OK. You go into the coach's conference room after a dire 0-0 draw between Columbus and Toronto FC. You expect to struggle to find material. Instead, you get a goldmine.
To say that TFC coach John Carver was angry would be an understatement. He was furious over what he sees as hypocrisy from the MLS and its officiating crews. Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus' Argentine Designated-Player star, put on a display of diving to put the real greats of diving — think Filippo Inzaghi and Juergen Klinsmann — to shame. He charged down a linesmen to complain about not getting a call. Finally, with his body of work completed after the fifth pratfall, referee Kevin Stott carded him.
Meanwhile, Carver got into a shouting match with officials at halftime. He claimed they raised voices after he had a simple discussion with the fourth official — and he lays blame at the league, which he said sent a DVD of his behaviour in Toronto FC's draw with the New York Red Bulls to every MLS ref. He said, now, every ref will have it in for him, because the league has put it in their heads that he's a malcontent.
"Apparently, they don't want that in the MLS," said Carver. "They don't want passionate people. They don't want people who wear their hearts on their sleeves."
Later, he had a message for the MLS bosses.
"I'm not gonna let them win, that's for sure."
And Carver had plenty to say about Schelotto. Here are some choice bits:
"If that's the way he wants to play the game, get me back to England."
"It was like the wind was too strong for him."
"They (Columbus) came to spoil the game."
Columbus coach Sigi Schmid rolled his eyes when he heard about Carver's rant (and it should be noted that Carver said he has a lot of respect for Schmid and the rest of the Crew).
Schmid said he and Schelotto would "deal with it." Whatever that means. But a good coach always protects his players, even when they're in the wrong.
It will be interesting to see how the MLS reacts to Carver ranting about "DVD No. 6" to the media here in the city.