It is a well-traveled story in the United states that Brian McBride’s face sets off the metal detector at the airport. Given the way he played, there’s no real reason to doubt it. With news that he is retiring from football, I wish to sprinkle some words of praise on a player who may or may not have been the best American outfield player of all time. He certainly was my favorite.
The only time I saw McBride play was in a World Cup qualifier against Panama at RFK Stadium. I sat two rows behind the goal. Sometime in the first half, a ball was played in to McBride and the Panamanian defender missed the ball and connected with McBride’s “cheekbone” (I can only assume it was already a metal plate at this point). I to this day, have never heard a louder noise on a football pitch in my life, and I have been within two feet of a clean leg break before. As I reflect on McBride laying on the ground in obvious pain, I remember the horror I felt in having seen the incident. I have never experienced such a collision, but I suspect, were I to go through such an incident, I might be inclined to have considered life not having been worth it in order to endure such terrible, terrible pain. McBride got some attention, walked to the touchline, and checked right back into the match. He played the whole 90 minutes.
Such is the image of “Captain Courageous” that we all carry. What else could be expected from a man whose iconic image in American football history will be playing out a match against Italy in 2006, blood pouring down his face from a terribly unfortunate attack by Danielle De Rossi? Claudio Reyna may have been “Captain America,” but it was McBride who seems as if he sprung to life out of the imagination of the American public itself. He looks as if he was raised on corn and steak alone, knows no fear, and plays through whatever pain is necessary to get the job done. One for battling between the lines, quick to forgive and make peace when the job is done. As equally famous as the elbow of De Rossi to McBride’s head was his personal seeking out of McBride to apologize for what he had done. McBride responded by calling De Rossi a “classy guy.” If G.I. Joe could have invented Brian McBride, they would have.
But McBride was not only courageous, he was brilliant. He had two good feet to go with his heading ability. He could flick the ball creatively off a long ball with the first touch. He had finesse and power. He could control the ball and hold it up. He could shoot. He had an instinct around the goal for loose balls, not only to find them but to find the net once he got them. You will find highlights of McBride goals where he has come onto a deflected shot or pass that falls to him and put it away in stride, as if the play had been drawn by design. He knew where he was supposed to be, and despite his power and courage, there was a smoothness and a balance to his running on the field that made him a top flight player. Had he been discovered earlier in Europe, I do believe he would be more recognized as the best target man of his generation. He could do anything… and unlike a Luca Toni or a Gilardino, he would always do it, as well.
If one is inclined to watch the United States-Portugal stunner from 2002, one will see that the USA pounced early, that Portugal looked a step slow, and that they could not handle Brian McBride. The first two factors may have had something to do with the FIFA calendar that year. The last one did not. Portugal was hardly alone in their troubles. One can find video evidence of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Italy, and Mexico all absolutely tormented by his size, skill and intelligence. More than once, against elite competition, one can witness teams very deliberately adopting the strategy of giving up on McBride and just trying to outplay his teammates. What could he have done on a team where that was not an option? We will never know.
What we do know is that one of his managers handed him the Captain’s armband at Fulham… and that man is now the manager of Liverpool. In an era earlier (when target men were more common) or an era later (when American talent is taken more seriously), Brian McBride may have found himself playing Champions League football.
Following the announcement of Brian McBride’s retirement, there are no doubt encomiums praising his career across the United States and perhaps even some abroad. I must admit, I feel no guilt in adding one more to the impressive list of those who have taken the time to praise his career. Thanks #20, you were one heck of a #9.
Written By Steven
Maloney
(80 Posts) |
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