Comments on: A Losing Team Wins MLS Cup…Does it Matter?

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:32:59 +0000

While their were some minor blips in the MLS 2009 season, as a whole, I think the positives out weighed the negatives. This season provided drama with Beckham and Donovan. There was a great expansion with Seattle Sounders. The MLS Cup was a good game that any casual fan could appreciate watching. So I disagree that this season did not push the league forward as suggested in the USSoccerplayers story. This season ended on a high and that is what will be remembered. With the expansion teams coming in the next few seasons I am excited for what is to come. I don’t cheer for the Sounders, but I recognize that what they have been able to accomplish can only help the league. Great momentum going into the 2010 season.

As for RSL winning the cup. It doesn’t matter. It was a fantastic match and they produced enough to win. Look at the Galaxy goal compared to the Salt Lake goal. Galaxy had pinpoint passing and a well placed finish that is worthy of their ‘stars’. Salt Lake on the other hand produced a scrappy goal that resembled a pinball machine. It is a feel good story and a great way to cap off the league. Americans love to cheer for the underdog and this time they won. And it was fun cheering them on as they progressed. Kind of reminded me of the story of Melody Oudin in the U.S. Open this past September. They may not deserve to be there in the minds of many, but they are going to fight and give 100% nonetheless.

By: Bobby

Bobby — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:54:34 +0000

I actually don’t mind RSL’s uniforms, they stand out from the rest of the league.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:55:59 +0000

You’ll get no argument from me regarding the uniforms, Tom. Yikes.

By: Micah

Micah — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:27:31 +0000

RSL shows the upside and downside of the playoffs. The upside is anything can happen when the second season starts. The downside is a mediocre or not so great team going on a tear and winning a title. I’d prefer to make MLS a single table with the overall points getter taking the cake but I can live with the playoff system. It works well for American sporting interests.

By: Tom Dunmore

Tom Dunmore — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:14:31 +0000

Jason — yeah, they have that partnership. You’re right to point that out, and the commercial benefit. But I still think it’s a crazy point of reference for a team in Utah, and why does the uniform match Barcelona more than Real Madrid? Eh, just my opinion.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:11:32 +0000

@Tom and Bobby, didn’t they name themselves RSL b/c they wanted and successfully created a formal relationship with Real Madrid? $12.5 million toward a soccer academy for starters…

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:59:35 +0000

It is has been said in the last year that the modern era of MLS began when RSL came into the league. The reason being the way the franchise and stadium were built and the ferver of the local fanbase. It hasn’t been until after Toronto and Seattle joined the league that we are starting to realize what all RSL did right. Hats off to them for making the playoffs fun to watch.

Now, my gripes… The title of “conference champion” is silly if teams keep getting bumped into the other side of the bracket. Yes, a MLS Cup berth is also a CCL berth, so there needs to be some recognition of that acheivement, but I think we can come up with a better name for it.

Also… The Supporter’s Shield champion needs to be given more emphasis. Sure, it’s not as dramatic as a cup final, but it is far and away more difficult to win a regular season championship than it is to win a brieft cup playoff.

To the casual fan, CCL is a foreign concept. The league needs to promote the idea of contiental play and use that as a selling point that teams can move up to bigger competition against tougher opponents. I don’t know if MLS has any real desire to promote CCL, but they need to spread the word that MLS teams are competing at a higher level to add more excitement and enthusiasm by having more fans know what is at stake.

By: Tom Dunmore

Tom Dunmore — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:55:45 +0000

Good point, Jeff, though I think the Supporters Shield is undervalued precisely because of the playoffs — teams don’t always fight tooth and nail all regular season, so the honour itself is a little less valuable.

Bobby — agreed about RSL. Crazy name and non-matching colours, lacking in what we’d call “supporters”, but a beautiful stadium, a good attendance record in the regular season and an interesting, alternate model to sustainability being developed there. Beckerman was outstanding. They underachieved in the regular season.

By: Bobby

Bobby — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:15:10 +0000

I don’t care for the playoffs, but I wanted RSL to win it. As silly as the name is, it’s a club built on a solid base, doesn’t rely on gimmicks, and it’s fans travel well. People talk a lot about Seattle and Toronto being “the new MLS”, but Salt Lake is arguably more successful than both. Utah isn’t exactly “cool” though, I guess.

Well done to them, they knew exactly what had to be done and did it. In my eyes they out played LA. Beckerman was immense.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:09:38 +0000

So RSL won the MLS Cup and Columbus won the Shield. Both get a spot in the CCL next year, if I’m not mistaken. The spoils are somewhat similar, I think. The only thing that’s uniquely North American is that RSL get to call themselves “defending champions.” Columbus can still lay claim to the regular-season championship and, like in England and unlike in other North American sports, they have hardware and a spot in the major continental competition to show for it.

Perhaps both Columbus and RSL should be lauded equally for their achievements, but we shouldn’t forget that MLS does in fact honor its regular season champs.