Going back to its origin, as part of a long-ago-gone column called the Boot Room, the First XI was simply a Hot List, a rundown of what was being talked about in MLS. So, why don't we return to the good ol' days this week and present a First XI of simply What's Hot?
11. Toronto scores! They played 13-plus hours in between goals, but Toronto FC finally put a ball in the net. Thanks to Miguel Canizalez, the Reds can get on with their lives. It's perplexing how a team that seems to like to get into the attack could go so long between tallies, but the game can be cruel. Here's hoping, for the fan's sake, that this drought was a one-time deal. My guess is, before this season's over, TFC is going to play in a goal-fest, a 5-4 game or something. Why do I feel that way? Because I think they realize the onus is on them to open it up.
10. LA wins! Their new slogan is "The Stars Align," and it seemed to be appropriate this weekend, when, for just the second time in a month, the Galaxy came out on the positive end of the scoreline. With their 2-1 win against slumping FC Dallas, the Galaxy have put themselves a hot streak away from entering the race for the final playoff spot. The task will not be easy, however, as LA has to go on the road for three games in a row. I still find it hard to believe that the team that won the double in 2005 is now on the verge of missing the postseason for the second consecutive campaign. Sure makes '08 interesting, doesn't it?
9. Chicago can't close. Is there anything more frustrating to a team than giving up leads late? I guess I should ask the Chicago Fire, who could've really helped their push for a playoff spot if they had been able to hold leads. When Jaime Moreno scored in the 84th minute for D.C. just a few days after Carlos Ruiz had scored in stoppage time for FCD, the Fire had to be kicking themselves for squandering four points that would've given them some nice separation in the race for the final playoff spot. More on that race later, but for now, the Fire have to try and pull off what no one's been able to do so far this year, and that's beat Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center. That's a game I'll be watching.
8. The curse of Denilson? FCD is just 1-1-3 since they introduced Brazilian star Denilson onto the team. Coincidence? Probably. But for a team that seemed to be one of the more cohesive units in the league for the first half of the season, you have to wonder if inserting such a strong presence into its lineup took away some of its cohesion. Denilson sure loves to please the fans each time he gets the ball, but there will soon come a time when he's going to have to please the 10 other guys on the field with him.
7. The battle at the bottom. Call them the "C-class." Chicago, Columbus and Colorado are the combatants for the eighth and final playoff spot. This weekend, Columbus is home to the Galaxy while Colorado (at New England) and Chicago (at Chivas USA) will play against two of the tougher teams in the league. You have to believe the Crew are looking at this weekend's contest as a must-win, and they'll be hoping for help as well. For what it's worth, Colorado has home games with Toronto and RSL left on its schedule. Just thought you'd want to know that in case you were thinking of laying down a friendly bet.
6. Emilio on the verge. Not only is D.C. United star forward Luciano Emilio on the verge of scoring 20 goals (the gold standard for an MLS striker, wouldn't you say?), but he's also four tallies away from tying the underrated Raul Diaz Arce's D.C. United club record of 23. With Emilio, Christian Gomez and Jaime Moreno, it's hard to think of a better attacking team in MLS in recent years. If they make it to the final, which would be a home game, you can start engraving the trophy.
5. Zero point something. If Pat Onstad and Brad Guzan can continue to keep the ball out of the net down the stretch, we could be looking at an MLS first: two goalkeepers with sub-1.00 goals-against-averages in the same season. How do you pick one over the other for Goalkeeper of the Year? The final games will determine that race.
4. Juan Pablo, meet Adolfo. Since we brought up the D.C. United scoring record, it only seems fair to point out that the Red Bulls are close to setting a similar milestone as Juan Pablo Angel is now just one goal shy of Adolfo "El Tren" Valencia's regular-season record of 16 goals. The way Angel is going, it seems like that record is a foregone conclusion.
3. Unsung heroes. I think about this every week, when I vote for the Awards Tracker. ... Why do we focus only on the guys who score? I remember back in 2001, when the Miami Fusion were on their way to the Supporters' Shield, they had big points guys in Alex Pineda Chacon and Diego Serna, but one of the Fusion beat writers would insist to me that the team MVP was actually Jim Rooney. To that end, here are some "Rooneys," that is, unsung heroes. Shalrie Joseph for New England. Jesse Marsch and Sacha Kljestan for Chivas USA. Dema Kovalenko for the Red Bulls. How about Sasha Victorine for K.C., or Eddie Robinson for Houston? Just thought I'd give out some props.
2. Comeback Player of the Year. After four consecutive seasons in which he failed to reach 10 assists, how about some applause for Steve Ralston, who's back where he belongs, in double-digits in the assist column. I know those assists mean more to Steve than does the Fair Play Award he seems to win every year, so nice going.
1. Ante's inferno. He's scored in four consecutive games, and has a goal and/or assist in five in a row and you now have to ask yourself: Is Ante Razov, with 11 goals and eight assists, now a name we should be bringing up for league MVP? Razov's game winner last weekend against K.C. was vintage, but what's impressed me more about Ante this season than ever before has been his passing. He and Maykel Galindo have formed a nice partnership and Razov has embraced the role of playmaker in a way that I didn't think possible. Also, when I saw Kljestan taking a penalty kick the other day, just a few games after Razov buried one, I thought to myself, in years past Ante would've been fighting someone for that ball so he could run up his goals number. Nice to see a new Ante.
Jeff Bradley is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. Send your comments and complaints (200 words or less, please) to Jeff at jbradleyespn2003@yahoo.com and he promises to read (but not respond to) all of them. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
