THE WESTERN CONFERENCE RANT

The worst three teams from 2004’s Western Conference (Edmonton, Calgary, Milwaukee) no longer exist, while the Eastern Conference lost a playoff semi-finalist (Syracuse).  Since last year’s schedule featured mostly inter-conference play, one can assume teams from the West had their records inflated by playing creampuff teams.  This could explain whey East teams have outscored West teams 10-4 over the last five title matches.  Hence the “against active USL-1 teams” record, which levels the playing field by counting only the 2004 matches in which opponents still exist in 2005.  Using this record, only one Western Conference team (Portland) would have had more wins than losses (8-2-6) and only one (Portland) would have had enough points to qualify for the playoffs using the 2005 qualification system.  Seattle, last year’s Western Conference representative in the league championship, would have finished in 11^th place, ahead of only Minnesota.