A Letter from Columbus to the MLS

I am going to get to the letter from the Crew to the rest of the league but first I want to say one thing, thank you. I have been away for awhile due to various real world things, and this took a back seat. I think that I have everything worked out now and should be back to writing on the regular. So how have you been? Me, I have been crazy but let’s talk about the Crew. Have they ever had an up and down ride this year. Since my leave of absence the Crew have had many highs and lows but let’s look at where they are now. Hmmmm…  Oh yeah first place in the Eastern Conference. That is right, FIRST. Well I have said my piece and here is the letter from the Crew to the MLS. Enjoy.

Dear MLS,

We here at the Crew would like to say, BooYa. That is right, BooYa. Look who is on top in the East. That is right, US. Not that up-start Philly, who we took care of last week, or the overloaded New York Red Bulls. Right now they could go for some Red Bull the way that they are playing.  Sporting Kansas City, I cannot believe that I said that with a straight face, has made a playoff push but they will falter too, at least they will look good doing it in their pretty new park. And I suppose that ‘Sporting’ is better than the ‘Wizards’. Houston, what can I say? We have gone back and forth all season but you will crumble under our constant pressure. Oh Toronto our poor little cousin from the North. You keep trying to keep up but well you are Toronto and you will come up short, again. Eh? Chicago and New England, your clubs are rich in MLS tradition but you can take one lesson from the leaders in the east and that is, keep the ball out of your own goal. Defense will win games. Finally D.C. if only you could take some of that energy from the earthquake then you could be up with us, but alas you cannot and thus you will be stuck mid-table. Oh and the West we are coming for you next. Seattle, we will see you this weekend.

But I digress.  he reason I am writing the letter to the MLS is because you all doubted my ability to play. At the start we had a bad loss and all you said was, “They are rebuilding and that is never an easy process.”  Then we had a winning streak. You rebutted with, “It will not last.  It is done on defense and goals win games.” You were half right. We found ways to score and win. Then we slumped, “I told you so.” Now we are hitting on all cylinders. We have stumbled a bit but we are still, “America’s Hardest Working Team.” We do not get that nomenclature for nothing. Now that we are on top what is everyone saying? “…” That is right- nothing. No compliments, nothing. I admit that we are not the best in the league, right now, but that all changes in the playoffs. Do you remember when everyone doubted us last? 2008 if memory serves. What did we do that year? Win. Welcome back to the Crew’s year. This year we will be feared in the playoffs and you will not know what hit you. Bring on all comers we will take them all. You, MLS, have nothing on us. Bring on your Donovans, Keanes, Henrys, Frings, Adus, and so on and so forth. We will take on all. We will wear you down in the midfield, clear you out with defense and run around you in the final third. Welcome to Crewtown. Welcome to the end of your season. Seattle I hope you have some left in the tank after playing in Mexico because you will need it.  Oh and by the way MLS, thanks for the snub in the All-Star “Game” if you want to call it that. By us not being there we were spared the embarrassment. So for that I say “Thank You”.

In a parting note I have two words for you, “Bring IT” and you will have to. We are young and feisty and we are gelling at the right time. You can keep your DPs. We have our one DP but he is replaceable. Is yours?

The Team You Love to Hate,

The Columbus Crew

Thus ends the letter from the Crew to the rest of the MLS. That is the way I see it. Enjoy the beautiful game win or lose, and make today better than yesterday.

(image courtesy of Matt Sullivan)