Let’s try to find some good.

So in an effort to battle the local media and cynics that will only focus on negative RSL things, I thought I would take a page out of their playbook and make my list of 5 good things that have happened in RSL history.

1. July 14^th, 2004 - MLS awards Salt Lake City a expansion franchise. “The Salt Lake City bid for a 2005 kickoff emerged from a crowded pack due to the experience and savvy of Dave Checketts and his group,” said Commissioner Garber today at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the team will play its first few seasons. “The Checketts-run team will make an immediate impact in this diverse
   and emerging soccer community and in the League. We are proud to now call Salt Lake City home to Major League Soccer.”

1. May 16^th,2005 – 1^st home match. In front of a crowd of over 25,000 Real Salt Lake had their first home match in franchise history, against the Colorado Rapids It was a goal in the 81^st minute by now radio/TV announcer Brian Dunseth, that gave RSL there 1^st win in franchise history as well.

    

2. Dec 11^th,2006 - Freddy Adu traded to RSL. While the much heralded arrival of Freddy Adu to Salt Lake City has not produced the results many had expected it was a major event for the kid labeled “the prodigy of American soccer” at age 13 and RSL. It was the first blockbuster trade for RSL, which had spent the first two seasons trading draft picks, unproven youth, and unimpressive foreign talent. Yes, there was the Cunningham for Mathis trade, but more on it in a second. Freddy is coming off an impressive U20 World Cup, and hopefully will bring some of that play back to Salt Lake City.

    

3. Dec 12^th, 2005 – Mathis out, Cunny In. So with RSL struggling for goals in their first season, they trade much maligned Clint Mathis to the Colorado Rapids in return for Jeff Cunningham. Cunningham flourished in Salt Lake in 2006 winning the leagues Golden Boot with 16 goals and 11 assists. Cunny holds the team record for goals with 18 and assists with 11, Jeff was traded to Toronto FC in May of this year.

    

4. June 7^th,2006 – Real vs. Real announced. In what anyone would have to consider a landmark announcement for a 2^nd year franchise Real Salt Lake will host a friendly match against one of the most decorated clubs in soccer history, Real Madrid. While this match was a great PR event for both teams it was the 10 year agreement, which will bring Real Madrid back to Salt Lake City 4 more times in coming years, along with the ground breaking of RSL’s future home stadium (yes, they are actually building it), and the announcement of a co-hosted soccer academy (this plan is still up in the air, but I expect it will happen and that a major announcement will come next summer as Real Madrid visits Salt Lake City again.

    

I am sure we could list more good things, like RSL staff and players donating countless hours to local charities and schools, the US vs. Costa Rica World Cup qualifier match, the upcoming friendlies against Everton and Boca Jrs., yes trust me there are more things I could list. It never stops amazing me that despite their fair share of troubles, both on and off the pitch, that we all to quickly forget the good things when times get tough. For some out there, they would want you to forget these events, and turn into the bitter, cynical anti-RSL critics that they are. I implore you to not give up hope, to support your team, and to enjoy that fact that we get to watch MLS soccer in our hometown.

On a separate note, I found an interesting blog post talking about our boy Freddy, it is a good read: http://www.americansoccerdaily.com/freekicks/jonbfreddy.htm

OFF MY SOAPBOX

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