Why I’m Supporting LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire in the MLS Conference Finals

By: Daryl | November 13th, 2009

Beckham Blanco 335 I don’t think I’ve ever revealed my Major League Soccer preferences here on The Offside. Truth is, I don’t have any allegiance to any particular team. So for the most part I watch as an interested neutral, fascinated by the ever-changing nature of the league and with my one and only hope being that MLS does well and keeps growing. Because soccer in America doesn’t thrive without a domestic league. Simple as that. All of which gives me two teams to support in tonight’s Western and Eastern Conference MLS Finals. Or MLS Cup semi-finals, as anyone normal should want to call them.

I’ll be hoping that Los Angeles Galaxy beat(s the) Houston Dynamo in the Western final (8:25pm kickoff tonight in L.A.) and that Chicago Fire beats Real Salt Lake in Western Final (7pm kickoff in Chi-town tomorrow).

My reasons are shallow and straightforward: Star power.

I want to see LA Galaxy vs Chicago Fire in MLS Cup 2009 (November 22nd in Seattle). Because that would mean David Beckham vs Cuauhtémoc Blanco – the two biggest name Designated Players in the league – going head to head in the showpiece event.

Major League Soccer took a big gamble by introducing the DP rule in 2007, and it’s been only semi-successful. Beckham’s grand entrance got plenty of buz for the league, but his subsequent injuries, followed by lack of commitment to LA Galaxy took the shine off. Now Goldenballs has knuckled down and is playing well. He’s even skipping England’s game vs Brazil in order to face Houston, which I think shows at least some fidelity to his club.

I have nothing at all against Houston. But if Goldenballs makes it MLS Cup final, then he’ll have the spotlight again, and in a good way. “Beckham Leads LA Galaxy to MLS Cup Final” is a positive story for US soccer, and will very likely be enough to attract extra attention from the various ESPN pundits. Not to mention some attention from around the globe.

Blanco has been a better Designated Player then Beckham. He’s had loan spells back in Mexico and continued to play for the national team, but has never let it interfere with his duty to Fire. He’s also brought some magic to MLS, because he’s that kind of player. Obviously RSL making it to MLS Cup would be a nice underdog story (the 2005 expansion team scraped into the playoffs with the 8th best regular season record). But with a Beckham vs Blanco final everyone wins, especially Major League Soccer.

Last but not least, this may be the last chance for this superstar showdown. We already know Blanco is heading back to Mexico to finish his career with Veracruz, and we know Beckham is heading on loan to Milan in January. Who knows if and when he’ll be back? So for the good of MLS and for the good of the Designated Player Rule, here’s to a Galaxy vs Fire MLS Cup 2009.

- LA Galaxy Offside preview
- Houston Dynamo Offside preview
- Chicago Fire Offside preview

Last but not least… I know the season is about to climax, but we’re still looking for an MLS Offside blogger to cover all things Major League Soccer. Read that post and get in touch if interested.