Started a poll in the LAG forum about who the team's talisman is and I'm curious to see who is the talisman for the other teams around the league. MODS: Can you update this original post if people start posting who they consider to be the talisman for their respective teams? If I could, I would've liked to tally each teams candidates. Chivas USA - Chicago Fire - Colorado Rapids - Columbus Crew - DC United - FC Dallas - Houston Dynamo - Los Angeles Galaxy - Montreal Impact - New England Revolution - New York Red Bulls - Philadelphia Union - Portland Timbers - Real Salt Lake - San Jose Earthquakes - Seattle Sounders FC - Sporting Kansas City - Toronto FC - Vancouver Whitecaps -
For LA... it's not Donovan, it's not Keane. When Mike Magee shoots off target, the goal moves into the path of the ball so as not to anger him.
For SKC, it's the team. I'm not engaging in cheesy hyperbole. There is no one figure. You might be tempted to say Zusi or Nielsen or Besler, but compared to guys like Ching, DeRo, and Magee, it just feels different. Some of the longest serving guys on the team like Myers and Kronberg are not what you would call talismanic. Actually, if I did have to name one individual, I would say RobbHeineman.
One of the problems with this thread is that there seems to be a ton of turn over/upheaval at most clubs (well other then LA and Houston...) in the past few years making it hard to get anyone established enough and successful enough to fit into the concept of a "talismanic figure".
For the Timbers I'm guessing it's their fans, considering their performance on the road vs their performance at home.
I'd think it would be Chad Marshall. A guy who has been around and has been largely overlooked but is vital to what CLB does year in and year out. Or Heydude if we can include former players.
Id be more willing to argue Gaven for Columbus, when he is on he is on and can really turn the game in the Crews favor
For SKC I say it would have been Kei. Unfortunately, he's not here now. And maybe never again. So I might have to rethink.
But only on the current team. Historically, Guille, McBride (pre-Fulham/Fire) and Hejduk have all had talisman status in the past. We all love Chad in Columbus, but he's not our talisman. That would be like LA picking Gonzalez instead of Donovan. Houston Cameron instead of Ching. Or RSL picking Borchers instead of Morales.