It appears the book may be slammed shut on Valderrama's short-lived era in South Florida, with a relatively happy ending in store for the Fusion. The rumored trade of the petulant Colombian playmaker to New England for a younger, more fit, and more aggressive Joe-Max Moore would be about as good a resolution as the Fusion can expect right now.
The Fusion would be ridding itself of what appears to be an unsolvable problem - fitting the exiled Valderrama back into a team that has won twice without him - while getting a talented and productive U.S. National Team player in Moore.
Judging by his actions over the past 10 days, Valderrama has essentially told the Fusion to buzz off, and the team is prepared to respond in kind. Valderrama's failure to join Wortmann's first two practices last week was a slap in the face of not only the coach, but also the players he is expected to set a standard for, and the front office that goes out of its way to promote him.
In living up to his nickname El Pibe (The Kid), Valderrama also dissed MLS bosses, who have treated him like royalty since he signed with the start-up league in 1996. MLS fined Valderrama a league-record $10,000 for his training boycott, a figure the three-time All-Star thought excessive.
Valderrama may have a valid point. would John Maessner have been fined that much for the same offense? Probably not. But, aristocracy has its price.
The more costly passage for Valderrama, however, was the Fusion was able to thrive without him. Benched by Wortmann for two games, both wins, Valderrama's prima donna posture was humbled by the very teammates he holds himself apart from.
It's been believed that Valderrama skipped those two practices because he was angry that ex-coach Cacho Cordoba was fired. More likely, the real reason was that Wortmann, in his first talk to the team, told his players everyone would be treated equally, no matter how brilliant they are.
Valderrama apparently took the remark personally. As he should. The sentiment within the Fusion organization, players included, is that Valderrama's arrogance has overshadowed his enormous talent. That feeling no doubt filtered into Wortmann's thinking.
Publicly, Fusion players say they can be a better team with Valderrama. Privately, they say unless Valderrama shows a bit more humility, they'll take their chances without him the rest of the season. For Wortmann, putting Valderrama back in the line-up means upsetting the positive vibe running through the revitalized expansion team.
The Fusion has laid its entire identity in those curls that spiral from Valderrama's scalp. But, in playing just nine of the team's 21 games (he missed eight for the World Cup), Valderrama has hardly lived up to his worldly reputation.
He had a penalty kick saved in a home loss to Chicago, was red-carded in the Fusion's short-handed win over New england, was accused of quitting by Columbus coach Tom Fitzgerald in a 5-1 defeat to the Crew. Of his 40 career assists in MLS, only four have come with the Fusion.
Quite simply, the Fusion has gotten less than it bargained for in Valderrama. And, considering all that's happened since the aloof three-time World Cup star since Wortmann arrived, it's probably best for all concerned that another MLS team start to pick up the tab.