The State of Toronto FC: Optimism?

The MLS season is officially done, with Sporting KC beating Real Salt Lake on penalties to claim the MLS Cup for the 2013 season. After that was done, I (and everyone else) noticed something strange in the inner workings of Major League Soccer. Toronto FC was actually making trades and assembling a squad for the 2014 season in December, rather than when the season actually starts.

It's refreshing to see, actually. Looks like TFC GM Tim Bezbatchenko is beginning to execute his plan early and try to get in all the guys he wants before pre-season begins. Add in the fact that the management of TFC is completely new, and you get the sense that some TFC supporters are becoming optimistic about next season. The actions that Tim Bezbatchenko are taking seem to be promising, like obtaining Jackson from FC Dallas and Justin Morrow from San Jose, getting rid of highly-paid players like Stefan Frei and Bobby Convey for draft picks, and bringing in the 24 year old Gilberto from Brazil to be Toronto FC's 2nd Designated Player. On the surface, it can be said that TFC is moving in a positive direction, but we need to see how TFC does in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, and more importantly, we need to see how these new players coming in will do in Major League Soccer. Bezbatchenko started well, now let's see if all his moves work out.

A big topic of discussion with TFC is whether Jermain Defoe will be coming to the club or not. It is rumoured that his move is already finished and he is set to become the highest paid player in MLS history. Whether that is the case or not, if he comes to TFC, he is more than capable of winning the MLS Golden Boot award at the end of the 2014 regular season. I know there are some who think Jermain Defoe is being paid too much by MLSE and is not a good use of resources, but I disagree. If Jermain Defoe does play for TFC, there'll be more to his contract than just playing for the club. In Jermain Defoe, TFC and MLSE may have a strong marketing tool. I have no question that if Toronto FC land Defoe, they will use his name and image to promote the club and get fans to come to BMO Field on match days.

But wait, I can hear some TFC supporters already saying: "The best way to get fans in seats is for the club to start winning!" This is true, but there is nothing wrong with MLSE using their resources to get players and drum up some sort of positive interest. Who would have thought that having Drake as MLSE's "Global Ambassador" could help TFC land Gilberto, and quite possibly Defoe. Now look at where these players are coming from. Gilberto is coming from South America, particularly from Brazil. Defoe is coming from Europe, particularly from England. The Greater Toronto Area has a large population of those from South American and European descent who follow the leagues in their respective continents, but not Major League Soccer. I hope Tim Leiweke and MLSE have identified this segment as a target market for Toronto FC. I think TFC should get Gilberto and Defoe heavily involved in the promotional element of the club, in order to begin attracting that segment of people and to get them to come out to BMO Field for matches. This attraction can snowball into something bigger if Gilberto and Defoe are regularly scoring goals, and TFC are winning matches. Then you will see people come out in droves to BMO and it will go a long way in returning the atmosphere that made BMO Field amazing in the early days of Toronto FC.

There are also some rumblings of Dwayne De Rosario coming back to Toronto FC. Honestly, I would love to have him back. I know he left the club in bad terms, but Toronto FC is run by entirely new management, and I get the feeling that most TFC supporters can put the bad things behind them and start anew. Age and injuries is starting to catch up to him, but I think he has a year, maybe 2 years still in him. If Tim Bezbatchenko can get him on a reduced salary, say around $150,000/year, then I think it will be a solid signing.

Looking at the big picture of Toronto FC as a whole, I don't think Tim Leiweke and Tim Bezbatchenko are only just building a competitive squad of players. I think they are reinventing Toronto FC. I haven't seen this sort of change to Toronto FC since Aron Winter was hired. Instead of trying to win the lottery and get foreigners, Leiweke and Bezbatchenko are getting proven MLS players to build the core of Toronto FC. I'll be honest, it's pretty difficult not to be encouraged by what has transpired at Toronto FC these past couple of weeks, and it looks like more is to come. I initially thought that Tim Bezbatchenko would be inexperienced in a General Manager role, but he has certainly impressed me, not just in the actions he was taking, but he manages to keep his mouth shut until after the move was made. He doesn't talk a big game, he just gets down to business, and I like that a lot. Sometimes what seems to be the most boring hire, could have the most impact on a club.

Finally, I want to say this. Toronto FC making the playoffs in 2014 will be a slap in the face to the likes of Tom Anselmi and Earl Cochrane (and to a very small extent, Paul Beirne). If Toronto FC were to make the playoffs in 2014, then it highlights what the real underlying problem was which plagued Toronto FC these last 7 years. TFC making the playoffs in 2014 will also be a slap in the face to the other "big men" that used to have their own visions of what TFC should be, like Mo Johnston, Aron Winter, and Kevin Payne. I'm not sure how Aron Winter's tenure at Toronto FC will hurt his future coaching and managerial career, but if Toronto FC happens to succeed, it will definitely hurt Mo Johnston and Kevin Payne's reputation, and won't help their chances of getting hired elsewhere. Also, wouldn't it be funny that if Toronto FC were to make the playoffs, it would be led by the least experienced Toronto FC coach, but that's assuming Ryan Nelsen doesn't get fired. It's Toronto FC. Anything can happen.

Regardless, these are optimistic times in the land of Toronto FC.

2014 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Draw - Reaction + Predictions

So, the Group Stage Draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup is all set. After taking a few hours to digest the newly-formed groups, it's about time for me to share my thoughts on those groups, and offer (very early) predictions on who I think will make it out of the groups. Some groups were easy to predict, and others require a lot of thinking to predict. Anyways, here's what I thought:

Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon

Not surprisingly, since the World Cup is being hosted by Brazil, they are going to get most of the spotlight in the tournament. Brazil have shown that they can respond well to the pressure of the home crowd (Confederations Cup 2013), so I don't see Brazil having much trouble with their opponents. Cameroon, on the other hand, have a couple of decent players (Eto'o, Song) but I can't see them progressing out of the group.

Mexico and Croatia are interesting to me, as they both underperformed getting to the World Cup. Mexico had an awful CONCACAF campaign and had to beat New Zealand in the FIFA play-off. Croatia had to beat a spirited Iceland side in the UEFA play-off. I picked Croatia to progress because they have more quality players than Mexico, and Mexico were just plain awful in the hex. Mexico needs a lot more improvement than Croatia do.

It's worth noting that Croatia (3429) has to travel almost 3000 miles more than Mexico does (662) to get to their matches. This is an advantage for Mexico, as they will be more fresh than Croatia when they finally play each other for their final group matches.

My Predictions: Brazil to top the group, Croatia to finish runner-up.

Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia

First things first, I'm sure Australia are just happy to actually make it.

Spain, even though they've regressed slightly, are still one of the top teams in world football and are capable of repeating as World Cup champions. This is obviously a tough group for them, but they'll have these teams chasing the ball up and down the pitch with their tiki-taka style, so I'm sure they'll progress.

