Lights Out In LA

Last Night/Early Morning's match between the Houston Dynamo and the Los Angeles Galaxy was a great match that was decided by the Dynamo's late defensive mistake, and the Galaxy's ability to capitalize on them. It also featured the star duo of Landon Donovan and David Beckham finally reaching the MLS Cup Final, and legendary Coach Bruce will reach his first MLS Cup Final since he was with DC United in 1998. In addition to these individuals reaching the MLS Championship games, the the rewarding fact that the LA Galaxy, the self-proclaimed 'Jewel of the MLS' is back to the Final since their last title in 2005. Sadly, there will be one more thing that would be memorable about last night's Western Conference Final-The technical difficulties.

Twice last night the lights of the Home Depot Center, a place that is touted to be American Soccer's Premier facility, went out. The two delays occurred in the first and second half, and caused for delays that lasted longer than 10 minutes a piece on each occasion. The technical difficulties were caused by a greater power-outage that occurred in the greater southern Los Angeles Area, which would include the city of Carson, and subsequently the Home Depot Center. While it is not the Galaxy Organization's fault that their was a power outage that caused a delay in the match, that fact that it did happen.

Think about, do you ever see the NFL AFC Championship game be delay by a power outage, what about the NLCS, no. Maybe once in a while a regular season game will be canceled or delay do to technical difficulties, but never a Conference Championship game.

Still I am not going to blame the MLS or the LA Galaxy, it I am just pointing out that it was completely unlucky for the MLS to have this happen in the match that saw one of the league's more storied clubs advance to the MLS Cup Final. And also saw the leagues two more dynamic players advance to their first final together. Also, not the least to mention, just a great game. Only on Friday the 13th could such unlucky events happen for the league. However the referees did manage the game the best they could, they did allow the teams to kick a ball around and stay warm, and the teams did reward the fans that stuck around through two delays a great game (however the fact that the game went into overtime did not help with the whole lets all get home at a decent time concern.)

The only lesson I suggest the League learn from this is make sure that they are secure when it comes to power, and due to this malfunction, perhaps remind the local power companies that a game is going on, and they will appreciate the power. In truth there is nobody you can put on trial for this mishap, in fact I accommodate both the Houston and Los Angeles players for doing a commendable job of overcoming such oddities. Hopefully for the league's stake such oddities will not occur for the Final in Seattle, or any other future games for that matter. Last night's power outage in Los Angeles was just another chapter of growing pains of the still growing, and blooming MLS.

Just the MLS's luck on Friday the 13th that the power would go out in one of the bigger games of the year. And even more proof that anything (and I mean ANYTHING) can and probably will happen in the MLS Playoffs.