Oh you bastard. Next time we go to KC, you're walking back. But yeah, I think we can win the treble this year. Someone's got to do it, and it damn well isn't going to be Metros. LA's already demonstrated they don't have what it takes against Columbus. We've yet to play the "strongest" teams this year, but I think that when everything comes down to the line, we will be competing for the shield this year. The Open Cup is all about taking those games seriously and not starting Henry Ring. We've already got two, it can't be that hard to get another. The MLS Cup...well, that will be harder, but with the home field advantage that the shield will bring, the first and second rounds should be no problem, with only the final left over. The biggest factor to overcome at that point will probably be Carlos Ruiz. Hopefully we'll have learned how to counter his tricks by then. IMHO, our bad luck with LA walked out the door with Bradley.
1--The supporters shield-- what you would call the regular season league title 2 the MLS championship -- winning the playoffs 3 the U.S. open cup--like the FA cup
http://www.uslsoccer.com/usopencup/usochistory/53853.html The open cup is the longest running competition in American soccer. It's open to every team in the country that is affiliated with US Soccer (or at least, every men's team, there is supposed to be a women's open cup, but it's never been contested yet). That link is to the list of champions. Some of the greatest teams in American soccer history like Bethlehem Steel and the Fall River Marksmen are previous holders of the Open Cup. Sadly, some of the coaches in MLS don't take it seriously enough...they play B-teams against lower division sides and lose, so that they can do better in the MLS regular season. There's a strong correlation between winning the Open Cup and performing very well in the following season. Chicago has won this one twice. http://www.ibiblio.org/footy/2002/1019_summit_ajm.php?page=1 The Supporters' Shield Established in 1997 by the various MLS Supporters Groups through group and individual donations, an effort spearheaded by legendary mystic Sam Pierron. The Supporters' Shield is awarded at the now annual Supporters' Summit (held in conjunction with the MLS Cup festivities) to the team which wins the most points in the MLS regular season, with appropriate league tiebreakers in effect. We nearly won this twice, losing out both times on tiebreakers. The MLS Cup AKA the Allan I Rothenberg trophy, Mk II. Replaced the butt ugly thing that was used prior to Garber's ascension to League Commissioner. Goes to the team which wins the postseason tourney known as the MLS Cup. This year, the top four teams from each regular season conference will be seeded against each other to play a home and away series, then the two remaining teams from each conference will have a single game play-off at the higher seed's home field. The championship game will be held in Los Angeles between the remaining teams from each conference. Of course, there are other less high profile, but also significant awards that we can win during the season.
And both times on one goal, I think. Just to be crystal, here, it's actually the 4th version. the first three were not the same year to year. The original one in 96 actually had a light in the middle or something to make it glow. Don't ask me.
Don't forget the Brimstone Cup. I want it back this season. P.S. Which was it that got messed up? Was it the Brimstone or the Supporters' Shield? I thought it was the Supporters' Shield, but it looked fine in that picture. Did DC or Miami or whoever screwed it up redo the plate?
Yes, the Miami folks broke the shield (possibly in transit). It seems to be ok now though, well, except for that piece of ************ additional plaque they attached to it. I didn't forget the Brimstone cup, it's linked under "Awards"
I would have to check the stats archive to be sure on how we lost the shield. I wasn't aware that the first three Allen I Rothenberg trophies were not the same physical object, Either way, they looked more or less the same, and were ugly (soccer ball with handles, on a short circular base). I'll try to find a pic of the 1996 ceremony and the 1998 ceremony for comparison purposes. 1996: 1998:
In 2002, no East team was in the hunt, with four Western conference teams finishing above all 5 of the East teams in the standings. In 2001, we finished second to Miami for the shield. We were level on points (53 because of the short season), and Miami's GD was +21, while ours was +20. In 2000, we finished second to KC in the race for the Shield. We were both level on points (57), but our GD was +16 while KC's was +18. We scored something like half again as many goals as they did (67 vs 47), but their defense was impermeable throughout the season. In 1999, we weren't even in the hunt. In 1998, we finished third, a dozen points away from LA, who took the shield.
This is what the open cup looks like...they replaced the original at some point...although it was restored. I'm having trouble remembering if we have the original somewhere or if it is at the Soccer Hall of Fame now.
Yeah, the trophies DO look nice, but I really like the piece of concrete from Section 8 at the old S.F. in the Fire office. Later, COZ