GoTFC's 12 Days of Christmas Returns!

[James Oliphant]

Yeah, we're doing it again. 12 days, 12 different Christmas gifts for Toronto FC supporters.

Day One's a doozy...though even I don't think it'll ever come to pass:
Dwayne De Rosario playing for TFC (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=851).

;)

Seriously, this one was in the works before the events of yesterday. Required a bit of a re-write from our boy Matt. Check back tomorrow for a fresh one.

[James Oliphant]

Day Two:
Toronto FC games broadcast on the radio (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=852)

[Alonso]

I couldn't believe it last year when I tried to tune in TFC on the radio?!?...
No TFC on the radio?!?...

[James Oliphant]

I know dude...it's a travesty that you can't drive around listening to a TFC broadcast.

Day Three:
A TFC home game to start the season (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=853)

[Mark in Ottawa]

Day Three:
A TFC home game to start the season (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=853)

You want the season to start in April?
March outside in Toronto... the possability of a frozen field is real!

We had the same problem when we had a baseball team here in Ottawa...
always the big road trip to start the season and we still lost games to ice storms and snow!

[James Oliphant]

You want the season to start in April?
March outside in Toronto... the possability of a frozen field is real!

We had the same problem when we had a baseball team here in Ottawa...
always the big road trip to start the season and we still lost games to ice storms and snow!

I'm all for frozen fields. This is a game that can be played in the cold/snow/ice. Take Canada/Estonia earlier this year...

4bnKKjbcj3g

I didn't say it could be played well...

[Mrs. Workie]

Great read James, and I agree- Frost Footy is the way to go!!!

[Alonso]

I remember watching that game live on the tv (Canada Vs. Estonia), I was grinning from ear to ear...

But seriously, we've been ripped off three years in a row. Where's the parity in the MLS schedule?! We shouldn't have to start every year on a two game road trip, or worse!

[James Oliphant]

Thanks Mel...see? I was right. I'm not the only one. ;)

Day four:
A Nutrilite Canadian Championship (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=854)

[rappleby]

day five
Paul Stalteri

[rappleby]

day 6 makimg the playoffs

[rappleby]

day 7 a bigger stadium

[rappleby]

day 8 real turf

[rappleby]

day 9 Jonathan de Guzman
day 1o Julian de Guzman
day 11 Owen Hargreaves
day 12 mls cup

[UltraSuperMegaMo]

A couple of suggestions:

Open practises for season ticket holders

Double header TFC / Impact and TFC Academy / Attack game

[AL-MO]

day five
Paul Stalteri


day 6 makimg the playoffs


day 7 a bigger stadium


day 8 real turf


day 9 Jonathan de Guzman
day 1o Julian de Guzman
day 11 Owen Hargreaves
day 12 mls cup


Here's a suggestion, WAIT for James to post the rest of them rappleby!!!

[James Oliphant]

day five
Paul Stalteri

Pass. Totally wrong direction for the team.


day 6 makimg the playoffs

Did it last year. (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=500)


day 7 a bigger stadium

Spoiler!


day 8 real turf

L'an précédent (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=520)


day 9 Jonathan de Guzman
day 1o Julian de Guzman
day 11 Owen Hargreaves

... (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=497)


day 12 mls cup


That's so 2007 (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=497)

[James Oliphant]

Day Five:
A reason to be proud of the Canadian Men’s National Team (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=855)

[James Oliphant]

Day Six:
A sport featured prominently in the hearts and minds of North Americans (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=856)

[James Oliphant]

Day Seven: (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=857)

by James Oliphant
Administrator, GoTFC

There are so many strange symbols we associate with Christmas...electrified trees, mildly-toxic berries, parasitic plants, slightly inebriated uncles and bellies we didn’t know were being sucked in (not even The Hoff could hold his gut back after a 9-course meal).

But perhaps the most unique symbol of the holiday season is the stocking. At no other time of year would your mother let you stretch a piece of clothing to that degree. “Money doesn’t grow on trees”, they all say...and of course they’re wrong, money being paper and all.

I’ve always enjoyed the ritual of emptying the stocking on Christmas morning more than unwrapping the larger presents under the three. I was continually amazed at how much Santa could fit in one oversized sock: chocolate, magazines, a tape or CD, more chocolate, a calendar, a Pez dispenser, still more chocolate and, perhaps ironically, properly-sized socks.

