Columbus Crew president and general manager Mark McCullers said it's coincidental that Saturday's home game will be the occasion to hand out championship rings to the reigning MLS Cup winners.
"The first thing is we handed to make sure we got the rings right in working with the manufacturer," he said. "Finding a date was a secondary factor."
So, the fact the opponent will be New York, the victim in the Crew's 3-1 title game win Nov. 23 at The Home Depot Center, was not considered?
"This date worked," McCullers said.
If seeing the black and gold shield on the façade of the east upper deck proclaiming the Crew the 2008 MLS Cup winners isn't a reminder to the Red Bulls, the distribution of the jewelry in a pregame ceremony will get their attention.
"Obviously, we're playing New York so it is going to give them more motivation," midfielder Duncan Oughton said. "They're going to see us receive our rings from the game that they lost and they could have been doing the same thing. They're going to be fired up, more (ticked) off than they were before."
The Red Bulls actually should line up and thank the Crew for helping them reach MLS Cup. Columbus fielded a secondary lineup in the penultimate game of the 2008 season at New York after clinching the Supporters' Shield the week before. The Red Bulls took advantage for a victory to keep their postseason hopes alive.
In the final match of the season the Crew downed D.C. United to enable the Red Bulls to qualify for the last spot as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Given a reprieve, New York used road wins at Houston and Real Salt Lake to advance to its first title game.
Those wins were uncharacteristic. Their 21-game (0-15-6) regular-season road winless streak is a league record. The Red Bulls last won a league road match on May 10, 2008, at Los Angeles.
New York is 0-8-1 on the road this season, having been outscored 16-1 and overall has six losses and two ties in the past eight games.
There couldn't be a greater contrast. The Crew are 12-0-5, including two playoff wins, in their past 17 home games since a loss to San Jose on June 8, 2008.
The Crew will be out to erase the bitterness of last week's loss 2-1 defeat at FC Dallas to snap a nine-game unbeaten streak. The Crew (4-3-7) let a lead slip away in the final 10 minutes for the fifth time as opposed to never losing after having a halftime lead last season.
As much as the team needs to forge an identity this season, they're eager to get a memento of last year's success.
"You get the memory back of last year a little bit," captain Frankie Hejduk said. "It gives the fans a chance to get pumped again. It gives us a chance again to remember those times and how great it was and how good it felt to be champions. It will help us this year to remember that moment and how sweet it was.
"I don't want to forget last year. That was an amazing moment. It was a good feeling. I never want to forget last year."
Coach Robert Warzycha doesn't see the pregame activities, which include a ceremonial first kick by Columbus native and former world heavyweight boxer James "Buster" Douglas, as a distraction.
"It's going to be motivation. The ring we're going to get is because you did something great, which is winning a championship, so we have to play like a champion. Hopefully we'll have a champion's performance," he said.
McCullers would not give a price for the rings but said 31 players from last year's roster will receive them as well as more than 100 members of the coaching and training staff as well as front office employees. The Hunt Sports Group paid for the rings.
He said those no longer in the organization and unavailable to be present Saturday -- a list that includes former head coach Sigi Schmid and players Ezra Hendrickson, Brad Evans and Pat Noonan -- will likely have their rings shipped to them.
"Every time I look at that I'll be able to look back on the great year we had last year," midfielder Eddie Gaven said. "I'm going to take that ring, kiss it and put it on the bench and go out and fight. Maybe after the game I'll put it on and see how it looks. After we get that ring we have to put it down and try to get three points. That's much more important than last year."
Forward Alejandro Moreno will receive his third ring after winning titles with Los Angeles and Houston, while midfielder Brian Carroll has the one from winning MLS Cup 2004 with D.C. United in his wife's jewelry box.
"I wore it once to a team event afterward. Other than that I haven't brought it out much," he said. "Every once in a while I'll look at it. It's nice to bring back memories and show people that come by for the holidays but for the most part it stays away. Maybe one day when I'm done they'll all be out more."
Only rookies Alex Grendi and Eric Brunner on the 24-player roster will not receive rings. It's especially tough for Brunner, an Ohio State product, who played in several reserve matches for the Crew and trained in the fall with the team although New York held his rights.
"It's good for the guys. I'm excited for them," he said. "It (stinks) I wasn't part of the run and winning the championship but that's why you play another season. Hopefully, we'll defend the title. I'm not too disappointed. They're getting a nice rock on their finger. It's something to strive for and motivation for me."
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
