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In the midst of all that, Toronto FC became important, with the backing of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. After years of confusion, Tim Leiweke rode to the rescue and began throwing money at superstars from other places. Before that, the stadium, the fans, the enthusiasm was there. The team wasn’t.

Then it all came together, the city, the team, the stadium, the right roster, the right management group. It started with Leiweke, who left after changing sports in Toronto forever. But it’s continued on with this soccer team that is back playing for a championship for the third time in four years.

All three times against Seattle.

This year, neither were supposed to be here. The defending champion, Atlanta United, was supposed to knock off Toronto. Los Angeles FC, with the best record in MLS, was supposed to knock off the Sounders.

But there’s something about winners when it matters most. They find a way. They work whatever angles they need. They win when they’re not supposed to.

Which is what MLS is doing as a business. It’s winning when it was once a 10-team laughing stock. It’s winning, not as one of the better leagues in the world, it isn’t that, but as one of the better, growing sporting businesses anywhere.

“We’re capitalizing on the momentum that exists in the sport of soccer in North America,” said commissioner Garber. “We’re basically riding the crest of the wave.

“The other leagues (you talk about) have been around for 100 years and we’re still young. I think our best days are still ahead of us, both in the U.S. and in Canada.