The Netherlands and Chile will be the ones to battle it out for the second spot out of the group. Both teams are ruthless and hungry in attack, but they are a bit weak in the back. I picked the Netherlands over Chile because of their experience in big tournaments and Chile are a bit of a young, almost naive side, especially when I watched them play Brazil at the Rogers Centre.

My Predictions: Spain to top the group, Netherlands to finish runner-up.

Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

Colombia is my "dark horse" of the tournament. That team has the power to surprise a lot of people and go very deep in the tournament. They are the favourites to finish first in the group. Plus, they have Falcao, who is probably one of the best strikers in world football right now.

It was a tough choice for who would take the second spot. The Ivory Coast are stacked in attacking options (Drogba, Gervinho, Bony) and have Yaya Toure as their midfield destroyer. Japan are playing well right now and have some outstanding creative players in Kagawa and Honda. Greece are industrial (aka boring), but are difficult to break down. I ended up barely choosing the Ivory Coast over Japan.

My Predictions: Colombia to top the group, Ivory Coast to finish runner-up.

Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

Costa Rica may be a solid team in CONCACAF, but they have no chance in this group.

Which leaves 3 teams competing for 2 spots. I believe Italy are the best team in this group, but not by much. If their world-renowned defence can stay focused and not make stupid mistakes, then they are winning the group. Uruguay have the best offence in the group, with Suarez and Cavani leading the charge, among other sublime players on that side.

England are another story altogether. They have good players, and on a good day, they can hang with the best of Europe, but they lack creativity. Their style of play is very direct, not very technical, and easy to figure out by opponents. It also doesn't help that there is going to be a media circus around them. The English footballing media hypes up the England players as superstars and make bold claims that "this is our year", but then slam those same players when England are knocked out. A lot of people talk about why England don't have a very good national team. Lets face it, the media is one of the major reasons why.

My Predictions: Italy to top the group, Uruguay to finish runner-up.

Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras

France ALWAYS seems to get the easiest group. I don't know if this is just coincidence, or Michel Platini is paying FIFA under the table (don't think many would be surprised at that lol). Anyways, France at a World Cup is usually hit (1998, 2006) or miss (2002, 2010). If we were to follow the pattern, France should do just fine. Let's hope there are no more mutinies in that solid core of players.

Honduras did well to get to this stage, but they will be outclassed in this group. It was a bit difficult to choose between Switzerland and Ecuador, but after looking at their teams, I chose the Swiss.

My Predictions: France to top the group, Switzerland to finish runner-up.

Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria

Argentina are, by far, the best team in this group. The other teams don't come close. With Argentina, I think the narrative will surround Lionel Messi and say something like: "Can he finally win the World Cup and become one of the best players to ever play the game". Something like that.

Bosnia and Nigeria is close to call for the second spot in the group. I think Bosnia has a bit more quality going forward, and they also have a solid goalkeeper in Asmir Begovic.

Honestly, I can't really say much about the Iran national team, because I don't really know them.

My Predictions: Argentina to top the group, Bosnia-Herzegovina to finish runner-up.

Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA

Yikes. I think this is the toughest group of them all in terms of the teams involved.

Germany are the ones that will most likely finish first in the group. They have a number of amazing players that can take the team deep in the tournament. Portugal's national team isn't that great, but they do have Cristiano Ronaldo, a player who can single-handedly turn the match on its head and push Portugal to the later stages of the tournament. Portugal is the perfect example of the "one-man team". Ghana has some very good midfield and attacking options, but I can't see them progressing.

Which brings me to the USA. The odds are stacked against them. If there is any national team I can think of that has the "never say die" attitude, it is the USA, but I think this is too much for them. They have to travel the most out of all the teams in the World Cup, they have to face a Ghana side that knocked them out of the last 2 World Cups, and they have to play two European juggernauts. The American football media can hype the team all they want, but I don't think they will be progressing.

My Predictions: Germany to top the group, Portugal to finish runner-up.

Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic

Belgium have a "golden generation" of players, and many people pick them to be the surprise of the tournament. I don't think they will do well in the later stages of the tournament, but I think they will top the group. I picked Russia to come second, because I don't think Algeria and South Korea will do a whole lot.

My Predictions: Belgium to top the group, Russia to finish runner-up.

So, there you have it. A lot can change between now and June. Some teams that people may have wrote off can go on an incredible run of form, or maybe some teams picked to be favourites may go on a slump. Who knows? I may revisit my predictions closer to the World Cup, but for now, this is what I am sticking with.

Brazil vs. Chile – Post-Game + Media Gallery

It was a bit of an impulse decision, but there was no way I was going to miss this.

I had a ticket to go see the international friendly between Brazil and Chile this past Tuesday at the Rogers Centre. Now, I can’t remember the last time these teams were in Toronto, or if they ever played here at all, but when I sat in my cubicle at work the day of the match, I thought to myself, “This will probably be the only chance I will get to see the Brazilian and Chilean national teams”. Yes, this friendly was a bit of a cash grab, and there will be those who complain that ticket prices were too high, but these people fail to realize that there were thousands of Brazil and Chile fans who would never get the opportunity to see their heroes play in front of their own eyes, and for that kind of experience, it will be worth the money.

I left work and began to walk the few blocks to the Rogers Centre, while stopping off to get something to eat. As I approached the stadium, there was a crescendo of horns and drums surrounding it. Fans were walking around with flags of the two countries around their backs like Superman’s cape. There were kids with face paint of the two countries’ colors, big flags being waved, and fans holding up signs showing their love and admiration for the national teams. The pre-game atmosphere was very festive. There were no signs of crowd trouble, and both sets of fans seemed to get along well.

I was walking up to Gate 2 to enter the stadium, and on the way, I was caught up in a Chilean crowd full of loud banging drums, singing, and dancing. My video doesn’t do it justice. It was absolutely loud.

I entered the stadium and went up to my seat to survey the pitch. The grass looked okay for a field that was hastily put together the day before, but it would be in for a beating when the match starts.

More fans wearing the red of Chile and the yellow of Brazil began to file into the stadium, and soon after, the two teams were out for their warm-ups. There was a constant flash from cameras and phones as the two teams warmed up for the match to follow.

The majority of the cheering was for Neymar, not surprisingly, as he received the loudest roar when his name was called for Brazil’s starting eleven. Soon after the warm-ups, both teams came out for the national anthems to an energetic and raucous crowd at the Rogers Centre.

The first half, I admit, was rather dull. The only big time cheer I heard was when Hulk scored the first goal of the match to make it 1-0 to Brazil. Other than that, both teams were trying to feel each other out. Chile was marching down the field after Brazil’s first goal, but their attacking prowess was seriously lacking for a team that is considered to be an offensive powerhouse.

The early stages of the second half were a bit more adventurous for both teams, but not by much. I started to think that this match wouldn’t be as exciting as I thought it out to be. Then, out of the blue, Eduardo Vargas rips a snapshot that David Luiz lazily attempts to block. Julio Cesar doesn’t even move as the ball nestles in the corner of the net. It’s all tied up at 1-1, and the Chilean fans in the stadium go wild.

