Real Salt Lake are the 2009 MLS Cup Champions.
Wait…read that again.
Yes, ”lil old Real Salt Lake are the kings of United States Professional Soccer.
Over the weekend, the often criticized, but highly capable head coach of RSL, Jason Kreis, led his club to the highest honor Major League Soccer has to offer. He did it his way. He did it with his players. He laughed in the face of his critics (you know who you are) as RSL defeated the supposed “favorite” LA Galaxy, a team that features the best player in US history (Landon Donavon) and the World’s most famous soccer player/metro-sexual (David Beckham).
RSL completed it’s quest for the Cup via penalty kicks, conquering the mighty Galaxy by a score of 5-4, with defender Robbie Russel delivering the game winning tally, after Cup MVP Nick Rimando (once again) came up huge when the game was on the line.
As I pondered the five-year journey this organization has trekked since its inception, and the transformation the team has undergone since Kreis and General Manager Garth Lagerway took hold of the reigns, I was overcome with gratitude for many things. And we would all be remiss if, during this time of Thanksgiving, we didn’t offer our heart-felt and sincere appreciation to the following Major League Soccer teams:
1. To the Chicago Fire.
Thank you for undervaluing Andy Williams. When Andy was left unprotected in the 2004 expansion draft, Steve Patorino and John Ellinger wasted no time in snatching up the Jamaican international with Real Salt Lake’s first selection, making the dynamic midfielder an RSL original. Andy has been a staple for the RSL organization, and remains the lone original player still toiling on the pitch for the team today. His late season resurgence was a key component in Real Salt Lake’s run to the cup, while his off-field battle regarding his angel wife, Marcia, is certainly the 2009 local sports story of the year.
The Fire organization also thought little of a Canadian International named Will Johnson. After a low-ball offer that could be considered nothing less as insulting to the young midfielder full of fire (pun intended) and promise, Johnson took his sizable skill-set to the Netherlands. RSL acquired his MLS rights by sending a supplemental 4th round draft pick to Chicago, as Johnson returned state-side last season. Since then, Will has been a mainstay in Jason Kreis’s midfield, appearing in the 2009 MLS All-Star Game and proving to be a defensive menace and an offensive threat every time his number is called.
2. To the LA Galaxy
Not only were you the proverbial “favorites” (media machine creation, F.Y.I) who were supposed to win MLS Cup 2009 running away, but you also thought Clint Mathis had nothing left in the tank. After the RSL orIginal returned home from an abbreviated stint in Greece, the Galaxy shipped Clint back to the 801 in exchange for a 4th round supplemental draft pick. Last season, Clint emerged as a steadying influence in the RSL locker room, as the team made the Western Conference Finals. In 2009, Clint finished in the top 5 in all of MLS in assists, and shouldered the load in central midfield for over 100 minutes when Javier Morales went down with a sprained LCL in the Cup Final. Clint was also Jason’s first choice to step to the spot and take a penalty kick in Chicago and LA, setting the tone for the rest of the team as RSL emerged victorious on both occasions en route to the championship.
Oh, and lest we forget, LA was also the original home for the all-time leading scorer in RSL history (and reigning golden boot winner) Robbie Findley. It was Findley’s goal in the 64th minute against the Galaxy that drew the “underdogs’” even, allowing RSL the chance to advance to extra time. Robbie’s classy penalty kick take was his 5th goal during the 2009 MLS playoff campaign, and his 17th on the season as a whole. Neatly gift-wrapped from LA, Findley is rapidly emerging as an elite MLS forward, and has to be considered a cornerstone which to build upon for the future.
3. To DC United
Remember when, in what now seems to be nothing more than a distant memory, RSL traded backup goalkeeper Jay Nolly for a prodigy, and the supposed future of United States soccer, Freddy Adu? The throw-in to that deal was an undersized goalkeeper thought to be past his prime named Nick Rimando. Need I elaborate? The 2009 MLS Cup MVP was traded by RSL, albeit momentarily, to New York following his acquisition from D.C. He was quickly re-aquired. The rest, as they say, is history. No single player was more important to the “cinderella” run of RSL to the Cup championship this season than the best ‘keeper in RSL history.
4. To the Colorado Rapids
Okay, it’s one thing to be a doormat for RSL success, as Real Salt Lake has brought home the Rocky Mountain Cup at the expense of their MLS rivals for three straight seasons in dominating fashion. But a closer look reveals that the Rapids are basically Real Salt Lake’s developmental roster. RSL’s captain Kyle Beckerman, who is among the league’s most dominant holding midfielders, was acquired for Mhedi Ballouchy, while defender Chris Wingert was acquired by virtue of nothing more than a couple of draft picks. 2009 RSL MVP Nat Borchers, the only RSL player to start every single game this season, is also a Colorado cast-off. RSL supporters everywhere owe much to our little brothers from Denver.
5. And finally, to FC Dallas (or the Dallas Burn, at the time)
In 2004, the Dallas Burn boasted a striker who was the all-time leading goal scorer in MLS history. After nine seasons in Dallas, he had career totals of 91 goals and 65 assists. He was the first American-born player to be named MLS MVP, while leading his team in scoring five times; garnering five MLS-All-Star Selections.
His name was Jason Kreis.
“They (Dallas) said I could stay if I took a 50% pay-cut. They told me they wanted to sign an international striker”, said Kries.
“I felt expendable”, he continued.
I guess one man’s mistake is another man’s good fortune, as Kreis was signed as Real Salt Lake’s first ever player in 2004. In 58 appearances, he scored 17 goals. But that isn’t the half of it.
In May of 2007, Kreis became the youngest head coach in MLS history, as he traded his cleats for a clipboard in mid-season. In two full years at the helm he has guided his club to a Western Conference Final, and, over the weekend, became the youngest coach in MLS history to win the coveted MLS Cup.
So let it be written that a rag tag bunch of cast-aways, a group of players and coaches nobody else wanted or believed in, are the make-up of the best team in Major League Soccer. And during the upcoming week, as we sit down amongst family and friends to give thanks for many things, let us not forget to thank the non-believers; the critics, the cynics and the holier-than-thous. Because without them (many of whom are listed above) RSL wouldn’t be where they are today: 2009 MLS Cup Champions.
