Red Bulls: More Wolyniecs Needed
We can sure use more guys like him in sports
by: Steve Cangialosi
I wish there were a few thousand more like John Wolyniec in sports. He comes to work, never complains, does his job, realizes he's blessed to do something he loves for a living and he scores big goals. Very big goals.
Wolyniec's 89th minute strike in Saturday's match versus Houston salvaged a 1-1 draw for the Red Bulls at Giants Stadium. It was just the latest in a string of clutch contributions from a player who, remarkably, is the fifth-leading goal scorer in the history of the Metrostars/Red Bulls franchise despite never being a full-time starter. That's a stat that speaks volumes about the woes of a team that's never won a major trophy in 14 seasons, but it speaks more about Wolyniec.
The Staten Island native is 32 years old and has had just one flirtation with soccer on a grander stage: two caps for the United States national team in 2004. There were fans chanting "Staten Island" from the Empire Supporters' Club section at the Meadowlands while Wolyniec was being interviewed by my colleague Tina Cervasio. He summed up his contribution succinctly: "It's a good feeling when you come off (the bench) and in limited time get a goal. It's my job."
I was at the microphone in 2003 when Wolyniec scored one of the most incredible goals I've seen on either side of the Atlantic when he took a 50-yard ball in the air from Amado Guevara and blasted an overtime, game-winning goal versus Columbus. He scored the lone goal of last year's MLS Cup Final for the Red Bulls.
Most of his playing time last season came in MLS Reserve League games. Wolyniec scored eight goals in those games that hardly anyone watched, and when the MLS playoffs rolled around, he was the choice to start alongside Juan Pablo Angel in all four of New York's postseason games. Those assignments were well deserved.
Every now and then, good things in sports happen to good guys. If the Red Bulls had 18 who worked as hard and displayed the same patience as Wolyniec, the trophy case wouldn't be barren for long.
- Jorge Rojas isn't the first or last player to selfishly commit a red-card offense that cost his team. It happens to the best of them. (Remember Tim Howard in the penultimate game of the 2002 season with the Metrostars?) Where Rojas showed tremendous irresponsibility was in his silly confrontation with Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad as he was leaving the field. If he was attempting to goad Onstad into taking a swing at him, and get the Dynamo veteran kicked out of the game as well, he failed. If he wasn't, what was the point? Either way, he'll be lucky if he's not suspended an additional game.
- C'mon, Juan Pablo Angel. You know better than anyone in the stadium. The captain's armband doesn't give you the right to tell a referee anything you please. Of all the times to question a referee's competence! Rojas deserved to be kicked out of the game. Baldomero Toledo made the right call.
- Bad break for Carlos Johnson, the Costa Rican defender who suffered a broken left foot in Saturday's draw. Johnson was just hitting his stride as a rookie right back and is out indefinitely.
- Good piece by veteran soccer writer Ives Galarcep on ESPN.com on players who may be capped by the United States for the first time this summer, with Head Coach Bob Bradley figuring to use much of the American talent pool due to the intense schedule ahead that includes Confederations Cup, Gold Cup and World Cup Qualifying action. However, Galarcep omits the name Seth Stammler, who's made his way back from knee surgery and is in the midst of another solid season.
Stammler's game will stand out more in the coming months as he is already forming a solid partnership with veteran Albert Celades.
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