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South of the border, however, it’s viewed differently by those with an anti-Bradley slant who repeatedly pin the United States’ failings on their captain.

He has been called everything from arrogant to entitled to money-hungry while attempting to establish a legacy in a market that respects him instead of a country that has turned on him.

Truth be told, it has been a hell of a lot of fun watching him comment on the shade that’s constantly thrown his way. At this stage in his career, with this market behind him, he’s not afraid to say what he needs to say.

Bradley fired back earlier this year when Fox Sports pundit Alexi Lalas took a shot at him.

“You make sure you don’t forget who the (people) along the way are who had a lot to say,” Bradley responded. “One of the recent (sayings) that I’ve seen that I like is, ‘The lion doesn’t care about the opinion of the sheep.’”

After being jeered by 72,000 fans in Atlanta last month, Bradley smiled while responding to The Canadian Press.

“I hadn’t been on the field for two steps and I had a few nice things yelled at me,” he said.

Then Bradley stood up for his teammates after the New York series almost didn’t go their way.

“(The Red Bulls) feel like the only chance they have is to stir things up and make trouble,” he told TSN cameras. “Big balls from our side tonight. Big balls.”

He followed that up by taking a parting shot at Columbus on Tuesday night before exiting MAPFRE Stadium.

“I’ve got bigger things to worry about than whether a few people in Columbus don’t like me,” Bradley said of the constant boos he received.

Columbus fans dislike him even more after he nonchalantly said the Crew have “fallen behind” other MLS markets in terms of atmosphere and attendance.

Telling the truth is something he’s revered for in Toronto, a place he’s called “home” for multiple seasons.

“Now we get to go back (home) next week in front of 30,000 people with the season on the line,” Bradley added.

It’s bizarre to think the United States’ captain returns to Canada to earn the respect he deserves.