Addition By Subtraction

Like Nick, I caught two MLS matches this weekend. With all the hullaboo over the new ownership in New York, and offseason and early-season moves to add attacking firepower, everyone seems to have forgotten that the team's best defender is apparently third-year trivia question answer Jeff Parke. Now, I do think Parke is a fine defender, but if he's the best you've got, you're in deep, deep trouble, as evidenced by his absence this weekend and the subsequent crumbling of Mo Johnston's dubiously spotless record as a coach. And imagine how bad their defense would be if they hadn't traded up to get orange traffic cone impersonator Marvell Wynne?

I feel bad for Wynne, who is going to have games like that as a rookie. I don't feel bad for Edson Buddle, whose didn't seem to even get his name called once before picking up a yellow card in about the 75th minute. That trade is looking particularly dumb right now, but it's still early.

One game I did not get to see was L.A. and Columbus, but I don't think it's a coincidence that the Galaxy were missing defensive standout Tyrone Marshall and then went on to lose to a generally crappy Crew team.

And I have no idea if he's a good goalkeeper, but FC Dallas netminder Dario Sala is a lot of fun to watch. Kevin Hartman's neon shoes don't even come close. As much as I've been instructed that I'm supposed to hate all things Dallas as a Fire fan, I'm glad they knocked off the Wizards, who had been pulling results out of their collective ass so far this year much the way New England did last year. As a Fire fan, I can also grin at the prospect of Dallas fans having to come up with a chant that rhymes with "Pitchkolan."

While on the subject of the Dallas-Kansas City match, I absolutely have to give what the kids call "mad props" to referee Elias Bazakos. With all the bitching and moaning -- and much of it warranted, mind you -- about bad calls on penalties so far this year, he got things exactly right when he ejected Chris Gbandi and subsequently did not give the Wizards a spot kick.

3-1 on the weekend for predictions, but who would have picked the Crew?