De Rosario makes history with MVP nod By Steven Sandor Posted on November 18, 2011 Comments Off on De Rosario makes history with MVP nod 0 745 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Dwayne De Rosario PHOTO: PAUL FREDERIKSEN Dwayne De Rosario has made history on several fronts. Major League Soccer announced Friday that DeRo is the league’s MVP. He becomes the first Canadian to ever win MLS’ highest individual honour. He becomes the first player in North American pro sports history to take an MVP award in a season in which the winner played for three teams. He’s the first player from a non-playoff team to ever win the MLS MVP. And, for De Rosario, the trophy cabinet — at least in MLS terms — is complete. To go along with four MLS Cups, Goal of the Year and two MLS Cup MVP nods, he gets his first MVP. The Scarborough, Ont. native finished with 16 goals and 12 asssists this season. He scored for Toronto FC, the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United this season. The award is handed out after votes from the media, club officials and players are taken into account. De Rosario narrowly edged Houston’s Brad Davis in the club and media votes — but he dominated the player vote. In player balloting, De Rosario finished with more than three times the vote of the second-place finisher, FC Dallas’s Brek Shea. De Rosario’s contract disputes and self-confidence — which often gets confused for cockiness — may not sit well with some GMs and reporters, and that explains the close votes in those categoies. But players, who see how hard he works, who appreciate how good he has been for so long in this league, have a better understanding of what De Rosario means to MLS. Last week, New York Red Bull Thierry Henry told reporters that De Rosario is the best player in MLS. Period.
