For RSL, losing is now a habit

Even if Real Salt Lake does get its soccer-specific stadium, and even if 20,000 people really do start attending games, and even if skeptical politicians do endorse a plan to make this the most Real-istic team this side of Madrid, there is still one more elephant-sized hurdle to clear.

They still have to win.

What, you were expecting some deep Socratic observation?

How about this from renowned philosopher Vince Lombardi: "Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing."

RSL stretched its winless streak to 17 Saturday with a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy. The second season of Major League Soccer is well under way, but for all the drum-beating and face-painting, Salt Lake's (Sandy's?) team is still in much the same place as last year.

Isn't there some way to legislate a win?

It's a well-publicized fact that RSL hasn't won since the invention of the cotton gin. Civilizations have risen and fallen in less time. You can wrap it in gold leaf, tie it with a bow and express mail it to Shangri La — and it's still one big woolly problem.

RSL apparently stands for "Really Sure Loss."

"There's no sense putting guys on the field that won't work," sighed coach John Ellinger. "It's criminal that we didn't get that effort at home."

Sound familiar?

If Ellinger felt disconsolate, it stands to reason. A month into the season his team is languishing with a 0-4-1 record. Last year Real finished with the second-worst record in the league, despite playoff aspirations. In the off-season, the club jettisoned disappointments Clint Mathis and D.J. Countess and added 13 new players in an effort to increase both talent and experience. Still, some experts — outside the team, naturally — doubt the components are in place for a playoff berth.

In a way, the changes have worked. RSL is getting more scoring chances and doing better at keeping the ball on the attack side of the field. Real even scored the first goal, on a pass from Andy Williams to Jason Kreis in the sixth minute. But as was the case last year, Real-ity wasn't all that pleasant. Five minutes after Kreis' goal, L.A.'s Landon Donovan scored unassisted. Two more goals by L.A. and the outcome became clear.

RSL was left talking about missed chances, talking about tomorrow.

The loss was just the second punch of the day to the team's stomach. The first came when the morning papers hit doorsteps, chronicling financial information the club had hoped to keep secret. Among the items: Real has been losing millions, and expects to for several years. If not surprising — the Jazz lost money for nearly a decade after moving from New Orleans — it was still disturbing to see in print.