It’s a shame that I’m writing about the San Jose Earthquakes. They didn’t deserve to get knocked out of the cup by a mediocre team having an unusually good run. If the MLS Cup is supposed to crown the best team in Major League Soccer then it’s already failed to fulfill its aim.

And it’s an additional shame that I don’t feel very compelled to write about what the Quakes can take out of the season or what we as observers might learn from them. That’s what postmortems are supposed to do, but it’s just so unseemly in this context. See, when it comes to these postmortems you’re not really supposed to be dead. I know the titles indicate otherwise, but I don’t mean dead for real there. I mean just a little bit dead. But the Quakes might be dead for real.

It’s hard to write about San Jose with that possibility hanging over the team’s head. If that series against Los Angeles was the last Quakes game ever – well, that’s just a terrible way to go.

The Quakes have been neglected and beat up and kicked while they’re down so much and so often and so hard – over and over again. And that charlatan Tony Amanpour! And that corporate lackey! And that traitorous prima donna! You have to respect the fans that supported the team through all of that.

But through it all (OK, since 2001) they’ve played some first class soccer. That’s a pretty rare thing in this little league of ours. If they’re gone that’s a loss for everyone who cares about quality soccer in MLS. And although they’ll never admit it, even the Galaxy fans would miss the Quakes.

San Jose, I hope you’re back in 2006. I really do. I hope you’re back for good.

(Kansas City, I’m sorry to say it, but I don’t feel the same way about you. Unless you get a new stadium. Then you can stay.)