You know that show about the fishermen who leave home for months at a time to come back with big catches, significantly more grizzled faces, and, at times, missing certain people that they left with? Right — we all know that one. One of the best parts about that program: even though some of the things they go through on the high seas would make the most hardened of individuals tremble, when they get back on land, all the fishermen down a few beers, talk about what a wild, strange trip its been, and hop right back on the ship that could be their collective coffin.

The exercise in perseverance is the true appeal.

I was going somewhere with that, and here it is: D.C. United is the Deadliest Catch of MLS. The last time we saw them, they were here, laying claim to first place with a win against Chicago over a month ago. Then they pushed off from shore — and though they hit their share of rocky waves (a thrashing in Colorado and a couple of ties that certainly could have been wins) and even lost of couple of players (well, alright, Santino Quaranta is hardly lost at sea, but still) — they came back into the Robert F. Kennedy port of call ready to share a goal or two with their good friends.

All that was missing last night was Mike Rowe narration. United romped 3-1 over Colorado with 18,248 of their buddies there to greet them in a long-awaited homecoming. It was a boost that the team needed as they push off for yet another journey — their next league match at home isn’t until August 22 when that Beckham guy comes to town.