No I’m not talking about Luis Hernandez here but I am talking about former Chilean International Marcelo Salas.
Salas spent time in the Italian Serie A with Lazio and Juventus and was at times an absolute stunning striker.
The Chicago Fire are taking a look at him after recently playing back in December in the Chilean First Division but something concerns me here. The last few years not much has been heard from Salas. Can he provide something in MLS.
Clearly the Fire will try to sign him at a bargain price because he is not fresh off success like Cuahutemoc Blanco nor does he have the drawing power.
The Fire need to inspect Salas closely from the perspective of health and the real “desire” that he shows to play in MLS.
Lets face it MLS is like moving to the EPL coming from Chile.
Dave Sarachan the Fire head coach already has admitted to me that he has a coaching challenge with Blanco. His ability to manage the most important person in the Fire organization will say alot about his future and the future of the team on the field.
It sure makes it interesting and even more so since Blanco comes in to the league on a high after an outstanding MFL season with Club America. You can catch him in the Gold Cup with Mexico.
As for the Fire, life with Blanco begins soon.

David Beckham has pulled off a remarkable resurgence with Real Madrid that could see him lifting the La Liga title in the next few weeks. All after Fabio Capello said he would never play for the “Galacticos” again after he signed with the LA Galaxy in MLS.
Steve McClaren brought an end to the Beckham era with the English National team yet he has been re-called to the national squad to face Brazil on Friday and then Estonia.
As former England international Trevor Francis stated on Sky Sports News, if Beckham plays well it presents a question to manager Steve McClaren as to what to do with him then. McClaren is grasping at straws to make an impact with England but Beckham amazingly has defied the odds with both Real Madrid and England. Certainly he is being thought of as a short term answer……….or could his England run be extended? Well not according to former England defender Terry Butcher who called MLS a Mickey Mouse league and that no England player playing in the U.S. should get picked for a England squad.
Well Butcher in his ignorance obviously has not followed the growth of MLS over the years to make a statement like that. Was Butcher not responsible, I don’t know. Lacking professionalism, yeah I think so considering his statement was poorly researched.
As for LA Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas and head coach Frank Yallop. Lalas according to SKY SPORTS NEWS said that Beckham could be loaned out in November after the MLS season. Yallop says that will not happen.
Loaned out? Joking right?
Did something get lost in translation here with SKY SPORTS NEWS?
Meanwhile Beckham and Cuahutemoc Blanco will come to MLS on high’s and add to the hype of their arrival.

The truth is you just don’t know what the actual feel of the team is unless you are on the field. I went back on the field this past week for the first time in a while and I can honestly say that these guys are leaving their hearts on the field. While I’ve been out it has been easy to see the effort and the heart-break in recent weeks, but it has been hard to share the true frustration of the team. Getting back into the eleven for the 2nd half in D.C. reminded why I bleed Orange. When other teams would pack it in and put their chins down at a time like this we are trudging onward, playing our patented attacking style and waiting for our results to change and reflect our efforts.
In the mean time I would like to thank the efforts of the supporters who made the trip to D.C. and were heard loud and clear not only on Saturday night but also on Sunday morning during the reserve match. Also, I want to thank HDNET for broadcasting our games because good things seem to happen to me when they are broadcasting the Dynamo…..two goals last year against Colorado and an assist the other night. I knew I liked Mark Cuban for creating HDNET. Until next week…enjoy the games!

Craig Waibel “Waibs”

Catch the podcast of the Dynamo Power Hour with Glenn Davis as Dominic Kinnear talks about his team, it’s situation and more. The interview with Glenn went over 15 minutes and touches on a variety of subjects. The podcast can be accessed at www.790thesportsanimal.com or houstonchronicle.com
The show also features as short interview with FC Dallas defender Chris Gbandi who touches on Sunday’s match against the Dynamo and his representing Liberia against Cameroon in African nation cup play where he will go up against Samuel Eto’o.
Post your responses to the show.

