Here we are, 10 days away from MLS First Kick 2011. There’s something in the air this year that feels different from past seasons. From the perspective of a Colorado Rapids fan, maybe it’s because for the first time, our boys in burgundy are defending a Championship title. Maybe it’s the thought that for the first time, we’ll get to see CONCACAF action at DSG Park later this summer. (It sure isn’t the Open Cup since we lost another coin flip for hosting matches… Again.) Or maybe it’s just because I see professional soccer gaining traction in Colorado. After all, the Rapids are the latest Champions in the Denver area since the 2000-2001 Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup. Note: The Colorado Mammoth won the NLL Championship in 2006.

“Colorado! This is your Championship team!”

Outside of the things we get to look forward to at Dick Sporting Goods Park, the Rapids front office has been working hard to gain more traction in the area. Our supporter groups are steadily growing in size and the Rapids staff works very hard growing those relationships. I expect the supporter terrace to be filled with more fans this year and to give the north end of the stadium an amazing environment to cheer and celebrate. On top of this, being the reigning champions means every team is coming to play us with the mentality, that we’re the team to beat. From a fan’s perspective, the quality of soccer will be raised. It has to be in order to defend the title.

Sure there are still a few gripes with the front office, whether that’s not being able to own the new kits until June, the lack of star power without a DP (we’re down to the last few teams in the league without ever having a DP slot filled) or utilizing the Rapids official website in ways like Seattle and New York have been, like preseason match streaming, but slowly they’re improving. Just like in the case with Don Garber and his vision for MLS, I think he’s doing things the right way, even though there are plenty of little improvements that would help the league. Capping off at 20 teams for awhile, will give the league time to grow and put the focus on teams like the Rapids to ramp up soccer in the area and grow a larger fan base. The MLS 2011 season has much to look forward and with last year’s success, the Rapids have changed the winds of soccer in Colorado.

JMH

Major League Soccer (MLS) Conor Casey, Don Garber, Drew Moor, Matt Pickens, Omar Cummings, Pablo Mastroeni

The MLS is making the right move by continuing to expand the MLS Playoff system.

In anticipation of some of your comments, let me make these concessions

• The MLS still hasn’t “gotten it right.” They know that, we know that. Much more established leagues like the NFL continue to tinker with their system, and we aren’t even a couple decades old yet.
• The balanced schedule and the chance for a West team to win the East and vice verse are bizarre. Our league is still small enough that these sorts of playoff systems will continue to be a bit hinky for the next few years.

That being said, here’s why I believe the MLS is right to continue to focus on the playoff system

• Americans love playoffs. In case you haven’t noticed, our league is located in the US of A. While recent news of MLS games getting televised in England at 2am is nice (and weird), for the MLS to succeed Americans need to show up and fork over some hard earned greenbacks. And while some MLS fans wait for the Eurosnobs to turn of FoxSoccer, take off their Man U Jerseys and don an MLS jerseys, and come to their local park…I’m done waiting. They’s come if they come, but we need to understand that we are an American league. Americans already have enough cultural hurdles to cross with soccer (running clock, offsides), a playoff-less soccer league is needless and unhelpful.
• Americans love underdogs. The idea of the Rapids making a run from the back to capture the cup is like Apple Pie and red, white, and blue. These sorts of storylines are exciting as fans, and give us just a taste of the excitement of the major European Cups
• The MLS deserves the benefit of the doubt. Crucify me for this if you want, but the fact that the leadership has steered us through nearly two decades and several recessions means they are continuing to strike a fairly effective balance. This doesn’t mean I won’t complain about some of their decisions, or point out the still-remaining weaknesses of our playoff system. But at the end of the day, Garber & Co. are getting it right.

Major League Soccer (MLS) Don Garber, MLS Playoffs

“Ol Matt’s gonna be your shadow…here’s you, here’s Matt…”

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Don Garber, Matt Foley