Quick what American sporting tournament is older than the Sugar Bowl, The Indianapolis 500, the Masters. Well if your savvy enough to read the top headline of the article you would guess the US Open cup-and you would be right!!! Since 1914 the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has been consecutively running for 95 consecutive year. The competition started back in the days when soccer was part of the American culture. The game was played by immigrants bringing some of there culture into the new world, while at the same time playing in a tournament that celebrated there new American identity.
The tournament went through World Wars, depressions and cultural revolutions, but it always remained every year...not many other tournaments can say that. In 1999 the tournament was renamed the Lamar US Open Cup in honor of Lamar Hunt, a man who helped start the MLS and was a big contributor and supporter of soccer in the United States. The Hunt's still own FC Dallas and the Kansas City Wizards of the MLS, and are key members of US Soccer.
Sadly, not many people in the American Soccer community know about this tournament with such a rich history. Now for brief explanation of the competitions. The US Open Cup is a 40 team tournament, made up from 8 teams from the 5 tiers of American Soccer. The five tiers from top to bottom are, MLS, USL-1, USL-2, Premiere Development League, and the last 8 teams are reserved for amateur clubs throughout the country. What makes the Cup 'open' is that any team in America from a Sunday Rec. League, to a glorified adult travel league can qualify for the tournament. Also keeping with the American democratic tradition even the professional and development teams have to qualify for the tournament in the perspective league. So in essence, the tournament starts way before the bracket of 40 is drawn up. Then American Soccer has there own version of 'March Madness' To those who are very knowledgeable about the game of soccer, the US Open Cup is the American version of England's FA Cup.
This year's version produced a classic final. Expansion franchise Seattle Sounders, who average over 32,000 people for every home game are doing well as a team and organization, especially for an expansion team. Then there is DC United, in my mind DC is the real jewel of the MLS (sorry LA), the teams has won 4 MLS Cup's, 4 Supporter's Shields, a CONCACAF Club Cup, and 2 US Open Cup. If the trophies are not enough, just look on the back of the jerseys, you will read the words TRADITION PASSION HONOR-now that is class.
These two clubs met in the historic RFK Stadium in front of 17,000, where the Sounders pulled 2-1 victory to claim the Cup for the first time in there MLS era. The victory guarantees the Sounders a spot in next year's Champions League. But for not the Sounders are celebrating the silverware, and the teams first trophy since joining the league this year.
Put aside the result, the match means so much more than one team winning a title, and qualifying for another tournament. It is the tradition and the history that matter in the US Open Cup-not the attendances or attention for the media. The Open Cup is American Soccer's best kept secret, and it is a real shame that it is a secret. There are few tournament with such a rich history as the US Open cup, and to call in a nuisance or a waste of time is a real crime. This tournament gives US Soccer one thing it really likes-tradition. US Soccer needs to embrace this tournament, get it's name out there. Then, and only then will this tournament be American Soccer's 'Grandaddy of them all', or the game's 'Tradition Unlike Any Other'. The US Open Cup resemble everything of what sport is about. TRADITION, PASSION, HONOR, AND COMMITMENT. If this were to come true, then the US Cup will become America's tournament.
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