FRISCO - We're well into the off-season around Toyota Stadium and FC Dallas players have all gone their separate ways as the guys get some much-needed off-season r&r before heading back for pre-season training in late January. However, one FCD defender was heavily involved in Major League Soccer's annual showcase event as Stephen Keel was tasked with taking over the MLS Instagram account for the weekend in Hollywood.
Keel, one of the champions of FCDTV's "Name That Tune" and well known around the league for his comedic genius, enjoyed his new job.
"My main duty was being in charge of the Instagram account going to different training sessions and taking pictures around Hollywood giving fans my perspective," Keel said on Monday afternoon. "It was definitely fun, you got to see the other side of things and have an appreciation for social media and what the media do. I think as players sometimes you just see the final product, but then you don’t see that it takes days or weeks to get content for that."
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Saturday night for Keel meant an invite-only MLS party in which he mentioned it was fun to meet some of the national soccer personalities, specifically name-dropping Simon Borg and his famous "Instant Replay" segment. Keel mentioned that throughout the weekend he got nothing but positive reponses both on FC Dallas and the growing atmosphere at Toyota Stadium.
"Everyone I spoke to, players, media and different coaches talked about how impressed they were with our team this year and had nothing but positive things to say about how we play, our players and even the fans and atmosphere. They said every time they turned the games on it looked like we had the fans out in full force so it was nice to hear that and I definitely want to relay that to our fans and stuff that around the league people are noticing us which is a good thing so that was a huge positive. People know you’re from FC Dallas and have nothing but good things to say about it."
From there it was on to MLS Cup Sunday at the StubHub Center which, of course, was won 2-1 by Los Angeles. Keel got the full Hollywood treatment in a suite with players and even Twilight star Taylor Lautner who Keel called a "handsome young fella."
"The atmosphere there was legit," said Keel. "It wasn’t just people sitting on their hands, the LA fans were loud and rowdy the entire game and then the traveling Revolution supporters too packed a good corner of the stadium. You get chills a little bit when the goals are scored."
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As for the game, seeing it in person will serve as motivation for Keel and FC Dallas who should head into next season as one of the favorites to lift the trophy.
"It’s one of those things where you’re happy for your friends on LA and for Landon [Donovan] to go out on top, but it ‘s a weird feeling becuause you see everyone celebrating and you’re in street clothes," said Keel. "So there was definitely a pit in my stomach knowing we had a good team this year but next year it’s 100% motivation sitting in the stands watching the final thinking you should be out there. You see the joy and them lift the cup with their supporters and you think what could be better than doing that at Toyota Stadium with our fans."
