Why the MLS Cup is a Joke

So Martin Rogers over at Yahoo Sports has finally asked the question which has been bothering me since my beloved Columbus Crew was knocked out of the MLS Cup: What does it say about the state of American soccer if a team with a losing record (eg. Real Salt Lake) can be in the running to win the title of 2009 League Champions?

The numbers paint a disturbing picture:

Of the 13 complete MLS Seasons (1996-2008), only 5 times has the winner of the Supporter's Shield also won the MLS cup (DC in '97, '99; Kansas City in '00; LA in '02 and Columbus in '08). And even more shockingly, only ONCE has the second place team at the end of the season won the MLS cup (San Jose in '03).

The other 7 MLS cups (a majority of those held, mind you), were won by teams that finished third place or lower during the regular season.

When DC United won the inaugural MLS Cup in 1996, it did so with a regular season record of 16-16 (there were no draws) and from third place in the table.

In 1998, the Chicago Fire won the MLS cup from third place in the table (East and West combined) and with a winning record of 20-12 (still no draws).

In 2001, the San Jose Earthquakes won the cup from third place in the table, 8 points behind the leaders and with a record of 13-7-6.

In 2004, DC United won the cup from fourth place in the table, 7 points behind the leaders and with a record of 11-10-9.

In 2005, the LA Galaxy won the cup from a shocking eighth place in the table, finishing a full 14 points behind the leader and with a record of 13-13-6.

In 2006, the Houston Dynamo won the cup from fourth place in the table, 9 points behind the leader and with a record of 11-8-13.

Finally, in 2007, Houston won the cup again, but this time from third place in the table, just 3 points behind the leaders and with a record of 15-8-7.

And this year, Real Salt Lake is just one win away from being the first team in Major League Soccer's history to be crowned champions having lost more regular season games than it has won (11-12-7).

No matter the arguments about how egalitarian or exciting knock-out round cups can be, the fact of the matter is, the MLS Cup has failed to crown the league's best team 8 out of 13 times. And still the winner of the cup carries the title of "MLS Champions."

The fact of the matter is that soccer is a marathon and not a sprint. And for whatever reason, MLS's playoff structure does not appreciate that intrinsic aspect of the game.

What a sad, sad joke.

Discovering the United Soccer Leagues

With the addition of Fox Soccer Channel (FSC) to my digital cable lineup, I have been able to finally delve into the lesser known aspects of the American professional soccer pyramid.

As it turns out, the pillars holding up the foundation of professional soccer in America take the form of the United Soccer Leagues (www.uslsoccer.com). Consisting of two tiers (straight-forwardly named USL-1 and USL-2), the USL serves two immediate but incredibly important purposes.

The first is to provide a kind of professional reserve system for the comparatively limited teams in the MLS. Much like the minor leagues in baseball, some players find themselves gaining much needed playing experience while trying to catch the eye of coaching staffs on the mainstream professional teams.

The second function served by the USL is to widen the scope and exsposure of professional soccer in America. The Seattle Sounders built an incredibly fan base while in USL-1 and have carried it to the MLS. The Portland Timbers seemed poised to do the same.

Along with being able to watch at least one live USL-1 match each week on FSC, you can watch nearly every USL-1 match live online at www.usllive.com.

For my part, I've found myself to be a Cleveland City Stars supporter ... but I'm pretty aggravated that I can't find a jersey online to buy! Somebody need to fix that and soon before the season's over.

Sitcky Summer Ahead for Manchester United

Manchester United secured their third consecutive and 18th overall topflight title with a gritty draw against London rivals Arsenal today at Old Trafford.

Comments made by manager Sir Alex Ferguson as well as players Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were filled with sentiments of inexpressible joy.

But while the team basks in a well-earned threepeat of Premier League titles, a storm brews in the wings.

As the Premier league season winds down and all eyes turn to the stage of all club stages - the UEFA Champions League final in Rome on May 27th - transfer rumors abound.

Currently, Carlos Tevez, the 24 year old Argentinian striker is the center of a maelstrom of speculation over his future. His 2 year loan deal at an end, Tevez and his represntation are seeking a higher profile for the striker at Old Trafford with stoic signals coming from management.

