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Colorado celebrates cup win
The MLS Cup needs some polishing. It was handled, poked, kissed, hugged and hoisted, and that was in just one appearance in Denver’s Skyline Park.
Defender Kosuke Kimura, who scored the goal that put the Colorado Rapids in the final, hoists the MLS Cup on Tuesday in Denver's Skyline Park. (Photograph by Jessica Taves/ColoradoSoccerNow.com.)
Coach Gary Smith, most of the coaching staff and nearly the entire roster gathered in downtown Denver for a Tuesday afternoon rally to celebrate Sunday’s MLS Cup victory in Toronto, Canada.
Several thousand Rapids supporters, some decked out in the green jerseys of vintage 1996 Rapids and many holding team scarves aloft, greeted the team that upset FC Dallas 2-1 in extra time to claim the championship.
Gov. Bill Ritter, in a light blue Rapids road shirt, proclaimed it “Colorado Rapids Day” and quickly handed off the proclamation to Jeff Plush, the Rapids managing director. Denver Mayor and Governor-elect John Hickenlooper, in a burgundy home jersey, led a few rounds of “Colorado — Rapids” cheers before commending the team. Commerce City’s mayor and mayor pro-tem also made an appearance sporting team colors.
Most of the cheers, however, were reserved for MLS Cup MVP and Denver South High School graduate Conor Casey, and team captain Pablo Mastroeni.
During the rally, Plush thanked original owner Philip Anschutz for supporting the team and league, corporate sponsors and ticketholders alike, and encouraged supporters to look forward to the title defense next year.
But what most people came for was a glimpse at the MLS Cup. And they got it. As Rapids players took turns posing with the cup, many took the opportunity to dangle it off the stage where waiting fingers brushed across the cup’s silvery surface.
And, for an hour on Tuesday, Denver was Soccer City.
Farewell Beast: In his final appearance with the Rapids, defender Julien Baudet drew chants of “Beast! Beast! Beast!” when he took the stage, and took time signing autographs and mugging with the cup.
It was, to this observer, a bittersweet appearance. Baudet, whose hard-nosed style has made him a fan favorite, was traded along with defender Danny Earls to Seattle Sounders on Monday for midfielder Peter Vagenas.
While the emergence of Marvell Wynne as a central defender had kept Baudet on the reserve list after a midseason hamstring injury had made the Frenchman expendable, it was hard to watch him go.
Baudet was nothing short of a class act. He will be missed. He will also be applauded every time he steps onto the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park pitch, regardless of uniform.
Thanks, Beast.
Defender Julien Baudet, in his likely final appearance with the Rapids, lifts the MLS Cup. Goodbye and good luck to the hard man from France. (Photograph by Jessica Taves/ColoradoSoccerNow.com.)
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