Asif Hossain will check in every few hours from Baltimore with stories and short informal videos surrounding the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, set to take place Thursday at noon, live on GOL TV Canada and on TorontoFC.ca.
SuperDraft SuperBlog - Thursday, January 13.
10:30 a.m. - Expecting Trades
The word out of the digital meeting this morning is that trades are expected today before, during and after the SuperDraft.
This adds to the rumblings in the hotel lobby about Vancouver receiving potentially three trade offers for the first overall pick. I mentioned in yesterday's blog entry that Vancouver President Bob Lenarduzzi looked to be having some intense phone discussions and perhaps something is in the works.
Toronto has confirmed that it plans to use its three draft picks - at least for the moment.
I had a chance to catch up with MLSsoccer.com editor in chief Greg Lalas over breakfast this morning and he too expects some movement today. On a technical note, he also provided an idea of what to expect in the online digital world for the upcoming Major League Soccer season. Quick video below, the voice delay doesn't take away from Greg's obvious eloquence:
7:30 a.m.
- The Morning Of
It's draft day!
Regardless of the fact that Toronto doesn't have a first round pick at present, there is plenty of excitement ahead in the next few hours leading to the 2011 MLS SuperDraft at Noon (live on GOL TV Canada).
Paul Mariner believes he sees some
potential deep in the draft
for Toronto, while it's still to be seen if Vancouver selects Darlington Nagbe first overall, and more importantly, keeps him to play in a Whitecaps shirt. It was speculated this week that Nagbe may not want to play for Vancouver, but it's not quite the shades of Steve Francis circa 1999 NBA draft. Nagbe - an Ohio native - wants to be close to home for personal reasons.
The morning is a busy one for all involved at the draft. Team administrators (and Toronto has the privilege of having the 2010 MLS team administrator of the year in Corey Wray) will be up and about as early as 8 a.m. for meetings. Managers and coaches will be up to their usual wheeling and dealing, some of which took shape late last night - though probably not as active as last year. I will have a video interview with MLSsoccer.com editor in chief Greg Lalas about today's draft and the league's online scope for 2011 after the digital team meeting at 9 a.m.
SuperDraft SuperBlog - Wednesday, January 12
7:30 p.m. - People Emerge From Meetings and a Red From Tennessee
Supper time finally brought MLS personalities out of their various conference rooms.
While team and league executives were hurrying off to a well deserved meal, Toronto's coaches broke late, meeting with various people in a lit corner of the hotel lobby despite a brief, possibly weather-related power outage affecting some parts of the Hyatt's main floor.
Video below: I was able to get a word with new Director of Academy, Stuart Neely, about the year ahead. I also ventured out into the Baltimore Harbor to find of all things, a Toronto supporter from Tennessee.
4:30 p.m. - Do You Google In Dutch?
It's been an interesting afternoon. Saw former Toronto assistant coach Leo Percovich arrive at the hotel. He is now with Chicago.
Vancouver President Bob Lenarduzzi and a throng of Portland Timbers staff seemed quite busy on the phone in separate corners of the hotel lobby, naturally. Vancouver has first and eighth overall picks to work with on Thursday. Do they draft or trade?
Later in what seemed like a segment out of the Daily Show, hotel staff were unable be to get our own coach and technical director, Aron Winter, internet access on his iPad. That is until I stepped in and demanded change - OK, I just talked to a couple of people and got the problem solved.
And yes, he Googles in Dutch.
Winter told me he has a busy evening ahead with meetings and figuring out what he can build on this week from Toronto's options in the draft. Later in the evening some will be putting their work away to enjoy what's left of the night. With a hurried Thursday ahead of him, Winter's plan is to sleep.
Many people have been late in arriving so far due to a few delayed flights after yesterday's east coast snow dump. Team PR, admin and league staff that arrived in the early afternoon have been in meetings all day.
A short video of the serene Baltimore Harbor and random run-ins to come.
1:30 p.m. - The Shaky Arrival
The Toronto FC web and PR bunch arrived in Baltimore this afternoon. The plane ride in was a bit more like a rollercoaster than we would have liked, but with a short trip from Toronto, a quick nap takes away a lot of worries.
On the flight I had the pleasure of sitting next to the executive vice president of the Montreal Impact, Richard Legendre. The Impact have sent a front office team to take in the various meetings that occur whenever the entire league gets together. They want to hit the ground running before their kickoff in 2012 and that's a good thing.
I was hoping to interview Monsieur Legendre with my trusty flipcam but electronics are still a bit taboo on airplanes and with the tiny aircraft shaking like a horse-drawn cart hurtling toward the edge of a cliff, it really didn't seem like the right time.
Cue my manager's reaction, "Asif, that's the perfect time."
But fear not. I will take a trip to Baltimore Harbor shortly with said flipcam and take in the sights and sounds of ... oh who am I kidding? I'm going for lunch. But I will check in shortly with another installment of the SuperDraft SuperBlog, as various members of other MLS teams start to trickle in for Thursday's draft (first round live on GOL TV Canada at noon, second and third rounds on TorontoFC.ca via MLSsoccer.com).
As an aside, since I checked in at noon, I've already been asked if I play midfield, wingback or goalie. With my distance runner's frame I can entertain the idea of sprinting the flanks, but goalkeeper? At 5'6" - on a good day - and with the vertical gifts of an average office accountant, there isn't much that wouldn't get by me.
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