This is the third installment of We Are TFC. Every Wednesday, we’ll sit down with one of the Reds and help you get to know them a little bit better, on and off the field. This week, Devang Desai chats with defender Drew Moor, who is in his first season with Toronto FC after joining the club via free agency. The Dallas, Texas and his wife Shelby are expecting their first child in the coming weeks. We hope you’ll enjoy this series and let us know which TFC players you’d like to see profiled in the future.
Taking a look at your phone – what picture means the most to you and why?
MOOR: Probably any picture of my wife and my dogs. I guess my little kid is in the picture too but you can’t see him yet. I’m a bit of a family guy. If you follow me on social media you know I like my family and my dogs. When we’re travelling those are the pictures I open up to take a look at.
How would people close to you describe you in one word?
MOOR: Nice.
Why?
MOOR: I grew up in a good family where you look for the good in people. I think if I’m going to look for the good in people, hopefully people will do the same with me. There’s this saying ‘kill em with your kindness,’ whether they’re good friends of yours or people that you know don’t like you too much. If you’re kind to them that is going to get you a lot further than if you’re not.
What’s your favourite pastime?
MOOR: I’m kind of a boring guy (laughs). Honestly I would say watching sports. My Dad was a sports fan himself and he used to take my siblings and I to all of the Dallas pro sports games. Cowboys, Mavericks, Stars and Rangers. The Cowboys are my favourite team in the world. Watching sports on TV or going to sporting events live, I’m just kind of a sports dork. I have my Dad and my family to thank for that.
Was the Stars winning the Stanley Cup in 1999 a big moment for you as a fan?
MOOR: It’s weird; I tell a lot of people I’m a hockey fan and being from Texas they kind of look at me funny. My Dad took me to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals that year against the Buffalo Sabres. We lost that game in overtime but I remember we tied the game with less than a minute to go in the third period at old Reunion Arena in Dallas. It was a great experience. When you see your team win the Stanley Cup when you’re 15-years-old you’re hooked for life.
Have to say…Brett Hull’s skate was in the crease, right?
MOOR: Absolutely it was (laughs) but you know what I remember the announcer saying after the game, regardless if it should’ve been a goal or not the Stars were clearly the deserving Champions that year.
Who is your favourite soccer player and why?
MOOR: Zinedine Zidane was always my man. He disappointed me there at the end of his career with the headbutt. He was the guy when I was a kid, back when I was a midfielder decades ago, that I loved watching. My Dad took me to the 1998 World Cup in France and we saw three games, two of which involved France. To see him play live was pretty special.
Who is your best friend?
MOOR: My wife, Shelby.
What if you couldn’t choose Shelby?
MOOR: I’ve got a couple, but I’d probably say [former MLS striker] Kenny Cooper.
Do you have any quirks or superstitions before games?
MOOR: I think all people, but certainly athletes, are creatures of habit and they try to get into a routine. As much as I love routine I try to change things up a little bit. I’m over 300 games into my MLS career and I want to keep myself on my toes and keep things fresh. Sometimes I’m superstitious about not being superstitious, if that makes any sense.
What about your teammates?
MOOR: Goalies are always weird and I do room with Clint Irwin on the road. But I’ll tell you one thing: for a goalie Clint is about as clean and neat as any keeper I’ve ever seen. Usually their gloves, shoes and clothes are everywhere. I’m a bit of a neat freak myself so Clint’s a great roommate. You wouldn’t expect that from a goalie so I’m very happy.
Favourite movie?
MOOR: Top Gun.
Favourite musician?
MOOR: Kenny Chesney.
If you weren’t a soccer player what would you be doing?
MOOR: I would love to be a professional golfer. I only play about five times a year so my handicap is probably 25 plus but I watch about as much PGA as anybody I know.
What’s been your favourite moment with TFC thus far?
MOOR: Opening day at Red Bull Arena. We’ve had some other good performances since then but it was just so fun. My whole family was there as well as my wife’s side of the family. It was the realization that I was on a new team with a new organization and it was a great performance and a fun afternoon. Hopefully we’ll have many more like it.
Who are your heroes?
MOOR: My parents certainly and my entire family really. I have people that I look up to and role models, but when I think of a hero my Dad has always been there for me. If I have a hero it’s certainly him.
What is your ultimate goal in life?
MOOR: To work as hard as I possibly can and do everything I possibly can so that my family is happy. When I drive into the Training Ground or heading to the stadium on weekends I’m thinking about my family right before kickoff. I’m out there for them. Hopefully I’ll continue to do that for the rest of my career and beyond.
When I say Toronto what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
MOOR: The CN Tower (laughs).
Maybe not the biggest thing…
MOOR: The Blue Jays as well, because again I’m a big Rangers fan. Obviously we know what happened last season in the playoffs . I remember Joe Carter’s homerun in 1993
Funniest thing that’s happened to you recently
MOOR: I went for a suit fitting at Simeone Napoli, TFC’s official suit partner, but the thing is the team had an event at Roots right afterwards. So I wanted to dress in between of getting a suit fitted and going to Roots. I went with a flannel button up. After the event when pictures were posted a couple people tweeted at me saying I went to an Italian suit fitting in flannel button up (laughs). First of all I am from Texas but it did feel funny and course I had Seba with me, who is Mr. Italy himself.
Multiple Canadians said that you were dressed in perfect Canadian gear
MOOR: That’s the most important thing (laughs).
Let us know who you would like to see featured in the next We Are TFC!
