This all just goes to prove that Kamara can be just a bit of a controversial player. I've felt the same way as both sides here, from time to time. And no, I'm not trying to play the "both sides" card--this is just my personal emotions speaking, which may or may not be based on the facts. I don't have very many players I "hate", BTW. Teams? Sure. Cowboys for one. Penguins for another (much of that is due to their fanbase, tho, and the fact that I grew up on the other side of the Commonwealth). I boo--as appropriate (but not at college games, except bad calls, as they are kids and (were) amateurs).
Sure, why not. But look at Kei's social media, or look at his interactions before and after games. He has friends virtually everywhere in the league, from every stop he's made. Reporters like Wahl, some of the MLS.com guys, and others all have good natured anecdotes about his time in the league. Hell, even the offensive picture with Brek Shea that some can't let go was Kei celebrating...with a teammate. But again, the leap being made by many hear isn't about him as a teammate, it's to his very character. And I have no problem stating that shines a lot more of a light on the posters' character, than Kei's supposed lack.
Maybe it's old man Foggy Brain... But I recall cheering for Kei when he scored for us. I also remember cheering when it was announced he was traded, but I don't recall specifically why I was happy he left. Then in a #SaveTheCrew rage mode remember thinking screw that traitorous texan @sshole.
I'm sure his Sporting KC teammates thought it was great when he smashed into Anor...causing his ACL to snap, and then screaming at him to get up. I'm sure Anor's Crew teammates thought Kei was a giant POS for snapping Anor's ACL and then screaming at him to get up. I guess you are saying it is all in perspective. My perspective is that he is a giant turd all things considered. You have the opposite opinion because I guess you like his social media posts. And if you think his picture was celebrating with Shea and not a big FU to Columbus then..well...I think you are wrong.
I know when I want to find out an objective truth about something American soccer related, the first two places I go are social media and mlssoccer.com!! Grant Wahl is a close third.
Alright, you want to disregard Crew "fans" with your passive-aggressive and dismissive view. Ask the FO, teammates, managers, and opponents of the 14 different professional clubs he has played for about Kei's character. Why did it never work out? Ask his former coaches and teammates with the Sierra Leone national team about his divisive comments about the team and managers. You could also ask yourself, why in the hell has he played for 14 teams since 2005?
My perspective is that sports fans, looking through the lens of their fandom, to judge a man's character have an incredibly blindered view. The examples that you, and others, have given to assault character here show exactly the limits of that view.
Yes, I agree that using a Brek Shea social media post after a competitive contest to come to objective truths about a the whole of, or even a majority of, a man's character, as so many have done is incredibly simplistic. But this is the mindset of the always aggrieved, perpetual victim, Columbus Crew fan.
I already have asked myself that. I don't find him playing for 14 teams to be a strike against his character, just like I don't think Robbie Keane's playing for 11 clubs makes him an asshole, or Peter Crouch playing for 10 clubs makes his character questionable. Francesco Totti played his entire career with Roma and spurred offers from Real Madrid and elsewhere. I'm thankful for that, but I don't necessarily think that makes him a man of unimpeachable character, far from it. John Terry played almost 500 games for Chelsea, showed incredible loyalty and leadership to and for the club, before ending his career with a handful of games elsewhere. Sure he slept with his teammate's girl. Sure, he's going to bat for Russian Oligarchs now. But, at least he didn't play for 14 clubs. There is a man of character!!!
I can totally admit that my Crew fandom has most everything to do with my disdain toward him. I have seen enough from him through my lens of a Crew fan to not like him. But I must ask if in fact you know him? Could his socials be fake as fcuk hiding his true nature? Who knows but I will go with what I have seen.
All this talk about Kei Kamara reminds me of Chad Johnson. Both players had stats to back up their play. Both players were also a bit egotistical. The Bengals would win a few games, Chad would run his mouth a bit and then they'd get cool. Chad would then say something about needing to focus on his play and they'd go on a bit of a hot streak. Is a comparison entirely unfair?
I think it's odd that people think it's fine to boo the hell out of Mikey Boy Bradley but don't understand feeling hostility towards Kei. They essentially committed the same sin: at a time when there was an intense, emotionally fraught PR campaign aimed at taking our team away, they very publicly endorsed the move. Sure Kamara is different since he was a member of the team once and did some very good things, no argument. But he's the one who burned that bridge, not us. Pipa is a far more beloved guy in CBus than Kamara, and if he had done something like that most people would feel the same way. If you want to. e treated with the same kind of respect that Ale Moreno gets here then you need to act like Ale did instead of clowning around with that piece of shit Brek Shea
Am I missing a post somewhere in which Kei publicly stated he supported the move of the Columbus Crew to Austin or are Crew fans reading into a picture with no other available information? Seems pretty similar to the MB comments that have been spliced and taken to mean something different than I think was intended (And where he was kinda right)……*ducks and covers*
You aren't wrong, Crew96Fan (and Michael Bradley wasn't all wrong either). However, there are certain personalities that just thrive on grievance. These personalities turned on Kei long before the picture and the picture gave them another avenue. These are the kinds that think it gives extra fan bonafides, or Crew points, or whatever to attack the character of a man they never met. They fall back on the same tired arguments over, and over, and over. Even after Save The Crew, even after we won, there are certain mythologies that need to be maintained because what is Crew fandom without grievance. Dong Arber. Michael Bradley is terrible. Kei Kamara is a man a low character. These, especially the last, are upon closer examination fundamentally ridiculously stances. And the personalities that push these narratives should be mercilessly ridiculed every time they choose victimhood over joy.
I just don't like Kei Kamara because I'm Team Pipa. Kei might be a great guy or whatever, but I picked my side and Rule Number One of being a sports fan (according to Joe Queenan) is Never Switch Allegiances.
I mean, I think that's a pretty ridiculous and silly position to take.....but it's at least more intellectually honest than some of the other horseshit that's tossed around these boards.
Kei knew what he was doing with the brek Shea post. He (and I believe his wife) were not too kind on social media to Columbus in the aftermath of the trade. He was ahead of his time when it comes to social media and athletes. Also, remember that athletic piece on berhalter where Parkhurst said it was a conflict brewing for a while.