The Van Den Bergh Mystery

By: Dave Martinez | December 17th, 2009

dvb So were you taken aback by Van Den Berghs sudden availability? Barring severe memory loss from excessive partying, you should have been. Van Den Bergh was a key cog in the 2008 MLS Cup run that saw the New York Red Bulls get within a whisper of their first piece of championship hardware. After such a strong outing, he was considered a given for the 2009 season, just as much as the teams Captain Juan Pablo Angel.

But suddenly, he was torn away from the town that loved him. And the reason? He asked for the trade.

Word was that Van Den Bergh requested a change of address so that he and his wife, a Dallas native, can be around her family and get a helping hand in raising their child, who has some undisclosed illness. In return, the Bulls would receive two high picks and the then highly touted Dominic Oduro.

Bottom line? Everyone wins. How can anyone complain in this instance, right?

But as time went on, the story began to see cracks. Van Den Bergh would always speak in disdain of his sudden move, or react negatively towards the trade in interviews, without actually detailing his discontent. He loved this city, and the fan base loved him back. And there always seemed to be more to the story than what was presented.

Now, with word of his availability and his interest in returning to New York, people have to be asking themselves one of two questions; what has made Van Den Bergh change his mind, and was the reason for his transfer a farce to begin with to cloak Osorio and Agoos desire to ship the popular winger? The likelihood of finding an answer is slim at best. But the Bulls have a chance to right this all – if that is the path they so choose to take.

What will the future hold for El Fantasma Blanco (his spanish radio nickname)? Did he ever want to leave this town? Let me know what you think.