Kansas City's Teal Bunbury following father's MLS footsteps

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08/06/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When Teal Bunbury latched onto a misguided header by Toronto FC defender Adrian Cann and headed it past keeper Stefan Frei, Canadian soccer fans got a first-hand look at a player who could be a pillar in the national team's future.

Bunbury, a Hamilton native, was selected by the Kansas City Wizards with the fourth overall pick in the 2010 MLS Superdraft and has been impressing people throughout the world with his ability this season.

In a recent friendly victory for Kansas City over English Premier powerhouse Manchester United, manager Sir Alex Ferguson applauded the young striker's talent.

"[He] was a handful physically," Ferguson told the Kansas City Wizards' official website. "Handful. He gave us a hard time that way."

Having represented Canada at the U-17 and U-20 level but also plying his trade at the University of Akron, Bunbury has the option to either play for Canada or the United States at the senior level.

Canadian fans can only hope that Teal decides to follow the same path as his father Alex.

Alex Bunbury was capped for Canada 64 times and managed to score 16 goals, an impressive number if you consider the talent level - or lack thereof - in the Canadian system over the last 20 years.

In a rather interesting twist of fate, Alex ended his professional career in the same place Teal began his, with the Kansas City Wizards where he managed four goals in 24 appearances in the 1999-2000 season.

Teal possesses many of the same attributes that his father possessed and his growing confidence could see him become a clinical finisher at the striker position.

The dilemma surrounding Teal is nothing new to Canadian soccer fans. Over the last few years, several potential Canadian players have decided to place their allegiances with different nations.

Both Asmir Begovic and Jonathan De Guzman decided that Bosnia-Herzegovina and Holland, respectively, were better choices for their international careers.

Though De Guzman never represented Canada at the youth level, Begovic did. The keeper, who was born in Bosnia, was a key member of Canada's Under-20 team but for unknown reasons was never used at the senior level.

It did, however, allow Begovic to represent Bosnia, which made a strong push to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. The situation with Teal is a very similar to the one of the former Canadian keeper.

The odds that Teal chooses to play for Canada over the United States are slim if you consider the current state of soccer in the two countries.

While Canada has struggled since a 2000 Gold Cup victory, the United States has been impressive in recent major tournaments, making them a more likely destination if Teal hopes to reach success at the international level. An opportunity to play with the likes of Jozy Altidore and Landon Donovan is certainly another alluring aspect given the impact both are having on the North American and European soccer scene.

The appeal to follow his father's legacy and play for Canada is the only major drawing point for Teal at the moment.

The 20-year-old forward seems to have a bright future in front of him and although his father had a distinguished career, the possibility that Teal surpasses the former Kansas City striker is there.

It's also a fact likely not lost on the Canadian Soccer Association.

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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

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