After that goal, Brazil ramped up the pressure and began to pepper the Chilean defence with their traditional Brazilian attacking flare. Neymar scored a cheeky backheel goal, but he was offside by a number of yards. A few minutes later, Neymar received the ball inside the 18-yard box and did a double flick over the Chilean goalkeeper, but his shot was blocked. If he were to score a goal from that, it would have easily been the goal of the year. Not long after, the breakthrough for Brazil finally came, when an unmarked Robinho headed in a goal from a cross. It was now 2-1 to Brazil, and Robinho and Neymar did a little dance for the cheering crowd.

The match ended, and Brazil won the friendly by two goals to one. The match initially felt like both teams didn't take the match seriously, but as the match progressed, the drive to win became more entrenched in both teams. At the end, the fans were appreciative of the effort that both Brazil and Chile put in.

Looking back at the match, I thought it was an unforgettable and surreal experience. I got to see some of the best players in the world. Seeing the likes of Neymar and Alexis Sanchez take the field was incredible. Every time they touched the ball, it felt like something magical was going to happen. I felt honoured to see them in the flesh, and I'm sure everyone else in the stadium felt the same way. This experience is something that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact: Media Gallery

Here are some photos and videos I took of the match between Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact on October 26th, 2013. The reason why I went to the match this past Saturday was not to actively support TFC, but rather to observe what was left in terms of who was still supporting this team, and in terms of the current match day experience. The day was cold, rainy, and windy, but that didn't stop me from going to the match.

First, I have a couple of videos on the pre-game TFC supporters march to BMO Field. The numbers were quite small compared to supporters marches in the past, but they still brought noise and colour on their way to the stadium.

Here are also some pictures of that same march to BMO Field.

The next picture is of the visiting Montreal Impact supporters. There were a lot more visiting supporters than the picture shows, and they actually outnumbered the TFC supporters in the south stand corner. From where I sat in the first half, I sat closer to the TFC supporters sections, and the Impact supporters out-sang the TFC supporters for large stretches of the 1st half. The only time the TFC supporters were louder was right after Robert Earnshaw scored the only goal of the game. The Impact supporters were more organized and made their voices heard, which you couldn't say about the TFC supporters. That is actually quite embarrassing.

Here are a couple of photos of some banners that were shown at BMO Field.

Here is a photo of the south stand midway through the first half. It's a bit depressing looking at it, knowing that a few years ago, the entire south stand was packed to the rafters. The only way of that ever happening again is if TFC start consistently winning, and I don't think they are capable of that. Notice that sections 112/113 were somewhat full.

Around the 85th minute, Montreal Impact were losing 1-0. The visiting Impact supporters were getting a bit antsy, so they lit up some smoke bombs and flares in the away section of BMO Field. One guy also brought in what seemed like a firecracker or homemade firework. Stadium security wasn't pleased, and rushed in to apprehend the perpetrators. There wasn't much resistance, but the situation could have gotten much worse.

So there you have it, my photos and videos from the TFC/Impact match on October 26th, 2013. Hope you enjoyed it!

Time to Walk Away from Toronto FC?

Warning: This post contains some rambling. I just want to get all of my current thoughts about Toronto FC in this one post.

Note: I wrote this before I went to the final game of the season against the Montreal Impact. My experience at that match doesn't change my feelings listed here, but I may write a separate blog post about a few things I noticed about that day.

Before setting out to write this, I took a look at a previous blog post I wrote almost two and a half years ago about the club I once loved. Reading that post took me to a time where not only a significant amount of people in the GTA gave a damn about the club, but there was actually a resemblance of atmosphere at BMO Field. At the time, there were problems surrounding the club, but I had the hope that maybe, just maybe, the club could eventually be successful in Major League Soccer.

Fast forward to today. I don't think it will be possible.

I’ll admit, I had a small feeling that Toronto FC could have been in a worse state than it was in previous years, but I was completely shocked that it is now, a reality. To say that Toronto FC is a circus would be a complete understatement. Toronto FC sucks, plain and simple. I look at every aspect of this organization, and I shake my head. How can this club continue to screw it up after 7 seasons of existence? It boggles my mind. There is always constant change in the club, with more people leaving and coming in than I can keep track of. A coach and/or manager come in, talk a bunch of bullshit like how they are going to bring in “top-class talent” on ultimately overinflated contracts, and then fail miserably on the pitch. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

In terms of the players and management, I don’t need to remind you what has happened this year, but I lost interest as the season dragged on. Now TFC have their supposed shining savior, Tim Leiweke, who, like the others that preceded him, talked a big game about the future of the club. Leiweke hired Tim Bezbatchenko as the new General Manager, who is supposed to improve TFC’s management of the salary cap (which is pretty awful) through statistical analysis. It would be pretty interesting to see this fresh approach on managing the contracts of players, but he is inexperienced in a GM role and managing an actual roster. I don’t see much hope for him though, and I think he’ll probably be gone by the end of next year.

Unfortunately, Tim Leiweke still has faith in Coach Ryan Nelsen, a man who was hired by former GM Kevin Payne while he was still under contract at Queens Park Rangers and was arguably their best player for the first half of their relegation-bound season. The hiring reeked of an “old boys club” smell, as Nelsen had no coaching experience, and hasn’t taken any coaching courses. It became pretty evident soon after that he was out of his depth in Major League Soccer and the losing tradition of Toronto FC continued. I find it infuriating that Ryan Nelsen refuses to take the blame for some defeats, or criticize the team for poor performances when talking to the media (I can’t say if he actually does that in the locker room). What he constantly does, and continues to do, is find excuses for poor performances, usually by blaming referees for their performance in a match. I also noticed that Ryan Nelsen like to coddle his players, as he would regularly say that the players played well after defeats. I simply don’t understand why Tim Leiweke will keep faith in Ryan Nelsen when he clearly isn't good enough to coach in Major League Soccer right now. Ryan Nelsen needs to go, and in his place, bring in a coach with actual MLS experience. He makes Toronto FC feel like a “project” than an actual club.

With all the problems on the team level, I did go to a few matches this season. Honestly, going to TFC matches this season almost felt like going to a funeral. The stadium is nowhere near packed and the only people regularly making noise are the 20-30 supporters in section 111/112. This season, the match-day experience at BMO Field has been devoid of any atmosphere. People finally realize that the team is awful, and are simply not going to the matches anymore.

One major thing I noticed when going to TFC matches this season as opposed to 2007/2008, is that there is a lot more marketing. Now, marketing isn’t a bad thing at all. In fact, it is essential for a product to have some of marketing in order to attract customers. Whenever I went to a TFC match this season, I felt overwhelmed by all the promotions and branding going on at BMO Field. There’s the Budweiser King Club, the Purolator delivery of the match ball, Esquire added time, and the Scotts Turf Builder lounge, just to name a few. Another thing I noticed on match-day is that even though there has been a sharp decrease in attendance at BMO Field, I have noticed a rise in families and young children at the matches. I think one of the reasons for this is because of the increased marketing that Toronto FC has done in order to try and attract more fans and replace the ones that have left. I wonder if Toronto FC knows that the ultimate marketing tool in order to attract fans is to build a successful team. Oops, I let the secret out.

