{"id":11868,"date":"2017-12-29T07:45:06","date_gmt":"2017-12-29T12:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonsoccer.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=11868"},"modified":"2018-01-13T01:22:52","modified_gmt":"2018-01-13T06:22:52","slug":"second-annual-nycfc-bestie-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2017\/12\/29\/second-annual-nycfc-bestie-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"The Second Annual (but Just Barely) NYCFC Bestie Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Editorial, December 29, 2017)<\/strong>\u00a0– Last year we launched the Besties (which you will recall, are named in honor of George Best for no other reason than I really like him and I had to call these things something), with 17 categories ranging from \u201cHigher Math\u201d Bestie to \u201cCombat Pay\u201d Bestie to \u201cShould Have Cut Your Hair Sooner\u201d Bestie, and honored players, coaches, broadcasters, celebrities, members of the front office, and other people connected in some way to NYCFC.<\/p>\n

And this year? Well this year was better than last year, right? So the Besties will be better too, right? Well\u2026<\/p>\n

The Second Annual (but Just Barely) NYCFC Bestie Awards<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The \u201cMan of Steel\u201d Bestie \u2013 Alexander Ring<\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s the thing about Alexander Ring. When he goes down with an injury, everyone in the Bronx holds their breath. Because that guy is so damn tough. If he\u2019s been hit hard enough to need a minute to organize his thoughts, then probably a criminal action has taken place on the pitch. Actually \u201csteel\u201d may be selling him short. The guy is made out of concrete. Out of titanium. Out of whatever plastic they wrap little kids Christmas presents in. He\u2019s THAT tough.<\/p>\n

The \u201cUptown Ruler\u201d Bestie \u2013 Jon Patricof<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s a term they have in New Orleans for a certain type of rare individual who has the style, charm and savoir faire to be as welcomed among the lowest elements as he his among the highest. Jon Patricof is Gotham\u2019s version of that. On the one hand, he floats effortlessly amongst the City\u2019s most powerful movers and shakers. On the other hand, he always has time to talk to morons like me. That\u2019s a rare and incredibly important quality to have. And New York City Football Club is lucky to have him.<\/p>\n

The \u201cRumour Mill\u201d Bestie \u2013 Jack Harrison<\/h3>\n

Oh for crying out loud. He\u2019s going to Everton. He\u2019s going to United. He\u2019s starting next week for Pep at the Etihad. My heavens. The kid spends a few minutes representing the Three Lions and suddenly he\u2019s on the back page of every tabloid in the sceptered isle. He can\u2019t buy a ticket to a movie without half of New York speculating about what it means when his contract is up. I know, I know, you all do it out of love, but really, if you don\u2019t drive him bonkers it won\u2019t be for lack of trying. Especially when the real story is that he\u2019s\u2026<\/p>\n

The \u201cAlmost like Being There\u201d Bestie \u2013 Joe Tolleson<\/h3>\n

While it is true that there is no substitute for watching the matches in person, YES Network\u2019s Joe Tolleson is honestly the next best thing. Whether he\u2019s paired up with Ian Joy or Janusz Michalik, he\u2019s entertaining, insightful, articulate and enjoyable. Plus, fun fact, he\u2019s not a dick. I mean when you meet him after the match and want to talk strategy or even just shoot the breeze, he\u2019s a really good guy. Which is rarer than it should be in this industry.<\/p>\n

The \u201cAnswer the Call\u201d Bestie \u2013 Frederic Brilliant<\/h3>\n

First, please note that I did not condescend to make a pun on our dearly departed defender\u2019s last name. So I get points for that. But more importantly, hats off to the French international who stepped into the breach when Maxime Chanot got injured and contributed mightily to what was NYCFC\u2019s best defensive effort yet. His teamwork with Alexander Callens, his leadership on the backline and even his timely goal scoring were all vital to the success of NYCFC this year and I look forward to shaking his hand next season in D.C. United\u2019s new stadium.<\/p>\n

The \u201cHome Away from Home\u201d Bestie \u2013 Citi Field<\/h3>\n

Oh, the outrage. Oh the weeping and wailing and the tearing of flesh. Oh the, \u2026 hey you know, this isn\u2019t so bad. Yes, it\u2019s way out in Queens. Yes, you can\u2019t walk to about a thousand bars like you can at 1 East 161st street. But Citi Field had a curious intimacy that I wasn\u2019t expecting from a stadium that large. And honestly, if the other options are Hofstra, MCU Park, or Hartford, CT, I\u2019ll gladly take the home of the Amazins. Now, does that mean I want NYCFC\u2019s permanent residence to be in Flushing? No. Let\u2019s not get carried away.<\/p>\n

The Charles Foster Kane Memorial Bestie \u2013 Mike Anderer<\/h3>\n

Over the course of the past three years, Blue City Radio\u2019s Mike Anderer, along with sidekick Jon Sauerschell, have interviewed everyone from Alexi Lalas to Jason Davis to Glenn Crooks and beyond. But more than that, Mike\u2019s been instrumental in bringing together members of the NYCFC podcast and media community through Blue City Radio, through Post-Game Live and through his annual live podcast at Ryan\u2019s Daughter. He doesn\u2019t get enough credit for that. And he should.<\/p>\n

