Embrace the Playoffs

October 24 – 2006

Four MLS playoff matches were held this past weekend attracting an average of 9533.25 fans per match. Taking it to the hundredths place may seem absurd, but that’s just how paltry the numbers are: every quarter of a person counts.

DC, Chicago, Chivas USA, and Dallas all posted victories, but, in truth, aren’t we all losers here? The sight of “playoff” games being played in front of empty stadiums, half of which feature blazing white football lines, is almost too much to take. The only game attracting a decent crowd (15110) featured a team in orange versus a team in red and white stripes, making them virtually indistinguishable on television. In Colorado, 4176 people cared to show up, and this underscores the following: no one gives a shit.

We’ll repeat our stance on the MLS: The players are fine, but the league they play in has gone to every possible length to bore us to tears. If this year’s playoff numbers are any indication (even in their likely inflated state) the time has come to admit mistakes and change course. Commissioner Garber has said the league he built will be financially secure for the next 15 years, to which we say, “Great, our kids can count on having a domestic league to ignore.”

And just in case you need some visual evidence of the disaster Garber’s success has wrought, here are some “highlights” from this weekend’s games:

• A very, very well made goal by Christian Gomez is scored in front of 8630 people and a Jets logo.
• The best game of the bunch, full of excellent chances and even better goals, takes place between two teams wearing roughly the same color.
• 4176 people show up in the hopes of seeing Pablo Mastroeni hump his shirt.

Can’t wait for the second fixtures.