Tonight’s Real Salt Lake biggie; Biggest biggie in MLS history?

So, is this the biggest game in MLS history? If you take the 1996 lid-lifter off the table, then I’d say it like this: Yep.

Or in two words, I’d say it like this: Hell, yep!

I’m still not sure what tangible benefit MLS and Real Salt Lake might see from a win tonight. (Let’s just go ahead and take that $16 million final FIFA prize out of the discussion, at least for now. The last four champions were Inter, Barcelona, Manchester United and AC Milan. I don’t think Real Salt Lake is quite there yet.) But it would be such a swell and undeniable indicator of major growth for MLS. It really would be something for the league and for MLS clubs to hang their hat on. And, really, who cares if Kyle Beckerman and Co. aren’t at Barcelona’s level? It would really be cool to see RSL get a chance against other regional champs, and possibly get to share a field with a Manchester United or a South American champ.

Plus, it will add to awareness, in the States and abroad. It will make news this winter, at a time when MLS is making news only to the real soccer die-hards. In the preceding months, it will make RSL a bigger brand and a bigger draw around 17 other MLS markets. No, RSL won’t sell out the grounds the way Beckham-over-America did in 2007. But it will make a few more fans come out to get a gander at the regional champs, and that’s a good thing.

And it’s always cool to beat a Mexican team, no?

So, it’s a biggie. Read on for why ...

In 2007, David Beckham and the Galaxy visited Giants Stadium to face the Red Bulls. Nostalgia ruled when more than 66,000 showed up, evoking memories of Cosmos fame and the NASL salad days. And, of course, there was the Beckham wow-wow factor. And finally, the game turned into a memorable 5-4 slugfest (the Red Bulls won). So, I think that one stands the test.

The 1996 opener will always be the most important match because it launched everything. After that? Meh.

Straus mentions a couple of others, like Freddy Adu’s 2004 debut (on ABC) and the 2009 MLS Cup final, featuring Beckham and Landon Donovan and a kinda-sorta packed house in Seattle. I don’t necessarily disagree; I just think that’s like saying I’m the tallest dude on my 5-8 and under basketball team. In other words, they might be the biggest games in MLS history, but they weren’t exactly dominating sports talk radio the next day.

I know everyone likes to point to 1998 InterAmerican Cup final, when D.C. United won the anonymous little competition that featured the CONCACAF champion and the and South American champion. United defeated Brazil’s Vasco da Gama. And it was a proud moment for MLS, to be sure. But, honestly, how much historic weight can we stack on a match from a competition that no longer exists? And I know some people want to say that it added to MLS stores of credibility. But, honestly, what domestic reward did MLS ever reap because United knocked off a club that 99.5 percent of Americans have never heard of?

But never mind that. There haven’t been many of these moments in MLS. So, let’s just enjoy this one.