I haven’t got to the biggest reason why Toronto FC is what it is. The reason why Toronto FC has been so awful for so long is because their parent organization, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, has run the club into the ground. I’ve expressed my feelings about MLSE on multiple occasions on Twitter and on the blog, so I don’t feel the need to repeat myself (If you want to learn about Tom Anselmi and MLSE’s attitude about TFC, this article sums it up well). When I heard that Tom Anselmi was resigning from his position at MLSE and that Earl Cochrane would no longer be with the club (among others), I thought I would feel overjoyed. I initially had the hope that maybe things would slowly turn around for the club, but I don’t feel that way now. I believe that the higher-ups at TFC and MLSE have permanently damaged the club’s culture and reputation. What is the first thing a person might think of when they hear “Toronto FC”? It will most likely be something negative.

I feel so drained and defeated whenever I think about Toronto FC. This time of year, it seems like the only good thing TFC is good for is spoiling the playoff chances for other teams, rather than be in the playoffs themselves. I hear the same old thing from these new coaches and managers, and I sigh. The club is a mess, the attendance is sparse at best, and a significant number of supporters, including myself, are sick and tired of it all. I can deal with losing seasons, but it is such a constant and the club seems inept and incapable of getting it right and bouncing back. The club is perpetually stuck in quicksand, and I don’t think they will be able to get out of it at all. The new management is too worried about glitz and glamour (DPs) rather than actual substance (building a team) while talking about the Toronto Argos potentially moving to BMO Field and other things to anger supporters. I can’t take it anymore.

I don’t think I can support this team anymore unless I see a team and a club I can be proud of. In fact, a part of me wants this team to fold and go away.

What about the supporters? A number of people stopped going to the matches for various reasons, but there are still many who remain loyal to Toronto FC. I'll give them credit for sticking with the team through thick and thin, but when does it get to the point that the club is so completely inept that the TFC supporters who remain aren't just supporters, but a herd of sheep following the club into a deep, dark abyss of awfulness. I would just like to know why supporters would still support the team considering all the disrespect the club has given them over the years. Even with all this garbage going on, there are people still willing to support this team. I don't quite understand it. Maybe they are still holding hope? I don't know, but it is worth asking.

I’m not forcing you to support or not support the team, but I’ll make a suggestion. If you are a Toronto FC supporter, think long and hard about where this club is right now. If you feel that the club is still worth supporting, whether it is because you are optimistic about Tim Leiweke and company or because you literally have no one else to support, then do so. If, like me, you think this club is hopeless, and will probably fold before the club shows any sort of resemblance of a winner in the City of Toronto, then there are other things to occupy your time. 

I’m just about done with this team. It’s a shame because I thought that this could be a team I could be proud of many years ago. Now, I think it’s about a 0.001% chance that TFC can be a winning club. The only reason why I would want to go to a TFC match in the future is if I received a free ticket. I can't be emotionally attached to this club anymore until I see a club I can be proud of. Unfortunately, I don't see Toronto FC shaking off the stigma that has plagued the club over the years.

It’s a shame of what could have been if the club got it right.

Why I Miss Going To School...

This September will be the first time that I will not be starting a new school year since I was a young child. I remember when I was younger how much I hated going to school, but as I grew older and went through high school and university, I began to appreciate (and eventually enjoy) going to school and actually learning about something every day. As you may or may not know, this past June, I graduated from university with my Bachelor's degree, and now work full time at a job in my general field of study. Today, I see people posting Facebook statuses, tweets, and just generally talking about going back to school, and it aggravated me. It aggravated me because I know I won't be going back, where I had much more freedom than what I'm doing now.

I hate growing up. I miss school.

Right now, with my job, I'm constantly busy, which means I don't have much time for anything. Some people think that me being busy is a blessing, but it's turning out to be a curse. I get up at 7 in the morning, sit in a cubicle and stare at a computer for 8 hours, and then come back home in the late afternoon. When I come back, I'm usually too tired to do anything. How the hell can I be tired when I sit down at work most of the time? Anyways, at school, I had a lot more free time at my disposal. I was able to have the time to go to class, do homework, work on projects, and study for exams, but I also had the time to socialize. Right now, I don't have much time to socialize with friends, or go out and meet new people.

To build on that last sentence, the only way I get to interact with friends is either by social media or calling/texting. I don't see friends anymore, because I don't have the time for it. It is something I truly miss, and it is something I desperately want back. The only people I see every day are my co-workers, and I don't really see them as friends. They are people I work with, nothing more.

Socializing is just one aspect of what made me happy while I was at school. Another aspect was how liberally I spent my money while I was at school. I would always spend on food, drink, and anything else that I either needed, or enabled me to have a good time or feel happy. Now, even though I am getting regular paychecks, I find myself being much more conservative with my money, and spending only to help my future (though this is a very good thing). You know what I did this week? I opened up an RRSP. Fun, huh? I cared less about money when I was in school, and it was another aspect of my school life that made me happy.

Nowadays, not very many things make me happy. Sure, I get to work in Downtown Toronto and walk around the city on my lunch break, which is mostly enjoyable, but it's not very fulfilling. The train ride to Union Station is reminiscent of my high school days when I would have to take a packed bus to and from school every day. The walk from Union Station to my building is like a death march with hundreds of other suits walking with you with the same drab expression, with the homeless sticking out their hand for change and other people trying to give you flyers you don't need. The elevator to my floor is usually cramped with people and full of the kind of conversation that middle-aged people talk about, such as why their spouses weren't in the mood yet again last night.

I guess what I am trying to say is that my day-to-day life right now is monotonous and predictable, when I compare it to when I went to university. I feel absolutely soulless. The only two ways where I can truly express what is in my soul is through Twitter, and this very blog you are reading. When I was in university, I was able to socialize, and work towards an attainable goal, which was to get my degree. When I was in university, I felt like I still had my soul.

I knew at some point, I would have to take the leap, and finally grow up from school, and enter the working world. I'll admit, I was a bit unprepared, and it surprised me in some ways. For everyone that is about to finish college or university soon (and to those who have just started), enjoy the time you have right now, and cherish it. When you finish school and enter the working world, your entire life will change. I hope it changes for the better for you, and not like how my life ended up. I miss school so much, but these words can't even begin to quantify how much I truly do.

Well, time for me to grow up some more...

10,000 Tweet Milestone!

Yeah, so I finally hit my 10,000th tweet.

I may as well milk this as much as I can, because you only hit 10,000 tweets once.

I never thought I could be truly active on a social network for a long time, but Twitter gave me the opportunity to truly speak my mind on any sort of issue that I wanted to talk about. For the past two and a half years, Twitter has always been my "go-to" social network, and it has been the social network that I have enjoyed the most. I remember the reason why I started to use Twitter in the first place, and the main reason was because of my complete annoyance with Facebook, which I am not very active on anymore. I found that the things I saw on Twitter were much more positive than the negativity and phoniness I regularly saw on Facebook, so naturally, I gravitated towards Twitter, and I haven't looked back since.