Stockings really are the clown cars of Christmas.

It’s wonderful to get so many presents in such a short time and in such a small package. Or perhaps, as with the turkey dinner which comes later in the day, I just enjoy seeing things stuffed (hey...get your mind out of the gutter).

In football, my preferred stuffed object is, of course, the opposing team’s goal, which is why...

On the seventh day of Christmas, GoTFC gave to me...
A 15-goal scorer (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=857)

[James Oliphant]

Day Eight: (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=858)

by Matthew Scianitti
Editor, Soccer 360 Magazine (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=Web_Links&req=visit&lid=52)

Like many of you, I have spent the last few days shoveling myself out of a mammoth downpour of the white fluffy stuff. And while I was nursing a sore lower back – because honestly when you need to get your car out of the driveway ASAP, who really remembers the whole ‘lift with your legs’ crap – I imagined a summer full warmth and relaxation. I mean I love snow and winter and everything every Canadian should love about the Holiday season, but I also love not having to shovel or use my archaic snow blower, with the frayed extension cord.

While I was thinking about summer I was thinking about a picturesque day down at BMO Field. Me, taking in the glorious view. scarf waving and beer in hand.

To the North, a lush urban landscape full of trees and houses brimming with life. To the East, the Toronto skyline majestic, the CN Tower touching the top of the open blue sky. To the South, Lake Ontario shining and shimmering as if it hasn’t been sullied by decades of pollution. Directly above me, a vast, the radiant sun and the feel of the cool lake breeze against my face.

And directly below me, racing across the pitch, a team who doesn’t know how to win on beautiful day, or any day in summer for that matter.

So bring your saccharine and sanguine summer reveries because Go TFC has a summer delight to warm your heart as we prepare the cold, dark winter months.

On the eighth day of Christmas, Go TFC gave to me...
A summer full of hope. A summer full of wins. (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=858)

[James Oliphant]

Day Nine: (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=859)

by Matthew Scianitti
Editor, Soccer 360 Magazine

Let’s face it...as much as we love TFC and have come to admire the parity and the excitement of MLS, almost nothing seems to match our affection for those teams from afar. The MLS Cup is important and every Reds fan craves the title just as much as - if not more than - those ardent fans from other MLS cities; but it may not be as desirable as watching the teams who ignited your passion for the beautiful game win either the Premiership, La Liga, Serie A or Bundesliga title. And, although this may sound sacrilegious to some, I think any TFC fan would gladly stand for years and years of underachievement from the Reds if they could only see their beloved side go so far as to win the European Cup. Sure, it sounds a bit disconcerting, but we are still in the early stages of this city’s MLS experiment and quite a ways away from the time when TFC will be the faithful football love of many of its fans.

Regardless, Toronto FC is our window to a wider, fuller, world of football and the team’s ability to lure the biggest clubs is a wonderful present to all the football-mad fans in Toronto, and throughout Canada - who would give much for just a glimpse of the world’s top teams and top talent in their own backyard. But sadly, TFC has come up short in providing enticing fare. In fact, only one of the team’s four friendly matches over the last two years was exciting enough to stay past the 30-minute mark (TFC’s 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa).

But remember, ‘tis the season and GoTFC has heard your pleas. So stop asking for it on your wish list. We got the message!

On the ninth day of Christmas Go TFC gave to me...
Notable international teams to play TFC in friendlies (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=859)

[twistedchinaman]

A cross-Canada tour. Sell the game around the nation. Hell, maybe even host the NCC games in different stadiums. McMahon, Commonwealth, Ivor Wynne...

Or maybe even preseason tour of Canada. Hell, get out of the GTA a little. It's not a gaping hole west of Kenora.

[James Oliphant]

^
Funny, we were actually considering doing something along the lines of "TFC on an international tour"...L.A. Failaxy-style. Couldn't get past the first few sentences though. ;)

Day Ten: (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=860)

by James Oliphant
Administrator, GoTFC

These last few days have seen my mailbox filled with greeting cards from friends, family and anonymous female admirers. And while that last part may not be true, I can say this about the cards...

None of them were filled with money.

Now in these tough economic times, I’m all for purchasing greeting cards so the good folks at Hallmark and American Greetings (I had to search Google for “Hallmark competitors” to come up with that name) get to keep their jobs this Christmas, but would it kill any of you to throw in a finsky to help out your poor Uncle James.

