And now.....Champions League !!

The Champions League, to those in the know, is a stunning sporting spectacle. We all know the World Cup, though some may not watch it. But for us super soccer fans, the quality of the soccer teams in the final 16 teams of The Champions League is often better than most World Cup teams. Teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and the present champion, A.C. Milan, are mind bogglingly good. These are the richest teams in the world, and the talent on these teams is deep- their second teams would beat many national teams around the world. Most games are a thrilling ride.

It's a strange tournement if you have never experienced before and are an American. You qualify for the tournament by being one of the top teams in you domestic league the season before. Each country gets a set number of teams that is contingent on how well the country does in various competitions- World Cup, European Cup, qualifiers, and previous editions of the Champions League. For example, England rite now gets the max number of teams in the competition- four. A few years ago they were stuck on only three qualifiers. So, this year Man U. reached the2007-8 competition because they won the league in 2006-7. Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea qualified because they came in 2d, 3d, and 4th. The smaller teams and 3d and 4th place teams have to play qualifiers to get into the final round of 32 then whittles to another group stage of 16- before there is a knock out round for quarterfinals on in. Exciting all the way through as one finds yr team playing strange teams from wired countries in the early stages, then its all competition against the world top teams and players from the final 16 out. Great theatre.

Since the mid 90's, ESPN started to put these games on in the afternoon. An afternoon start (dictate by the fact that Europe is 7-8-9h ahead of our clock) is perfect for ESPN and for soccer fans- we realise that the ratings are not gonna be high, but we also get to see the beautiful game played by beautiful teams. And now, finally, there is going to be a Champions League for MLS teams to play in.

One of the great things about MLS (There are many bad things as well, but not the time) is that they're trying to make sure the game is synced up with the game in the rest of the world. When the league started , it had many UGLY aberrations- the shootout after 90m (Gone forever after the first four seasons- good riddance!!!), the time kept on a countdown clock and not on the ref's watch (GONE!!).

But they also joined in soccer traditions. Some of the team names made me gag - D.C. United? F.C. Dallas? Real Salt Lake? But w/ time they become normal. They also put MLS teams in the U.S. Open Cup (only 20 years younger than the Stanley Cup), which is a competition similar to those held around the world. The Open Cup is open to EVERY team in the States, and it is a single knockout tournament. The closest thing I can think of in type and in spirit is the NCAA basketball tournament. Just like the odd Gonzaga or Valpo or whatever gets some upsets in every year, there are the upsets of the 'minnows' -v- the giants. In England, the F.A. Cup is gigantic- A Superbowl type experience there. Here- just growing.

But the Concacaf Federation- the one the USA is in- has just announced it's own "Champion's League". well, actually, it was Telefutura TV network that announced :

“CONCACAF Champions League” patterned after the highly successful UEFA Champions League and featuring the top club teams from the Mexican Primera Division and Major League Soccer, the tournament will be televised exclusively on TeleFutura, with 33 live matches including all quarterfinals, semifinals, and the big final game. (July 18 – November 15, 2007, Tuesday and Wednesday nights) "

Before this there was a similar competition. It was called The Champions Cup. It went through various formats, from an "All eight teams in one week long knock out tournament" to a "Final 16 teams play a home and home knockout tournament".

Now, however, it seems that there will be a real tournament, with 16 (?) teams playing in groups presumably in a home and home format. It will allow teams from the area to compete in a more professionalized tournament than the seemingly hodge podge way it had been conducted before. Very exciting to see- just like in Europe- your team playing strange non league teams in a fiery competition.

There are problems. NYT announced that the competition would last from August throught he winter till the next May, but that would force MLS teams to play in their off season. Also, it will be hard for MLS and Mexican giants like Houston or America to play some tiny nations qualifier whose home country doesn't even have enough people to fill a small stadium.

But I believe these are all teething problems. I have long wanted this competition in this format in this area. It may not reflect well on me, but I do so enjoy the trapping of European soccer. I like the various cup competitions, and heartfully welcome this competetion to the area. Finally.

Now- do the Fire qualify for thise years competition?