Columbus Crew: A win for Columbus is a win for Cleveland

The Columbus Crew did the unthinkable last night and got most of Ohio talking about soccer. They also won the MLS Cup for the second time.

Jimmy and Dee Haslem are the owners of a successful championship-caliber team; that team just so happens to reside in Columbus. For those unaware, the owners of the Cleveland Browns are also the owners of the now two-times, and current MLS Cup champions, the Columbus Crew. The Crew defeated the Seattle Souders 3-0 last night to win the Major League Soccer championship, otherwise known as the MLS Cup.

For Columbus fans, this was a day many feared would never come. Columbus is home to the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the aforementioned Crew. Yet, it wasn’t that long ago the Crew were getting ready to be moved to San Antonio, Texas, which didn’t sit well with too many people. Enter The Haslem’s who purchased the team after much hemming and hawing from the MLS, who was deadset on moving the team out of Columbus.

Much like former Browns owner, Randy Lerner, the Browns ownership group is once again in the soccer business. For those that don’t remember, after Randy Lerner took over the Browns operations from his father Al after his passing, Randy purchased Ashton Villa F.C. A soccer club out of England. There’s something in the executive water in Cleveland that makes football owners want soccer clubs apparently.

The Crew last won the MLS Cup in 2008, defeating the New York Redbulls with a score of 3-1.

For Browns fans, this could be a sign that the Haslem’s are capable of fielding a winner, even if it took over a decade to do it in Cleveland. The Browns are currently 9-3 and heading into a Monday night game against the Baltimore Ravens. It’s a huge game that will determine so much beyond the team’s record on Tuesday. Will Baker Mayfield get a new contract? Are the Browns serious contenders in the playoffs? What is this team capable of and what does it still need to work on in 2021?

It’s a huge game for the Browns. Yet, they should take solace in the fact that their “cousins” from Columbus just took home a big ol trophy themselves, so they should really start wondering; “Why not us?”