Dominic Kinnear the head coach of the Houston Dynamo will join Glenn Davis on the Dynamo Power Hour tonite at 7:00 Pm on 790 The Sports Animal, Kinnear will take phone calls at 713-212-5790 from fans.
The show also streams live on the internet at 790TheSportsanimal.com

Fans are encourage to participate in the show.

I am still sorting through this game in my mind but I will put this one fact out.
Six straight games the Dynamo have conceded the game’s first goal. Before you say, well it was a great free kick by Christian Gomez (which it was) I remind you of a few things: There is an additional pressure when consistently having to play when you are behind….chasing the game. There is an additional pressure on your backs and defenders. Most MLS teams immediately begin to defend deeper. DC didn’t partly because the goal came four minutes in but they certainly didn’t need to push their outside backs forward like Bryan Namoff or Josh Gros.
The Dynamo are not clicking that is for sure but not getting a morale boosting first goal in six consecutive games doesn’t aid the cause. One additional point that merge’s with the first one. The team is having a hard time getting behind defenses out wide.
Much of the delivery from the Dynamo comes with defenses settled facing the player crossing the ball. It is far easier as a defender to deal with crosses under that scenario then if a player has just beaten an outside back and is bearing down the endline. The Dynamo right now need more confidence from individuals also to take people on and make things happen. That confidence has emanated from Cory Ashe in a subs role. Remember the conditions he is coming on in the match. …………………Ok on to Pachuca winning the MFL title…Club America looked the better team but Pachuca after a long range free kick goal from Cuahutemoc Blanco tied the aggregate (Pachuca won at Azteca Stadium 2-1) minutes later Pachuca pieced together almost on cue the goal that would win it for them. Damian Alvarez to Juan Carlos Cacho (all three Pachuca goals in the finals). Tuzoz rule in Mexico and to think the Dynamo almost knocked off this team in the Semi-finals of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
HDNET-again after receiving a number of emails concerning exclusivity of the HDNET broadcasts, I remind you again. HDNET is paying significant money to MLS and along with that comes exclusivity. They are helping the league stability and it’s prosperity.
What is so hard to figure out about that?

What a delight to board my flight to Washington DC for tonite’s (HDNET 6:30 central) Dynamo against DC United game and see traveling Dynamo fans excited to be supporting their team. Reminds us of the geographic challenges that supporting soccer on the road poses in the U.S. Nonetheless it will be interesting to see where the Dynamo fans are seated in the large RFK Stadium tonite.
I am not a big statistic guy when it comes to soccer. I don’t need to know how many fouls someone has dished out, I just want a referee to give that person a yellow card if it has been persistent. Now that being said it is hard to ignore these stats around the Dynamo this season: Shutout five times in last seven games
Have conceded the games first goal in five straigth (this directly is a part of goal scoring woes)
Have only scored in 2 of 7 games (3 goals coming in win over Colorado)

* On HDNET: I know it is frustrating for some fans who don’t have HDNET(trust me I get lots of emails) but always remember one thing. Mark Cuban’s investment in MLS ($millions) helps to ensure survival of the league. So when you are cursing HDNET just remember the money is going to a good cause. Also remember that if you live in an MLS city you are more fortunate than most when it comes to viewing live soccer. In fact in Houston where I live it is just amazing the volume of soccer content coming through our city. This summer alone MLS, Gold Cup, Argentine masters vs Mexican masters, Superliga, and in December “Free Kick Masters” with Ronaldinho, Oliver Kahn, Rafa Marquez etc. Not to mention that we have already had the Concacaf Champions Cup………Lets remind ourselves how lucky we are. Ok back to HDNET, I hope you give it a chance because the technology is amazing. I am in a hotel in DC right now that gets HDNET and even though I am in my fifth year as a commentator on the network I am still amazed at the picture and technology and what it can do for the sport of soccer.
I hope Dynamo fans have a good time at places like the Mezzanine Lounge, Bull and Bear, and Niko Nikos tonite watching the game.
It should be a good one . With Ricardo Clark, Dwayne DeRosario and Brian Ching headed off to the Gold Cup others will get opportunity shortly. Corey Ashe brought an air of optimism to fans after his performance off the bench against NE, could he get another run tonite?
From the nations capital in Washington D.C. have a great Memorial Day Weekend, enjoy the game and your family.
And if you aren’t still at the picnic on Monday night tune in to the Dynamo Power Hour at 7pm on 790, I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on tonite’s game. Call in at 713-212-25790

