Hi folks! Here's the back half of our guest blog weekend, with today's edition penned by Chicago Tribune soccer reporter Luis Arroyave. Over the next week, we'll have another couple of guest spots, and then I'll be returning the favour on their turf. Later on today you can read my "wisdom" on the front page as we break down the Champs Leagues, and the Daily Reads will return tomorrow in this here slot. Many thanks to Luis, and I hope you enjoy my colleague's take!


BY LUIS ARROYAVE

Have you noticed the lack of storylines in MLS this season?

There isn't one dominant team standing out above the rest like there was last season with the Columbus Crew. The Fire, the lone unbeaten team left, has two wins in seven games.

There aren't any juicy matchups that get you fired up like there was last year with the Fire and New York Red Bulls. Sigi Schmid's return to Columbus on Oct. 3 isn't exactly save-the-date material.

There aren't any designated players that have people buzzing like there was with Beckham and Blanco in 2007. People are talking more about the Seattle Sounders' crowd than their $1.3 million dollar designated player, Freddie Ljungberg.

And yet, this season hasn't been so bad. I'd even say it's been pretty exciting.

There seems to be more scoring this year compared to last season. I didn't do the math-so I'm as reliable as Wikipedia on this one-but look at the scores.

Real Salt Lake alone won 6-0 and 4-1 last month. The Houston Dynamo and San Jose Earthquakes scored a combined five goals in a span of 14 minutes when they played on March 28.

Still, the best part of this season has been the comebacks. There were two great ones recently.

D.C. United was down 2-1 in the 90th minute on Sunday and still managed to beat the New York Red Bulls 3-2. The Fire was down 2-0 to the Columbus Crew in the 85th minute on Saturday and left Crew Stadium with a 2-2 draw.

Keep in mind the Fire was up 2-0 in the 79th minute the week before and ended up tying the Kansas City Wizards 2-2.

Sure, these comebacks are a beat writer's worst nightmare because of our deadlines, but the soccer fan in me enjoys the unpredictability. I'd love to see this roller coaster trend continue. It makes for an entertaining season.

Now if we could just get Sigi to publicly slam his old bosses.