I would say that about half of my total tweets were about footy/soccer. Whether it was about Toronto FC, Manchester United, or anything else that was in the world of footy, it's pretty obvious that by reading my tweets, a reader can tell that I am footy mad. The other half of my total tweets are about, well, everything else. Usually, it was about the things that go on in my life, whether it was about school or something else. I always tried to strike a balance between the readers that follow me for my footy tweets and the readers that follow me for the other things going on in my life.

I remember when I first started up on Twitter in the beginning of 2011, and looking back on it now, my early tweets were pretty shit, in the grammatical sense, and also that my tweets were very boring. Some of my tweets, when looking back, were also a bit cringe-worthy. I only talked to about two people since the start of my account, one of them I still talk to regularly to this day, and the other I don't really talk to now (let's just say, she got replaced). In the beginning months of my Twitter account, I would talk about anything and everything that came up in my mind, from dirty song lyrics to the attractive woman that passed me on the street that I really wanted to have sex with. Nothing was off limits. Hell, I even talked about what I truly wanted when it came to my love life.

The follower count started to rise, and I started to have more valued conversations with a number of Twitter users. Occasionally I would get the angry disagreement or hater trying to make me feel bad, but overall, the conversations I had on Twitter were overwhelmingly positive. From the Twitter account, it was also the basis for the creation of my blog, which serves as my extended thoughts that I couldn't fit into my Twitter account. Also, this may be a bold statement coming from me, but I would like to think that I pioneered the use of Twitter among my university friends. As soon as I started to use Twitter, one by one, my university friends followed suit, so go ahead and call me a trendsetter.

The months and years passed, I interacted with more people, my follower count kept rising, and I continued to tell my stories and talk about my experiences. And it all led me to today where after two and a half years, I finally reached that milestone of 10,000 tweets. I know a lot of people that use Twitter reach that milestone in almost no time at all, but I would like to have the vast majority of my tweets have some sort of quality and substance, and I also don't really like to bombard the timelines of my followers with constant tweets (except when a footy match is on).

As much as I truly love Twitter, I feel like these days, my tweets haven't been up to the standard that I want it to be. I remember back in 2011 and a good chunk of 2012 when I truly had free reign over what I wanted to tweet, but ever since, let's say, September 2012, I felt like my tweets were getting to be a bit boring, and I felt like I lost that free reign. I couldn't really tweet anything explicit anymore, except for a few swears, and my early Twitter followers know how much I love tweeting explicitly. Maybe I'm a bit more mature now, or maybe I'm not trying to offend and/or disgust all my followers. Actually, I'm afraid that one day I may write a careless tweet that exposes certain feelings about certain people. Nonetheless, I'm going to try to bring my Twitter account to its former glory. I'm going to try to be as witty, funny, and explicit (within reason) as I possibly can.

I just want to say that I value each and every one of my Twitter followers, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the conversations I've had with you all over the months and years. Some of these conversations actually helped me through some tough times, and for that I am grateful.

Well, here's to 10,000 more...cheers!

The State of Toronto FC: TFC Win At DC, Terry Dunfield, And a Potential Friendly?

(Side Note: I know some of these events happened a little while ago, but I would rather cover all the pressing issues in one major blog post than write a separate small post for each event in the Toronto FC season)

Time I do another one of these things, but first, I just want to say some quick thoughts on TFC's win over DC United last Saturday. I am very happy that they finally broke their long win-less streak and came out as 2-1 winners. TFC's overall performance that night was decent, but when you are facing Major League Soccer's worst team this season, a decent performance is all you need. Let's hope that TFC builds on this win when they go to Houston to face the Houston Dynamo this Saturday.

About a week ago, Toronto FC midfielder Terry Dunfield was waived by TFC, and the opinions on his TFC playing career were divided. He wasn't as polarizing as Paul Mariner or Dwayne De Rosario, but his play has certainly led to much discussion among TFC supporters. Many TFC supporters had favorable opinions on him while many others were not so kind on his time at TFC. After much deliberation in my head and with others on whether Dunfield was a good or bad player for TFC, I have come to the conclusion that his negative qualities slightly outweighed his positive qualities. I'll talk about the positives first...

From what I understand, the quality that most TFC supporters will remember about Terry Dunfield is that he gives his all in every match that he plays. What he lacks in talent and skill, he makes up for it by working harder than any other man on the pitch. Relating to this, he is always applying pressure on the opposing player who has the ball or is about to get the ball, and more often than not, it has worked in Toronto FC's favor by the opponent giving away the ball. Finally, he has definitely showed some leadership qualities, whether through giving instructions to his fellow teammates on the pitch, or inspiring the younger Toronto FC 1st team and academy players.

Now, the negatives. His positive qualities almost always lead to his negative qualities. While his pressure on opposing players was good, he was constantly out of position in the midfield, which was directly responsible for some of the goals scored by TFC's various opponents. When Dunfield charges in, the opponent can pass into the space behind him to another player, which means that the defenders will come out of their position to challenge the ball, and it just becomes a domino effect of mistakes that leads to a goal. Dunfield is also not a very good tackler at all, and regularly receives warnings from the referee, or receives a yellow card. Finally, he is a player that generally lacks skill and technical ability in the middle of the pitch, especially when compared to Matias Laba or Jonathan Osorio. With the emergence of these two players to be mainstays in the Toronto FC midfield, as well as Dunfield being on the wrong side of 30 when it comes to his age, it doesn't make much sense to keep him on the roster. It was ultimately a good move to waive Terry Dunfield, even if Toronto FC doesn't find anyone to replace him.

Finally, there are reports coming out that Toronto FC is in negotiations to bring a "big name" opponent to Toronto for a summer friendly. The opponent is widely expected to be the popular Uruguayan club Penarol. Now, if it were up to me, I would never schedule friendlies during the season for TFC, as it produces unnecessary strain on the players by preparing for a match that is basically meaningless when they should be preparing for regular season matches. On the other hand, friendlies with big-name teams can be an extra source of revenue for Toronto FC, and can give them a bit of international exposure. Mid-season friendlies can also give reserve and young players some valuable experience. While I was reading this article, I noticed a certain quote by Paul Beirne - Toronto FC VP of Business Operations, which said:

“I had to look up who Peñarol were,”

I am going to try to give him the benefit of the doubt here. Maybe he genuinely didn't know who Penarol were, and that's fine. I don't believe it was the wisest thing to say that in front of the interviewer and then to let him quote you on saying that on the article. That idiotic comment was very arrogant and disrespectful to Penarol. A part of me hopes that Penarol pulls out of that potential friendly because of that dumb comment, but I doubt that will happen. Sadly, this wasn't the first time that Paul Beirne has made a questionable comment to damage the reputation (or lack there of) of Toronto FC on the business side. I honestly believe he should be fired, or at the very least, given a talking to by Kevin Payne on how to frame your words.

