toronto FC picked up quite a few important figures for their latest campaign – Reggie Lambe came over from England, Luis Silva was drafted fourth overall in the SuperDraft, and Logan Emory swapped the orange shirt of Puerto Rico for Toronto FC red.
Yet, amidst the numerous signings, one particular acquisition stands out – one Rachel Bonnetta (@rachelbonnetta), winner of the TFC Dream Job contest and brand ambassador for the club. Rachel quickly made a name for herself with her Toronto FC TV feature, 6 in 60, which gives Toronto FC fans six important notes for each week of action at BMO Field (in 60 seconds, thus the name!).
Rachel Bonnetta spoke to RedNation Online in an impromptu interview sparked from sheer boredom and mid-day Tweeting. We asked Rachel the tough questions about her experience with Toronto FC, her favourite moments of 2012, and her expectations for 2013.
Armen Bedakian (AB): Rachel, you won the TFC Dream Job Contest, and it looks like you’ll be back for your second season – tell us, what has been your highlight moment of your first year with Toronto FC?
Rachel Bonnetta (RB): Yeah, sure! Let’s start off with the hardest question, why not?
I have so many moments that I replay over and over in my head every week, so I’m just going to go through them. Let’s make it five, my top five (in no particular order):
- When I won: standing on the field in front of thousands of people while they called my name was UNREAL! Looking back at my mom who was jumping up and down with excitement – it’s something I will NEVER forget.
- My first trip to Montreal was amazing. It was the first time I had ever had a hotel room to myself. I even took a picture of it I was so excited! (I’m from a small town, can't ya tell?)
- Meeting Buddy, the Cake Boss was wicked! I was flown to New York City to pick up a cake that Buddy had made for a lucky soccer mom who was also a Toronto FC fan. I got to go and make a video about it and interview him. So cool!
- Terry Dunfield scoring against his old team, the Whitecaps, in stoppage time. I had brought my mom to that game with me and I was sitting with her in the stands, everyone went frickin’ NUTS, screaming, jumping up and down. It was so much fun!
- I got to go to Los Angeles at the end of the year to watch TFC play the Galaxy. I had never been before and it was a cool time for me, the season was finishing up, it was so surreal to be in Hollywood and look back on my year with Toronto FC. I was very proud of myself and everything I had accomplished; it was a weekend I will never forget.
AB: The TFC Dream Job also had an away game listed as a prize – tell us, Rachel, which game did you choose, and how did that experience go?
RB: I went to LA at the end of the year to watch TFC play the Galaxy. It was awesome because I had never been and I was in the middle of writing my year-end video and putting it all together so I got to shoot a bunch of stuff while I was there. The video gave me an excuse to see a bunch of cool stuff like the Hollywood sign, go to the beach in Santa Monica; it was all really great.
AB: Toronto FC has had some pretty outstanding video series before – Rollin’ with Ricketts the most noteworthy; what’s the best part of working on weekly videos alongside the impeccable Asif Hossain?
RB: HA impeccable! I like your wording. Asif is amazing to work with. He has also become a very good friend of mine. However, my favourite part about the videos that I am in (6 in 60, for instance) is that they are completely mine. I write, edit, produce and shoot them all on my own. You can usually see me wandering around the stadium a few days before the match with my tripod and camera.
AB: Having spent some time behind the scenes, do you now have a favourite Toronto FC player?
RB: They are all awesome, super nice and down-to-earth. I love this city and all the fans that come with it. But, if I had to say: Terry Dunfield, because he’s an awesome player, scored one of my favourite goals this year against his old team Vancouver, and the things that I have seen him do for his fans behind the scenes make me root for him even more.
AB: You spent some time in New York this offseason, working with KICK TV! Tell us about that experience?
RB: It was awesome! I love New York – it’s one of the most amazing cities in the entire world (aside from T.O of course)! But I really loved it; the guys at KICK were so nice and fun to work with. And it was kind of cool to do international soccer instead of just one team – I learned a lot.
AB: Besides Toronto FC, which soccer outfit(s) do you like and/or follow?
RB: I am a big fan of Arsenal. I have three older brothers that I have looked up to my entire life and one of them used to be a huge Arsenal fan. I remember when I was younger he would teach me all the cheers and we would annoy the hell out of our parents. That team has kind of just stuck with me while I grew up!
AB: You’ve been on-camera quite a bit, but let’s go a bit deeper: tell us three things about yourself that Toronto FC fans don’t know.
RB:
1) I HATE BIRDS! HATE HATE HATE!
2) I spend most of my spare time in the gym.
3) I love ketchup seasoning for popcorn so much that I even have a spare packet in my purse.
AB: What are you looking forward to the most in 2013?
RB: Hmmm, I’m not too sure. This time last year I was a server at a restaurant so I really have no idea what is even in front of me. I am for sure looking forward to this season with TFC, I am lucky enough to be back for one more season so just having a job is great. Looking forward to working with KICK a bit more in the upcoming months and I have also started my own YouTube channel.
I like to think that I have some skill writing comedy so my channel will most likely consist of me making an arse of myself but that’s ok. As long as I get views!
AB: Big Bang Theory, The Office or How I Met Your Mother?
RB: The Office makes me chuckle, but my favourite TV show would either have to be Breaking Bad or Workaholics. I know, I know – complete opposites.
AB: What food/dish can you never say no to, even if you just sat through a 15-course dinner?
RB: PIZZA! There’s a reason I spend all my time at the gym; if I didn’t, I’d be a heffer.
AB: Have you tried the BMO Field Chip Butty?
RB: Haha! I have not, which is surprising because I eat like a pig. That will definitely be on the ‘to do’ list this season. Maybe I’ll make a video of it – who knows?
AB: Lastly, because we always have to ask – who’s better: FC Barcelona or Real Madrid?
RB: Real Madrid and I’ll give you one reason: Cristiano Ronaldo
Thank you to Rachel Bonnetta and best of luck in 2013!
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