I had to wonder what the motivation was for ESPN to repeatedly isolate the shirtless, double-fisting fans at Toronto FC's match against the New York RedBulls on Thursday. Little attention was given to the seemingly well-behaved supporters groups behind the south goal; instead, any stoppage in play was seen as a network moment to show another drunken Canadian bellowing inaudibly and shoving an overpriced beer at the camera as if to say, 'The stereotypes are indeed true.'

As the game progressed, I started to make it a game to see if it was just coincidence, or if abuse of alcohol was really an issue at BMO Field? In the 87th minute, I finally witnessed a regular set of fans, without beer, smiling and waving at the camera. The 87th minute!

I have had the luxury of watching every TFC home game (with the exception of Thursday vs. NYRB) from an assigned seat in the press box. The view from up top on game day is fantastic: a vast sea of red enjoying a Saturday or Sunday afternoon in the widely-recognized best place to watch a MLS game.

But now, after watching a game through the selective lens of a network camera, I have to wonder if that vast sea of red is merely a case of not seeing the trees for the forest?

Are the individuals ruining it for the collective? Will the staff at BMO Field ban alcohol sales in the future? If ESPN's broadcast of the match on Thursday is any indication, a dry BMO may not be out of the realm of possibility.

The mass exodus after a TFC game is an entirely different animal. Abuse of alcohol is evident here. Twice I have waited over 30 minutes for police to arrive and sort out disturbances on the GO Train. Twice I have had conversations with fathers of families coming home from Blue Jay game about whether or not it is a good idea to bring their sons and daughters to a TFC game.

I wanted to say yes, but how could I when a group of fans were violently shaking the upper tier of the train car, for no apparent reason other than machismo.

One of the fathers went so far as to ask me why when he watched the Premier League on Saturdays there were no instances of beer-swilling fans conniving on what would be the best route to get on the field of play for a run?

I understand that in North America we are an ocean removed from what may or may not go on at a professional soccer match. But, to the naked eye, it would seem that hooligan is no longer a recognized word in the soccer lexicon.

What happens during -- and after -- TFC games is far from hooliganism, but is unnecessary, and those who have no interest in practicing it will be the ones who suffer.