AC Milan: Milan Are the Champions of Serie A for the 18th Time, First Since 2004

AC Milan are the champions of Italy.

That's right. After seven years of pain and torment for Rossoneri fans, the championship is finally back in the hands of the world's most successful club. The red and black shared the points today in a 0-0 draw with Roma, but it was pandemonium on the field following the draw, which was better than almost any win all season.

It was a game of different Milans. There was the Milan which allowed the Giallorossi to impale their net, only to be kept out by unarguably the best goalie in Serie A this season, Christian Abbiati. Probably no save was bigger than the early rejection of Mirko Vucinic who looked set to score before the fiery Abbiati threw his entire body at the Roma star. Then there was the Milan that pressed the issue.

We saw this especially early in the second half when Robinho hit the inside of the post and when Kevin-Prince Boateng nearly chipped Doni only to have the ball dance away like it was on the dance floor at prom.

Great defense from the likes of Alessandro Nesta, Ignazio Abate, Thiago Silva and Mark Van Bommel as well as the dominant goalkeeping of Abbiati kept a desperate Roma team, looking to climb back into the hunt for a Champions League spot next season, at bay for the full match and throughout the slowest five minutes of stoppage time in recent memory.

It's been a few hours since the game and I still need to check the highlights and the headlines again and again, but its true, AC Milan are the champions!

This is a team that has found redemption. After the Calciopoli scandal of the middle of last decade, which featured Milan and Juventus as prime offenders, Milan fell off. It was several years of domestic misery and only one glimmer of success.

The club won three trophies in 2007: the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup, which was the last trophy they had won before tonight. Other than that, the club and its supporters have only seen misery, nothing more painful than watching hated rivals Inter win the last five Scudettos.

AC Milan have been dominant in the league this year. The club sits on 78 points through 36 games and have lost only four times. They have not been knocked out of first place since reclaiming the spot in mid-November and have only been brought to as low a lead as two by Inter in March.

Milan fans are extra satisfied that Milan defeated Inter twice this season after not getting a win over their rivals since 2008. Their 61 goals are tied for second most in the league, but what is most impressive is the mere 23 they have surrendered. Defense truly won this championship.

Many people in the Milan camp shared their thoughts with the club's official website in reflection of the season.

"For this deep squad credit," said Milan CEO Adriano Galliani, "goes to [club president] Silvio Berlusconi, who provided the necessary financial support both in the summer and in January for our transfer campaigns. At the end of the game Van Bommel gave me a hug and thanked me for having signed him in January. I hope that our fans are satisfied now. We have to be grateful to our president for what he’s done. After five years, the Milan supporters finally have a reason to be happy. We’he been at the top of the table for 25 rounds and we’re going to extend it to 28. It’s something extraordinary."

“I think the lads have done a tremendous job," said first year boss Massimiliano Allegri. "It’s been important that they’ve accepted my decisions, it proves that the group is united. We brought everyone to Rome, but 10 players had to watch game from the stands. I’m very happy: it’s my first year Milan and I’ve just won the Scudetto - I’m still getting used to the idea."

Abbiati said it best: “Now we should just celebrate, without talking about individuals. All of us have played an important role. I would like to thank everyone who works behind the scenes at Milanello."

It certainly is a dream come true for Milan and their faithful everywhere. People ask me as an American why I care so much, especially about a team half a world away that I've only seen play once live in a friendly. Well, Milan is a special club, a club of legends, a club of winners, a club of champions. The red and black is easily recognized worldwide and commands an army of followers that spans the globe. They play the beautiful game beautifully. That is why I love Milan. I fell in love with this club the first time I saw them on television. I knew then that this was my club. They have captivated me and I will never forget today and the incredible meaning it has to Milanista everywhere.

There are too many players to decide on an MVP, but Milan are not so dominant on defense with out the fearful presence of Christian Abbiati. Several other players including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Alexandre Pato, Mark Van Bommel, Ignazio Abate, and Thiago Silva are all prime candidates based on their performances at the critical moments of matches this year.

One last time, MILAN ARE THE CHAMPIONS! FORZA MILAN!!!!!!