On the other side, the wunderkind and FIFA World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked (via hearsay mostly) to a number of Iberian sides. However, if Manchester United win in Rome and Ferguson works his magic, it seems likely that he will stay at Old Trafford.

In the end, Tevez's fate is more than likely up to Ronaldo. If Ronaldo leaves, Feurguson will surely look to keep Tevez in a 4-3-3 setup of sorts. But if Ronaldo stays, then Fergie can certainly afford to let the selfish striker go.

Only time will tell.

... And the Game Goes On

When it came to my footy teams, it was quite the weekend for controversial officiating.

One call was in my favor, the other was not. Just the ying and the yang of the universe, I suppose.


First up was the Manchester United Red Devils against Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Coming off a mid-week win and in the glowing haze of both draws for Chelsea and Liverpool, Manchester United was poised to take a firm 3 point lead with a game in hand, starting with a win against Spurs at home in Old Trafford.

Spurs had not won at Old Trafford since God knows when, so the stage was set for Manchester United to get firmly back in the drivers seat for a third-consecutive Premier League title.

But with a 2-0 score in favor of Spurs at half-time, a tangible sense of doubt and fear hung in the air around the ground.

Coming out of the dressing room for the second half, Man U looked inspired, but could still not produce any goals.

That was until Carrick drew a controversial penalty (the live text commentator at ESPN Soccernet through a royal shit fit over the call, chalking it up to a blind love of Man U) and Ronaldo capitalized on it in the 57th minute.

From there on out, Manchetser United was a team born anew. The next 20 minutes saw a brilliant attacking display from the Red Devils, with FOUR MORE GOALS. By the time Berbatov netted his goal in the 78th minute, I can only imagine the best way to describe everyone in Tottenham and the the rest of the league as "shell-shocked." The final score? Manchester United 5, Tottenham 2.

Where the season goes from here is anybody's guess, but along with Macheda's wonder goal against Aston Villa, the penalty that ignited Man U will be looked back as an important moment of the campaign.

On the other side of the pond, Saturday evening found me at Columbus's Crew Stadium, eagerly awaiting yet another clash of the Midwest rivalry cultivated between the Crew and the Chicago Fire.

The Crew came into the game as defending MLS champions but without a win in their first five games. But with a beautiful night at home and an pulsating crowd, this seemed to be the night.

The game was many things, but boring was not one of them.

The Crew hit the ground running and for the first time since last November, they looked like a championship-winning squad. By the end of the first half, the score was 2-0 to the Crew, with a trademark goal by Chad Marshall and a brilliant display of composure in front of goal by Alejandro Moreno.

But just as in the Manchester/Tottenham game, the officials would have something to say about the night's outcome. This time it was in the form of a less than convincing straight red card to the Crew's left-back Gino Padula just before the hour mark.

What made the card all the more controversial was the referee's apparent lack of interest in a majority of fouls committed in the rest of the game. As a Crew fan, it felt like the referee saw Padula's tackle and suddenly remembered he had a set of cards in his pocket.

From there on out, the Fire merely wore the Crew down and equalized with two goals in the last five mintues of regulation time.

The hunt for a Columbus win continues.

A View of the Australian A-League

While in Australia I had the opportunity to see an A-League soccer game.

On November 1, 2008, me and three friends walked to the Sydney Football Stadium and watched Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners play to an energetic 2-2 draw.

The A-League has a very distinct style of play. Owing to Australia's emphasis on "manly" sports such as Aussie Rules Football and both league and union rugby, Australian soccer has a very rough air to it.

In terms of technique, I'd have to say it was on par with the MLS on its best days.

All in all, it was an experience I'll never forget and will take every opportunity to replicate.

Photos:

A Love-Hate Relationship, Really

I have a confession to make. I abandoned Major League Soccer.

Yeah, I was that guy. I was all excited about professional soccer in my backyard, but by the time I was old enough to know better, I became disinterested.

The problem seems to be that hardcore soccer fans in America spend their lives being told that the MLS is inferior and not worth their time. So they believe its inferior and don't waste their time on it.

Well, no more. It's time to rediscover my roots. Starting with the Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire game tomorrow.

Old But Funny

From British coverage of the 2006 World Cup:

Launching the blog.

It's nearly a 24 year-long story as to how this blog got here.

But the long and the short of it is I freaking love soccer.

Hopefully I'll be able to share that with the world.