FCD Rivalries

FC Dallas has a few so-called “rivalries”.  There’s the Brimstone Cup, between FCD and the Chicago Fire, which has been well documented.  There’s also the in-state rival Houston Dynamo, which has accounted for more than one off the field skirmish, many of which can be attributed to the trash can that is Robertson Stadium.  (Sorry, Houston.)  There’s even the “friendly” rivalry with the Columbus Crew, over the Lamar Hunt tribute Pioneer Cup.  And while all of these matchups can be considered rivalries, I can’t say that any of them really get my blood boiling.  Sure, it’s nice to bring home trophies of any kind, and of course it’s nice to beat Houstank in their own house.  All of that is fine and dandy.

What does get my blood boiling is our loss to the Colorado Rapids in last year’s MLS Cup Final.  In an embarassingly terrible display of thug soccer, the Rapids pulled out a “victory” in the most disturbing of ways.  In truth, it was the thug-like tactics of Casey, Mastroeni, and Larentowicz, that pushed FC Dallas to switch from their normal flowing offensive style, to a ruptured physical style no one wanted to watch.

Sour grapes?  Maybe.  But I’m certainly not the only one to think that Colorado may have started a trend of ugly soccer in this country that will make it difficult to attract new supporters to our sport.  Dramatic?  Again, maybe.  But maybe not.

Nonetheless, in my opinion, we have a brand new rivalry in Dallas.  The Colorado Rapids come to our house on Friday night, and our boys need to be ready. We certainly can’t do anything about last year’s final.  We don’t have to let it go either.

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