That's all I got for now...

What I REALLY Thought About My Graduation Ceremony

So, yesterday, I finally graduated from Brock University and attained my undergraduate degree. Look, I am very happy that I finally attained a Bachelor's Degree, and the 4 years of hard work finally paid off, but I really have to say something about the actual graduation ceremony that took place yesterday morning. It had to be one of the most boring ceremonies I ever took part in. Time for me to break it down.

The stuff before the graduation ceremony was pretty standard. I walk into the university, I go collect my gown, I stand in a line, and we all walk into the gym where the ceremony is taking place. The seats are all really close together so it was a little bit of a tight squeeze to sit in between two lovely ladies (not that I'm complaining). Once we were all sat down, then came the procession of the faculty and the chancellors of the university where they were wearing these odd-looking robes and hats, like something that was from the medieval times. I know it is tradition, but it just looked a bit ridiculous and it reminded me of how court cases  were carried out in England in the 1400s. I was humming the theme of "The People's Court" at the time.

Once all that ended, the ceremony started with the addresses of the chancellor, vice-chancellor, and various members of the faculty. You know how it is, they start telling their life stories, and offer some pseudo-inspirational bullshit such as "you are the continued life-blood of Brock University" and "you are a shining beacon to the world" (Note: I can't remember what was actually said, as I was probably half-asleep). The addresses, though were meant well, were very mind-numbing and would have put the most energetic child to sleep.

Then finally came the presenting of the degrees to the various graduates, in which they were presented two at a time. Any awards that the new graduates had were also announced. I did feel a bit sorry for the graduates who were partnered up with other graduates who basically had fan sections cheer their hearts out when their name was called, and the other graduate who barely got any applause when their name was called. I thought that the presenting of the degrees was finally a good way to move around after sitting through the insanely boring graduation addresses. When my name was finally announced, all I kept thinking to myself was "don't trip, don't trip", and thankfully, I didn't! Everything went very well.

After that, the chancellor said some parting words, the faculty and graduates proceeded out of the gym, and the ceremony was over. If I were to sum up this graduation ceremony in short, this is what I will say. The graduation ceremony was a wonderful occasion, but going to it felt like a chore. If my parents didn't have a say, I never would have went. I essentially went only because of them.

Side note: I would like to thank everyone who congratulated me on this accomplishment, whether in-person, on my mobile, or through the various social networks. It was a bit rough at times, but it was all worth it for a piece of paper that said I completed something.

The State of Toronto FC: Hey Look! They Conceded Late Again!

Now that I am home from university, I am finally able to make the pilgrimage to BMO Field to watch Toronto FC. I went to the May 18 match against the Columbus Crew, and just yesterday, I went to the match against the Philadelphia Union. Here are my thoughts on that match itself:

Positives

Tactically, Toronto FC actually played quite well. Instead of just booting the ball up the pitch like they always do, they kept the ball on the ground and made simple passes to create openings in the Union defense.  Why don't they play like this all the time? It was encouraging to see and I hope Ryan Nelsen continues to use that style in future matches. TFC also held it down well when they were down to 10 men. They cleaned up well in their own 18-yard box and withstood the Union pressure for most of the match.

Jonathan Osorio continues to be a bright spot in the TFC squad with his energy and creativity in the midfield (not to mention his awesome header). When I saw the starting 11 before the match, I questioned whether be would be able to bring some intensity throughout the entire match, but his performance put my doubts to rest. He deserves a starting spot in Toronto FC in the matches to come. I was also happy to see Danny Koevermans subbed into the match after his year out with a torn ACL. It got a standing ovation from the crowd at BMO Field, and even though he didn't score, I hope he reclaims the goal-scoring form he once had.

Negatives

They conceded late, again.

They were doing so well to keep the match 1-0 while down to 10 men, but once again, TFC let in a disheartening goal near the end of the match to lose two points. They couldn't hold on for another four minutes. TFC conceding late goals is nothing new, so there isn't much I can really add when everyone else has already stated their opinion on it. Maybe instead of trying to get new defenders on loan, Kevin Payne and Ryan Nelsen should look at the mental fortitude of the team. Just a suggestion.

There was also moments of madness and stupidity from Doneil Henry, with his altercation with the Union keeper to get his first yellow, and his dangerous tackle to get his second yellow near halftime. He has been scrutinized a bit this season, and for good reason. Even though he had some minor spells of good form, he does make some dumb decisions which have negative implications for the team. I know he is young, but he needs to focus better, and make better decisions in the heart of the defense.

Even though I was happy to see Danny Koevermans play again, I do question the substitution made by Ryan Nelsen. If you are trying to keep the win, you need to get another defender out there, not a striker, especially with TFC constantly conceding late goals. I strongly suspect that sub was merely to please the crowd, and not to win the match.

Other Thoughts

On both of my recent trips to BMO, when I looked over to the south end before the match, I saw that Toronto FC were using flares on poles to try to increase the atmosphere in the stadium. It looks incredibly tacky, and I think the TFC FO needs to stop this. If TFC really wants to enhance the atmosphere using flares, then leave the flares to the supporters, though this has some dangerous consequences (I may make a "flares" blog post in the future).

I am happy that I was able to make it out to BMO Field on two separate occasions, because it temporarily improved my general mood. When I left university, it felt like a part of me was lost, in the sense that I won't be able to enjoy going to class (I do enjoy it, lol) or see some of my friends. Going to BMO Field also made me forget about certain situations where I will not have the chance to gain anything from it. That void was filled temporarily by going to BMO, even though the results weren't what I had hoped for. I didn't feel very happy when I left university, and BMO Field was that escape that I truly needed. When Osorio scored that goal yesterday, it was the happiest I ever felt in weeks. Even though Toronto FC isn't a very good team, and I don't say very nice things about MLSE, watching TFC live is when I feel the happiest, and I am dead serious when I say that.

The State of Toronto FC - Same Old, Same Old

Been a while since I did something like this, but there are some pressing issues concerning Toronto FC that I really need to address.

Now that I am back from school for good, I am able to go to matches at BMO Field again, and I finally make my return this Saturday, May 18th against the Columbus Crew. There are a couple of reasons why I am going back to BMO Field this Saturday. As much as I like to talk about how MLSE is ruining the club, I do miss going to TFC matches at BMO Field. My love for TFC is much stronger than my hate for MLSE. The other reason why I am going to the match on Saturday is that I want to see how the atmosphere is nowadays, compared to previous years. I've been hearing from fellow supporters about how bad the atmosphere is at BMO Field these days, and it is something that I want to see with my own eyes. I want to see what 7 years of bad results, dumb management, and MLSE ineptitude and greed has done to this club.

I also want to use this blog post to address a couple of quotes made by a couple of TFC staff. After the Voyageurs Cup 2nd leg loss to the Montreal Impact, TFC VP of Business Operations Paul Beirne sent this tweet:

"Congratulations @JoeySaputo and @impactmontreal on advancing to the Final. Now do the right thing and keep that trophy in the east."

