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With the “Black Shirts At BMO” protest now in the books, TFC supporters have made their voice heard regarding their unhappiness with the decision of Toronto FC’s owners to allow the Toronto Argonauts to move in to BMO Field. MLSE and the Toronto FC brass have no doubt heard how empty, lifeless and drab the expanded stadium is when supporters groups aren’t displaying their passion in the south end.
It is now expected that most Reds supporters and fans won’t make their voices heard as loudly again until the end of the season when they will have to decide whether they want to renew their season’s tickets for 2016 in order to continue to watch matches played on a pitch that is likely to be destroyed by the Argos in an expanded but neutered stadium that is no longer soccer-specific.
In all cases, the decision to renew will likely be a personal decision that will come down to many factors. For some the betrayal inherent in the Argos decision will be too much for some to overcome. For others the idea of leaving behind the ritual of attending Reds matches for any reason is something they will never consider. However, many others will likely get past the Argos move should Toronto FC deliver the goods on the pitch this season while qualifying for playoffs for the first time and playing exciting, attractive soccer.
In that vein, Sebastian Giovinco could very likely be Toronto FC’s saving grace.
Add another miserable year akin to season’s past to the decision to make the Argonauts co-tenants in Canada’s National Soccer Stadium and the end result would likely have been thousands of people finally giving up on TFC for good.
However, in the Atomic Ant the Reds now have a player who has the potential to be arguably the most talented, entertaining, likable and dominant in recent Toronto sports history.
In his first 10 games with Toronto FC, the Turin, Italy native has more than lived up to the hype. He has been everything and more that both TFC supporters and MLSE could have hoped for. As the highest paid player in the league, the Italian International has been worth every penny and he could even be considered underpaid given his importance to TFC at this point in the club’s history.
In terms of entertainment value, forget Jermaine Defore, as Giovinco is the real bloody big deal. He scores dazzling goals and threads passes that are poetic in nature. I don’t imagine there is a soccer fan anywhere that wouldn’t be left breathless by his ability with the ball at his feet or his propensity to receive a long pass with a touch that suggests that he was born with some type of magnet in his feet.
Add in the fact, that is Italian is very likable, genuine and friendly and the contrast to the mercurial Defoe is even more substantial.
It’s often been said that Toronto sports fans are most enamoured of players with a big heart and a blue collar work rate. However, in Giovinco TFC now has a player who plays with passion and character that also has the talent of a Wayne Gretzky or Vince Carter to go along with heart and showmanship of a Junk Yard Dog. He is so good that he doesn’t only have the potential to re-engage cynical footie fans, but also attract people who aren’t hardcore soccer fans or even sports fans who haven’t really given TFC a chance yet.
Even with Toronto supporters intent on remaining deathly silent during the first twenty-four minutes of Saturday’s match, there was a sense that with the display that Giovinco was putting on that it was taking all of their resolve to not cheer and jump up and down with a passion not seen at BMO Field since TFC’s first year in MLS.
Soccer sceptics might point to the 1-0 scoreline for Saturday’s game and trot out the worn out old line that the game is too low scoring and dull compared to North American sports. However, for anyone that watched Saturday’s match, it can’t be argued that the full ninety minutes was an exciting spectacle mostly due to industry, guile and genuine talent of Giovinco. He generated scoring chance after scoring chance and likely induced a sense of vertigo in the Timbers back line.
On a day when the plan for many was to mourn rather than have fun, watching Giovinco was undeniably fun.
In a nutshell, Sebastian Giovinco is a fine wine that should be enjoyed, appreciated and savoured. Regardless of where you stand with respect to the future of TFC and BMO Field, the uber-talented Italian is here now and he is both worth the price of admission and worthy of the attention of all Toronto sports fans.
With all the negativity that has often surrounded TFC over the course of the club’s history, it is not hyperbole to suggest that the best thing to ever happen to club is now wearing now number 10 in a Toronto FC kit. On multiple levels, Toronto will go only as far as former Juventus star can lift them.
Simply put, enjoy Giovinco while you can.
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