Enough with this parity stuff. Lets just go ahead and say it - D.C. United is the best team in Major League Soccer. Everyone else is playing for second place.

If you needed more evidence for this statement, just examine Saturday's drubbing of the Colorado Rapids at RFK Stadium. Without five starters - all National Team players - D.C. United fielded an all-American squad and not only beat, but thrashed, a Colorado team that fielded almost its entire starting 11.

"I feel like I should have paid somebody to get in tonight", Rapids Coach Glenn Myernick half-jokingly said after watching his team get schooled for 90 minutes. It shows you the depth a champion needs to have. D.C. United is the best team in the league.

"It was a clinic out there, and we were the participants", said Colorado Rapids midfielder and U.S. National Team player Peter Vermes.

The scoring was evenly spread out among forwards, midfielders and defenders. Midfielder and captain John Harkes converted a 28th minute penalty kick for make it 1-0, then assisted on forward Tony Sanneh's goal three minutes later. Defender David Vaudreuil tallied the first of his two assists on the night, making a nice bend run and taking John Maessner's pass to find defender Clint Peay alone at the far post. A simple nod, and Peay made it 3-0 just 10 minutes after intermission, killing any hopes of a Colorado comeback.

Richie Williams made it 4-0 in the 66th minute, slotting his shot past goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann with midfielder Kris Kelderman providing the assist, and reserve Jesse Marsch iced the game with an 83rd minute goal in which he beat substitute goalkeeper Paul Grafer at the near post. Vaudreuil got the assist.

The evening was particularly special for Peay and Marsh, as both netted their first professional goals.

At several times, Saturdays game was like watching the University of Virginia in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Indeed, the four midfielders Harkes, Williams, Kelderman and Maessner all played together on the Cavaliers at one point, and with Jeff Agoos and Peay, six Cavaliers were on the field until Maessner was replaced by Marsh in the 70th minute.

While the uncomparable passing offered by Marco Etcheverry was missing, the overal ball possession and player movement was excellent. Harkes and Williams controlled the middle, despite facing five Colorado midfielders.

The strong Virginia presence was largely due to the absence of Jaime Moreno and Etcheverry, training with the Bolivian National Team in preparation for the Copa America tournament; Raul Diaz Arce, who was with El Salvadors World Cup side for Sundays 1-0 loss to Mexico; defender Eddie Pope, out with a hamstring pull; and defender Ben Iroha, training with the Nigerian National Team for World Cup qualifying.

Colorado fielded several current or former National Team players, including defender Steve Trittschuh, sweeper Marcelo Balboa, Vermes, forward Roy Wegerle, and forward Wolde Harris (Jamaica). Midfielder Chris Henderson, also a former National Team player, did not play due to injury.

Given Colorado's experience, Arena counted heavily on the leadership of Harkes and Agoos. "I thought Harkes and Agoos were outstanding tonight", Arena said. "They gave our players confidence."

Despite his teams success, Arena says his team is not above the league's other sides. "It was an important win, but it is just one game. You cant read much more into it than that. I dont think tonight's result is indicative of the gap some people think there is in the league."