No team in professional sports embodies the attitude of its logo like the Columbus Crew.
The Crew’s logo, which features three hard-hat wearing construction workers with serious stares, captures the spirit of Columbus’ workman-like, team first approach.
Peter Moore, designer of the Crew logo and uniform, acknowledged that many factors associated with the Columbus area contributed to the logo.
“It was necessary to represent the Columbus community in an appropriate and positive manner,” Moore said. “The name suggests a work-hard, show-me-don’t-tell-me attitude. The name implies ‘team;’ people working together.”
As the Crew look to put a strong, finishing touch on the regular season and capture the momentum necessary for a deep playoff run, their focus remains upon the whole being stronger than the sum of its parts.
Crew defender Eric Brunner, former Ohio State soccer player and a Dublin native, spoke about the importance of momentum heading into the playoffs.
“I think going into the playoffs we need to have a good run, we can’t be lazy because that will set the tone,” Brunner said.
With their 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution last Saturday, the Crew clinched the MLS Eastern Division and home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup playoffs.
The victory, secured by defender Gino Padula’s first career MLS goal, came as the Crew played without six of its regular starters.
Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus’ top goal scorer, was held out because of the artificial surface New England plays on. Suspension, injury and commitments to their respective international teams also contributed to players being absent from games.
Even without such a significant portion of their starting rotation, the Crew continued to sound the team-first attitude it has rode to regular season dominance.
“I think what we’ve been doing all season is just taking it one game at a time,” Brunner said. “We’ve made the playoffs, we’ve clinched the East, so we’ve accomplished two of our goals. We should be able to accomplish more.”
Brunner refers to the Supporters Shield, the annual award given to the team that finishes with the highest point total in MLS regular-season play, and a second straight MLS Cup.
A Crew victory Saturday night against D.C. United, coupled with a San Jose win or tie against Chivas USA, would seal the Supporters Shield for the Crew.
So the self-proclaimed “Hardest Working Team in America” will soldier on, secure that any of its reserves can pick up where the starters left off.
