The Columbus Crew resume their CONCACAF Champions League campaign tonight at Crew Stadium, where they'll host Mexican side Toluca in the first leg of their quarterfinal series. Not only do the Crew head into the match in the midst of their pre-season preparations, they'll be battling an in-season Toluca without Guillermo Barros Schelotto (suspension), Frankie Hejduk (also suspension) and Chad Marshall (hamstring injury). I'm not holding out hope for a Columbus victory.
It is worth noting, though, that even if Columbus fall flat as MLS clubs tend to do in the CCL, that they might be the only MLS side to play a competitive match in March. With Sports Business Journal's Liz Mullen reporting via Twitter today sources say the League will need to move on free agency to get a deal done despite the involvement of a mediator, a strike is a stronger possibility than ever before.
The League will continue to be have their fingers shoved firmly in their ears over this issue, and any changes to the player movement rules they propose will come well short of free agency. The only saving grace here is that there's room for interpretation of Mullen's tweet, meaning that "free agency" could be taken as a catchall that includes things other than the true free agency the Players ultimately want (but are in no position to force through).
So cheer your boys on, Columbus. I'm doubtful that you'll break the 10k attendance barrier, but those of you that are there will need to help your club in anyway you can to give the Crew a chance of going to Mexico with a realistic chance of advancing to the semi-final round. CBA uncertainty notwithstanding, the league needs a strong showing in this tournament if only to improve its standing around the region. The benefits are mostly ancillary (except maybe the World Club Cup berth), but any competition a club is in should be one they want to win.
Fox Soccer Channel, which I still don't have in HD, will be showing the game at 8 PM Eastern tonight. I'll be watching, because there's a chance it will be the only game that matters involving an MLS team we'll get in March...or maybe the whole of the spring (Ugh).
