Ten Wholesome Drew Moor Moments with Colorado Rapids

Tonight the Colorado Rapids will induct center back Drew Moor into the club’s Gallery of Honor. The Dallas, Texas native played 17 seasons in Major League Soccer, ten of then with the Burgundy and Blue. Moor was never the most flashy player. Robin Fraser once said “he’s hard working, consistent, and unremarkable.” That’s the perfect once sentence description for the ideal Rapids player, if I ever heard one.

Drew is a kind human being, incredible teammate, and was always great with the fans. Here’s ten events and moments from his time as a Burgundy Boy I will always remember fondly that sum him up (in no partilcar order).

The Trade from FC Dallas

Drew Moor is not the first nor will he be the last trade Dallas makes with Colorado that ages poorly for them. Kellyn Acosta and fellow 2010 MLS Cup champion Anthony Wallace say hi.

Drew had become a starter for his hometown team in 2009. He attended the first Dallas Burn game as a kid back in 1996. The trade shocked him. It was like his home broke up with him. He later said he was going to use that slight to motive him in his new situation and gave everything. An unexpected beginning of something wonderful was born out of this.

Leaving as a Free Agent in 2015

Drew left Colorado after seven years for Toronto FC in December 2015 as a member of the first class of free agents in MLS history. He told his wife that day that they would one day return to Colorado. Fans certainly were disappointed at the time, but Drew made good on that (at the time private) promise. He certainly made himself whole with the club, supporters, and the state upon returning in 2020.

That Time I Interviewed Him And He Apologized For Being Late

Speaking of him coming back to Colorado . . . On February 15, 2020 Holding The High Line published a podcast episode featuring a phone interview I did with him. We discussed his memories, time at TFC, and ways in which Kei Kamara was better than Jozy Altidore.

Drew was late for that interview. It was prescheduled with a member of the club’s comms team who told me they could not get a hold of him at the time. About 15 minutes later, I get a text saying he was ready. Drew started the phone call by apologizing profusely, giving no excuses, and promising to be more professional with me in media interactions going forward. For the record, I forgave him immediately.

The 2014 April Fools’ Day Caribous Kits

In 2014, the club did an April Fool’s joke saying the Rapids would adopt the old NASL Caribous of Colorado kits, lower chest tassels and all. To this day, this is the most amazing jersey Drew ever wore as a professional soccer player. Look at how Deshorn Brown can barely keep a straight face while Drew is full serious game mode. Would have loved to see his reaction when the social media person at the club pitched the idea and showed him the shirt.

The MLS All-Star Game

Colorado has not had an All-Star representative in six years. They used to have one at least every three. In 2015, DICK’s Sporting Goods Park hosted the ASG, a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspurs. Drew played the entire second half. Clint Irwin was an unused sub that game. Fellow Rapids Gallery of Honor inductee Pablo Mastroeni coached the All-Stars in his second year as manager of the Rapids.

The Club’s Geico Parody Commercial: “GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS?”

If every person was only allowed one meme, this would be Drew’s. Another club social media gag, he imitates the camel from the Geico commercial. He walks around DSGP asking everyone “GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS?” “IT’S GAMEDAY!” Unfortunately, the video appears to no longer by on YouTube. Regardless, how happy are people in Colorado? Almost as happy as Drew Moor on gameday.

Breaking the Consecutive Games Played Record

Drew doesn’t have a lot of big highlights. Most of his goals are gritty headers. That’s what we love about him. He was always more of a cerebral defender preventing danger rather than emergency defending. Jack Price, Pablo Mastroeni, and Jeff Larentowicz did the sliding tackles. He made things look simple.

One of those things was his consistency. In 2011, he set the MLS record for consecutive games played by a field player. What was that thing Fraser said about him being consistent even at 36-years-old?

Retiring at Home Against FC Dallas

Drew’s final appearance was this fixture in the final home game of 2022. It was a 1-0 Rapids win with Diego Rubio scoring the only goal. Moor spent most of his final two years at the club as a bench veteran presence. Mentor the kids. Be a glue guy. Play occasionally, mostly as a substitute. Show your age and wisdom, but every once in awhile, a younger elite version of yourself makes a play.

Drew played the final 10 minutes of that match. It’s so fitting that his final act as a professional soccer player was as a Colorado Rapid against FC Dallas in a win, with a clean sheet.

2020 Home Opener: MOTM Performance/Getting Locked Out

The 2020 home opener against Orlando City. The last pre-COVID game the Rapids would play. Moor scored the winner at the 90th minute to win the match 2-1. He earns MOTM in his return to DSGP. He then proceeds to lose his keys. His wife Shelby, being a wonderful agent of chaos, screenshots the text thread and posts it on social media. Rapids fans have two inside jokes with Drew Moor now. “Guess what day it is?” and “Did you lose your keys?”

Winning the 2010 MLS Cup

Drew was critical to the spine of the 2010 team that won the only major trophy in club history. He and Marvell Wynne formed the perfect unconventional partnership at center back. They made one mistake in 120 minutes against MVP David Ferreira and it led to the only goal. He and the defense tightened up after getting the equalizer to force extra time. Then they played down a man after Mac Kandji created the winner then hurt himself with the club out of substitutes. Fittingly, Moor won an MLS Cup against his hometown and former club in the stadium he would then call home with Toronto FC.

Photo Credit: John Babiak.

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