{"id":2561,"date":"2016-11-30T13:40:50","date_gmt":"2016-11-30T18:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsoccer.com\/?p=2561"},"modified":"2016-11-30T15:01:42","modified_gmt":"2016-11-30T20:01:42","slug":"first-annual-bestie-nycfc-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2016\/11\/30\/first-annual-bestie-nycfc-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby I\u2019m a Star: The First Annual (Probably) Bestie NYCFC Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

So Frank Lampard<\/strong> doesn\u2019t win Comeback Player of the Year, and Jack Harrison<\/strong> doesn\u2019t win Rookie of the Year, but fear not, NYCFC<\/strong> fan, those aren\u2019t the ONLY awards in the world. There\u2019s the Grammys for example, and the Oscars and the Nobel Prize for Economics.<\/p>\n

Baby I\u2019m a Star: The First Annual (Probably) Bestie NYCFC Awards<\/h2>\n

And now, let us introduce for the first time anywhere, the Besties \u2013 a totally new and meaningless series of awards, named in honor of George Best<\/strong>, for no other reason than I really like George Best and needed to call these things something.<\/p>\n

The Combat Pay Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Josh Saunders.<\/strong> In the past two years, Saunders has faced 346 shots. Over that same period, Orlando City SC<\/strong>\u2019s Joe Bendik<\/strong> has faced 159, Columbus Crew<\/strong>\u2019s Steve Clark<\/strong> faced 329, and Seattle Sounders<\/strong>\u2019 Stefan Frei<\/strong> faced 281. The guy deserves a damn medal. And a gold-plated health insurance plan.<\/p>\n

The \u201cWon\u2019t Back Down\u201d Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To RJ Allen. <\/strong>You would think a guy who a year and a half ago was coaching kids on Staten Island would be a little more timid when going toe-to-toe with some of the top names in MLS. Yeah, you would be wrong about that. Or you\u2019ve never been to New Jersey<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Life-long Learning Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To David Villa.<\/strong> Hats off to the Captain for taking the time in the off-season to learn a foreign language. It\u2019s never an easy thing to do but it once again Villa showed that he is that rare leader who always goes the extra mile. Even if it means hitting the textbooks during the winter.<\/p>\n

The Winningest NYCFC Coach Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Christian Lattanzio. <\/strong>When Vieira got suspended all this guy did was come in and guide the team to a victory over the LA Galaxy<\/strong>. You remember the Galaxy, right? The team that gave NYCFC its worst beat down last year? Sure, sure, he said was a team effort. That\u2019s exactly what I\u2019d say too if this guy<\/a> was my boss.<\/p>\n

The \u201cShould Have Cut Your Hair Sooner\u201d Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Khiry Shelton. <\/strong>While the long hair was distinctive, and it made him look even taller than his six feet three inches, literally the moment he cut it, he scored. It was bizarre. Like Samson<\/strong> and Delilah<\/strong> in reverse. And with soccer. Okay so It\u2019s not really like Samson and Delilah at all.<\/p>\n

The Hometown Hero Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Jason Hernandez<\/strong>. I\u2019ve written a lot about what New Yorkers respect and top of that list is doing the work – whatever it is, whenever it is, however it is. And no one has exemplified that better than this guy. In 2015, he was an anchor on a line that featured two – count \u2018em, TWO \u2013 members of the Manchester City Elite Team<\/strong>. This year, the backline evolved and changed \u2013 and so did his role. And he always gave his all. Thanks, brother.<\/p>\n

The Guglielmo Marconi Memorial Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Tom Kolker & Glenn Crooks<\/strong>. On the one hand, Sirius FC is terrific, because you can hear the local broadcasts of MLS matches from all over the country. On the other hand, you can hear the local broadcasts from all over the country. Oh. My. Word. Makes you really appreciate the guys who do NYCFC\u2019s games. They make listening a pleasure. Tune them in.<\/p>\n

The Second Chance Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Frank Lampard<\/strong>. They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. In New York, sometimes you don\u2019t even get a first chance. But fans gave Frank a second chance \u2013 eventually. And he came through with 12 goals, the team\u2019s first ever hat-trick, and leadership on and off the pitch. Good luck, Frank. You\u2019ll always have friends in the Bronx. Now\u2026<\/p>\n

