

Posted by

Armen Bedakian ,

February 17, 2014 Email

Armen Bedakian Twitter @ArmenBedakian Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device





Amid the frenzy of Toronto FC’s annual media day, held at the Kia Training Ground on February 11, much of the talk was of Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Julio Cesar.



RedNation Online caught up with Ryan Richter and Andrew Wiedeman at media day and talked about the offseason, playing alongside those star names and some of the light-hearted moments at Toronto FC.



During the offseason, Richter got engaged to be married, and spent those few months relaxing. He was active on Twitter, under the handle @SHAQALDINHO, a stranger handle than most! We asked him about the interesting nickname he gave himself and where it came from.



“Well, I have to admit, when I came up with that Twitter handle, I didn’t really know much about Twitter,” Richter said. “I thought it was more like a screen name type thing. After I made it, I realized everyone was just using their name. It kind of caught on with some of the fans in Philly so I stuck with it.”



The amalgamation of two superstar athletes makes Richter’s online persona an interesting one to follow. RedNation asked Richter what it takes to be Shaqaldinho on the field. According to Richter, it takes nothing more than creativity.



“Shaq is my favourite athlete of all time, Ronaldinho was obviously a huge inspiration for everyone in our generation so I just put the two together, so that’s what you get, that’s me – I’ve already achieved being Shaqaldinho, since I had the creativity to come up with it!” Richter said.



A Twitter handle is one thing, but when asked if he would appreciate media calling him by the moniker, Richter didn’t shy away.



“I would not mind it, I have to admit!” Shaqaldinho said.



Richter started at centre half against D.C. United in preseason, and it looks like this switch in position may be more permanent than one preseason match.



“I’ve been playing a lot of centre back,” Richter said. “[The coaches] talked to me and like me there and I see myself as a guy who can step into a number of positions in the backline. I don’t care if it’s rightback, centreback, left back”



“Towards the end of last season I played a little centreback so they moved me there,” Richter continued. “There’s a big difference in training between rightback and centreback and that’s where they see me contributing.”



After speaking with Richter, it was Wiedeman's turn. He most certainly had an interesting offseason, spending some time in Scotland with Darren O’Dea before returning to Florida with Toronto. There, he documented a few of the fun things he and his teammates did, including a fishing trip on the docks.



Catching dinner with @Jtbendik pic.twitter.com/TM8y6dekVS — Andrew Wiedeman (@awiedeman3) February 3, 2014







“– Yup, that’s me!” Wiedeman said, with a smile.



“Could we also say you’re the ‘greatest fisherman in the modern era?’” I asked.



“Yeah, I’ll take them both, I’m quite the angler!” Wiedeman said, laughing. “If you want to go based on the numbers, it was me, three fish you know? Actually, I think Joe [Bendik] had three fish as well, I think he might have had me beat in sheer weight.”



Greatest fisherman or not, luck favours the bold and Wiedeman certainly has luck in spades. He found himself carrying home a bigger prize than a fish on a line on Super Bowl night in Florida.



The real winner of the Super Bowl @awiedeman3 with a free 50" Samsung! pic.twitter.com/tnXNRNhXBZ — Joe Bendik (@Jtbendik) February 3, 2014



“We were at Hooters, soaking in the game, and they had a raffle on Super Bowl Sunday,” Wiedeman explained. “I put my name in and they called my name out!”



“I had a very oversized second checked bag coming in from Tampa!” Wiedeman added.



Fishing for a big catch (or an HDTV) may be fun and games, but Wiedeman is also approaching the 2014 season with as much intensity as the last. Forward is a position that the Toronto FC brass has heavily invested in, and Wiedeman is excited to compete for a spot alongside players like Jermain Defoe and Gilberto.



“It’ll be great,” Wiedeman told RedNation. “Obviously I want to work and fight for playing time. It’s going to be tough with the stable of forwards we have but I’m looking forward to it. I’m confident in what I can do and I’m looking forward to being able to learn from these guys.”



“Jermain Defoe is like the fifth leading goalscorer from Tottenham, so I’ll try to soak in some stuff from him and become a better player,” Wiedeman added.



Last season, Wiedeman played in 14 matches, starting nine. He scored two goals, including the stunning last-gasp winner against the Columbus Crew during a rain-soaked encounter at BMO Field. Wiedeman doesn’t focus on the raw figures, though.



“I’m not really worried about the stats or the numbers,” Wiedeman said. “I try and focus more on the process, doing the right things, striking the ball clean, getting the opportunities, putting myself in the right spots: if I can do those things, the numbers, the stats will take care of themselves.”



Tim Bezbatchenko called Dwayne De Rosario the heart and soul of Toronto FC, but with characters like Richter and Wiedeman, the club certainly has a spirit about it that it has lacked in seasons past. The importance of keeping a core of players together is key and it looks like that chemistry has finally bore fruit.



There’s a positive energy in camp, players raring to go in training – Ryan Nelsen himself said he needed to temper the players at practice, in fear of overworking them too early.



Suffice it to say, Toronto FC looks a team rejuvenated in 2014. Opening day cannot come soon enough for fans and for players alike. “You were once called the ‘greatest finisher in the modern era –“ I began.“– Yup, that’s me!” Wiedeman said, with a smile.“Could we also say you’re the ‘greatest fisherman in the modern era?’” I asked.“Yeah, I’ll take them both, I’m quite the angler!” Wiedeman said, laughing. “If you want to go based on the numbers, it was me, three fish you know? Actually, I think Joe [Bendik] had three fish as well, I think he might have had me beat in sheer weight.”Greatest fisherman or not, luck favours the bold and Wiedeman certainly has luck in spades. He found himself carrying home a bigger prize than a fish on a line on Super Bowl night in Florida.“We were at Hooters, soaking in the game, and they had a raffle on Super Bowl Sunday,” Wiedeman explained. “I put my name in and they called my name out!”“I had a very oversized second checked bag coming in from Tampa!” Wiedeman added.Fishing for a big catch (or an HDTV) may be fun and games, but Wiedeman is also approaching the 2014 season with as much intensity as the last. Forward is a position that the Toronto FC brass has heavily invested in, and Wiedeman is excited to compete for a spot alongside players like Jermain Defoe and Gilberto.“It’ll be great,” Wiedeman told RedNation. “Obviously I want to work and fight for playing time. It’s going to be tough with the stable of forwards we have but I’m looking forward to it. I’m confident in what I can do and I’m looking forward to being able to learn from these guys.”“Jermain Defoe is like the fifth leading goalscorer from Tottenham, so I’ll try to soak in some stuff from him and become a better player,” Wiedeman added.Last season, Wiedeman played in 14 matches, starting nine. He scored two goals, including the stunning last-gasp winner against the Columbus Crew during a rain-soaked encounter at BMO Field. Wiedeman doesn’t focus on the raw figures, though.“I’m not really worried about the stats or the numbers,” Wiedeman said. “I try and focus more on the process, doing the right things, striking the ball clean, getting the opportunities, putting myself in the right spots: if I can do those things, the numbers, the stats will take care of themselves.”Tim Bezbatchenko called Dwayne De Rosario the heart and soul of Toronto FC, but with characters like Richter and Wiedeman, the club certainly has a spirit about it that it has lacked in seasons past. The importance of keeping a core of players together is key and it looks like that chemistry has finally bore fruit.There’s a positive energy in camp, players raring to go in training – Ryan Nelsen himself said he needed to temper the players at practice, in fear of overworking them too early.Suffice it to say, Toronto FC looks a team rejuvenated in 2014. Opening day cannot come soon enough for fans and for players alike.