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Ever wanted to ask a sports personality a question? Now’s your chance. They will answer readers’ questions in The Denver Post’s “Fan Mail” feature.

Keep an eye out for next week’s installment when Mike Haynes, the longtime voice of the Colorado Avalanche, takes your questions. Send your Qs in an email to fanmail@denverpost.com.

You’ve had had an amazing season and finally getting back to the MLS Cup is huge! What will it take for the MLS to gain recognition as a top sport in America?

— Alex, Lone Tree

Gary Smith: I honestly and truly believe the MLS is gaining recognition all the time. Of course, the bigger and more cultural sports in America, like basketball, ice hockey and baseball have been a part of this country for a long time. Baseball has been here for how many years? Well over 100? So, if you think that the MLS is only 15 years old, I think it’s doing quite well.

I think the MLS has done a fabulous job nurturing and building the game so that it will be around, healthy and strong, for a good long time to come.

Also, as good as the American national team does — and they finished in front of my own country (England) in the last World Cup — I think that will help our league as well. So I think there is progression there. As it goes by, season by season, it will build on its grassroots organizations. I think the future is very bright.

I have a 12-year-old son who loves soccer. I don’t think he’s going to be big enough for football, but I’d like him to try another sports, too. What sport would compliment his soccer?

— Abbey, Littleton

GS: Blimey, that’s kind of a tough question. Because soccer is so different from other sports, it’s kind of difficult to relate to other traditional American sports like football, baseball and ice hockey.

Soccer really is an all-around sport that takes multiple skills, much like the others. But soccer is unique. Baseball and ice hockey is all about hand-eye coordination, but soccer is about foot-and-eye coordination. So soccer is very unique, and that makes yours a tough question. I do know this: You can be 6-foot-5 or 5-foot-5 and still have a place in soccer.

Now that Colorado has qualified for the CONACAF Champion’s League next season, how are you going to manage so many more games? Does the league allow you to bring in more players?

— Dave, Lakewood

GS: I read on the MLS website that the commissioner (Don Garber) is contemplating more financial support for the Champions League. That’s a good thing. What that means and how much more that is, I don’t know. But it’s good that the recognition of the situation is there. And next year, I believe we will have a bigger roster, plus the reserve league is coming back. So from what I know, I think the support will be there for us to compete.

Editor’s note: The Los Angeles Galaxy (Supporters’ Shield winners), FC Dallas (Western Conference champions), Rapids (Eastern Conference champions) and Seattle Sounders (U.S. Open Cup champions) will all compete in CONCACAF Champions League next year. In his state-of-the-league teleconference this week, Garber said the four teams could be in line for additional funds to help them compete in the Champions tournament that adds as many as eight games to teams’ regular-season schedules.

Also, the MLS will expand team rosters to 30 in 2011, an increase from 24. The extra six spots are reserved for players age 24 and under and will not count against a team’s salary budget.

The Reserve Division, which was dissolved in 2008, is being brought backs to that those younger players will have a chance to play. The league will have a 10-game season and playoffs.

When did you realize that you had a team that could compete against any in the league?

— Eric, Denver

GS: I think over the course of the last two seasons this group has improved immeasurably. From the additional players we’ve acquired, to trades, to the continued improvement of our core group of players, I have seen us get better.

The belief has always been there that that we could compete with anyone. I think that just grew stronger as the season went on.

If (forward) Omar Cummings gets sold in the offseason, where would you look for a replacement?

— Eric, Denver

GS: First, this is a very pointed question, and it’s also very hypothetical. I see Omar being with this club for a very long time. However, if that were to happen in the future, the challenge would be to find someone of similar or better quality. That would not be easy; it would be a challenge.

But I must say that we also have two or three very talented guys coming up, too. For instance, Quincy (Amarikwa) is a real talent and he’s improving daily. Those kind of guys deserve the chance to push on and fill spots as they come up.

In soccer, one goal is rarely enough in knockout, playoff scenarios. What was going through your head at 1-0 (in the Eastern Conference Finals vs. San Jose) that kept you confident and kept the Rapids calm on the pitch?

— Wayne, Denver

GS: Well, obviously, a one-goal game is a very precarious position to be in. The slightest mistake can put you in a tough predicament. We did have three or four chances, but we didn’t extend our lead.

But I was always very confident. But I think the overall feeling was good. I could see by the way we were playing, in a very visual way, that we were in a good place. There was an aura around the group that whatever happened, they were going to make sure that it was enough.

Which Player has been your greatest surprise during this season?

— Eric, Denver

GS: My goodness, there have been a number of players who, I wouldn’t say surprised me exactly, but who really emerged this season for us. But one player who really springs to my mind is Marvell Wynne. That’s probably because Marvell had never played center-back in his life, and coming over from Toronto he quickly responded for us. I guess I am most pleasantly surprised about how he well he responded to that new role.

You took Conor Casey out of the conference final against San Jose and we went on to victory. I was just wondering why you took Casey out of the game? I ask, because I wondered during the game if you were taking a risk that San Jose wouldn’t send the game into extra time or penalty kicks.

— Mark, Boulder

GS: There was a small risk in it. But I wanted to take the sting out of (San Jose) in the 88th minute. Conor received a standing ovation from the crowd and that inspired the crowd, and the team, I think. It was, I felt, a risk was worth taking.

I’m curious, how does your home field (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park) stack up to other soccer venues across the country?

— Jim, Brighton

GS: There is no doubt it is way up there in quality with the best facilities in the country. Not just the stadium, but the quality of the field and the entire facility is super … first class.

Our playing field is the best, simply the best. The grounds crew grew keeps our pitch in perfect condition.

And I think the atmosphere has become really wonderful. I think our crowd has grown with the development of the team. I think it showed just how much the fans have gotten behind the team. We certainly got a needed lift against San Jose, and when we were near the top the fans gave us that added shove.

Gary Smith, an Englishman who spent his playing career with Fulham, has a saying scribbled on a blackboard in his office at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.

When Smith played and coached in his native England, he established himself as a solid tactician with strong one-on-one skills and an attention to detail.