Yeah, so about D-Ro....

... Looks like he has finally broken his silence.

Sort of.

A week after Toronto FC announced they had traded for the top Canadian player in Major League Soccer, we've heard very little from the team, and even less from De Rosario himself, about when he might arrive for a formal re-introduction to local media and fans.

As far as the media are concerned De Rosario is incommunicado these days. He's not answering his phones (believe me, I've dialed every one) or his email (I tried that first). He did, however, post a blurb on his personal web site earlier this week, thanking Dynamo fans for supporting him during his three years in Houston.

But a message for TFC fans?

None on his site yet, and nothing relayed through the team or local media. 

Now, the team might complain later that I'm missing the point, and that De Rosario has indeed spoken out on the team's web site. But when you watch the video, note the Dynamo-orange trim on his T-shirt. This is archived footage, probably shot sometime around the All-Star game.

Monday morning the folks at TFC told me they would schedule a De Rosario news conference sometime this week -- sooner rather than later. As the week wore on, sooner bled into later and I learned the team had pushed the news conference back to sometime in January, though nobody was quite sure when.

I'm not saying the team or the player are trying to hide anything, but lack of information on the biggest deal  the team has ever completed sure seems strange.

In lieu of a formal news conference I started making calls to different folks, trying to pull together a happy-homecoming -for-the-holidays type feature looking at De Rosario, his family and the impact his return to Toronto will have on the local and national soccer scenes.

Certain folks were willing to talk, like the Toronto Lynx and TFC officials like Paul Beirne and Tom Anselmi, who eagerly answered all my questions.

But from people closer to the action I've heard little but silence.

Silence from both De Rosario and his agent, and silence from De Rosario's father, Tony, who said he'd love to interview but couldn't until his son gave the green light. But that wouldn't happen, he said, until his son, who was still in Houston, cleared some up some things. Beyond that he couldn't elaborate.

Fair enough. Tony's clearly close to his son, but it's not his job to deal with this stuff.

But the lack of clear communication from those directly involved is baffling.

And here's the thing about silence: it breeds speculation.

Right now, according to the Houston Chronicle, the speculation is that De Rosario wants a raise.

If you didn't read the whole story I'll point you to the important part.

The Dynamo tried to keep De Rosario happy in Houston, signing him to a long-term deal midway through the 2007 season that made him the team’s best-paid player at $325,000 (the league maximum at the time). Apparently, that wasn’t enough.

De Rosario, 30, asked to be traded to Toronto because that is home and because he is looking for a new long-term deal that includes a significant bump in compensation, although word from Toronto is that his new team might not be willing or able to comply.

 

Is that scenario plausible?

Sure.

De Rosario is the the best and most marketable player TFC has ever acquired, so it's reasonable to think he'd want a salary that reflects that status.

He has also been critical of BMO Field's synthetic turf in the past. Couple that with his age -- he'll be 31 in May -- and it's not hard to imagine him wanting a bonus in exchange for the daily pounding that is training on BMO's turf.

But does that mean this is what's actually happening?

Not at all.

Even a plausible scenario can be wrong, and I wanted the truth. So I called TFC general manager Mo Johnston, hoping he could clarify things for me. After all, he seemed cheerful enough when he told Sportsnet's Gerry Dobson that the delay in delivering De Rosario simply gave the team time to make a "big splash" in the new year.

But Johnston didn't tell me about any "big splashes." Instead he returned my call in a confrontational mood, asking why I'd called him.

Because I'm working on a story. That's the only reason I ever call him.

He wasn't happy that I had already called Beirne and Anselmi, and took my call to him as proof that I was trying to invent a De Rosario story where none existed.

Um... ok.

If I really were trying to concoct a story without facts I would avoid all the people directly involved (i.e. De Rosario, Beirne, Anselmi, Johnston), then field (justified) complaints from TFC that I'd written a big story without bothering to call the key players in it.

Instead, I go straight to the source and Johnston is still suspicious.

Go figure.

Anyway, Johnston assured me that the De Rosario deal was complete and that the two-time MLS Cup MVP was still in Houston but would arrive here eventually. 

Fine.

But when I asked him to address the speculation about De Rosario wanting more money, he didn't dismiss the rumours as much as he dismissed me, telling me sarcastically to "trust your instincts."

Okay.

We've got a team and their star player both incommunicado for a week after the biggest transaction in either party's history. Introductory news conference tentatively scheduled for this week is suddenly pushed back to some nebulous date in the new year. Rumours percolate that the star player wants a raise.

In a situation like this my instincts tell me to approach the people directly involved and get them to confirm or deny speculation. I'm in the truth business, so my instincts tell me to seek clarity and convey that clear message to readers.

