Why the Red Bulls have won everything

Last night, Philly sportswriter Jonathan Tannenwald jokingly Tweeted that he couldn't wait to read the New York Times' "four-sentence wire recap" about the New York Red Bulls winning the 2013 Supporters' Shield. I laughed, I reTweeted.

Then I saw the story this morning. While it wasn't four sentences, and while it wasn't a wire recap (the Times actually sent a reporter), it was certainly a back-handed rip job right from the first line.

"The Red Bulls have won nothing," wrote Times sportswriter Jack Bell.

Au contraire, Mr. Bell. The Red Bulls, as much as it pains this Revolution supporter to admit it, have won everything.

In an attempt to "Americanize" the sport of soccer/football, MLS has postseason playoffs in order to decide a league champion. Sure, that's all well and good, and it's a way to try and gain non-soccer fans into watching the drama unfold, and potentially keep them as fans as the 18-year-old league continues to grow.

But to those who follow world football, the conversation should have ended last night. And yes, there was plenty of drama--Houston playing for its playoff life and forcing the Revolution to match them, to the Revolution dealing with a minimum of eight minutes' stoppage time, to Lloyd Sam's brilliant curler that was eventually the game-winner--and Supporters' Shield-clinching--goal for the Red Bulls.

For the uninitiated that may happen to come across this blog, the Supporters' Shield is awarded to the team that has accumulated the most points over the course of the league's 34 (and soon to rise)-game season. It is akin to the trophy handed out at the end of the Barclay's Premier League, the Calcio Serie A, La Liga, etc.

And that's where it should end. Period.

The top leagues around the world do not have playoffs (their immediate lower counterparts do, for purposes of promotion), and the season ends with the team that has accumulated the most points (or, in MLS's case of a tie, the most wins, then most goals scored, etc.) winning the league title. And if MLS wants to be acknowledged as a top league around the world, then it must start doing things the proper way. If anything, let the Red Bulls celebrate the Shield and leave them out of the playoffs; they've done their part and have already secured a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League. Make the playoffs as a decider for the final two spots in the continental tourney. Now....

Will I watch the playoffs? Of course I will. I'm a soccer/football fan. I'd love to see my Revs make a nifty run and get a shot at playing club football at a higher, continental level again (it would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath just yet). If anything, the winner of MLS Cup should only be deemed the postseason playoff champion, not the champion of the entire league. That has already been decided by the traditional methods of football, end of story.

Congrats, Red Bulls. You have won everything, and no one--not even the New York Times--can take that away from you.