Sports

Thierry Henry’s New York welcome; was it over the top?

New York fans are tough, and they’re toughest on their biggest stars. Mike Piazza, Alex Rodriguez, Patrick Ewing and Eli Manning all heard their share of boos, and Thierry Henry got his New York introduction Saturday, with jeers that descended to the personal level of taunting him as he lay prone and injured.

The forward aggravated his chronic Achilles injury Saturday, and as he was hobbling off the field members of the Garden State Supporters taunted him with au revoir. After he came back to score in the 87th minute _ snapping a 687-minute scoreless drought that dated to last season _ he seemingly dropped a couple of F-bombs toward the GSS in an emotional celebration, then tapping the name on the back of his jersey, just to remind them who they’d been disrespecting.

It was classic stuff, Henry doing his best Cee Lo Green imitation. I’m not going to give you that video _ this is a family tabloid _ but if you didn’t see Titi vs. GSS, you can check the goal and the reaction at the eight minute mark of the the video below.

For the most part, the Red Bulls were surprised and disappointed to hear their captain being taunted in the midst of his painful injury. But it was Mexican National Team captain Rafa Marquez, who has known him the longest and arrived with him last summer from Barcelona, gave some insight as to how his longtime friend reacted.

“Those types of situations, when you’re a professional player, your reaction is to always try to get better,’’ said Marquez. “That’s what we’re doing on the field, trying to get (better) always, not only for the team but to continue to better yourself. That’s the reaction that came out of him.’’

Henry clearly played with more ferocity upon his return to the pitch, and that was an obvious reaction to the jeers. Marquez, his former Barcelona teammate, said Henry has always been very connected with the fans, both in Spain and during his Arsenal days as well.

“Thierry is a very special player, not only in Barcelona but in Arsenal. He always tries to push himself with his performance to please the fan. He has an interesting relationship with the fan base,’’ said Marquez. “He’s a different player from the other ones. He always has the focus of the eye of the fans. Anywhere he pays, the (French) national team, Arsenal you name it, he is always at the center.’’

No one questions that Henry, the Red Bulls’ captain and most accomplished player, would certainly be the heart of an MLS Cup championship run. Which of course begs the question: Wouldn’t they be best with a happy Henry?

“That kind of stuff, I can’t believe it,’’ marveled Luke Rodgers, who scored off an Henry assist, then set up the Frenchman’s headed goal with a cross. “He’s one of the best players in the league. Yeah, he’s got a problem with his Achilles, but Thierry’s our main man; we need him to play. Everyone in the team knows that, and the fans should realize that as well. You need a player like that to be happy.’’

Rodgers played 11 years professionally in England’s third and fourth divisions, and watched Henry become a London legend at Arsenal. He also sees Henry up close now, and insists the French star isn’t faking injury or even taking this one lightly, but working as hard as he can to fix and fight through it.

“With his Achilles problem he’s in every single day getting ice and getting treatment,’’ Rodgers said. “It’s not as if he’s having days off and going out partying, and saying “Oh, sorry, my Achilles hurts” the next day. It’s not like that. He keeps on top of it, he’s a proper professional. That’s the part the fans don’t see.

“No footballer wants to play bad and be injured. You can’t help the fact you’ve got a problem, and he’s addressing the problem.’’

Coach Hans Backe didn’t address Henry’s profane celebration, or the fans’ taunts, because he claimed he hadn’t actually seen either, only chuckling when he said he’s heard his players discussing the exchange. But when the nature of the taunts was relayed to him, he shook his head disapprovingly.

“I think it’s not the right way to support your players,’’ said Backe cautioning again that he hadn’t watched the exchange by adding “if it’s like that. I haven’t heard anything. But it doesn’t help of courser the team or the player. You should all the time try to support your team in the best way you can do it.’’

What do you think? Would you jeer your home player’s injury? Did you? What do you make of his response? Holla at us…just do it in English, because my French is rusty.