And right now, in the absence of any clear answers from Johnston or De Rosario, my instincts tell me to keep questioning.

Johnston's comments about a "big splash" in January convinced Sportsnet's Dobson that "something is up" with Toronto FC.

After talking to Johnston and listening to a week of silence from De Rosario's camp, I've reached the same conclusion.

Something is up.

But I still don't even pretend to know what.

-- Morgan Campbell

Comments

[Nick]

Well written Morgan and very intriguing. Hmmmmmm

[david lemon]

morgan, these kinds of blogs or news clips or whatever have been written to death. I'm sure you're not the first or the last to call them and keep asking. It really seems like they want to unveil something special for the fans.

So let them.

Just wait until the new year to write these kinds of things, write about something else. Let them enjoy the holidays with the hassle. The more we pester this, the more we take away from the big new release that that they (possibly) have for us in January.

[Jason]

I heard from the grapevine they are waiting to sign their DP so that they can have a press conference with both dero and the dp. apparantly the dp is close to being signed in the new year which would make sense in this scenerio

[jean-guy]

Morgan,
An excellent read, and kudos to you for sticking to your guns to get the story, exposing MO's arrogance and writing about the facts. I really wish you were still cotinuing to cover the TFC beat.

[TFC07]

Finally someone in the media questioning DeRo being silent issue instead sucking up and believing whatever Mo is saying. I wouldn't be surprise if the hold up is DeRo wants more money.

[John Dinner]

I was similarily curious, and was hoping something was going to be announced this week, just to keep the excitement going. But I also do understand DeRo wanting to get things straight with his family and the timing isn't the best with the holidays and all. I'm going to stay positive about this and am eager to hear what he has to say in the new year.
Thanks for poking around and putting up with Mo for us.

[James17930]

I think you were right to make the calls you did to try and find out what's going down. If it weren't for those rumours in the Houston paper then I could 100% percent believe the 'Jan. press conference' line, but, given that there is now speculation, it makes sense to ask the questions you're asking.

But -- seems like everyone's going to keep a tight lid on things until after X-mas. So we're just gonna have to wait.

[James]

Well done, Morg...you're asking the right questions as usual.

[Mike Morrison]

If the team won't talk to you then I'd suggest you don't burn bridges on a beat by concluding things like the Coach and Manager are feuding because of some off-hand comments.

It's quite funny that the fans know more about what is going on than you. Jan. 6 TFC is announcing their DP signing. DeRo is being introduced at the same time.

Go and cover the Jays Morgan. Your sour grapes are spilling all over our team.

[James]

Mike Morrison: Do you know that for sure about January 6th?

That was a rhetorical question. Nobody knows anything for sure at this point. It's all "little birdies told me" and "I heard from a guy who heard from a guy". I'd suggest that until the press conference has been called - which it hasn't (I'm on the mailing list) - that you hold off on the insults to someone who's trying to do exactly the job we all want him to do...getting the truth.

[John Dinner]

I've seen the January 6th thing in one other place, but I'm not believing anything until I see it.

Oh, and Mr. Morrison, we all know how much you know, but telling everyone makes you a little less smart.

About DeRo and his raise...the fact is he should be realizing the true potential of what he is about to become...the face of soccer in Toronto. This is arguably the 3rd biggest market in the MLS and likely the most passionate, with the most potential for more. Endorsements should more than fill the DeRosario family coffers and TFC can concentrate on spending their money on filling the roster with qulity players surround him (which could lead to more success which could lead to more endorsements...a nice little circle if you ask me).

[Bliane]

Tottenham hotspur just announced they have released Stalteri!!! agreed by mutual consent. could this be the missing link they have been waiting for?

[Steve]

Hi Folks,

From Paul Stalteri's website:

"Paul Stalteri has cancelled his contract at Tottenham by mutual consent. Paul made 56 appearances for Tottenham and scored three goals. Paul has signed for Borussia Mönchengladbach and will be playing alongside Canadian International Rob Friend. He will join the club on January 1st."

So no Stalteri for us. Shame, that would have given us one heck of a backfield.

[Trevor]

That would have been phenomenal - I was excited when I read of Stalteri's departure, but the latest news from Sportsnet and his own website says he's heading back to Germany:

http://www.paulstalteri.com/home.htm
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2008/12/22/Stalteri-Germany-0/

[someone]

Stalteri would never come to TFC while Mo is in charge... Mo already told his staff that he considers Stalteri to be sh**... when asked to clarify, he said he was overrated and no one would ever know of him if he hadn't been Canadian.