Who can not marvel at the year Brian Ching has had?
Makes the World Cup squad, MLS Cup MVP, Goal of the year, 4 goal performance on opening day plus scoring critical goals during the playoffs.
Let’s not forget his game one goal against Chivas USA that was a textbook cross and finish gave the Dynamo the lifeline they needed for game two despite losing at the HDC 2-1. For me that was the goal of the year because without that goal everything else that occurred may not have happened.
Oh lets not forget his 90th minute game winner against Chivas USA to advance the Dynamo to the Western Conference Finals against Colorado.
In the MLS Cup Final Ching worked relentlessly .
At times his touch was not on like many but it never frustrated him or diminished his effort, he soldiered on never showing signs of frustration. His demeanor and ability to walk away after being kicked by defenders is impressive.
He defended corners marking Taylor Twellman and responded with ‘the miracle header’ countering the Twellman goal that forced penalty kicks that the Dynamo ultimately won.
On that header the delivery from Brian Mullan was deflected which made the degree of difficulty for this Ching header even more impressive. All these performances were delivered on a knee that has been bothersome for Ching. In fact weekly he was getting his knee drained.
Ching stands as a wonderful example to youth players. Humble by nature he lets his playing do the talking on days he doesn’t score goals he still contributes like in the Western Conference Final against Colorado.
He is the first player in MLS from Hawaii, came from little know Gonzaga University, has battled tremendous injury throughout his career, and even went and played in the ‘A’ League after a year in MLS with the LA Galaxy before his return to San Jose.
In year one in Houston Brian Ching has become a bona-fide star.

Join the celebration with your MLS Cup Champions:

Defender Craig Waibel called it.
In the vein of famed athletes who predict wins, Waibel did it on 790 AM radio this past week before the Dynamo won the MLS Cup yesterday in dramatic fashion.
Bold and confident like the Dynamo yet laced with a touch of humility, Waibel re-iterated something that resonates about the Dynamo. Controlled ego’s are alive and well in the Houston Dynamo locker room.
“Our big time players are as down to earth as anyone,” says Waibel.
This is a true team in the sense of the word.
One that had the resiliencey to turn around a goal from Taylor Twellman of the NE Revolution in about 10 seconds in overtime at Pizza Hut Park yesterday which led to a penalty kick win.
The New England Revolution began celebrating too early from their bench to their players on the field.
In fact Khano Smith who played a part in the goal got caught out of position off the kick-off and the rest is history. Brian Mullan’s cross was deflected making the ensuing header from Brian Ching even more remarkable.
Powering his header into the corner past Matt Reis you got the sense the Dynamo would not be denied.
Early confident penalty kicks erased the NE mystique of winning on PK’s. To beat Matt Reis you had to hit your pk’s with power and that is what Dynamo players did .
A time of pride for the city of Houston and a time where the soccer base can just sit back and smile. Part 2 to come.
On my usual early morning sojourn for coffee I was greeting by soccer fans at my local establishment who were ecstatic about the Dynamo win in drama. When you get good soccer conversation in coffee shops you know you are penetrating the consciousness of our community.
Hats off to the Dynamo organization, players and coaches.

Gentleman,
A GOLDEN opportunity is upon us to move the sport of soccer deeper into the consciousness of our youth community.
The chances of Houston being in an MLS Cup Final with the geographic location of Frisco, TX may not come again.
We have the opportunity of a lifetime to look at the sport and our place in it, to lead the way for the youth community to understand the big picture.
The Dynamo have had a remarkable season in a short amount of time and are allies of the youth community.
I urge you to CANCEL SUNDAY GAMES in deference to the sport of soccer, the Dynamo, and most importantly the youth players that you represent with your leagues.
You have an opportunity to further demonstrate to the youth community that you have vision and the best interests of all involved in mind with a profound decision as a group, one that can reap huge benefits and could set an example to many around the country. This is player developement at it’s best.
I am just the messenger here, smarter minds than mine can get the re-scheduling done.
The residual gains will look like this:
1. Parents will take their kids to Frisco to see the game live.
2. Parents and youth will watch their hometown team play on ABC tv or listen to it on the radio at 790 am.
3. Little Steven or Elizabeth will wake up on Sunday morning and ask why there is no game today, Mom or Dad will have to answer because the Dynamo are in the MLS Cup Final. If they don’t know they will have to find out why to answer their son or daughter’s question creating a greater awareness.
Could there ever been a more amazing marketing opportunity laid in our laps.
With a little cooperation, esprit de corps, and hard work an amazing occurrence can take place. It’s time for a greater vision and to be the trailblazers.
GENTLEMAN DO WHAT IT TAKES AND GET IT DONE !!
If I can be of help I am at 281-658-7821

