The Secret to DC United's Late Season Wobble?

DC United defender Brian Carroll confessed something interesting in the pages of the Washington Times:

"'Don't get me wrong, the playoffs are important and we want to win, but winning a place in the CONCACAF Cup is huge,' Carroll said. 'The way MLS works is that winning the MLS Cup is the big thing, but in the rest of the world, it's all about what you do in the regular season and we have done that and won it already.'"

More often than not, "huge" trumps "important."

I'm not jumping on Carroll - his goals are his to figure - but it bears noting that we're not in "the rest of the world." In the U.S. of A., it's winning the championship that matters and the officially-sanctioned Championship here is MLS Cup. Maybe other fans feel different, but I know when I'm pulling for my New England Revolution I'm holding out for MLS Cup - no matter how badly the Los Angeles Galaxy cheapened the honor last season. I even agree that the traditional league system - i.e. the team with the most points wins, end of story - makes more sense than tacking playoffs on the end, but, still...the criteria is what it is and wishing doesn't change a thing.

Anyway, the line of thinking smacks a bit of counting unhatched eggs. As much as DC fans enjoyed winning this season's Supporters' Shield, I'm betting they're holding out for the Cup.

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