Sunday Morning Reax - United v. Columbus: Sweet Holy Release

So yesterday, before Charlie Davies burst onto the MLS scene with what can only be described as a dream debut, and before Josh Wolff went all Josh Wolff, and before Perry Kitchen confirmed that he really is The Organizer We've Been Waiting For, my girlfriend and I were gardening. As we filled three garbage bags with the remains of the former garden, my girlfriend made a comment: gardening is great because it's cathartic. And she's right: as much as gardening is about the creation of pretty flowers and tasty vegetables, it's a great release, too. Digging around in the dirt, pulling out what you don't want, and leaving behind something that is yours. It's good catharsis.

But it's nothing compared to last night. Spidergoose's comment after the game last night is exactly right: Josh Wolff's goal was catharsis. The mood in RFK last night was celebratory, but it was also balanced on the edge, ready to slip into full-on joy or back into the "here we go again" of 2010. Thankfully, Wolff beat his man and finished with the outside of his foot to open the scoring, and when he did, it was like a weight was lifted off of the team and the crowd. This ain't last year's team, and 2010 doesn't matter any more. It was a fantastic cathartic moment.

When Charlie Davies came on for the disappointing Joseph Ngwenya immediately after Wolff's goal, and then went on to net a 20-minute brace, it was like the universe was confirming for us: it's okay now.

If this were the end, it would be storybook. But this is just the beginning, boys and girls. Don't think for a second that Ben Olsen and Dax McCarty - who used his captain's prerogative to nominate Davies to take that second-half penalty - are going to let anybody on the team think their work is over. Here's hoping for a lot more joy the rest of the year. Obviously, we'll be here at B&RU to enjoy it with you.