In late October 2003, Beyonce’s ‘Baby Boy’ ruled the charts, the USA was getting hip-deep in wars in both the Fertile Crescent and Afghanistan, and the Chicago Fire were the best team in MLS.
It wasn’t really all that close. Bob Bradley’s departure to manage the USA had shaken the team in the offseason, but those nerves were quelled by a deep, talented roster that featured a veteran spine (Zach Thornton, CJ Brown, Chris Armas, Jesse Marsch and Ante Razov, straight up the middle from keeper to striker), a boatload of fresh young talent (DaMarcus Beasley on the left wing, Carlos Bocanegra in the back, Damani Ralph murdering fools in attack), and reliable role-players (Orlando Perez, Jim Curtain, Evan Whitfield).