Playoffs Time!

What with the school year starting, coaching middle school football (pointy version, not real football), and the premature death of the Dallas Burn this season, I've kinda gotten behind on commenting about the beautiful game.

But my silence has ended! And so, without further eloquence, here are my fearless and semi-uninformed MLS playoff prognostications.

EAST

New England / Metrostars:
If you go by recent form, the Revs should be a shoo-in, having hung a five-spot on the Metros last week. However, a few things to remember are that Metrostars played a 'B' side that game, Taylor Twellman is out for the season, and the Metros, being a New York team, live for the post season and will elevate their game.

PREDICTION: As much as I'd like to see the opposite result, the Metros will move on.

Chicago / DC
United somehow managed to limp into the playoffs despite not having a win in their last five games, and having lost more games than they won this year (which in my opinion should disqualify a team from post-season pay).

Chicago have been the class of the East, and are going to be hard for anyone to beat, much less character-lacking United. Does that seem harsh? Two words my friends, Dema and Hristo. Big on talent, lacking in class.

PREDICTION: D.C. will be lucky to get a home goal, and will be shut out at Soldier Field. Fire advance.

WEST

San Jose / Los Angeles
I don't really care who wins, but I'm looking forward to this series. "Old time hockey" Eddie Shore, Toe Blake, ahhhh, just like the old days.

PREDICTION: If el Pescadito gives an Oscar caibre performance, I pick L.A.; if the refs see through his Louganisesque dives, San Jose in a walk.

Kansas City / Colorado
Led by the 53-year-old Preki and the 49-year-old John Spencer, these two teams will play the closest of all the Conference Semis. The difference will be my favorite former National Team player, Mark Chung. His contributions in this series will lead Colorado to the Conference Finals, and will lead a large number of angry posters on BigSoccer.com to demand Bruce Arena's resignation for not calling Chung up for World Cup Qualifiers.

PREDICTION: Colorado.