There’s a certain quality of dread that rides the shoulder of every team the deeper they run into the playoffs. Sure, winning is nice, but have you ever tried not losing? Not losing is even better. Or at least, that’s what my anxiety tells me.



The fear and dread of losing the big game, letting the cup slip through your shaky grasp like sand through an hourglass, just like the slow, inevitable march towards death… it’s bound to happen. Your team will inevitably lose. But maybe they won’t!



Isn’t that, in some way, the sadistic beauty of MLS? The illusion of hope? In any other league in the world, the Portland Timbers would not have a shot at MLS Cup. They would be content with finishing in the top half and maybe qualifying for the Europa League, or something. And their fans would be fine with it, because in Europe and the other top, pristine leagues of the world, there is a natural order to things. There are great teams, OK teams,...