Probably everyone has experienced the sequel suck factor - going to see the second edition of a beloved film and realizing that this new movie is so bad that inevitably, former fond and happy memories of the first edition are forever tainted.
For me, it was the Matrix Reloaded - with a contrived, convoluted storyline, product placement action sequences, and odd, disconnected acting - that ruined The Matrix for me.

In the wake of the Galaxy's MLS Cup triumph Sunday, the first 2,011 season ticket holders to have their picture taken with the trophy at Home Depot Center also received a 1'x1' piece of the field the Galaxy won their third MLS championship on, including care instructions. (Thanks to loyal reader Studs for the picture).

Image: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images.

Congrats to the Los Angeles Galaxy who beat the Houston Dynamo 1-0 on Sunday to claim their first MLS Championship since 2005.

Images: AP Photo/Bret Hartman, Toby Canham/Getty Images.

The winning goal came in the 72nd minute when Robbie Keane slipped a pass to Landon Donovan, who then chipped the ball into the back of the net.

The Los Angeles Galaxy claimed their first MLS Cup of the David Beckham Era with a 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo Sunday night at the Home Depot Center.

While much was made of Sunday night's game in light of Beckham's contract which is set expire in the offseason it was Landon Donovan who took center stage by burying a Robbie Keane ball in the 72nd minute to seize the proceedings and give the Galaxy their third MLS Championship in team history.

A substitution and tactical shift garnered much of the credit for the breakthrough goal scored by Landon Donovan in the 72nd minute by which Los Angeles downed Houston, 1-0, Sunday night in the MLS championship game.
Ridge Mahoney of Soccer America offers a recap of the 2011 MLS Cup.

A variety of matches worth watching this weekend: a couple from England, a couple from Spain, intriguing matches in Munich and in Naples, a Uruguayan super derby, and the MLS championship game.

(As usual, all times ET and all TV listings for the United States.)

Saturday, Nov 19

England, Manchester City-Newcastle (10am, Fox Soccer): The match of the weekend in England.

Is this goodbye? David Beckham could play his last MLS game for the Galaxy Sunday in the MLS championship game - and not even the club knows whether he will return (AP Photo).

Or, at least David Beckham, whose five-year MLS contract expires at year's end, has not shared his decision privately - if he has made one - with Galaxy owner Anschutz Entertainment Group and President Tim Leiweke, who spoke to reporters Friday at Home Depot Center during the MLS MVP presentation ceremony.

Paul Kennedy of Soccer America reports that less than a year after he led the Colorado Rapids to their first MLS championship, Englishman Gary Smith is out as head coach.
Management announced on Monday that it will not renew Smith's contract, making his departure the second quickest forced exit of an MLS Cup champion coach in league history.

Last night saw the conclusion of the Conference semifinals (or, in reality, the quarterfinals) with the Los Angeles Galaxy overcoming their East coast rivals the New York Red Bulls 2-1 (3-1 on aggregate). This means that LA will be taking on Real Salt Lake on Sunday. Looking more to the midwest, we saw Sporting Kansas City overcome the Colorado Rapids and Houston overcome the Philadelphia Union to head to the Eastern Conference finals.

Do not believe that the Rapids lost to the suddenly resurgent Toronto FC on Saturday night.

No, Colorado managed only a scoreless tie at home against the worst team in the league at home earlier this season. The 2-1 loss in Toronto was merely the latest stanza in a the mediocre medley of 2011.

While you wait for the editors at SI.com to post the Week 22 MLS review (with Team of the Week and Power Rankings), let's take a moment to update a list we all like to watch. We like to watch it the same we can't help but stare at automobile accidents on the shoulder of the road. We all have a dark side; what can we say?

We're now halfway through the 2011 MLS season, more or less, and the playoff picture has started to shake out. As the last few seasons have shown, championships aren't won by the best regular season team. The secret to winning an MLS championship is making the playoffs by hook or by crook and then managing your matchups (and a little luck) in the postseason.

Leander Schaerlaeckens of ESPN.com writes of how Jason Kreis has made it to the top of the MLS coaches food chain.
It was January 2010 and Jason Kreis had a problem. His Real Salt Lake players had just won the MLS Cup and proved them wrong -- the people who said RSL owner Dave Checketts was nuts for pulling his 34-year-old striker off the field and making him his head coach three years ahead of schedule, without serving an apprenticeship as an assistant.

By Jeremy Klitzman on February 1, 2011
Few players in the history of the Virginia men's soccer program have been as impressive as Ben Olsen. In his three-year career as a Cavalier, Olsen tallied 34 goals, 41 assists and 109 total points before foregoing his senior year to play professionally.

Today was the first time since the Galaxy camp opened Monday the media was invited to talk to players and coaching staff. Reporter Phil Collin will have more tomorrow, but the Associated Press focused on playmaker Landon Donovan in a story filed today:

CARSON (AP) -- Time off from soccer is an entirely new concept for Landon Donovan.