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---- Editor's Corner ----

D.C. United's season is over - again. Why, oh why, does it bother me so much? In almost any other league in the world, we would be Champions by way of our best regular season record, but that just doesn't mean much in MLS. It's an automatic qualification for the CONCACAF Champion's Cup, which is a great reward, but we want another star on our jersey, and nothing less will satisfy the masses, or the marginally soccer-educated general sports media. Only the most ardent fans will take comfort in the Supporters Shield win, while everyone else will only see this season as a complete failure because this is America, and we have a playoff system that demands a winner-take-all, single elimination conclusion made for Hollywood.

At least the season will start up again earlier thanks to the Champions Cup kicking off in February. Other than this reward though, United has ZILCH to show for this season. We failed in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, US Open Cup, Copa Sudamericana, SuperLiga, and MLS Cup. I'm disgusted far more than disappointed this season. I'd be more disappointed if we weren't good enough to win any of these, but in reality, we were good enough to win at least four out of five, and the fact that we blew so many chances is just plain disgusting. We expect more of this team, and I know they expect more of themselves.

Next year will bring changes. There's an expansion draft to fill up the new team in San Jose. We will lose either a good young prospect, or a seasoned veteran there. Then there's the January Draft in Baltimore, where at least we'll get a middle-of-the-round pick due to our early playoff loss. We could use a great draft pick for once. It's frustrating to know that players like Robbie Findley, Dane Richards, and Adam Cristman all were all available in last year's draft, yet none of our draft picks even saw the field this season. I know we're better at finding talent in alternative ways, but this team needs a couple of new young, attacking American players that can make a difference more than more seasoned veterans from a land far away. Then, there's all the contract and salary cap issues surrounding Vanney, Gomez, Moreno, Emilio, Boswell, and Olsen. No way they're all back next year, though they'd all be welcome! Oh yeah, there's the whole stadium fight, which likely won't make much progress. This could be a very interesting off-season, but for now, it's all I can do to not just take the whole day off to mope. Anyone want my MLS Cup ticket?