The Curious Case of Daniele Dichio

A tempest in a 6 foot 3 teapot? It seems as if a mini firestorm has been swirling around BMO Field this pass week with a lot “he said - no one said” coming from the traditional media circles. By now, most TFC supporters have heard the story - team legend and voted "most likely to walk on water" Danny Dichio had been left off the roster for recent league matches and was apparently told he wouldn't be travelling with the team to Seattle for this week's match against Sounders FC. The story seemed to snowball when the usually genial giant (Dichio) would not talk to the media about the situation but meanwhile an increasingly flustered Chris Cummins gave a bizarre explanation. The interim manager/ Director's mouthpiece dished out a peculiar line about Dichio's sudden inability to sit for the duration of a 5 hour flight and the detrimental effects such an Air Canada-based ordeal could cause a professional athlete. There is no question that Dichio's aging body is banged up and on it's literal last legs but last time I flew in a plane you weren't strapped down like an economy class Hannibal Lecter.

The few mainstream media members who follow the club have been stymied in their attempts to solve this strange case which has only caused a worsening of the situation. The silence from The TFC management has caused an anxiety amongst some supporters, which has manifested itself in the form or "Save Dichio!" style messages on forums and blogs as well as conspiracy theories about huge rifts in the dressing room. While stopping short of declaring Dichio a footballing god he is no doubt this team's cult hero and will be for a long time. Any perceived slight against him in this, his retirement year, is obviously touchy and that is understandable. In the meantime, there has been a sudden reversal of team policy and Dichio is on his way to Seattle this weekend. Regular football team selection or reaction to supporter anxiety? Very few of us will ever likely know the answer but it is once again a sideshow from BMO Field.

It seems that every time the product on the field falters, another one of these off-the-pitch fiascos arises. Perhaps, the notably silent Director of Football doesn't mind the circus stories though. If people are talking about player issues, the grass, stadium expansion, the Argos etc. then the focus is directly off of the performance of his assembled squad. If the pattern of play continues and TFC indeed misses the playoffs then a built-in "player personality" reason becomes the excuse for the team's collapse. That possibility would also give the no doubt contract-extended Mo Johnston a chance to rid the payroll of so-called disruptive forces (i.e. expensive veterans) and start a re-build. Although, how you rebuild something that was never built is far too confusing.

In the end, Dichio will likely get some substitute minutes as the season peters out and will likely get an extended run out during his last game at BMO Field. Why will this happen? Not because the veteran deserves it as do his fans but because TFC/ MLSE can't afford to start a storm with it's ticket base just as renewals are about to begin and because they will still want to use Dichio's everyman fan-favourite image for years to come when they are trying to sell us a team of draft picks and unknowns. Danny Dichio's quiet on the matter speaks volumes - maybe he can see that his first goal back in 2007 - no doubt to his chagrin -has yet to be surpassed as a great TFC moment. After nearly three years, that goal should be a good memory, not a high point.