Check out Glenn Davis in the media:

Give an early thumbs up to new U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati as he announced the U.S. National team has accepted an invitation to attend the Copa America.
Lets face it……it was a no brainer but by quickly saying yes to the invitation Gulati has made a statement that the U.S. National team program is ready to move forward.
Fact is it is about time that the United States National team looks at South America and Brazil and Argentina as standard bearers in this part of the world.
Mexico has done it for years……playing and competing against Concacaf teams is not going to elevate the experience and environment for the top U.S. players in the long run. The choice also can help grow the game with U.S. soccer fans who have been longing to see their team in the Copa America. Sunil, seal the deal with Jurgen Klinsmann, put your top choice MLS coach as an assistant and lets move forward……..Chivas USA’s Juan Pablo Garcia has made it public about his wanting to move to Europe. He ranted and raved in game one of the MLS Western Conference semi-finals vs. Houston when Chivas USA coach Bob Bradley took him out in the second half like a spoiled youth soccer player not thinking of anyone but himself. Then in the second game in Houston he provided a poor example for his teammates and fans alike, generally instigating more than playing soccer. At the final whistle he kicked Alejandro Moreno starting a fracas that eventually was quelled. Maybe he will blame his behavior on Chivas USA head coach Bob Bradley and his tactic of defending deep without Ante Razov in his lineup. Juan Pablo, how about some accountability and professionalism….

Liverpool fans are probably wishing Kenny Dalglish was still playing or managing the “Reds’ right now who are struggling in the Premiership.
Who would have thought Dalglish when he came to Liverpool in the 70’s would go on to do bigger and better things than Kevin Keegan yet that is exactly what he did. Considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game Dalglish also led Liverpool to the double (League and Cup winners ) as a player-manager or player coach as we would say in the U.S. He also starred for Celtic and the Scottish National team.
It’s tough being the son of a legend yet that is what current Houston Dynamo forward Paul Dalglish is.
“I thought my middle name was ‘Kenny’s son’, ” says Paul. “It’s very proud for me what my dad has done in football. If I have to put up with a little bit more pressure and expectation I am more than willing to do that because he was one of the greatest players that ever lived. For him to be my dad is a proud moment.”
So does Paul gather the occasional tip from his legendary father?
“Dad’s back home (Scotland) are more critical. He said, ‘I’ll tell you things you are not doing right’, ” says the younger Dalglish. It was my mom who would tell me I was good.
Dalglish could eventually be the right compliment to Brian Ching as a striker that can look for the ball in behind defense yet in the first game of the Western Conference semi-finals he was not close enough to Ching and struggled to be dangerous…..
Midfielder Ben Olsen of DC United walked up to referee head Joe Machnkik of MLS underneath Giants Stadium after the recent DC United victory over the Red Bulls and pulled up his sweat pants to reveal some surface cuts on his legs. Olsen then went on to proclaim that Amado Guevara of the New York Red Bulls does this every game to him.
Guevara incidentally had a chance to break up the play that ultimately led to the give n go between Christian Gomez and Jaime Moreno that led to the classy lone goal in the 1-0 victory over the Red Bulls.

In the end Chivas USA got a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo to gain a one goal advantage in the home and home series. Take the result out of this one, it was a good advertisment for MLS.
Both the Dynamo and Chivas USA have coaches in Dominic Kinnear and Bob Bradley who value ball possession, winning with an emphasis on quality soccer, and stick to a traditional 4-4-2 which spaces players out in a way that more space can be found in the middle third of the field leading to more entertaining soccer.
This game had it all….controversy, great goals (Razov free kick, Palencia header, and a clinical cross and finish between Brian Mullan and Brian Ching), and a saved penalty in the final minutes…..Game 2 in Houston should be even better with a huge value on the first goal this Sunday at Robertson Stadium.
MLS coaches like Bradley, Kinnear, and Peter Nowak should be lauded for putting an entertaining product on the field more often than not with a mere budget of 1.9 million dollars. Coaches that don’t value the importance of the way the game is played along with results should not be hired at this stage of MLS’s existence…sorry, it is about MORE THAN JUST RESULTS at this point. Last check nobody was attending games in Colorado, KC, New York, to name just a few and even the crowd for the Dynamo and Chivas USA was limited this past Sunday night, I was there.
This game’s future needs coaches who take pride in the way their teams play, if they don’t have the players to play that way then they need to be accountable for their player selection. Why is it that Bob Bradley always finds the top college players? Why is it that DC United consistently finds the best foreign players? Because they are doing a better job than others, bottom line. Time for all to be accountable because without accountability MLS will continue to find excuses.
We need more games like this past Sunday’s Houston/Chivas USA match.

