Chris Rolfe Due an Apology

Discussion in 'Chicago Fire' started by On the Road Again, Oct 19, 2009.

  1. On the Road Again

    On the Road Again New Member

    Aug 16, 2006
    Nice to see someone in the soccer media mainstream has the guts to print something like this:

     
  2. ne plus ultra

    ne plus ultra Member

    Jul 9, 2000
    That's really well said. Both as it relates to the Rolfe play. And to the phenomenal misreading that most people make of "diving".

    I wish there were a rule that everyone who ever claimed so-and-so dived was forced to run at top speed and then have his heel kicked very lightly right at the end of his stride. (In fact, this would make for wonderful referee training!)

    It doesn't take much to make someone go down. I've seen a fair number of situations where a player who is going down embellishes; or makes little effort to try to stay up after. But frankly, I've seen very few dives, and that includes in 30 years of playing -- I saw very few things that I believed were dives committed by anyone playing against me either.

    Most of the "dive" complaints come from people who are hyped up for their team and from people who've never been kicked while carrying a ball at speed.
     
  3. harrylee773

    harrylee773 Member+

    Jul 28, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I was surprised at Rolfe's restraint when asked about the play after the game, as well. Class act, hope he does well overseas.
     
  4. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    Someone on the team should have ended the career of a player on the other team.
     
  5. quarterUltra

    quarterUltra Member

    Sep 10, 2000
    Stillwater, OK
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Off the record, I'm sure he was very candid. Players because of contractual obligations to the leagues they play in have to learn to be very political or have a very large bank account.
     
  6. On the Road Again

    On the Road Again New Member

    Aug 16, 2006
    Off the record, he probably handled it the same way regardless. ;) That is just the type of person he is and it runs all the way through him.
     
  7. snkscore

    snkscore Member+

    Jun 24, 2007
    La Grange, IL
    Rolfe was about as classy as anyone in the history of sport after that game.

    He even complimented Reis on "doing a good job trying to pull his hands back". WOW.

    I'm gonna really miss him. I wish we could have signed him for another 4 so that when Blanco and McBride are gone he could have an every day striker for this team, even if he probably should be already.
     
  8. Perugina

    Perugina Member

    Aug 7, 2003
    Grand Rapids MI
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I love Rolfe! The ref should apologize and he shoul be disciplined. I think it was a take down, and I'm a goakeeper. At the very least, call it even with a no call...but a yellow to Rolfe for diving!?!?!:mad: Why couldn't he at least confer with the sideline refs :confused:

    Many times, a player is worried about avoiding injury. It is much easier to go down in a direction that avoids the full force of the contact being applied in order to avoid a full force injury from staying on your feet.

    If that is the case, you check yourself, get back up and play on...okay, and maybe give the player a dirty look and the ref a meaningfull stare, making sure he understands the close call you had with possible injury. My pet peeve is the player that goes down to avoid injury, or even worse, with no contact, and then writhes on the ground like he's dying to sell a call.
     
  9. partycentral

    partycentral Member

    Nov 10, 2003
    Naperville
    Because he's a typical MLS quality referee and/or the assistant was also so far behind the play that he didn't have a better view.
     
  10. xtomx

    xtomx Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I apologize to Chris Rolfe.

    I know I have no reason to apologize to him, but he is due an apology and that apology (much like most library books) is overdue.

    I am sorry, Chris Rolfe.

    I am sorry you have had to play out of position and, as a result, never to your full potential.

    I am sorry you were frequently hurt at the beginning of your career.

    I am sorry that we have had coaches who were defensive-minded imbeciles who never allowed you to play the open game it appears would suit your considerable skills.

    I am sorry that you were yellow carded for diving in your last regular season away game with the Fire when it was clearly a foul.

    I am sorry you never hit (or were allowed to hit) the magical double digits in goals, even though every year it looked like a certainty.

    I am sorry you never had a chance to fully realize the partnership with Brian McBride.

    I am sorry you were underpaid when other players on the Fire (and in MLS) may be overpaid.

    I am sorry that you feel that you have to go to Denmark to find a higher tier of football (and, of course, a higher tier of wages). Not that Denmark is not a nice place. I am sure it is beautiful.

    I am sorry you have been so often a "victim of a bad haircut" throughout your time in Chicago.

    I am sorry you have not spent more time with the National Team when it seems that someone with your style of play is among the things the Nats are missing at the moment.

    I am sorry you were not a bigger celebrity while in Chicago. You had the profession, the personality and the poise to be a bigger celebrity. Perhaps that could have brought more endorsements and the pay would not have been as big of a deal.

    I am sorry we are not going to see you play in front of the Fire after next month.

    I think that just about does it for me.

    If anyone else have things to apologize to Chris Rolfe about, feel free to add to my list.
     
  11. noel R

    noel R Member

    Nov 20, 2007
    chicago
    That a-hole Reis owes Rolfe an apology for after he took him down he got up and motion to Gonzalas to card Rolfe and acting like he never touched Rolfe. This is the new trick keepers are using all over the world and works because many refs are afraid to make a call on a keeper.
     

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