Editor’s Note: This article comes courtesy of our newest contributor, Jonah Hepting. Jonah is a Denver sports fan, who brings a fandom toward the game of soccer that has been sorely missing here at PSC. In fact, he’s such a fan that when I first met him his voice was still hoarse from all the shouting at the previous weekend’s games. We’re glad to have his viewpoint as he discusses what is currently the most successful pro team in the area.

Come one, come all! The Burgundy and Sky Blue Bandwagon is loading up and heading to Toronto!

Yes, there is a professional soccer team in Colorado, a pretty darn good one to boot. With little publicity, the Rapids have provided something the Front Range has been missing of late…a quality product on a grass field.

Many, hell, let’s be honest, perhaps most, don’t know a lick about this up and coming team lead by coach Gary Smith. After many years of mediocrity and not a big signing to be seen (by MLS standards at least), there hasn’t been much for the non-soccer fanatic to be swooned by. Smith, a former player in England for such sides as Fulham (current US star Clint Dempsey’s home), has brought a strong sense of team effort and solid defensive play to the pitch here a Dick’s Sporting Good’s Park. In turn, it has led to an improbable run to the MLS Cup Final and ultimately, a chance to gather new fans.

I could bore you with the strategies of what formations and tactics the Rapids may show against Dallas, but let’s leave those discussions to the good folks on World Soccer Daily (a great site by the way for novices and footy-ohilcs alike). What truly draws us in are the players.

Up front, the Rapids are led by perhaps the most dynamic duo this side of Gotham City, Conor Casey and Omar Cummings. Both starters at one point for their national sides, the United States and Jamaica respectively, they play off each others strengths and weaknesses. Conor Casey is a brute of a striker who intimidates with his size and strength. A Denver native, it’s sure to be a dream come true if he could help bring back the first championship for his home side.

Cummings on the other hand brings a smooth and quick touch to the field that hasn’t been seen in these parts since Paul Bravo, the Rapids all–time leading scorer. Deadly from either foot, he often has the opposing defenses baffled and on their heels. Do not be surprised if offers come flying in from European clubs after his fantastic 3 years here. So with that in mind, enjoy him while he is wearing the colors of the Rapids.

Manning the goal are the steady hands of Matt Pickens. After playing one year for the London club Queens Park Rangers, the Rapids were wise in snatching him up and placing him in front of the net before the ‘09 season. With 7 shutouts during this past season, the Burn, urrr, FC Dallas, will be hard pressed to put one in the back of the net.

The wall in front of Pickens is lead by Drew Moore, Marvel Wynne and coming on strong in their playoff run, Kosuke Kimura. The first Japanese player in MLS history, Kimura came to America without knowing a lick of English. Cliché as it may sound, hard work and determination has brought him from a small college in Illinois to the starting 11 on the Rapids. Quick and rarely out of position, Kimura is a fantastic student of the game and a bright star rising on the Rapids horizon.

Mastroeni – the name that has been synonymous with the Rapids for over seven seasons. His number, 25, sure to be retired by the club, is one away from another Denver star, Champ Bailey. Like Bailey, Mastroeni is the master of his craft despite many wondering if he is in decline. Regardless, he still commands the midfield with intelligent passes and a cool calm that many lack. Nothing more would bring a smile to Rapids fans faces than to see this stalwart player lift the cup in Toronto!

The beautiful game has been played in Denver for some 14 years now but has yet to reach the lofty levels dreamed by the most devote followers. These fans know the game, understand its intricacies and the patience needed to succeed. Perhaps, at long last, they will be rewarded with what is the ultimate silverware attainable at this time by an MLS side. While it may not be as glorious or as famous as the FA Cup or Champions League trophy across the pond, we in Denver love a championship and a good parade! So come on you Rapids, make us proud and win that Cup!

The game can be seen on ESPN this Sunday night at 6:30 pm MST.

Read The Denver Post’s coverage of the Rapids advance to the MLS Cup. Rapids advance to MLS championship after beating San Jose (denverpost.com)

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The Colorado Rapids open up their fifteenth season tonight against Chivas USA looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Over the past three campaigns the Rapids have seen their playoff hopes dashed at the final match by their regional rivals. Even more painful Real Salt Lake went on to win MLS Cup last season. The strength of the team is the partnership of Conor Casey and Omar Cummings. Together they totaled 24 goals and 13 assists. Casey is still in the mix to make the World cup squad in June and normally that would mean that he would absent from the club but thankfully the MLS has added a two week break to the schedule during the group stage.

For the fowards to shine his season it is reliant on the midfield to provide them with quality service. The face of the franchise remains in Pablo Mastroeni where he will continue to sit in front of the back four. The other starter to be held over is Colin Clark, but there are still questions if he has fully recovered from injury that cut short last season. Additions to the midfield include Jamie Smith and Jeff Larentowicz from New England.