Catch Glenn Davis on upcoming national broadcasts:
*Saturday Oct. 21 New York Red Bulls vs. DC United HDNET 2pm central
*Sunday Oct. 22 HOUSTON DYNAMO at Chivas USA ESPN 2 3pmcentral
*Sunday Oct. 29 HOUSTON DYNAMO vs. Chivas USA HDNET 7pm Central

Read Glenn Davis every Thursday and Sunday in the Houston Chronicle
Catch Glenn Davis on 790 AM radio the Sports Animal every Wednesday at 7pm

Players coming off injury could have a huge influence on the Dynamo/Chivas USA home and home series. Star strikers Brian Ching of the Dynamo and Anter Razov are both slowed by recent injury. Ching’s knee has been troubling him yet knowing Ching he will not pass up this opportunity to shine in the playoffs. Razov recently returned against Real Salt Lake last Sunday asking Bob Bradley to play him in order to further his sharpness.
Veteran Mexican international striker Francisco Palencia recently returned to full practice sessions and is available for selection this Sunday for Chivas USA while midfielder Jesse Marsch is coming off a mild concussion last Sunday and looks to be available.
What will Dominic Kinnear do up front for the Dynamo? Pair the mobile Paul Dalglish with Brian Ching? Start Alejandro Moreno along with Dalglish like against Colorado?
Or will Moreno start alongside Ching. Pretty tough to not start Dalglish especially after he has scored in the last two Dynamo games. Hot strikers need to play.

As I walked in an early morning haze around Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on my way to Denver this past Tuesday I decided to pick up USA Today newspaper.
I was excited to see a small piece on soccer yet began to laugh hysterically when the article called “Turnaround quick for Chivas USA was accompanied by a photo of Adolfo Bautista and Alberto Medina who play for Chivas of Guadalajara not Chivas USA.
The caption read as follows……Adolfo Bautista and Alberto Medina will lead Chivas USA against Houston in the MLS.
Well I guess things just got more difficult for the Houston Dynamo who take on Chivas USA this Sunday in the Western Conference semi-finals. How will the Dynamo adjust? Ok just kidding.
We all make mistakes but if this ever happened in American football or basketball editors, station heads, and executives would get a barrage of calls and emails that can and do influence decision making from fans.
If soccer fans want more respect for their sport in the media they must be more active in calling radio stations, calling newspapers, and television stations to correct errors, compliment and be critical of coverage.
It is time that soccer fans become more pro-active and demanding of media, sitting silent while taking it all in is not good enough especially if you want increased and improved coverage.
It kind of like being critical of the Mayor of your town if you haven’t voted.
Don’t criticize the sports media if you are not willing to take the time to be heard and stand up for your sport.
Oh, by the way, I welcome your calls every Wednesday on 790 AM the Sports Animal during the Soccer Hour with Glenn Davis or the Dynamo Power Hour.

Here Are The Best Saves From The Fa League!

The Colorado Rapids have always struggled in the attendance department over the years….Factoring in huge fourth of July crowds many that were coming for the fireworks always inflated their low numbers….When Kroencke Sports (who also own the Colorado Avalanche, Mammoth lacrosse, Altitude Sports Network) purchased the franchise in recent years from Anschutz Entertainment Group my thought was that fresh ideas, local ownership would jump start this franchise….boy was I wrong.
No marketing, limited tv (even though they own Altitude) and limited media coverage in the Denver market have all led to create no buzz around the Rapids.
And you call this growing soccer? This attitude is providing a slow, comfortable kill on soccer…Oh, I forgot to mention that a new stadium is being built in Denver which leads me to another subject. The stadium will be awesome but beware……too many times in MLS we see stadiums as the solution to all problems, it is even the attitude of some executives…….A new stadium in Frisco has not exactly lit it up attendance wise for FC Dallas……Building a stadium, changing colors(Rapids supposedly moving to maroon and grey and re-naming to Arsenal), re-branding teams are all great in the corporate world but won’t work without vision, a calculated marketing plan and most importantly a great product …….This Saturday is a can’t miss with promoted Reading taking on Chelsea on the Fox Soccer Channel at 12 Eastern, I am looking forward to watching former Rapid goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and winger Bobby Convey.

Where: Pin Oak Fields, Bellaire
When: December 11,12,13
Time: 4pm to 6:30 pm
Ages: 7-18 male and female, Soccertots 2-6
Cost: $100

Organized by Glenn Davis, this camp features coaches throughout our community donating their time and expertise. All proceeds of this camp will go back to Texas Childrens Hospital and Nicksteam.org

For brochure contact gdavis98@swbell.net