In October of last year I got the opportunity to watch Real Madrid play its second-biggest rival from Barcelona -- RCD Espanyol -- at the The Bernabéu in Madrid. The match finished 2-2 with local Galactico Raúl González Blanco scoring a pair of first-half goals.
I saw the match on the third day of a three-week backpacking tour of Spain and in Seville, Cordoba, Ronda and Malaga I reiterated to anyone interested that being one of 65,000 Madridista on that evening was an unforgettable experience.
So when I heard that Los Blancos were pegged to play in my backyard at BMO Field I got misty-eyed.
But apparently, I am of the minority.
Not only have fellow bloggers dismissed the still unofficial friendly as not-so but large chunks of the rabid TFC fanbase have backed the sentiment to summarily dismiss a midsummer Clásico as nothing more than an attempt to wring more money out of the soccer subservient.
Was that motive ever in doubt? Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment did not rise to its lofty perch by discounting fans on marquee events. Watching Real Madrid in a cozy 20k-plus stadium is not a throw-in game for season seat holders (SSH). I sympathize for those who shell out hard-earned money to take themselves or their family to double-digit games each season, I really do, but it is also a conscious decision. So in the case of seeing world-class clubs like Madrid, if you don't want to pay, don't go.
But I would also advise against missing the event due to a financial grudge.
I remember paying a premium to watch FC Porto and Liverpool at the SkyDome with the understanding that entertainment costs money. But now that there is a regular game in town a sense of entitlement and a dime a dozen attitude has padlocked our wallets. I have zero insight into the process of bringing a top club to Toronto, but I am certain that two things occurred:
1. A do-it-at-any-cost mandate was passed
2. When the players were asked, a unanimous decision was reached
I am certain Wisla Kraków or Glentoran FC were available at beck and call for a summer tour, but if either of the aforementioned arrived as the SSH feature game we'd be having that argument right now. The MLSE bean-counters must have bent over backwards to accommodate this match -- and the rescheduled home date and rumours of a temporary grass pitch confirms.
While a portion of the spotlight will inevitably shine on the parent club for its efforts, it is safe to say the decision was made to suffice the city, its fans and the players on the team who will now have a career snapshot that very few MLS players can boast.
Lastly, I have no idea why the belief that only B-sides will play in friendlies over the summer is included in the debate. In the four friendlies that I have seen at BMO Field I watched John Carew, Gabriel Agbonlahor and a No. 1 goalkeeper in Thomas Sorensen play for Aston Villa while Rui Costa roamed the FieldTurf for over 60 minutes in the Benfica match.
Add in how one of the supposed B-squad players to appear in a 2008 friendly now starts for the Reds and precedent shows that a Diarra, Sneijder, Van der Vaart, Guti or Casilla might be up for a friendly run in a great atmosphere.
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