Post-match: Crew @ Cincinnati - 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs: Conference Final - 12/2/23 6:00 PM

Tremendous pressure? Oh, yes, a conference final in the country's 5th major pro sports league (which would also be dwarfed in terms of importance by college football and basketball), is somehow a pressure cooker for the refs. I enjoy MLS as much as the next person, but this reads like delusions of grandeur.

 

People used to say that most big cities were primarily interested in one sport and the others were something you did in the off season.

The prime example was Cincinnati which was, and is, a baseball town. They used to say that if the Bengals won the Super Bowl and the Reds traded for a utility infielder, the latter would take up most of the front page.

Of course it changes somewhat while one team or another is winning championships, but it always reverts back to the norm. Like Boston, which is a baseball town but the Patriots (apparently just Tom Brady) were winning all the time but their hearts belong to the Red Sox. Same in New York, where the Giants are entertaining but the Yankees are everybody's first love.

I don't think it's as true as it once was, but in places like Cincinnati, the MLS side could win 10 consecutive Cups and nobody would care nearly as much as they do about the Reds.

 

The same can be said here. The general populace doesn’t give a shit about The Crew and hasn’t since 96. We’ve seen a significant change in that the past few years but The Crew, Clippers, and Bluejackets combined will never reach a fraction of the popularity of Ohio State football.

 

If people didn't stop coming to Crew games for all their own various reasons while still living in Columbus...what could have been.

But you're right about the OSU bit. Not only do they have decades of head start, but for a lot of that time, they were the only thing in town.
1) OSU football
2) The Memorial
**Dropoff**
3) OSU basketball when they were good
**Dropoff**
4) Maybe the Clippers or the various carousel of minor league teams as a fun family distraction.

 

I am still outraged. Yes, they started off obscenely hot. But they ended on much more of a whimper. Yes, their only hardware prior to the shield this year is wooden in nature. However, they were not projected to miss the post season at the start of this season like the other two finalists.

Give the man a two year turnaround award. Save this award for a coach whose team at least had a positive in the only metric that matters -- possession.

 

People say this, and maybe it’s true, but I see more CBJ and Crew gear around town than I see OSU gear, except for OSU game days. I think a large portion of OSU’s fandom is from casuals who probably only care because they think they have to or like being part of the OSU fandom group.

 

You are in some kind of weird bubble.

OSU gear outpaces Crew/CBJ 10 to 1. Easy.

 

Maybe it’s just people in my age group then.

 

Watched some of the highlights of the past two games. Completely forgot the first game backline consisted of Farsi, Moreira, Quinton, Vallecilla, and Amundsen. In the second, Sean, Gressel, and Yaw slotted in with Amundsen and Moreira at CB. Ramirez started the second, and while he missed some good chances (and so did Cincy's striker) he had some good link up play.

Miazga missed the second game, so they were down the defender of the year. Hagglund and Obinna Nwobodo may miss this one.

Will be interesting how the teams attack each other. Cincinnati may be more aggressive with Kubo out there. Morris will have more work to do in pressing Cincinnati in their own half, opening up space for Cincinnati. Gressel and Ramirez may get some time.

 

Revenge Him!

 

RIP Harambe!

 

In memory of Harambe, who the bastards at the Cincinnati Zoo shot dead because some other assholes couldn't bother to keep an eye on their kid.

Let's win one for Harambe

 

I think that is legit. The gap closes amongst younger folk.

 

Win by 2. Do we call them Grouchy points anymore or are the Chr1st points?

Is it just me or has it been all season or just the playoffs where teams approaches have been to batter the hell out of Morris?

 

Golry to Olumbu!

 

Got my car painted, picked up a yard sign and car flag, and received a free premium car wash coupon. Lots of cars there too. Good FO promotion.

 

From an email:

Before the Crew go marching down to Cincinnati for the Eastern Conference Final, send them off in a shower of support and cheers!

Join us at the OhioHealth Performance Center entrance at 1 Black & Gold Blvd. on Friday at 2:30 p.m. as the team boards the bus and goes down the road.

Free Parking: B Lot outside Historic Crew Stadium
Directions to Send-Off: Walk north from B Lot, turn left on Silver Dr., turn left on Black & Gold Blvd.

Glory to Columbus!

 

Post a pic!! I’ve been wondering what it looks like.

 

I only got one of the decals, and the carmaker was clearly running out of ink because its yellowish in person.

The yard sign is really nice. Almost seems like its meant to last for another season. No pic on me right now.

 

BREAKING: FC Cincinnati CB and MLS Defender of the Year Matt Miazga has been suspended three matches for entering the referee room following win over New York Red Bulls.

Miazga officially out for Eastern Conference final and, if FCC win, MLS Cup.https://t.co/m3MZFu5kHX

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) November 30, 2023

#MiazgaOut

 

Good. It is the right thing to do. He deserves it. But still surprised MLS had the guts to do it.

 

This makes my tummy tickle.