So, I managed to write an entire Broadcast Booth Bits  blog entry about the Revs’ recent run of success earlier this week without mentioning one very important – some might say the most important – component of that run: one Shalrie Joseph.

Yes, we featured Shalrie in Greg’s portion of the pregame segment on TV. And yes, he was the halftime interview during the Real Salt Lake telecast. And indeed, everyone from Walla Walla to Weymouth could see that Bully bossed the match (and, oh yeah, scored the game’s only goal).

How sweet was it, too, the way Chaz kept looking for Kheli Dube to give set him up for the hat trick? That’s my read – anyway — go back and look at the highlights – SJ was trying to spring Dube for his third goal.

Now looking healthy after struggling mid-season with a painful knee injury, Joseph has already matched his career high with six goals (from 2006 – back when he was taking the Revs’ penalty kicks) and set a new career high for assists (7). But the stats are not reflective of Joseph’s full value to the team when he’s out there patrolling the middle of the park.

Shalrie did an excellent impression of a professional center forward when asked to play that role by Steve Nicol. But that’s not Joseph’s true, natural position. You could see the lift the team got when he slotted back into the central midfield (Red & Dread reunited!).

In Shalrie’s absence from the holding role, Pat Phelan and especially Jeff Larentowicz were doing yeomen’s work back there, digging out the ball and playing simple passes to teammates.

Joseph, however, has a couple of elements to his game that can’t be equaled, not just by Red & Red, but by any other d-mid in all of Major League Soccer.

One, he has the ability to spray passes over distance with correct weight, flight and timing. Former Revs announcer Adrian Healey was the one who first observed on the air that SJ has the ability bounce a pass into the path of a teammate making a run. That particular passing skill is unmatched by any central player in the league and that’s as true today as it was seven seasons ago when he entered MLS.

And, Shalrie has the X-factor. My referring to his “talismanic” presence became as clichéd for a while as my talking about, “Joseph and his Amazing Telescopic Extend-o-leg”. But look up the word “talisman” (don’t look up “Extend-o-leg”, you won’t find anything). My dictionary says it’s, “Something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects.”

So, there. Shalrie Joseph is a Talis Man. And a Dreadlocks Man (actually, they’re braids). And a bona fide, naturalized United States citizen. Now, excuse me while I set those lyrics to a reggae bassline.

Two more musical notes:

First, for the Fort. How about a serenade of, “Doobie, Dubé” to the tune of “Louie, Louie” for our hat trick hero this Saturday night? Just a thought. If you’ve already got something better I’m sure you’ll bin that idea. But it’s an easy one, no?

Second, for the stadium entertainment crew: If Emmanuel Osei ever scores, you have to get the outro from Whodini’s “Magic’s Wand” cued up for the PA. What’s that word when you’re busting loose? “Juice…” Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean I want to see him taking free kicks!

OK, next on the docket and not to be taken lightly, the San Jose Earthquakes. Though the Quakes are still dwelling in the Western Conference cellar with 20 points, San Jose is 2-1-1 in their last four games and mathematically alive for the postseason.

Their two wins this month were impressive. San Jose spanked Seattle 4-0 at home back on August 2, and pulled off a thrilling last-second win over Kansas City last weekend, with new acquisition and local guy Chris Wondolowski as the stoppage-time-scoring hero. They also had a nightmare loss to Columbus on August 8 – technically a home game since it was played in San Francisco as part of an international doubleheader.

Head Coach Frank Yallop, still trying to get the player mix right in year two of the reborn Earthquakes, recently shipped defender Ryan Cochrane back to the Houston Dynamo. Yallop also signed Brazilians Andre Luiz and Fabio da Silva and well as El Salvadoran Ramon Sanchez this summer.

We’ll see if da Silva helps. San Jose’s defense has not been good – no, it’s been flat-out poor at times.  The Earthquakes have a -12 goal differential and veteran keeper Joe Cannon has been made to look like a Muppet, when he’s not (well, you may think he looks like a Muppet – I don’t – but my point is he’s  a better keeper than his 5-11-5, 1.81 GAA would lead you to believe).

Arturo Alvarez is still a dangerous attacking threat, but has only produced in spurts. The Revs, however, have made a bad habit of falling asleep on this guy over the years, both when he’s played for Dallas and San Jose, and his lightening quick dribble-drives and left-footed strikes can kill a defense when he’s switched on.

Alvarez’s likely partners up top are either leading scorer and Boston product Ryan Johnson or Trinidadian speedster Cornell Glen. Both have the pace to get in behind but the Revs dealt with RSL’s speed well last weekend so look for Nicol to ask his backs to hold a high line again.

On the left side, both Darren Huckerby and Bobby Convey have had disappointing stretches this season, but are experienced enough to school the Revs’ right-sided guys – Wells Thompson, Sainey Nyassi, and Kevin Alston – if they’re not tactically disciplined. On the other side, Shea Salinas and Chris Leitch don’t strike fear into the hearts – at least not by MLS standards.

And in the middle of the field – Luiz and Ramiro Corrales versus Larentowicz and Joseph…well, you can finish that sentence for me.