WASHINGTON - This Major League Soccer season will be recalled for the adventures of David Beckham, the league's first designated player and its greatest attraction ever.
Beckham helped show the way for the league to gain increased attention and sponsorship money and inspired the arrival of other DPs - Juan Pablo Angel, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Denilson, Claudio Reyna.
But the finalists in the MLS Cup did not need big-name additions to maintain their competitive edge, the Houston Dynamo and Revolution advancing to a title rematch at noon tomorrow at RFK Stadium.
The fact that neither team felt compelled to go with an allocated player or a designated player, yet have returned to the MLS Cup, highlights shortcomings in the designated player concept.
Both coaches, Dominic Kinnear (Houston) and Steve Nicol (Revolution), are very selective about recruits. But building a successful team also means player pay raises. Not only do the Dynamo and Revolution have less need for reinforcements, the salary cap means there is less money to spend.
"It's got to be the right fit," Kinnear said. "It's an investment for American soccer, but it's also a player in the locker room, and you've got to make sure he is a good person or there could be resentment. Stevie has done a great job year after year sticking with his players. And that shows respect for the guys who got you there.
"I've been with these guys for seven years and you get to know them being with them day in and day out. If we got a designated player, we would have to let some very important players go, because of the salary cap. And I don't see it being worth it if you are going to lose two or three guys on the field, and you lose them from the locker room, also."
The Dynamo and Revolution have fostered close player relationships and the camaraderie pays off when the teams need to rally in difficult situations.
"What we are all about and Houston is all about is not one individual," Nicol said.
The Revolution generated revenue for a possible acquisition when Clint Dempsey moved to Fulham FC on a $4 million transfer ($2.64 million going to the Revolution). Nicol sought reinforcements based on the approximately $550,000 value of an allocated player, failing to persuade former Liverpool FC striker Robbie Fowler and losing prospective defender Dusan Petkovic to injury.
Neither Kinnear nor Nicol appeared to seriously consider going for a designated player at $1 million-plus. Nicol's negotiations did not go far with Denilson, a former Brazil national team player who signed with FC Dallas for more than $1 million.
So, instead of shelling out for a high-profile type, the Revolution reinvested in their current players, extending the contracts of key performers such as Jay Heaps, Shalrie Joseph, Pat Noonan, and Taylor Twellman, and upping the pay of reserve forward Adam Cristman.
The Houston roster includes 10 of the 11 starters from last year's MLS Cup.
The Dynamo's key newcomers include forwards Nate Jaqua (Los Angeles) and Joseph Ngwenya (Columbus), acquired in trades for Kelly Gray and Alejandro Moreno, who performed as substitutes in the MLS Cup, plus midfielder Richard Mulrooney (FC Dallas).
But the Dynamo and Revolution have been very good teams this year, as they were last year and the year before. And both will likely remain in contention next year, with or without big-name newcomers.
"This is not like basketball, where you can get two superstars and have a great record and get into the playoffs," Kinnear said. "New York had two DPs [Angel and Reyna]. But it doesn't take just one guy to get a team far in this league."
Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com.
