There are several reasons why the Los Angeles Galaxy's Edson Buddle is looking forward to Saturday's much-anticipated showdown with the Columbus Crew.
First is the fact the Galaxy are in second place in the Western Conference, just two points behind Houston, as they continue their push toward their first MLS Cup playoff berth since 2005. Another reason why Buddle had some added spring in his step in practice this week is he has recovered from foot and leg injuries that have limited him to 15 games and nine starts in 2009. Buddle has only five goals this season -- he was second on the club with 15 a year ago -- but he recently became the seventh player in Galaxy history to score 25 or more regular-season goals.
The 28-year-old, however, is particularly excited about Saturday's game because he is returning to his MLS roots. He started his league career in Columbus in 2001 and played there through the 2005 season before he was acquired by the New York Red Bulls. The faces have changed on the Crew since his departure, but Buddle said he always gets a kick out of playing at Columbus Crew Stadium, one of the more imposing venues in MLS.
The Crew, by the way, are the league's lone unbeaten team at home this season (8-0-4).
"It's always good to play there because I had many good moments," he said. "You always want to do your best playing in front of fans that remember you when you were young and just starting out."
Buddle played in 106 games (including 75 starts) for the Crew and had 42 goals and 15 assists. The native of Westchester County, N.Y., who joined the Crew after one A-League season with the Long Island Rough Riders, scored his first MLS goal in May of 2001 against New England. But it is his first MLS game that he recalls even more vividly.
"I started my first one," he said of a 1-1 tie against the Chicago Fire. "I had a great time. I was ready to show what I had ... I was pumped up and nervous."
Buddle actually didn't think he'd be playing with the Crew in the first place. He earlier had a tryout with D.C. United and went to El Salvador for two exhibition games at the end of 2000.
"I didn't see Columbus coming," he said with a smile.
Buddle said he enjoyed the city, having come from Sedalia, Mo., a small town in the middle of the state -- "It was deserted," he said with a laugh -- and had heard good things about Columbus and the Crew's soccer-specific stadium.
"I was looking forward to playing there," he said. "And it was cheap living. I was happy about that."
Flash forward eight years and Buddle has become one of the league's more lethal goal scorers. He had a career-high 15 goals last season, second to Landon Donovan's 20, and has scored twice since his recent return from the injury list. He said is happy to be healthy for a change, but he is even happier for another reason.
Yes, he is happy returning to where his MLS career began -- "I was more raw back then," he said -- but he is even more pleased going back with a team that is challenging for supremacy in the West.
"We've already forgotten about the Dallas game (a 6-3 loss on Sept. 12), and collectively we're going to stick with what we've been doing all year," he said. "I feel pretty good about the way I've been playing, but I'm happy about the way we've been playing more than anything."
Larry Morgan is a contributor to MLSnet.com
