TORONTO -- The best players in MLS descended on Toronto for the MLS All-Star Game. And after it was over, they gushed about the experience as if they were a developmental player on the very tail end of the roster.
For some, like Jim Brennan and Dwayne De Rosario, it was a chance to play in Canada and play in front of fans who wanted to see them do well.
"It's definitely a dream come true, scoring in a game of this magnitude," De Rosario said. "This game is huge. People don't realize how big this is because this is an opportunity to showcase our talent throughout the world and show them how good this league is."
The crowd chanted Brennan's name until he arrived on the field. He said it was just an expression of how much Toronto wanted to host this game and wanted the league to do well.
"I think for this game with all the buildup there was a buzz around the city," Brennan said. "Everyone wanted to come out and watch this game because we have the best players in the league playing against a Premiership side."
• All-Stars demonstrate strength of MLS
• Stars gush over All-Star experience
• All-Star nod No. 9 fine for Mastroeni
• All-Star notebook: Long day's end
• Hammers pleased with performance
• Blanco leads MLS past West Ham
• Garber's State of the League address
• All-Stars aim to defeat West Ham
• All-Star first for MLS luminaries
• De Rosario shines in spotlight
• West Ham visits land of opportunity
• MLS announces All-Star First XI
• MLS All-Stars to face West Ham
ANALYSIS • Davis: All-Star Game earns high marks
• Davis: All-Star matchups
• A look at West Ham United roster
PRESS RELEASES
• MLS All-Stars defeat West Ham United
• MLS seeks two expansion teams by 2011
• MLS finalizes '08 All-Star roster
• West Ham to face MLS All-Stars
• Toronto to host 2008 All-Star Game
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
For a few younger players, the game was a chance to meet up with some of the best players in the league and test themselves by trying to fit in with other talented players with considerably more experience.
"It was awesome," Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein said.
FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper said it was probably the highlight of his career to take the field in the game.
"It's just incredible," Cooper said. "There are so many amazing players. It's been a great experience for me."
The tricks and treats on display were just one manifestation of how the players tried to put a show on for the fans. Dummies, backheels and audacious attempts kept the fans entertained and showed how comfortable the players were with getting into the flow of the game and playing with each other once they settled down.
"With all of these guys, you know whomever you are passing to, they're going to be great," New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis said. "They're great on the ball. You can really play off them. You know what you're going to get every time. It's a lot of fun playing with them."
And these are the sorts of nights, with the collection of talent on display and the spectacle of the occasion, that at least one player says that he'll remember for the rest of his life and share with his loved ones.
"It's awesome," Revs midfielder Shalrie Joseph said. "To get a chance to play with a guy like Beckham and a guy like Blanco is a pleasure for me. It's one of those things where I can look back later in my career and see that I played with these guys. Then I can tell my kids about it. I love playing with these guys. These guys are the best players in the league."
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