In all seriousness (and leaving aside the fact that I never – ever – reciprocate in the card-sending department), this is the time of year when we could all use a little extra cash. Credit cards are being stretched to the declination point as we buy gifts to essentially offset the stuff we know people are going to get us. It really is a strange ritual...why don’t we all just buy what we want then give the equivalent amount of money back to the people who were going to buy it for us so they can treat themselves to whatever they want?

I know, I know...I’m ruining Christmas again.

The point is, an injection of cash is just what we all need right now. Which leads me to today’s gift.

On the tenth day of Christmas, GoTFC gave to me...
Significant changes to Major League Soccer's salary structure (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=860)

[twistedchinaman]

^
Funny, we were actually considering doing something along the lines of "TFC on an international tour"...L.A. Failaxy-style. Couldn't get past the first few sentences though. ;)

Day Ten: (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=860)

by James Oliphant
Administrator, GoTFC

These last few days have seen my mailbox filled with greeting cards from friends, family and anonymous female admirers. And while that last part may not be true, I can say this about the cards...

None of them were filled with money.

Now in these tough economic times, I’m all for purchasing greeting cards so the good folks at Hallmark and American Greetings (I had to search Google for “Hallmark competitors” to come up with that name) get to keep their jobs this Christmas, but would it kill any of you to throw in a finsky to help out your poor Uncle James.

In all seriousness (and leaving aside the fact that I never – ever – reciprocate in the card-sending department), this is the time of year when we could all use a little extra cash. Credit cards are being stretched to the declination point as we buy gifts to essentially offset the stuff we know people are going to get us. It really is a strange ritual...why don’t we all just buy what we want then give the equivalent amount of money back to the people who were going to buy it for us so they can treat themselves to whatever they want?

I know, I know...I’m ruining Christmas again.

The point is, an injection of cash is just what we all need right now. Which leads me to today’s gift.

On the tenth day of Christmas, GoTFC gave to me...
Significant changes to Major League Soccer's salary structure (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=860)


Dude, as one of the biggest proponents of the idea -- you should've asked me. :)

[James Oliphant]

Day Eleven: (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=861)

by Matthew Scianitti
Editor, Soccer 360 Magazine

Remember when you were a kid and you wanted that one toy that every other kid wanted? Nothing else would do because this toy had all the bells and whistles and gadgets and gizmos that made it that much better than every other toy.

But most importantly everyone wanted it and, ergo, you had to have – at least that is what you thought. And if you had this one plaything it would transfigure you in front of your friends and make you ‘cooler’ - that much better of a person in your own mind. And the more other kids got it, the more you wanted it because you didn’t want to be left out – the one left behind. And regardless of the opinions of others, it doesn’t matter if it’s any good or not, you will judge it for yourself once you get it.

If you get it.

It is in the spirit of those youthful memories of covet and desire that we bring you your present for the eleventh day; because there is a special toy out there that every MLS team wants. The eye-catching kind that attracts the palpable fan and media attention that every team in this league craves. But is this toy, this plaything, actually worth all the fuss it creates? In Toronto FC’s case, it certainly is worth it.

On the eleventh day of Christmas GoTFC gave to me...
A designated player (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=861)

[James Oliphant]

Day Twelve: (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=862)

by Matthew Scianitti
Editor, Soccer 360 Magazine

So here we are, Christmas Eve. Like last year you have been right spoiled with a bevy of gifts fit for any fanatical Reds fan, and they are yours to deservedly enjoy.

And you'd better enjoy them, because if you don't it will hurt our feelings.

But seeing as it is the final day of our festive gift-giving, it is customary - if not logical - to leave the biggest and best present for the final day. Although you were mischievous enough to open one gift a head of time and enjoy the excitement surrounding the arrival of one of this country’s top soccer talents, today’s gift will bring the kind of excitement that could sweep across the city and create a real, tangible and undeniable atmosphere in Toronto for soccer. It is a present that every TFC fans will covet going into year three – something so desired that if the Reds fail in their bid to reward the fans with this gift then disappointment might begin to breed apathy and resentment.

Regardless, take solace in knowing that everyone here at GoTFC would never let you down, because we know exactly what you want this Christmas.

On the twelfth day of Christmas GoTFC gave to me...
A MLS Cup playoff game at BMO Field (http://gotorontofc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=862)