Why the 2009 MLS Cup Final was the best

Memories of the 2009 season are slowly being tucked away, so I feel it is time to create a brand new argument: the 2009 MLS Cup Final was the best ever.

The venue, the players, the result; all of these ingredients made the final something to remember. From the feel-good story of Andy Williams to misses from both team captains in penalties to great offensive displays, this rendition of the Cup is one that we should silently remember as the greatest.

Not convinced? Let's go further.

Real Salt Lake, eighth seed in the playoffs, outplayed Columbus over the course of two matches and played up to the atmosphere that was created in Toyota Park. Rimando was huge, blocking three Fire penalty shots in his effort to help lift the Eastern Conference championship. In the final Kyle Beckerman looked like a man possessed both on and off the ball; it was clear that playing with the national team has given him new-found meaning in the game.

On the other side of the field was the Galaxy, seeking a third title and the first for David Beckham, who was supposed to be an automatic lock for Los Angeles in their search for more trophies. The inclusion of the Rookie of the Year and Landon Donovan to the mix made the game a must-see and gave the Commissioner reason to be excited about this year's possibilities.

In the first half it looked like L.A. would run away with the title, controlling the play and doing what they wanted to the RSL backline. Not to be outdone, RSL pursued more chances and eventually equalized, proving that they were up to par with the best. The only way to resolve the match was in penalties, giving non-soccer fans the ending that they desired and an experience in a heated finale.

While the players on the pitch did a good job to make the game entertaining, the 46,000 fans at Qwest field gave the match purpose at a neutral site. I think we can all agree that the city did a great job to promote the sport and the final due to the large amount of photo-ops, signings and publicizing the Sounders have given to the MLS. Who cares if the home fans cheered for Seattle: getting people into the match when their team isn't playing is almost as important as actually paying attention to the action on the field.

Here's the ending for those that missed it:



Now of course there will be naysayers. Other MLS Cups had higher attendance (1997, 1998, 2002), and more dominant performances (1999 D.C., 2002 San Jose, 2008 Columbus). Similar stories have also been told: small market teams have won a lot of the big games like Kansas City and Columbus and newly founded teams hosting the cup have hosted sold out crowds like D.C. and New England. Just last year New York won the Western conference as a final seed in the playoffs, similar to how RSL got in this season.

What makes this cup unique from others was the build up to it and the sheer magnitude of the event for all parties involved. For the MLS, giving the final to Seattle meant guaranteeing a highly marketable game to a fan base that would be sure to dive at the opportunity to attend it. Seattle wins because they get to host a final in their very first year, making their profits soar and promoting their team.

As for the clubs, L.A. desperately needed to get into the playoffs and have a deep run. Fans were upset with Beckham (not because of his hair) and the lack of production in the past three years. Now that they have made a final, Beckham has unresolved feelings about playing in America, coming so far as to guarantee his appearance in the league next year to help win a cup.

Real Salt Lake, a franchise that has only made the playoffs twice in their five year history, wanted all the glitz that other teams had been accustomed to. The new stadium promoted success and brought new fans to the game, but without the playoffs the team would never grab hold of those fans. While their attendance was abysmal in their first match of the 2009 playoffs, perhaps a championship will help build the club into something larger.

For those fans of teams that did not make it into the playoffs, all these ideas swam (whether consciously or unconsciously) in their heads, giving the game a purpose without having a stake in it. Watching this game on ESPN made it readily available for more passive viewers and the inclusion of all these side-stories gave viewers some meaning behind watching it for close to three hours.

So no, the 2009 MLS Cup Final might not be your favorite for a lot of reasons, but to the layman, the casual fan and to those without affiliations, this one was the best.

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