[Dynamo] The Home Stretch

mtbrays · Oct 5, 2008

Watching the Texans game with my roommates prompted me to start this thread. We invest so much into the Texans every year and they've done little to endear themselves like the old Oilers did during Luv Ya Blue. Heck, the Astros toyed with us for a while before floundering at the end.

Our beloved Rockets are going to start up soon, so to fill the void, I suggest that non-Dynamo fans take a look at our Orange. Go to a game. Sit next to El Batallon or the Texian Army for the full experience. It's such a value compared to the overpriced NFL tickets at Reliant and Robinson Stadium really puts you directly on top of the action, no matter where you sit. And of course, the Dynamo lead the Western Conference and look poised to win a third straight MLS Cup.

If you say you don't like soccer, give it a chance by going to a game. I used to be the same way. That was until 2006 when I watched the World Cup incessantly and the Dynamo arrived in our collective lap. Richard Justice had a piece in the Chronicle today about the Dynamo and it's worth a read.

Link

Richard Justice said:

Commentary: Winning MLS Cup is top priority for Dynamo
By RICHARD JUSTICE Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Oct. 5, 2008, 1:00AM

That's four countries in the past 12 days for the Dynamo. To put it another way: 9,500 miles.
“I think our guys relish the challenge,” coach Dominic Kinnear said.
Is that right, Craig Waibel?
“It’s a big honor but exhausting,” he said.
How about you, Brian Ching?
“It’s what we do,” he said. “We love going out and kicking the ball around.”
Amid their quest to win a third straight MLS Cup, the Dynamo have participated in three tournaments that have tested them physically and mentally.
Now a season that began in February will stretch until late November. Winning the MLS Cup again remains the first priority, but international competition — such as SuperLiga and the CONCACAF Champions League — is an opportunity and a challenge.
If you’re accustomed to the Astros or Rockets playing for just one trophy, Major League Soccer is hard to comprehend. Players leave for national team competition during the regular season, and teams sometimes push the pause button to participate in a tournament.
The games can pile on top of one another. For instance, on Sept. 23, the Dynamo were in Panama to play San Francisco FC as part of Champions League, a copycat of the European tournament that crowns a regional champ. They returned home for two days before flying to Toronto last weekend for an MLS game. Then it was off to Mexico City for another Champions League game.
They returned home Wednesday and were back on a plane Friday for an MLS game at Colorado on Saturday, a 3-1 win. When they return home this afternoon, they will have spent around 28 hours in planes in less than two weeks.
Here’s the part of the story other professional athletes will have trouble understanding: They’re receiving little money for participating in Champions League.
They’re playing the games because they see it as part of their responsibility to help grow the sport. In other words, they believe it’s the right thing to do.
No Dynamo makes Major League Baseball’s $390,000 minimum salary. Dwayne De Rosario is the highest-paid player at $324,000, Ching is next at $231,000. Sixteen players make less than $50,000.
From the moment the Dynamo arrived here, they’ve done almost everything right, from winning two championships to having players willing to spend time visiting hospitals, giving clinics, etc.

Revved up at Robertson
Home matches feel like an event, with thousands wearing orange and making noise. The Dynamo got it right in moving to a city with so many people who care about their sport, but they did a few things right themselves.
“You appreciate our home games when you travel to other MLS cities and even to international matches,” Waibel said. “Playing in Mexico City can be intimidating, but our fans give us such a good atmosphere that we don’t feel out of place anywhere. We consistently have an atmosphere that would rival the big clubs in other regions.”
Maybe the best thing about the Dynamo is they appear devoid of cynicism. Despite the hours spent on planes, they seem generally happy about the opportunity to play.
“The toughest part is not having the usual recovery time for games,” Waibel said. “Thankfully, we’ve got one of the deepest rosters in MLS.”
Kinnear has given some of his veterans days off during the busiest part of the schedule to keep them fresh for MLS games.
“It’s such a grueling sport anyway,” Waibel said, “and when you add the extra games, you’ve got to get as much rest as you can.”
That’s why players smile when fans ask them about all the places they’ve been. For much of this summer’s travel, they’ve seen mostly airports, hotels and stadiums.
“We’ve got such a great atmosphere at Robertson Stadium that we get spoiled,” Waibel said. “Panama felt like no atmosphere at all compared to what we play in at home. The weather and field conditions were tough, but that was about it. Mexico had a different feel, a rowdy crowd.”

Mexico City milestone
The Dynamo played Pumas UNAM to a 4-4 tie in Mexico City, becoming the first MLS team to take a point in official competition in Mexico. MLS teams had been 0-13.
As for MLS, the Dynamo are atop the Western Conference standings, having lost just one match since June 12.
“I think our motivation is to enjoy an international tournament more than flying the banner for MLS or American soccer,” Kinnear said. “When you play Mexico, that’s more of a challenge because of the history. Our priority is to win the MLS Cup again, but we have a responsibility to be competitive in this tournament.”
With so many games in such a short period of time, Kinnear has cut back on practices and meetings.
The Dynamo’s tough travel ends with today’s return from Colorado. They play five home matches in 15 days, beginning with Tuesday’s Champions League contest against San Francisco.
“I would have retired if I didn’t think our team could win another MLS Cup,” Waibel said. “If we can stay somewhat rested, we’ve got as good a chance as we did the first two years.”
Those first two years had a magical quality. Which has pretty much been the story of this franchise.
Click to expand...

DreamRoxCoogFan · Oct 5, 2008

El Batallion >>>>>> Texian Army. Im just sayin.

yobod · Oct 5, 2008

This team just WINS. Not like the Astros, DEFINITELY not like the Texans, and lately, not like the Rockets. Despite injuries, traveling, the hurricane, basically EVERYTHING the other sports teams in Houston had to deal with (mind you, I hold this less against than the Rockets than other teams considering injuries to your best guys is hard to overcome), the Dynamo consistently just WIN and it's a shame they aren't recognized more.

Forums

[Dynamo] The Home Stretch

mtbrays Member
Supporting Member

DreamRoxCoogFan Member

yobod Member

Share This Page

About ClutchFans

Rockets Content

Support ClutchFans!

[Dynamo] The Home Stretch

mtbrays Member Supporting Member

DreamRoxCoogFan Member

yobod Member

Share This Page

mtbrays Member
Supporting Member