Curses still exist in New England, just ask the Revolution

I love soccer but generally I don't pay attention to the snoozefest known as MLS. However, I couldn't help but note that my New England Revolution made their third straight MLS Cup (and fourth all-time) and just like every other occasion, they came home empty-handed. The Revs fell 2-1 to the Houston Dynamo at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. yesterday afternoon.

Both nationally and locally, not many will even notice this result but it was just too painful to completely overlook. The Revolution have been one of the top teams in MLS since it was created yet they choke in the final time after time, in more painful fashion no less. In 2002, New England lost 1-0 to Los Angeles. In 2005, the Revs lost by the same score to the same team. In 2006, the Dynamo won 4-3 in penalty kicks after the teams tied 1-1 in regulation.

The Revolution dominated play in the first half and were rewarded in the 20th minute as star forward Taylor Twellman scored off a header. As the game went on though, you had the feeling that if the Revs didn't pop a second goal, they were in deep trouble. Sure enough in the 61st minute, Houston scored a garbage goal off a scramble in front of Revs goalie Matt Reis. Like clock work in the 74th minute Houston standout Dwayne De Rosario scored on a beautiful header and you knew what the final result was, 20 minutes before it would end. New England had one more golden opportunity-a header right out front in the 87th minute but wouldn't you know, the Houston goalie somehow got a hand on it. Houston won its second straight MLS Cup as the Revolution sat on the field and wondered what else do they have to do? It was a reminder that as good as we currently have it in New England sports, you're always one painful loss away from turning into the Buffalo Bills of the new millennium.