MLS Cup champs Columbus Crew have been given the royal treatment upon returning home. First came Monday at 11 pm, when Columbus Mayor Michael B Coleman led hundreds of fans in greeting their returning heroes to Port Columbus International Airport.

"It was crazy. We were all really, really tired but they had their drums out," midfielder Eddie Gaven said. "There were like 400, 500 fans there. Signing autographs, you could see how much it meant to them. It makes you feel really proud."

The second came Tuesday afternoon at the Ohio Statehouse where Gov. Ted Strickland honoured the team when he said, "Our Columbus Crew earned this championship. Today is a great day for the Crew and the soccer fans across the great state of Ohio."

Columbus Crew won both the supporters shield (overall league winner) and the MLS Cup (winner of the eight team play offs) to secure the most successful season in the team's history.

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