The DeAndre Yedlin Memorial Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Ronald Matarrita<\/strong>. Who doesn\u2019t love this guy\u2019s speed and willingness to push the attack? But can he learn to get back on defense too? Sure he can, because he\u2019s only 22 and he\u2019s got three guys yelling at him in French to do it or they\u2019ll break his jambes. Let\u2019s just hope he learns it here and not in another league.<\/p>\n

The Most Improved Defender Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Andrea Pirlo.<\/strong> He\u2019ll never be a Paolo Maldini<\/a> but for a guy who never, and I mean NEVER, played defense, you have to admire the way Il Maestro stepped it up this season. He could have very easily thrown up his hands and said that defense wasn\u2019t his game, that it wasn\u2019t his problem, that he was too old to do something new. But he didn\u2019t. And for that, New Yorkers will always love him. Well, that and the hair.<\/p>\n

The \u201cBetter in Two Languages Than I am in One\u201d Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Nicole Chayet.<\/strong> You don\u2019t know her, but she\u2019s the Senior Manager for Communications & Hispanic Media Relations for NYCFC and one of the things she does is translate for players in the post game interviews. You ever interview an angry semi-naked man after a loss when the last thing he wants is to answer a bunch of stupid questions in a language he doesn\u2019t speak? (Don\u2019t answer that). Nicole makes it all happen effortlessly and someone should thank her for that. Oh wait, we just did.<\/p>\n

The \u201cStill in the Mix\u201d Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Mix Diskerud.<\/strong> As of this writing, I have no idea where Mix will wind up. And I\u2019d be lying if I said I wasn\u2019t disappointed in how the whole thing played out. But I also have to recognize that he has been a stand-up guy in a difficult situation. He\u2019s worked the rope line with the fans, he\u2019s done public appearances, he\u2019s supported the team. A lot of players would have been surly or embarrassing or invisible (you know who you are, Rafa Marquez<\/strong>). But Mix wasn\u2019t and you have to respect that.<\/p>\n

The Higher Math Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Tommy McNamara.<\/strong> Not because he\u2019s got a Masters in Economics (although he does), but because of the crazy geometry on those wonderful curling shots<\/a> he mastered this season. Holy cow. Some kind of combination of trigonometry and advanced calculus, I think. I dunno how he does it. I just want him to do more of it in 2017.<\/p>\n

The \u201cShameless Celebrity Fan\u201d Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Leslie Jones.<\/strong> If you\u2019re not following the Saturday Night Live<\/strong> star on twitter<\/a>, boy are you missing something. Not because she\u2019s always funny (although she is) but because of the sheer, over-the-top, sometimes misguided, never misplaced, joy she has for her team. Reminds you what it\u2019s like to be a fan even when everything is going to shit.<\/p>\n

The Comeback Player of the Year Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Tony Taylor.<\/strong> Remember what last year was gonna be like with Tony and Khiry on the wings? And then that horrible injury against the Portland Timbers<\/strong>. Yikes. But did Tony give up? Nope. He came back stronger than ever, scoring a goal in NYCFC\u2019s first game this season, and working his butt off whenever he got on the pitch. Hats off to you, brother. We look forward to cheering you on wherever you land.<\/p>\n

The \u201cDraft Day Trade That Paid Off\u201d Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Jack Harrison<\/strong>. I\u2019ll admit, sitting in Baltimore at the SuperDraft<\/strong><\/a> with Mike Anderer<\/strong>, I was concerned. And starting the season with surgery didn\u2019t help. But I\u2019m a believer. This kid is the goods. And if he gets a little stronger (to keep from getting pushed off the ball by a Kendall Waston<\/strong> or a Ramon Torres<\/strong>), gets a little support when he\u2019s double teamed, and for god\u2019s sake learns how to head the ball (come on man, Conor Lade<\/strong> was outjumping you), he could be legendary. Also, the hair.<\/p>\n

The Billy Martin Bestie:<\/h4>\n

To Patrick Vieira.<\/strong> Maybe it\u2019s something about using the New York Yankee<\/strong> locker room. Maybe he watched footage of American coaches and managers in other sports and thought it was expected of him. But twice? Suspensions from two matches? Patrick, we love ya, and we love the passion and fire. Heck, we even love Christian Lattanzio (as noted above). But we\u2019d love you more<\/em> on the sideline for all 34 matches. Unless Roy Keane<\/strong> starts managing in MLS. Then, go for it. And we\u2019ll have your back.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n