Defense is another question mark that remains. Kosuke Kimura at right back and Julien Baudet in central defense are the two holdovers from last season, with Danny Earls at left back and Drew Moor to partner Baudet in the center are new additions. Between the sticks Matt Pickens remains the number 1.

Gary Smith enters his second full season as manager and now has had time to shape the team to his liking after taking over from Fernando Clavijo late in the 2008 season.

The big news off the pitch is that we are even starting the new season. The CBA was set to expire and it looked like the players were ready to go on strike but a new agreement was made less then a week before the first kick. The other big news that I am excited about is the there is a new television partner. Channel 2 KWGN is broadcasting 25 games this year locally, over-the-air and all in HD. I will reserve judgement because there has been no announcement of who the commentators are and that can really change my excitement level for this.

My overall feeling that the team did not receive a major overhaul and only just missed the playoffs last year. If they are able to continue their success at home and take a few more points on the road, this might be the year they can return to playoffs.

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If cities could fall in love (which they can), Denver’s first was the Broncos. The team and the city grew up together over the last half century, and the histories that define both entities are intertwined throughout. A Denver native, I was raised to bleed (predominantly) orange and to silently revere the magnificent oranges and blues of the Rocky Mountain sunset as a reminder that we live in a beautiful and blessed state… and that God is a Broncos fan. But in my lifetime this city has blossomed into a full-fledged sporting mecca. The Avalanche came into their own right away; a veteran team that found itself quite suddenly in possession of one of hockey’s all-time greatest goaltenders. Denver was ready for them when they came, a hockey town since the 80′s thanks to the hapless five-year experiment that was the NHL’s Colorado Rockies, but also thanks to the one year wonders that were the Turner Cup (IHL) winning Denver Grizzlies. The Avs took The Stanley Cup in their first season (1995-96) and the furvor that followed was the catalyst for the complete re-making of Denver as a sports town. The Broncos doubled up with back-to-back Superbowls in the following two years, and the Avs brought The Cup back to Denver in 2001. But this is no two-team sports town. The Nuggets made NBA history in the 1994 playoffs, beating the top seeded Seattle Supersonics as an 8th seed in the first round of the playoffs (and then taking the Utah Jazz to seven games before getting knocked out.) And the Colorado Rockies fought their way into the 1995 MLB playoffs as a wild card, beating the Braves in just one game (the only team to beat the Braves on the way to their World Series Title) but contending each game closely throughout the series. And all the while fans packed seats and screamed and clapped in unison, because Denver is a sports town.

If you’ve ever been to a Broncos game on Sunday, you know how it feels to be part of the singular massive organism that is Broncos Nation. If you were at The Tiebreaker that finally and unequivically landed the Rockies a playoff berth, you know how it feels to be a part of sports history. The fans at that particular game were rabid with excitement, from old timers (my fifty year old father included) to young pups (my four year old son included) everybody gave the team every ounce of energy they had. Even those that were newer Rockies fans understood that Coors Field, like all places of sport worship in Denver, is hallowed ground reserved only for those who are willing to give their heart and soul to a team in return for that team’s best effort in the game. Every player on that Rockies bench had to feel the collective power of the scene and behold it with awe, just as I did from the upper deck. The stadium was alive. When the Rockies went down two runs in the 13th on a (typical) terrible performance by Jorge Julio, I saw perhaps a handful of fans walk away in disgust. Those fair weather few deserved their fate, and I imagine many of them could hear from a mile away as they approached their cars the explosion of heartier fans reveling in that impassioned come-from-behind victory in the bottom of the inning. The stadium emptied into the streets, normally sane and level-minded individuals tearing up and down Blake with the carefree exuberance of a child. I remember stating earlier this season that Denver was a baseball town waiting to happen. It happened. It was glorious.

And that short history of Denver sports is just the tip of the iceberg. Our minor league hockey and lacrosse teams have been winning championships with regularity for the better part of this century, and even soccer has found a niche in the Colorado sporting community in which to thrive. The broad sports market in the Denver Metro area has spawned a minor league team every twenty miles from Denver to Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs is an impressive sports community unto itself. The proliferation of burgeoning cities along the I-25 corridor has ensured that the Colorado sports market will continue to grow as major cities across the country stagnate and are forced to come up with lame marketing strategies to bring people to their games in markets long over-crowded with mediocre teams.

This is sporting country out here. And whether it’s the ample open spaces and culture of fitness or some more subtle draw, Colorado continues to attract and keep sports fans of all types. So I’ll tip my hat (a Rockies hat today) to Colorado sports fans and the proud tradition that they represent. The many teams that we are so proud to lend our collective will and energy to have made this a great place to be a fan.

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