SA’s Editors Predict MLS 2000 … – Soccer America Archives

SA Editors’ Consensus

MLS Cup 2000

Champion: D.C. United.
Runner-up: Chicago.

Regular season

Bryan Alvarez

MLS Cup 2000

Champion: Los Angeles.
Runner-up: D.C. United

Regular season

Eastern: 1. D.C. United. 2. Miami. 3. MetroStars. 4. New England.
Central: 1. Dallas. 2. Columbus. 3. Chicago. 4. Tampa Bay.
Western: 1. Los Angeles. 2. San Jose. 3. Kansas City. 4. Colorado.
MVP: Cobi Jones (Los Angeles).
Leading scorer: Raul Diaz Arce (Tampa Bay).
Comments
In the West, look for an improved San Jose and Kansas City to provide tight competition for L.A. This added pressure in the regular season will give L.A. the edge it needs to overcome D.C. United in a rematch of last year’s final.

Dean Caparaz

MLS Cup 2000

Champion: D.C. United.
Runner-up: Los Angeles.

Regular season

Eastern: 1. D.C. United. 2. Miami. 3. New England. 4. MetroStars.
Central: 1. Chicago. 2. Dallas. 3. Columbus. 4. Tampa Bay.
Western: 1. Los Angeles. 2. San Jose. 3. Kansas City. 4. Colorado.
MVP: Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United).
Leading scorer: Ariel Graziani (Dallas).
Comments
After the league experiences its best year, Don Garber leaves to become NFL commissioner. The MetroStars win their first 15 games, then Lothar Matthaeus complains about the price of the Sunday New York Times and returns to Germany. L.A. scores tons of goals but wilts in the final, again.

Scott French

MLS Cup 2000

Champion: D.C. United.
Runner-up: Chicago.

Regular season

Eastern: 1. D.C. United. 2. MetroStars. 3. New England. 4. Miami.
Central: 1. Chicago. 2. Dallas. 3. Columbus. 4. Tampa Bay.
Western: 1. Los Angeles. 2. Kansas City. 3. San Jose. 4. Colorado.
MVP: Jaime Moreno (D.C. United).
Leading scorer: Jaime Moreno (D.C. United).
Comments
The title is D.C. United’s to win, again, no matter what Chicago, Dallas or L.A. thinks. Coach of the Year Bob Gansler turns the Wizards around, and the MetroStars are decent if Octavio and Lothar get along. Watch Jeff Cunningham become a star, but Columbus will find the Central Division hellish.

Paul Kennedy

MLS Cup 2000

Champion: D.C. United.
Runner-up: Chicago.

Regular season

Eastern: 1. D.C. United. 2. Miami. 3. MetroStars. 4. New England.
Central: 1. Chicago. 2. Dallas. 3. Tampa Bay. 4. Columbus.
Western: 1. Los Angeles. 2. Kansas City. 3. San Jose, 4. Colorado.
MVP: Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United).
Leading scorer: Ariel Graziani (Dallas).
Comments
Wonder why only one new owner (Miami’s Ken Horowitz) has come on board since MLS’s launch? Players’ antitrust suit set to go to trial in September raises big questions about MLS’s future. September figures to be a rough month. Clubs will be hit hard by big losses for Olympics and World Cup qualifying.

Will Kuhns

MLS Cup 2000

Champion: Los Angeles.
Runner-up: Tampa Bay.

Regular season

Eastern: 1. D.C. United. 2. MetroStars. 3. New England. 4. Miami.
Central: 1. Chicago. 2. Tampa Bay. 3. Dallas. 4. Columbus.
Western: 1. Los Angeles. 2. Kansas City. 3. San Jose. 4. Colorado.
MVP: Mauricio Cienfuegos (Los Angeles).
Leading scorer: Ronald Cerritos (San Jose).
Comments
By hook or by crook, Roy Lassiter will end up on the Mutiny, which will make a playoff run inspired by news that this is Carlos ValderramaÆs last year. The MetroStars and Wizards will vie for the most ties and fans in Giants Stadium will actually chant “Shoot-out, shoot-out” when they realize 10-minute overtimes will not produce winning goals.

Ridge Mahoney

MLS Cup 2000

Champion: D.C. United.
Runner-up: Chicago.

Eastern: 1. D.C. United. 2. Miami. 3. MetroStars. 4. New England.
Central: 1. Chicago. 2. Dallas. 3. Tampa Bay. 4. Columbus.
Western: 1. Los Angeles. 2. Kansas City. 3. San Jose. 4. Colorado.
MVP: Lubos Kubik (Chicago).
Leading scorer: Raul Diaz Arce (Tampa Bay).
Comments
Miklos Molnar and Tony Meola lead a revival in Kansas City, where attendances skyrocket to 8,000 per game. Lothar Matthaeus is named to the All-Star team and Best XI despite playing only five games, all of which the Metros win. Miami tries to hire Telemundo’s Jorge Ramos to replace Ivo Wortmann.

Poul Swain

MLS Cup 2000

Champion: Chicago.
Runner-up: Miami.

Regular season

Eastern: 1. D.C. United. 2. Miami. 3. MetroStars. 4. New England.
Central: 1. Chicago. 2. Tampa Bay. 3. Dallas. 4. Columbus.
Western: 1. Los Angeles. 2. Kansas City. 3. San Jose. 4. Colorado.
MVP: Peter Nowak (Chicago).
Leading scorer: Miklos Molnar (Kansas City).
Comments
The level of play in MLS picks up after an infusion of domestic and foreign talent. MiamiÆs offensive firepower offsets a young defense as the Fusion ends D.C. UnitedÆs domination in the East. But Chicago, under Coach of the Year Bob Bradley, has all the requisite pieces to win its second MLS Cup.

Mike Woitalla

MLS Cup 2000

Champion: Dallas.
Runner-up: D.C. United.

Regular season

Eastern: 1. D.C. United. 2. New England. 3. MetroStars. 4. Miami.
Central: 1. Dallas. 2. Chicago. 3. Columbus. 4. Tampa Bay.
Western: 1. San Jose. 2. Los Angeles. 3. Kansas City. 4. Colorado.
MVP: Mauricio Wright (San Jose).
Leading scorer: Ariel Graziani (Dallas).
Comments
MetroStars hardly improve but land prestigious AARP endorsement. A real earthquake downs Spartan Stadium, and Lothar Osiander purchases playmaker with FEMA funds. Tony Sanneh and Frankie Hejduk are welcomed back to MLS and testify on behalf of league in antitrust lawsuit. George W. Bush begs David Dir for endorsement.