MLS Says Thank You New York

Or maybe it really doesn't, but if I were a Major League Soccer executive, I'm thanking somebody for the New York Red Bulls' win over Real Salt Lake in the semifinals (I'm not calling it Western Conference Final, no thank you) of the MLS Cup.

MLS has taken great strides over the last few years. There are a bunch of soccer-specific stadiums, David Beckham still sells out grounds and the quality of play has gone up.

But the prospect of having Real Salt Lake play Columbus at the Home Depot Center next Sunday must have made MLS execs a little nervous.

The league is still trying to grow. It's still trying to gain respect. It's still trying to grow the fan base. So to have two teams from really small markets, really small cities, wouldn't have done too much to make the MLS Cup Final that interesting...to the average or casual sports fan.

Yes, the Crew won the Supporters Shield this year and are probably playing at top form right now, but it's Columbus. Sure Real Salt Lake plays some pretty soccer. But the club plays in Utah.

No one outside of those communities care for those clubs.

So thank you New York Red Bulls. At least, maybe, people might watch next Sunday. And the Red Bulls have an amazing star in Juan Pablo Angel.

I think that somewhere, a MLS executive is breathing a sigh of relief.

Maybe there'll be a little excitement in Carson, Calif., next Sunday.