If it were up to Jermaine Jones, the whole world would hate him. It is a designation he would relish because it would mean the whole world respected him. To many this idea seems counter-intuitive. Many want to be loved, they want the adoration and would feel a level of respect should come with such emotional feelings attached. Yet this is not what Jones wants.
Call it the Kobe effect. Kobe Bryant, after 20 years in the NBA starring for the Los Angeles Lakers, recently hung up his sneakers. He will go down as one of the greatest NBA players ever. He will also go down as one of the most hated. A recent Nike commercial encapsulated this idea with Kobe literally playing conductor to a crowd full of haters. Whether Jones deserves such levels of vitriol cast at him depends on who you talk to. Head referee Mark Geiger certainly hates him for being assaulted by Jones during the playoffs last year which resulted in a 6 game ban for Jones. Many a striker and midfielder hate him for the crunching tackles he gives. And he certainly receives a fair amount of hatred from opposing MLS fans and even USMNT diehards. You can’t quite characterize him as a love him or hate him player, but he is certainly polarizing. Yet he will also go down as one of the best midfielders MLS has ever had.
Jermaine Jones is without a doubt the reason the New England Revolution went to the MLS Cup final in 2013. He is a large part of the reason the US Men’s National Team advanced to the round of 16 in Brazil, with a wonder goal against Portugal and a defensive performance against Germany that kept them in the game. And lastly, he is the reason the Colorado Rapids will advance to the playoffs this year despite finishing dead last in MLS last year. He is grit, perseverance, and nastiness, along with a flair and touch that is incredibly underrated.
People will always remember Jones for the debacle with his arrival in MLS. Chicago and then New England both wanted him and a shadowy back door arrangement placed him in New England. He will be remembered for the failed center back experiment on both the US Men’s National Team with Coach Jurgen Klinsmann and with the New England Revolution. And he will most recently be remembered for taking his contract grievances and demands with New England to social media in hopes it would persuade perpetual money-pincher Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Revolution, to spend an incredible sum for his services. That may all become the distant past, though, if he brings Colorado back to the playoffs.
Much like in New England, Jones brings something to Colorado they have sorely missed: veteran leadership with European experience and a firm spine. New England is still dealing with the loss of Jones, as they have won once and tied five times in seven games. Meanwhile, Colorado improbably sits 2nd in the western conference through the first ¼ of the season. He has only played in 2 games, but has scored in both and the team has won in each contest. He felt disrespected by the Revolution, has been called old and past his prime at 34, and people feel he went to a bottom dweller team. Well, he’s not having it.
Hate him if you want. But when he joined the Revolution, they started winning. When he played, their record was a silly 9-1-1 in the first season. He is outspoken and cocky and every bit the star we should want. He has 290K Twitter followers and keeps them up to date on all of his thoughts. He is outspoken to the press and provides quotes journalists dream for. On the field, he came in as a designated player after a strong showing at the World Cup. He was a defensive central midfielder for the USMNT and New England but is playing as an attacking CM for Colorado and is thriving. He is leading a rejuvenated Rapids squad that is a blend of young up-and-comers with seasoned international players and is providing a spark to the team you can feel.
The season is still young, but Jones is showing his 1.5 seasons in New England were no fluke. He is also proving this isn’t his swan song. He is in Colorado to lead them. He will lead them. And we should all watch, whether you love him or hate him.
Main Photo: John Leyba, The Denver Post via Getty Images
