Glory to Columbus, the heart of it all. We have skyscrapers and farmland, diversity and inclusion, amazing food and satiating brew by the growler. We have the world class Ohio State University, we have the anywhere in Central Ohio in 30 minutes living loop I-270. Blue Jackets and Clippers, Easton and Polaris, might make one forget sometimes that the Columbus(Crew) is the greatest team the world has ever seen!

This Saturday will see the Columbus Crew in their fourth MLS Cup final and what is so drop-dead-glorious about it is that they are playing the most beautiful form of soccer that a team can. For the casual observer this is a final to tune into because the black and gold are playing a 3-4-3 agressively offensive brand of soccer. With a myriad of attacking options, this is something to watch (if you liked Ted Lasso and that was your only soccer exposure in the last few years, this style is for you.)

As a former Nordecke season ticket holder, and employee of the old stadium, let me just tell you that the crowd on Saturday is going to be a treat. You will be able to hear the chants and songs over the announcers, with colors aplenty. Let me put it to you this way: Taylor Swift is jealous of our ticket demand for Lower.com Field this weekend. I haven’t seen price gauging like this on the secondary market since Dave Chapelle opened for the second coming of Christ.

As you peer over the sea of supporters who make their way down Nationwide Blvd to the final on Saturday, do not forget that just a few years ago this could have all gone away. ‘C-R-E-W…Fuck you Precourt, we are the Crew’ ringing out on national television still gives me rage thinking about how this beloved institution was almost moved to Austin for greed. #SavetheCrew is one of the most heartening stories I can ever remember in sports, where a legion of fans,(and the Haslams) kept a money crazed owner and commissioner from moving the league’s first franchise.

Wise men say, only fools rush in, but I can’t help falling in love with Crew. My journey with the Crew started with a family outing to Historic Crew Stadium back in the summer of 2005. We had seats near the locker room entrance and were close to the corner flag to see the Crew play the Kansas City Wizards (as they were known then.) Take a couple hours out of your Saturday to tune in with someone you love and see if this is something you too might want to be a part of. Be Massive!

Coverage: Apple TV (Free) Saturday 4 PM.