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  • The DeRo has landed


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    In a half-lit main corridor of Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, with a ceiling full of wooden beer kegs on one side and a line of washrooms to the other, a patient line of 200 Toronto FC fans lined up to greet the dawning of their favourite team’s new day.

    Dwayne DeRosario, hair in handsome cornrows, wearing a natty tweet suitcoat, took to a makeshift stage, thanked the fans for their passion and support, and settled in to the happy task of signing autographs for everyone.

    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

    The 30-year-old star midfielder, owner of four MLS championship rings, one of the highest scorers in the history of Canada’s national men’s soccer team, has just publicly inked a four-year deal to push the Reds forward – all the way to the playoffs, and beyond.

    Terms weren’t released, but in a salary-cap league, it won’t be hard to figure out what he’s making. If you take the top salary available to a non-designated player, and pile on a tasty scoop of salary cap-free allocation money, a guesstimate of half a million U.S. greenbacks a year should put you right in the ballpark.

    The long delay – the trade that landed him from Houston was announced over a month ago – was put down to hard-line negotiating from DeRo’s agent, and the general out-of-townness of all concerned over the Holiday season.

    In the pre-autograph press conference, I asked DeRosario what message he has for Toronto FC’s fans – most of whom have wanted him on the team since the day the league granted the franchise in the first place.

    “I want to thank them for their continued support, for myself and for soccer in Canada” he said. “Because they’re the ones that make this possible. They’re the reason why we have a professional team in MLS. It’s because of the fans, and it’s because of the huge, diverse soccer community we have in Toronto. It’s a great atmosphere. I spoke to many players, and they don’t have anything but positive things to say the fans here in Toronto. So I’m definitely looking forward to the home-opening game, and the support that Toronto shows me day-in and day-out, and especially on the weekends when we have a game.”

    After that, GM Mo Johnston acknowleged that – as rumoured by just about everyone with a pen, a computer and an ounce of interest – 23-year-old Independiente striker Pablo Vitti is the South American striker he has been trying to lure north. Asked how the deal is progressing, Mo said only that things are being held up by the Argentine club. He did not elaborate.

    As for the smouldering asteroid crater of doom in the middle of TFC’s defence, Johnston said he is “looking at a lad in England,” and there are bureaucratic hold-ups in the U.K.

    By the time I got in with the fans, they were all well aware of all of this, bless them. General consensus was emerging that a central defender was needed more than a striker, but then the ACC doors opened and everyone went in to get a ‘graf from their new hero.

    TFC ’09 remains a work in progress tonight, but a huge and wonderful step has been taken. Dwayne DeRosario adds speed, cunning and finish to the midfield, and heaps of public credibility for the entire operation.

    … Oh, and Johnston also reminded us – right at the end of the press conference – that roster cuts will be urgently needed to get down to the league’s ridiculous 20-player limit. No specifics, but I again find myself doubting there is room on a shrinking team with a rising payroll for attacking middie Rohan Ricketts, his $200,000-play pay packet, and the sheer number of passes that go to him, and never come back.

    But that’s tomorrow’s debate. Tonight – well, what the heck? DeRo party!!!!

    Onward!



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