I just started subscribing to Soccer Digest, got my 2nd issue on Friday, and they did a piece on the new playoff format, scrapping the old "first to five" series. Two quotes from the article by Scott Plagenhoef.... On the old system: "It was a needlessly complicated system that often unfairly prolonged a playoff series long after a team had proved it's superiority" On the new system: "For example, were this system in place last year, the eventual MLS Cup winning Los Angeles Galaxy would have been eliminated in the first round by the Kansas City Wizards" Gotta love that. James