TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 GUNNING FOR THE CUP 4 CHAPTER 2 MLS ORIGINALS 12 CHAPTER 3 STANDOUT PLAYERS 22 CHAPTER 4 BIG MOMENTS 34 TIMELINE TEAM FACTS GLOSSARY MORE INFORMATION ONLINE RESOURCES INDEX ABOUT THE AUTHOR 44 45 46 47 47 48 48
CHAPTER 1 GUNNING FOR THE CUP Excitement was high in Columbus when the Crew arrived in 1996 Major League Soccer MLS was beginning a new era for the sport in the United States And for the first time Ohio’s capital city was home to a major professional sports team More than a decade later however that excitement had started to wane The Crew had enjoyed some success Their high-water mark came in 2004 when they won the Supporters Shield That trophy goes to the team that finishes the year with the best regular-season record in MLS But after 12 seasons they had yet to win the MLS championship Mike Clark 3 and his Crew teammates celebrate after winning the 2002 US Open Cup 4