Are you kidding me, Paul? I am disappointed at your lack of consideration for the Toronto FC supporters in publicly congratulating the Montreal Impact on their blowout 6-0 victory over Toronto FC. I'm sure you and the Impact staff are friends behind the scenes, but if you are going to congratulate OUR HATED RIVALS, then so do in private. That tweet you made created negative publicity for the club. Ironically, you share the responsibility of trying to market the club in a positive light and promote good PR. Us TFC supporters were absolutely gutted for that embarrassing loss, and you had to go and say that? I'm surprised you weren't fired. You will never understand what it is like to be a supporter of Toronto FC.

Okay, next order of business, it seemed like TFC has signed Tal Ben Haim on loan from QPR (it has actually been announced by TFC), but as of today, it looks like it hasn't happened yet. The obvious question here is that why would TFC announce something has happened when it hasn't yet? The quote that had me hollering with laughter is when TFC President and General Manager Kevin Payne said this about the defender:

"Tal Ben Haim has been one of the top defenders in the EPL for nearly a decade"

What? No, he hasn't. Tal Ben Haim has been one of the worst EPL defenders for nearly a decade. Dumb, relegation-threatened EPL teams trust in him to try to help save the team, but ultimately, they go down (Portsmouth, West Ham, QPR). I genuinely do not know why Kevin Payne would say something like that.

With Ben Haim (and Steven Caldwell), it seems like Kevin Payne is trying to steady the back line and add some much needed experience, especially in the last minutes of matches. He is relying on over-the-hill, thirty-something players to try to make the difference for TFC, after he said he wouldn't. This will be interesting summer for TFC. Who knows what will happen...

Actually, I'm pretty sure TFC will continue to lose...

My Thoughts: Sir Alex Ferguson's Retirement

If you haven't heard by now, Sir Alex Ferguson is retiring as manager of Manchester United at the end of this season. We all knew that this day would come, but it came as a bit of a shock to me that today would be the day that he would announce his retirement. Honestly, what can I say about him that hasn't already been said by countless other Manchester United supporters. The only thing I can truly offer differently is to share my personal connection to watching Sir Alex.

Alex Ferguson has been the manager of Manchester United since before I was born. When I began to follow Manchester United a very long time ago, he was that iconic figure for me in that club. To me, Sir Alex Ferguson IS Manchester United, and to have him leave after all these years, it feels like, as a Man United supporter, a part of me is lost. You can't just simply say goodbye to a long and illustrious 26 and a half year career where he turned a struggling club into one of the world powers of football and the biggest brand in all of sport. He knocked Liverpool off their fucking perch. He made Bayern Munich weep in 1999. He turned the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Roy Keane, and Ruud van Nistelrooy into world stars. He made use of the academy and out came more world class players like Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and the Neville brothers. He gave his absolute everything to the club, and saying a simple thank you and goodbye just doesn't seem enough for me.

Now the obvious question with his retirement as manager of Manchester United is, well, who will be replacing him. Well, there are two obvious candidates that were identified: Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, and Everton manager David Moyes. One of them seems like the great short-term hire, and the other seems like the great long-term hire.

Jose Mourinho is the best manager in world football right now. His teams consistently go deep in the Champions League and he can motivate a team like no other. But Mourinho can't seem to stay at a team for more than 3 years, and he has a tendency to make things all about him, rather than the club itself. This would be bad for a team like Manchester United, as the club itself is bigger than any player or manager. If Manchester United wants to be assured of consistently performing well in Europe, and focus more on short-term goals, then hire Mourinho. I don't agree with this, though.

David Moyes has built a very good Everton team on a strict budget, constantly punching above its weight. He doesn't have much experience in continental football, but he is a commanding individual, similar to that of Sir Alex. If he is hired, my fear is that Man United will not perform as well as when Sir Alex is in charge, especially in Europe. But what eclipses that fear is the potential long-term stability that may occur if Moyes is hired. Moyes has been Everton manager for 11 years, so it is possible that he can be the Man United manager for many years to come. Moyes made big moves despite being on a tight budget at Everton, imagine what he can do with a lot more money at his disposal. If I had to choose which manager should succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, it would be David Moyes.

No matter which manager will be the next manager of Manchester United, it is pretty safe to say that it will be impossible to fill the shoes of Sir Alex Ferguson. He is the greatest manager in football, there's no question about it, and probably one of the greatest managers/coaches in all of sports. He is irreplaceable. He is more than a legend, more than an icon, and more than anyone can ever hope for.

I hope that bronze statue of Sir Alex outside Old Trafford is always shining, even in the darkest days.

It isn't much, but thanks for everything...

Random Thoughts 11: An Observation, A Hard Truth, and Another League Title

Okay, some more random thoughts, accompanied by a random picture from last February's Auto Show...

I've had Twitter for over 2 years, and for the most part, it has been great fun. One of the things I noticed when I would casually be on Twitter is that I am able to read certain underlying situations that people are in just by reading their tweets, and I don't mean that in a "creeper" sense. You can tell a lot about someone and what they are going through by seeing what they tweet, how they tweet, and how often they tweet. If people have feelings that they want to express on Twitter, they will do it, but sometimes I see people implicitly express their feelings, either by sub-tweeting, or by other means. All these tweets begin to paint a portrait of yourself, and there are people who can either see that portrait, or they are unable (or too oblivious) to see it.

Now, time to switch over to something else, and it is a hard truth...

If you are single, you may be thinking about a certain someone, someone that makes you feel whole. Unfortunately there is something I have to break to you. You may think this person looks amazing. You may think this person has an awesome personality. You may think this person has big dreams and ambition. You may think this person is the "one" that you want to spend the rest of your life with. But if that person doesn't feel the same way that you do towards that person, then it isn't to be. It is a terrible feeling, yes, but I am here to tell you that you can get over it. Hopefully you'll find someone who is even better and can make you feel even more amazing, so don't lose hope.

Quick thoughts on United winning their 20th league title: Awesome, United blew away the rest of the competition and none of the other big clubs made a reasonable challenge for the Premier League. Man City failed to perform when it mattered, and Chelsea are pretty much a shit-show at this point, especially with the management and ownership. But back to United, I would never expect Carrick to be the standout player in this Man United side. RVP, Rafael, and De Gea have also had big seasons as well. Although they were knocked out of the other cup competitions (don't get me started on the Champions League exit against Real Madrid), I am generally happy with Man United's season. The squad could use a little bit more tinkering, but I am optimistic that Man United can put up more of a fight in the other cup competitions next season.

So until the next part of the random thoughts segment, bye...

My Thoughts and Experiences of My 4 Years at University

So, it has come to this. It's over. I can't help but think that my time in St. Catharines and going to Brock University has went by so fast.

