Have a look at the redesigned tile for 2000. Click on the image to get a better look. The league made a handful of noteworthy changes so you will notice a “Housekeeping” section at the start of the write-up, which you’ll find just below the tile.

2000 Housekeeping

Re-brand! Soccer Therapy loves re-brands, the good ones and the bad ones, so they’ll be featured heavily throughout this series. In 2000, San Jose killed the Clash and reincarnated the EarthQuakes from their old NASL days dating back to the 70s. The picture below is a team photo from one of those 70s squads with some info about the club’s logo usage during their first 18 years in MLS.

Realignment: MLS took the 12 team league and split the two 6-team conferences into three 4-team divisions (that’s kind of a mouthful). This was meant to increase the number of rivalry games played during the regular season, but the ASG still pitted east players vs. west somehow.

New Scoring Format: MLS ended the shootout era and introduced the standard W/L/D system we all know.

New Playoff Format: The top eight records in the league were seeded into an eight-team bracket. Teams then played each other in three-game series to determine the winner. The rules can be found here if you are interested. The MLS Cup matchup was still a one-off.

Attendance: The season average dipped below 14K per game in an ugly year for the league in terms of putting butts in seats.

All Star Game – Columbus, Ohio
On July 29^th, more than 23,000 people gathered in Columbus, Ohio to watch the highest scoring All Star Game in MLS history (won 9-4 by the east). What is interesting about this game is that MLS had realigned into three divisions including the East, Central and West. I am not sure which side All Star players from the central conference represented and, frankly, the research didn’t seem important. While I like the All Star Game and the value it adds to this series, looking into selection methodology for an ASG over a decade old seemed silly.

Regular Season
Five teams topped the 50 point mark, but Kansas City and Chicago led the pack with 57 points apiece when the 32 game schedule was done. Chicago fans had to swallow a bitter pill, though, as Kansas City led them in goal differential by just two, taking the Supporters’ Shield as a result.

Playoffs
After dominating the regular season, both Chicago and Kansas City would find success in the postseason before running into each other in MLS Cup. A goal in the 11′ from Miklos Molnar was enough to spur KC on to the 1-0 win, their first title in league history. After coming up just short of KC in the Shield race, Chicago again had to watch their Midwest foes lift a trophy (MLS Cup) they felt could have been theirs.

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup
Fortunately for Chicago Fire fans, their side was able to capture that elusive silverware in Open Cup play. After defeating Dallas in the quarters and LA Galaxy in the semis, Chicago took down Miami Fusion 2-1 for their second USOC title. No doubt, Fire fans likely look back at the 2000 season as bitter sweet, as the double (or the treble even) was just a few goals away.

CONCACAF Champions League
After an impressive year in which LA amassed 50 points in the table and exited the Open Cup in the semis, the Galaxy finally brought home some silverware when they won the continental cup. LA defeated Honduran side Olimpia 3-2 in the final, representing the last time an MLS club has managed to win the competition. Historically, MLS sides find themselves outmatched in Champs League play once they reach the semis. In 2000 however, LA ran into fellow American side DC United in the semifinals, so MLS deserves some credit for guaranteeing itself a spot in the title match. It should also be said that the tournament used a different format back then – the final was a one-off played in the United States rather than a home-and-home series.

Awards

Kansas City won more than just team trophies in 2000, bringing in a majority of the individual awards that year as well. Tampa Bay striker Mamadou Diallo took the Golden Boot with 26 goals, finishing one goal shy of the single season record. Actor/comedian Judah Friedlander, a student of MLS history himself, tells a fascinating story about the Tampa Bay talisman and the aftermath of his 26-goal year.

MVP: Tony Meola (GK), Kansas City
Coach of the Year: Bob Gansler, Kansas City
GK of the Year: Tony Meola, Kansas City
Defender of the Year: Peter Vermes, Kansas City (KC’s current manager)
Golden Boot: Mamadou Diallo (F), Tampa Bay
Goal of the Year: Incredible, amazing, preposterous! A world-class overhead finish by the Rapids’ Marcelo Balboa