Rob Oller commentary: Crew didn't exactly play like a champion ...

In a purist sense, the Crew departing the playoffs prematurely is not worthy of the what-ifs. What if Frankie Hejduk had not pulled down that striker in the box, leading to a penalty kick? What if William Hesmer had not allowed two soft goals? What if Crew coach Robert Warzycha had not benched Guillermo Barros Schelotto in Saturday's opening 1-0 ...

[Catherine]

I don't disagree, notwithstanding the penalty kick, the RSL goals were lame. However, the ref was inconsistent and set the tone of the game...not good in any game, but worse in a playoff where the refs should be decent. He "assisted" RSL in shifting the momentum of the game.

[podod]

way to go oller!

[Barrak]

WHy in the hell is Rob Oller chiming in now? A day after a hard to swallow defeat? He hasn't shown an interest or published a piece about the Crew all season long NOR during their MLS championship run in 2008 but now, all of sudden, he gets to write a piece that he so cleverly ends with: The Crew is not a champion. Go back to your ham-fisted OSU football reporting and let Shawn or Arace, the people who care, get the column space.

[Brock]

Thanks for your once a year article captain fair-weather fan!

[MD Crew Fan]

Wow! We should be so grateful to have Rob Oiler actually write about the Crew. I mean, it shows how important the Crew are that he chose to write about the Crew instead of that up and coming high school freshman that might commit to OSU football! Man, I guess NOW we've really made the big leagues...

What a turd.

[JCM]

Long live RSL!!!! Columbus was simply outclassed. Nevertheless, Schelotto is a stud. I hope he sticks around.

[Bradley Minoski]

No your right they were outclassed and RSL's goalkeeper was redhot. As for GBS. You got to wonder since in a few years he'll be 40 is he'll just call it quits. I mean that's just my opinion and to me he's got 1-2 more years left in him. Well fibd out soon. That's one thing I like about MLS. When the Cup game ends the new season begins right after that in four months and the ball gets rolling with the Superdraft.

Am I angry they lost, yeah. But still regardless of that and the cold weather I had a great time at the game and i'll definetly be back for a few more home games next year and watching the roal games on Direct Kick.

[Mike Blankley]

Gee, thanks for chiming in Rob. I love the gloating overtones that you used in the article. Are you auditioning for a job with the Toronto Star? I guess Oscar Wilde was right when he said, "A true friend stabs you in the front." Thanks for twisting the knife.

Mike Blankley
Manas Air Base
Kyrgyz Republic

[jake brown]

Absolutely spot on article by Rob Oliver. What could have and should have been is history. On the night the Crew played into the hands of RSL when simple ball control and expoiting the flanks would have and should have been enough to safeguard a 2-nil lead, not to mention several golden scoring opportunities in the second half which were clearly wasted.. The Crew failed to play smart football and paid the price.

[RSL Fan]

Yeah!!!! Real had your team's number the past few days. What can I say other than thanks for giving the game away. You thought our team played bad defense for the first 25 minutes. Your team then collapsed for the rest of the game! And by the way Moreno is the worst flopper in the game. I have hated him since I first saw him play and flopped five times in the game. The best part of this match wasn't any of RSL's three goals, it was watching him get a yellow card. You should start booing him every time he flops and let him know that how he plays soccer is a disgrace.

[Marti Abel]

It's fortunate that Shawn Mitchell does the soccer coverage, not you. Your article is annoying in its repitition...if the crew were champions...and naive. Certainly, the Crew ended the season in dissapointing fashion. However, over an entire season, the Crew were champions, earning the most points, in MLS.