The \u201cAnd Then There Were Two\u201d Bestie \u2013 David Villa and Tommy McNamara<\/h3>\n

As of this writing, only two players remain from the opening day 2015 roster. No one should be surprised that David Villa is one. And in retrospect, no one should be surprised the Tommy is the other. But the fact that only two remain does give one pause to think about our hopes and dreams for that team a scant three years ago. What we thought Mix Diskerud would do. What we thought Khiry Shelton would do. Heck, even what we thought Frank Lampard would do. Kind of mind-boggling how much a side can change in that short a time. Makes you wonder who\u2019ll still be around three years hence.<\/p>\n

The \u201cI\u2019m Taking My Talents to DisneyWorld\u201d Bestie \u2013 RJ Allen<\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve always liked RJ. He worked hard, he had a lovely cross, he was a stand up guy, and he had a great story. I freely admit I will miss him now that he\u2019s a member of the dreaded purple Simbas and I look forward to seeing him when NYCFC face them. Though I guess I shouldn\u2019t be surprised. I mean, why wouldn\u2019t you expect a guy from Jersey to head to Disney in the Winter \u2013 isn\u2019t that what they all do?<\/p>\n

The \u201cFearless\u201d Bestie \u2013 Jonathan Lewis<\/h3>\n

When NYCFC picked the Akron winger in the 2017 draft, I immediately contacted head coach Jared Embick for the skinny on the Plantation, FL native. And Coach Embick was effusive. \u201cBest winger in the draft\u201d he said. \u201cIncredible speed.\u201d \u201cYou won\u2019t be sorry.” And indeed he was all those things. But he was also something I was not expecting: fearless. He would run right at defenders, daring them to try to take the ball from him. That was a revelation, and one only hopes we see more of it in years to come.<\/p>\n

The \u201cFirst NYCFC Player To Win MLS Cup\u201d Bestie \u2013 Jason Hernandez<\/h3>\n

Yes, of course I would have preferred he raise the Cup as a member of NYCFC. That would have meant he\u2019d stuck around and it would have meant NYCFC were champions. But neither of those things happened. So am I happy that a member of the “blue brotherhood,” someone who endured that difficult first season, has reached the pinnacle of American soccer? Of course I am. Do I hope he gets to do it again next season? Only if his checks are being signed by City Football Group.<\/p>\n

The \u201cSurprise of the Season\u201d Bestie \u2013 Ben Sweat<\/h3>\n

Who among us thought this kid would be this valuable to NYCFC when his signing was announced after the Arizona pre-season tournament? Who among us thought he would make the kinds of contributions \u2013 on both sides of the ball \u2013 that he made all season long? Not me, I admit. For this alone he should be singled out. But here\u2019s the thing that knocked me out this season about Ben Sweat: when he made a mistake in one game, he worked on it during the week and didn\u2019t make the same mistake the next game. That\u2019s the sign of someone you hold on to.<\/p>\n

The \u201cOrganization Man\u201d Bestie – Carter Daly<\/h3>\n

Whether it\u2019s monitoring the answers players make in the Yankee Stadium locker room or talking intelligently about the boys in blue as 20,000 screaming Red Bulls fans make their presence felt in Harrison, or banging out copy in a suit and tie curbside, Carter is always where he should be with the right answer for the right person. Plus he\u2019s genuinely helpful when idiots like me still can\u2019t figure out where the locker room is at an away venue. And that\u2019s no mean feat. I don\u2019t know if NYCFC values him in their front office, but after dealing with my fair share of empty suits across MLS these past three years, I know I do.<\/p>\n

The Ansel Adams Memorial Bestie \u2013 Ethan White<\/h3>\n

When I\u2019m not annoying professional soccer players (or the journalists who cover them), I make advertising. So I know a thing or two about photography. And this guy has talent. Not just \u201cgood for a soccer player\u201d talent. Real talent. So keep your eyes on him, wherever he winds up. To that point, it should be noted that Ethan started his career with DC United, and then moved to the Philadelphia Union before spending two years with NYCFC. Following that trajectory now that he\u2019s a free agent, I can only assume he\u2019ll wind up with the New England Revolution next. Icaro Doria, you have been warned.<\/p>\n

The \u201cHey, Look Who Didn\u2019t Get Ejected This Year\u201d Bestie \u2013 Patrick Vieira<\/h3>\n

Remember last year, when NYCFC\u2019s venerable leader was suspended not once but twice? Remember how much fun that was? But not this year. Not a single ejection. Now some may say that\u2019s a sign he\u2019s going soft in his old age (I\u2019m looking at you, Roy Keane) but I beg to differ. I watched him and Manager of Video Assistant Referee Operations Howard Webb go toe-to-toe in a hallway under Red Bull Arena this season after a Hudson River Derby and felt like I was back at Highbury circa 2003. So don\u2019t be surprised if Christian Lattanzio ends up stepping in again in 2018.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>