By some fluke of typically random Al Jazeera programming, I stumbled across a re-run of last night’s Galaxy at Tijuana game in the Concacaf Champions League …

And I was shocked … stunned … at the lack of energy in the match. Certainly, in the first half of a 90 minutes won 4-2 by the Mexican team.

I am a huge backer of Landon Donovan, the greatest footballer to play for the U.S. … but he was walking most of the first half. And he wasn’t alone.

Which led me to several thoughs.

–First, I wanted to make excuses for the Galaxy. No, really. I checked the weather in Tijuana on March 18. Maybe it was really, really warm, and all the walking was the Galaxy pacing themselves to last 90 minutes, or even 120. But … as far as I can tell, the temps were in the 60s (Fahrenheit). Great weather for soccer.

–Then, I wanted to make excuses for Landon, who was on-screen nearly the whole time I was watching; such is the curse of the left-side midfielder. Maybe he was walking because he is nursing an injury. Or maybe he has decided he really, really needs to pace himself to be ready for the national team and World Cup later this year. Maybe the artificial turf was a problem for him.

But then the hard questions pushed into my consciousness.

–If it was hot, if the turf were a problem, why were the Tijuana guys able to run? Why did they win every 50-50 ball? Every 60-40 ball, for that matter?

–Is it still possible, in North America, for teams to play at a walk? And that’s OK?

–Is the English Premier League not shown in the States? Is it not common knowledge over there that running all the time is the hallmark of any elite soccer team in the modern era? Have they never seen Bayern Munich? I’ve seen Arabian Gulf League (UAE) teams walk … but that’s when it’s 105 degrees!

–How is it possible that (presumably) one of the best teams in Major League Soccer would show up for a very important match … and play much of the game without running? Are they that poorly conditioned? Or that poorly motivated? Can a team get away with that and not be censured for it?

Which led me to wonder … is the whole of MLS like the Galaxy team I saw in Tijuana? Unaware of world trends, unable to play at the high rate required these days?

If so, that is thoroughly alarming, and I fear that the national team will be infected with that disease.