In three years, the Crew have gone from the verge of relocation to championsGETTY IMAGES
The Crew on Saturday "stunned the reigning champion" Sounders to claim the club’s second-ever MLS Cup title at Mapfre Stadium against a team "many considered to be on the brink of a dynasty," according to Jacob Myers of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH (12/13). THE ATHLETIC's Sam Stejskal noted Crew Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam and Dr. Pete Edwards haven't "been afraid to splash some cash as they’ve worked to resuscitate the club." That "started with their plan to build a new stadium, which is scheduled to open next summer." And the Crew reportedly "spent a club-record transfer fee" of $8M to sign MF Lucas Zelarayan from the Tigres of Liga MX. Still, if “not for a massive twist of fate” in October ‘17, neither Zelarayan nor Crew coach Caleb Porter “would’ve ended up in Columbus.” Former club owner Anthony Precourt’s plan to move the Crew to Austin “sparked a fan-led movement,” known as "Save The Crew," that ended with the Haslams and Edwards “buying the club and saving it from relocation” in late in ‘18 (THEATHLETIC.com, 12/13).
DEFINING MOMENT: ESPN.com's Jeff Carlisle noted the "deeper pockets and new vision" of the Haslams and Edwards "brought in a player such as Zelarayan." But for "those who have been through the roller-coaster ride of the past three years," the win "held extra significance." Crew D Jonathan Mensah said of his feelings after the final whistle, "It was just me thinking about what the fans and the community and everyone behind the 'Save the Crew' movement. For this to be possible today, it's by their efforts and their fight off the field; their determination and resiliency kind of got us to where we are now, for us to accomplish this mission" (ESPN.com, 12/13).
END OF A LONG, HARD SEASON: In N.Y., Andrew Das wrote the fact that the final of MLS' 25th season "took place at all was, in many respects, a triumph in itself." The season had begun on Feb. 29, the "earliest start in league history, and concluded with the latest MLS Cup ever played." In between was a year "like no other: two weeks of matches and then a four-month hiatus because of the pandemic; a five-week summer tournament; and then weeks of wary returns to empty -- or near-empty -- stadiums." Along the way, the league "conducted more than more than 130,000 virus tests," with about 20% of its players recording positive results (N.Y. TIMES, 12/13).
TAKING THE LONG BET: In Columbus, Michael Arace wrote there are "those who will quibble that this is not a 'major-league' championship." Arace: "I would submit that MLS in 2020 is as much 'major-league' as the NFL was in 1964. I would also make the suggestion that, 56 years from now, in 2076, the NFL will be happy to be on the level with MLS" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 12/13).