A bit of background on why I came to St. Catharines to live for almost 4 years. There were circumstances back home that would have made my life impossible to live if I stayed home and commuted to a local university. There were people in my high school that tried to make my life a living hell, which I have long since cut from my life. Also, there were some other frightening experiences that I have gone through, that made me want to get away from everything. I made too many mistakes, I made too many enemies, and I certainly made the wrong friends in high school, and what I truly wanted was a new life.

I got that opportunity at a new life, a new me, when I accepted my offer to go to Brock University in September of 2009. For me, it was an opportunity at a fresh start, and an opportunity to forget the wrongs of my past.

When I arrived at residence for the first time, it definitely wasn't what I expected. I was never that good at making friends, and for the first few weeks, I had to repeatedly come out of my comfort zone to try to make friends. It wasn't easy, due to my social awkwardness at the time, but ultimately, it was for the best. I remember the distinct moment when I legitimately felt accepted by my new residence friends, and it came during a competition at the end of the first week of university involving all the halls from all of the residences of university, where I apparently successfully guessed the height of the CN Tower for my hall. Reading up on my random trivia in my spare time certainly paid off.

The rest of my first year went a lot easier after that. I was doing decent in school, I was firmly entrenched in a circle of friends, and I was always meeting new people. Though at times, my first year of university and living in residence felt a bit like high school, because people were still stuck in the immature high school mindset (myself included sometimes), the people in university were much easier to approach and talk to than the people at high school, which was very cliquey. The first year of university was the last time I really got to be a bit immature (it showed in some nights), and it set me for some growing up in the subsequent years of my university career.

When second year started, I made the decision to live by myself, which baffled a lot of my friends, but it was the best decision I ever made. I can't stand living with others, and I keep hearing stories about ruined friendships over roommate issues, which is something I don't want to have happen to me. Living by myself also forced me to grow up and truly fend for myself, which was something I relished, and made me learn a lot about what I wanted. There were a couple of drawbacks about living alone. One of these drawbacks trying to keep in contact with my friends, and at times, I felt like a burden to them. Relating to this, the worst part about living alone was the constant loneliness every night. Some nights, it was manageable, but other nights, it destroyed me emotionally. There were some nights that I wished that someone was around to talk to. If you are going to live alone, be prepared for the emotional pain that comes along with it, but I managed to get through it.

Second year, school-wise, was a lot tougher. I was originally accepted to Brock to do accounting, but with every day that passed, I was losing the passion to finish my accounting degree. I was struggling with classes and nearly failing them to the point where I pretty much lost it and demanded to myself that I needed to change. There was also some events that took place back home which made it unlikely that myself and my family was going to pay for my tuition for the rest of my time at university. With all that going on in my life at the time, I thought my life was finished. Second year was easily the worst time for me at university.

Third year came along, and for some reason everything started to change. I got out of accounting and looked for something within the business profession that I enjoyed, and I found it in Information Systems. With that, my grades started to improve significantly. To be honest, I don't really remember much from third year, other than trying to improve my grades and trying to keep in contact with friends.

In order to try to graduate in 4 years, I chose to take courses in the spring/summer. Coming off a generally positive third year of university, I was optimistic about this, even if it meant staying in school a couple of months and missing out on some sunny days. That spring turned out to be the spring of re-acquaintance for me, which was absolutely fantastic. That spring was also the time where I began to really delve deep into who my real friends were here at university, and who I thought were good friends but ended up being worse than I thought they were. Living in St. Catharines during that time had a major flaw, being that the vast majority of my friends went home for the spring/summer, so loneliness hit especially hard for me at that time.

Fourth year could not have been any better for me. I was taking courses which I enjoyed and was doing incredibly well in, I was doing independent research in the hopes of attaining new skills which I also enjoyed, and I was continuing to be social, which helped my general mood. With all this fun I was having these days, it's hard for me to come to grips with finally having to leave for good. I'll leave some general thoughts about this entire experience.

When I first came to university, I was young and stupid. But now I am four years older, four years wiser, and finally grown up. There is the possibility that I will end up going back home and potentially face my own demons from my past, but I think I will be able to handle it now. All I can do now is try to look forward, and try not to think about my past. I've met some great people here, probably some of the best people I have met so far in my life, and it was a welcome change from the negativity that surrounded me in my high school years. I also believe that I have gotten exactly what I wanted from this entire experience, in terms of an education, and in terms of hopefully building long lasting friendships as well. Looking back at all of this, there were some things I could have changed, but it is what it is. I am glad that I didn't have to commute from home to go to a local university, because I craved true independence, and it was what I got.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone I've ever met in my four years at university who has made a positive impact in my life, from the first weeks of residence, to the parties and bar nights, and beyond. You have truly made me feel welcome and loved, and for that, I am eternally grateful. You all were everything and more...

Until the next time we may meet, I say, goodbye, and take care of yourselves.

Toronto FC vs. Sporting KC: My Thoughts

The boys are back in town.

Today, I decided to come out of hiding and go the Toronto FC home opener at the Rogers Centre (or the Skydome, if you're old school and/or against corporatism) against Sporting KC. On the days leading up to the match, I honestly thought TFC were going to lose. Man, was I wrong.

I made my way to Real Sports to pick up some gear and to take part of the pre-match festivities, which consisted of a music ensemble playing some samba music, which I thought was pretty cool. There was a good crowd and a lot of people were fired up and in fine voice for the upcoming match. After the samba performance came the walk to the stadium, and every time I took a step towards the stadium, I felt myself become slightly more nervous, but I was in absolutely fantastic spirits the entire day.

So I get to the stadium, and take my seat. The Torsten Frings tribute was a nice touch from TFC, and to see him for the last time almost put a tear in my eye.The teams come out. The anthems are sung. The supporters warm up their vocal cords.

We're back.

The first half was great from TFC, good passing and lots of pressure, which lead to a mistake in the SKC defense, and Earnshaw capitalized in the 3rd minute to make it 1-0. Not long after, new TFC player Bostock earned a penalty in the box and Earnshaw slotted in the PK to make it 2-0. I couldn't believe it, a Toronto FC team actually playing well? Halftime approached, and I was as happy as I can be.

In the 2nd half, TFC expectedly got a little too comfortable, and Sporting KC went on the attack for the vast majority of the half. I was constantly distracted by little children trying to throw streamers next to me onto the  supporters section below (I was in 226, so if you were sitting in 125-127, you will have seen at least 20 streamers fly down during the half). Distractions aside, SKC were getting frustrated and things started to get a little chippy, with a few pushes and shoves here and there. SKC got a goal back, but TFC did enough to earn the 2-1 victory and get their first win since July of last year. Brilliant.

There was an apparent incident in the 2nd half where I noticed a lot of reddish smoke coming from the supporters section right below me. My initial thought was that someone lit a flare or a smoke bomb, which explained the increase in security personnel on the floor and in my section looking down. If you're going to bring stuff like that and get caught, own up to it and pay the fine. You have to accept the responsibilities.

Overall, it was a fantastic day, and I hope this Toronto FC team builds on this win which will hopefully lead to more wins or a winning streak. Let's enjoy this win.

The boys are back in town, and I couldn't be more happier.