Brian Phillips of the Run of Play wrote a wonderful portrait about Pato a few years back, focusing on the fine line between potential and accomplishment. He articulated the “Lolita theory of fanlove” – we as fans project dreams and hopes upon a talented youthful player, long before we’ve seen proof or evidence to support our assertions. This Lolita love of youth often creates crushing expectations; we watch our young pup wallow on the bench behind thirty year old strikers, asking ourselves – why? What went wrong?

Yet for every “Lolita”, there comes a “Lolito.” Or, in this case, a “Chicharito.” A manager makes a signing that blows our mind – a young player with little hype explodes to prominence; a blinding spark shoots up from dead stone striking stone. While Chicharito is a Prometheus for fans and the United attack, he is a Pandora’s Box of problems for opposing defenses.

Let’s look at why we love Chicharito, and more importantly how our love is not based on affection for a theoretical “Lolita”, but rather the reality of pleasant surprises. Continue reading “Pandora's Box of Chocolates: Why We Love Chicharito” »