PS: Don’t miss tomorrow’s Pachuca vs. Club America match for the Mexican League title.

Glenn Davis

Tonite’s lineup: *Dominic Kinnear and Ricardo Clark
*highlight’s of Dynamo vs NE
*highlights of AC Milan vs Liverpool (wait till you see how un-attentive Liverpool is on the second goal Dirk Kuyt in particular) * Gold Ball and Red Card segment and more……………..Please give us your feedback on the show plus any story ideas you would like covered.

U.S. Mens National team coach Bob Bradley on who is the best fit to play with Landon Donovan:
“We’ll see when we get into camp. Obviously we are excited to see Taylor Twellman playing well for NE. His form has been excellent. Brian Ching has qualities beyond just being a goal scorer. We do count on him for goals, but his ability to open up space for others and to hold the ball and create advantages for people around him is very important. It’s not very different than the things Brian McBride brought to the national team for so many years.”

*In short Bradley thinks that Ching is the better overall soccer player. Yet it is Twellman that is lighting up Major League Soccer as it’s leading scorer.

Brian Ching and Ricardo Clark have been called up to the U.S. National team to compete in the Gold Cup which begins in early June.
European based players will report for training on May 27th. The Dynamo and MLS teams could be without these players as long as June 24th if the U.S. were to get to the final. The U.S. will also compete in the Copa America this summer.

I have compiled another top three list for all of you to read and enjoy at my expense. I have done my fair share of heckling at sporting events and know that you have to throw out a lot of duds out there to come up with one good line that makes everyone laugh…..including athletes. I’m not talking about your run of the mill jokes, just the ones that truly dedicated hecklers can come up with. I have taken my top three off of the shelf and will share them with you. I am sure this column will grow so I have titled it “Comments from the crowd.”
Most of the time people limit themselves to age and hair jokes so naturally those are on the top of the list but every once in a while a true fan knows stats I wish they didn’t. Number three comes to us compliments of the “Galaxians”. As I was leaving the field in 2004 they started the age old “LA reject” chant (yawn, tiresome, boring) so I shot back at them the number 2 and reminded them about my second MLS Championship that I had won on their field the previous year. Thinking I had gotten the best of them I patted myself on the back and continued my way to the locker room. Then I felt the stinger hit me when a man’s voice roared “Oh I thought you were reminding us of how many games you played in when you were here!” My compliments to the chef on that one….great call.
Number two was delivered this year in Colorado when I was warming up on the end line. This one also registers as the most observant heckler to date as well. After the uninspiring Hair Club for men comments ran their course I heard a guy say “hey Waibel, your hair line is so confused it is receding from the back forward!” That one stopped me dead in my tracks….I mean the guy is right and I have never realized it. I could do nothing but laugh and try not to let him see it.
Number one is a no brainer and it came ringing into my ears compliments of the Cauldron in KC. In an Open Cup game in a high school stadium a couple of years ago I caught myself laughing with them during a match. I don’t know how it started or who started it but it went on forever. At one point I actually looked at the clock, then continued to hear it for four minutes straight.
Simple and to the point “Hey Waibel”, your hair says “hi” rhythmically echoed through the seats over and over and over again. Due to their dedication, volume, and creativity I have loved going there to get heckled ever since. Enjoy your long weekend.
Craig Waibel-The Peaceful Warrior