11 things to know about the playoffs

With the regular season finally over, it's time to put a tired cliché to rest. The phrase "it's a marathon, not a sprint" is echoed constantly when talking about the perspective needed for a long season, but with the marathon over, it's time for the finishing kick and sprint.

Here are 11 things you need to know for the 2006 MLS Playoffs:

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D.C. United and Bobby Boswell will be looking to add to their haul of four MLS Cup trophies.

The odds are long that FC Dallas will enjoy good ol' fashioned Texas BBQ for the MLS Cup. Only two clubs, D.C. United circa 1997 and New England in 2002, have ever hosted a "home" MLS Cup, with D.C. the only winner.

FC Dallas' home form -- the team's 12 home wins led MLS -- is the best since San Jose recorded the same number of wins in 2002 and improves its long odds. However, keep in mind that Dallas hasn't won a playoff series since 1999.

D.C. Cup

If you ask any current D.C. United player or alum, on or off the record, behind closed doors or in public for all to hear, the MLS Cup might as well be renamed "D.C.'s Cup."

This is win time for D.C. United, who are 23-7-1 (.742) all-time in the playoffs and own a spotless 10-0 record in playoff games decided by one goal. With those variables, it's clear why D.C. United owns a record four MLS Cups.

Hit the switch or keep it rollin'

Every team would like to be peaking right now, but for some playoff teams, the postseason is a much-needed chance to wipe the slate clean. For others, they just want to keep it rolling.

D.C. faded into the playoffs, losing three straight games and ending the regular season with its longest losing streak of the season. The Fire lost two of three to close out the season but remain on course for the club's second "double," having already won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The Revolution are white-hot once again, unbeaten in six straight, as are the Houston Dynamo (although the Dynamo have just one win in their last five).

The Rapids failed to win any of their five matches to end the season, and Chivas failed in their final three.

New York went unbeaten in its past three to leapfrog Kansas City for the second straight year for the final playoff spot in the East.

FC Dallas won just twice in their final seven, including allowing a season-high five goals to the Galaxy in their regular-season finale.

Reunion tour

Back in September, D.C. United celebrated the 10th anniversary of the first MLS championship squad. All the Barra Brava favorites were back, former captain John Harkes, Jeff Agoos, Marco Etcheverry, Richie Williams, et al. Also back was the mastermind of those early D.C. teams, Bruce Arena.

Now Arena is back again, but he isn't in a celebrating mood because he's looking to pull off a major upset over the club he handcrafted into a dynasty in MLS' early years.

Despite the New York franchise's limited postseason experience, it has faced D.C. more times (one win, four losses) than any other playoff opponent. For most of the regular season, reunion planners have been eyeing another D.C. anniversary party in 2016, but Arena and Red Bull New York have other plans.

Remember me?

If you haven't noticed, Chicago and New England are in the middle of the most competitive playoff series in league history.

The clubs have met twice in the past three conference finals (splitting the meetings) and their all-time playoff series record stands at 4-4.

Expect even more fireworks this time after the skirmish that ended last season's Eastern Conference final. The only solace after the ugly incident was that at least it was only the one game. Well, this time there are two games as each club knows forgiving is much different from forgetting.

Road warriors

We know the importance of home-field advantage in the playoffs, but it's the road warriors that ultimately succeed in the postseason. D.C. United sports a gaudy .633 road winning percentage (9-5-1). FC Dallas have all of one road win in their playoff history (1-10-1), and the Revs have just two wins in 11 tries away from Foxborough.

First-timers

The 1998 expansion Chicago Fire remain the only team in history to win an MLS Cup in its first postseason appearance. Despite a late-season injury crisis, Chivas USA are still bullish they can become the second.

Bob Bradley, the heavy favorite for 2006 MLS Coach of the Year, was at the helm of that '98 Fire team. Bradley improved Chivas USA an incredible 25 points in '06, taking them from last place (4-22-6, 18 pts) to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The regular-season series with Houston finished dead even at 1-1-2.

Fishing for respect

Carlos Ruiz is the most prolific scorer in MLS playoff history. You wouldn't think "El Pescadito" would have to show his credentials at the postseason door. But Ruiz, who has scored 13 goals in 13 postseason games, is a forgotten playoff hero and no doubt is fishing for respect. Ruiz is only two goals from eclipsing Landon Donovan's record 14 goals in 18 matches.

Are you experienced?

Believe it or not, Ante Razov -- sidelined by injury to end the regular season -- is the most experienced striker in MLS postseason history. Razov has 10 goals in 32 playoff appearances and is fifth all-time with 10 assists. Razov holds the single-game playoff record for assists with four against New England in 2000 as a member of the Chicago Fire.

Double threat

Jaime Moreno enters the postseason as one of three players (Christian Gomez and Jeff Cunningham are the others) to record double digits in goals and assists this season. It's the third time in Moreno's career he has "doubled up," also pulling off the feat in '97 and '98. With Moreno and Gomez, D.C. is the first playoff team since the 1998 L.A. Galaxy, which had three such players (Cobi Jones, Welton and Mauricio Cienfuegos), to have more than one player with double-digit goals and assists.

In search of Midas

For only the second time in MLS history, the league's golden boot winner will miss the playoffs. Cunningham claimed the Budweiser Golden Boot with 16 goals and 11 assists for Real Salt Lake, which finished last in the Western Conference. Eddie Johnson had 12 goals for Dallas in 2004, leading the league along with Brian Ching, but Dallas failed to make the postseason that year for the first time in club history.

Glenn Myernick: In memoriam

The regular season began with heavy hearts with the sudden passing of Galaxy president and general manager Doug Hamilton. And now the season ends with more sadness with the equally sudden passing of Glenn Myernick.

"Mooch" was as good a man as any ever associated with MLS and U.S. soccer. His passion and unwavering love for the game will resonate throughout his legacy. If you add the passing of Clive Charles a few years ago, the U.S. soccer community has lost three influential men to be remembered for their contributions on and off the field.

Allen Hopkins covers Major League Soccer for ESPN and ESPNsoccernet. He can be reached at hopkinsplus10@gmail.com or Allen.X.Hopkins.-ND@espn.com