Once again the Thomas R. Dewer Cup was on the road from Oneonta, NY to the
Site of the Cup Final at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. A spectacular
Goal in Overtime by Igor Simutenkov from the camera shot behind the net as
he rammed that ball past the wall of fire and just gets it thru Henry Ring's
extended body to give the Wizards and their supporters the US Open Cup
winning goal.

After the Fire earned their first Runners Up silver medals it was time to
hand over the champions gold medals to the Kansas City Wizards. As all the
players received their medals they all went to the platform on the pitch to
join one another to celebrate. The Thomas R. Dewer Cup displayed to the
right of the platform and somehow by accident a Wizards player picked up the
Dewer Cup not knowing that it's a retired trophy and brings it to the club
and they lift it high over their heads. The glass cup with the logo of the
Lamar Hunt US Open Cup was picked up by Jose Burciaga Jr. to show his
teammates that this was the cup they have to raise.

How beautiful it was to see the retired Thomas R. Dewer cup donated to the
US Soccer Federation in 1914 to finally being lifted for the first time
since the Rochester Rhinos in 1999 to have that giant globe shining in the
bright lights of the home for the Wizards & Chiefs. Yet sad to know that it
might not be lifted again for the 2005 Final. To me and many might be
calling me a Euro Snob, but it's not that. I just feel that a trophy as
prestigious as the Dewer cup or a tournament like the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup
should be treated like gold. This is the 3rd oldest trophy in North America.
The Stanley Cup in 1893. The World Series in 1903. How can you bring in a
crystal glass cup and have it used as a celebration, all I can see it's use
as a vase for floral arranging. Some like that and I don't care if the clubs
do keep it. I just don't feel it's right.

If the Dewer is supposed to be retired then never remove it from the casing
in Oneonta. Make a new silver Cup trophy to represent the tournament or
attempt a 2nd Dewer Cup but have the logo of the US Open Cup on it. What the
NHL & The Hockey Hall Of Fame does with past Stanley Cup Champions. They
don't actually keep the giant cup, but they earn replica miniatures to
represent their winning the championship trophy of the National Hockey
League. So why not do that for all US Soccer Federation accredited clubs.

It doesn't matter to me if it's as big as the UEFA Champions League trophy,
or as small as the English FA Cup. Just make it nice and shinning silver,
not a see through glass vase.