Sincerely yours,

Glenn Davis

They come from all different ethnic backgrounds, socio-economic groups yet all have one common thread. Supporting the Houston Dynamo and the sport of soccer.
These two supporters groups have led the way in Houston and have seen their numbers swell over the course of the season.
Singing, chanting, drumming, while pushing the Dynamo and the sport of soccer to great heights.
Oh and I love the occasional flare…..even though UH security may not.
Players have commented to me on many occasions as to how inspirational these fans have been. How does it feel to be a player in Colorado or Kansas City without much home support?
No wonder that Dominic Kinnear the head coach of the Houston Dynamo likes to attack the North End during the second half at Robertson Stadium with the inspiration of the Battalon and Texian Army staring them right in the face.
Brian Mullan’s goal number three for the Houston Dynamo was a thing of beauty in front of the backdrop of the orange clad batallon.
As a broadcaster on HDNET it is amazing to see the impact of these fan groups come across at Robertson Stadium during broadcasts for television audiences.
But they are doing more.
These supporters groups are helping to grow the sport of soccer through their passion, suppport, and sheer energy. In ten short months they have put themselves in the upper echelon of supporters groups in MLS with DC United and Chicago.
They have raised the bar for supporters clubs and have proven that they can have an impact on local media through their efforts.
Lets hope they can inspire other MLS markets who need a heavy dose of passion both in the stands and the front office.
More players will make career choices in the future in MLS based on the support of community? Playing in front of fans is what players want.

As predicted here on www.glenndavissoccer.com the New England Revolution and the Houston Dynamo have advanced to the MLS Cup Final.
It is not the match-up MLS would have preferred but one out of two made it to the finals. Can you imagine from a marketing standpoint if Colorado was taking on NE in the final………The moral of the story is that in MLS you can have a bad season and still win an MLS Cup, that’s not to say that NE and Houston had bad seasons but they were up and down like everyone else in MLS…..FC Dallas and DC United rightfully had us all singing their praises at the All Star break but in the end they didn’t time it right.
Last year the Los Angeles Galaxy were a mediocre to bad team during the regular season yet timed it right on the back of Landon Donovan and won an MLS Cup.
The moral of the story in MLS is that with so little differences in teams coaching leadership, player management and the ability to get players to play for each other is a must.
Coaches Dominic Kinnear of Houston and Steve Nicol of NE clearly are coaches that have gotten the respect and attention of their players. This goes a long way in Major League soccer. In fact all the way to the MLS Cup Finals…….With Houston’s Ricardo Clark not eligible for the final due to yellow card accumulation Houston will have alot to overcome with a talented New England midfield. As we saw during the regular season Kinnear will likely move center-back Adrian Serioux into midfield inserting Ryan Cochrane into central defense. His other option would be to move Craig Waibel into the middle and bring Kelly Gray in as a right back….Isn’t speculating fun…

New York Red Bulls coach, excuse me, I mean Sporting Director and manager Bruce Arena recently was critical about parity in MLS making the league less than scintillating. Arena went on to mention the fact that teams that are dynasties like the New York Yankees add to the interest of a league.
Couldn’t agree more, yet it’s not the first time this subject has been broached.
Arena mentioned the early years as having more teams with personality like Tampa Bay Mutiny (now contracted) and his DC United teams.
Lets not forget the importance of foreign talent in the early years and how individual players in certain markets defined teams. In DC it was Marco Etcheverry and his clear influence…All eyes were drawn to El Diablo and without his input the team would not have had the same personality. In Tampa it was Carlos ‘El Pibe’ Valderrama whose mop hair combined with innate sense and passing skills as a player gave his team major personality. Which gets back to the point that the league needs more personality players who generally are the technical ones, the ones who fans come to watch because they might encounter the unexpected.
There won’t be any dynasty in MLS until teams become privatized. In the meantime coaches like Arena will continue to try to find ways to make their teams unique and different. It’s a tough job.
As for me, I am glad Da Bruce is in MLS, he himself is motivating other coaches and franchises ……..Here are my weekend conference championship predictions.
Houston over Colorado
New England over DC United…please check out my special MLS Cup Playoff preview Saturday November 4th at 12:00 pm on 790AM radio The Sports Animal………..

Older athletes make for great copy in the world of sports.
Roger Clemens of the Houston Astros and Cal Ripken Jr. formerly of the Baltimore Orioles all quickly come to mind in baseball.
But soccer?
Sure goalkeepers in the past have played in to their forties like Dino Zoff of Italy and Pat Jennings of Ireland but few field players have.
Roger Milla of Cameroon is on that comes to mind but what first comes to mind is the physical running that must take place.
Which leads me to Teddy Sheringham of West Ham currently playing and scoring last weekend in the Premiership. Only Gordon Strachan has ever played in to his forties in this historic league.
Yet lets face it, Sheringham is a brainy, positional player whose brain is keeping him in the top flight combined with 22 years of experience at Millwall, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Manchester United, Portsmouth and now West Ham. It is not just about the physical, he has seen it all and is capable of outthinking others to remain in the game at this level.
Eleven goals in 51 games for England as an international is not bad either.
Who can forget in 96 his two goal performance vs. Holland in the European Championships in a 4-1 “Three Lions” victory.
Sheringham’s next great hope is to play with his son Charlie on the same team who is currently on trial at Crystal Palace.
Onward Teddy from a mid-forties fan.