One year ago at this time I wrote a Houston Chronicle column about how opportunities to grow awareness for the sport of soccer were being missed.
The article one year ago spoke of the amazing Dynamo run to the MLS Cup final and that here was a moment an opportunity that was rare to re-schedule a day of youth games so that all could make the choice of watching the Dynamo in an MLS Cup Final in their first ever professional season in town.
Awareness at it’s best and an opportunity for our youth leadership to step up.
The youth community was told by state and local associations like South Texas Youth Soccer Association, HYSA, TYSA, EDDOA and BAYSA that re-scheduling was not possible, just to difficult. I wondered if those leaders realized that this was a “GOLDEN” opportunity to grow the sport. A moment that had to be seized!
See it’s real simple, the grass roots level is where you create passion that one day leads to players, fans and parents with passion for soccer. It also leads to future volunteers and “keepers’ of the game. A very simple theory. Create passion at young ages and you will blossom the future of the sport.
There was lots of reaction ( I received countless emails and phone calls) yet in the end the leadership did not live up to the challenge, could not re-schedule, it was just too difficult. (Leadership did show up at Pizza Hut Park for the MLS Cup final and festivities as youth games continued in Houston).
Directors of coaching of youth clubs were upset as they saw like I an amazing opportunity to grow awareness for the game.
So here we are a year later and it is the same song and dance again. So in one years time we haven’t figured this out? So is this leadership or is this administration on a few individuals terms?
Again the MLS Cup is upon us and remarkably the Dynamo are in the Final again Sunday on ABC at 11 AM, sadly games will not be re-scheduled again. Sadly another missed opportunity to create awareness for soccer as I have received an email that the games will go on. I am told EDDOA has 80 games Sunday, well next Monday through Thursday lets play those games, I mean isn’t it the job of leadership to be able to make the tough decision? Isn’t that why you were elected in these rolls to move the sport forward? Isn’t that why you took the volunteer position?
Coaching professionals and directors from Eclipse, Texans , Texas Soccer Club, Texas Premier, Cy Fair Dynamos , Albion Hurricanes , Texas Heat among others have all supported the idea of re-scheduling games and have emailed me with their thoughts on the matter and I know have contributed solutions to the problem.
So when I hear State and local associations leaders be as bold to say they support the Dynamo, I say it is hypocrisy and tire of the small-minded excuses. Tired that opportunity comes and goes without learning. Tired to hear the words “player development” come off leaderships tongues only to fail on the most obvious player development decision of all.
By not re-scheduling you are NOT supporting the Houston Dynamo.
If leaders truly supported the Dynamo you would be “champions’ and visionaries and figure out a way to re-schedule games for the benefit of the community. Lots of good ideas have been brought to the table yet their has been no response.
I see lots of conflict of interest with numerous youth soccer leaders on many different boards (and these same volunteers tell me they are over worked) , I see nebulous answers and a lack of clarity that is confusing.
How can you say you are supporting player development when you don’t re-schedule one day of youth games for a rare event like the Dynamo in the MLS Cup?
Many volunteers and professionals work tirelessly for the support of this sport on a daily basis.
Soccer didn’t arrive with the Dynamo in Houston, it just got taken to another level. Another level that youth can now aspire to if we choose to be allies with our local professional team.
Sunday the youth community has an opportunity to be allies with the Dynamo if you will let them.
There is a “think tank” of soccer knowledge in Houston.
Why are we not tapping into it at the youth level? Why are we not challenging and empowering the top youth directors and coaches for ideas and responsibility.
We have a huge opportunity on Sunday to grow awareness for the sport yet it is blind on youth leadership of these associations. It saddens me that opportunity like this, that is so vivid is not taken advantage of.
Actions speak louder than words. I for one am ready for action and have tired of seeing opportunity like this go by the wayside.

Glenn Davis

The Dynamo have proven out their depth all year long but now it will get its biggest test this Sunday in the MLS Cup Final against the New England Revolution. Can the Dynamo without two U.S. National team players take home the spoils for the second consecutive year?
Now super-striker Brian Ching has not been officially ruled out but by listening to Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear on the radio last night it looks doubtful (podcast at 790thesportsanimal or houstonchronicle.com).
For Ching it has been a frustrating year of injury, midfielder Ricardo Clark is out due to suspension into next year.
So Nate Jacqua, Joseoph Ngwenya and Richard Mulrooney all need to put a cap on solid years for the Dynamo . How smart do these trades look now?
The fact is that the Dynamo system and depth has absorbed injury this year . Roles in the team are very defined making for a more seamless transition for players.
Yet this is a different squad without Ching specifically whose penchant for the big game will be missed provided he is not available.
Your thoughts

Check out the podcast from last nights Dynamo Power Hour with Glenn Davis by going to www.790thesportsanimal.com or houstonchronicle.com

Hear Steve Nicol and Michael Parkhurst of the NE Revolution. Dominic Kinnear and Dwayne DeRosario of the Dynamo and South Texas Youth Soccer Association President Ed Loucks .

The Dynamo Power Hour with Glenn Davis previews the MLS Cup final on 790 The Sports Animal from 7-9pm.
Guests: Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear
Dynamo midfielder Dwayne DeRosario
Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis
Revolution head coach Steve Nicol
Revolution defender and MLS defender of the year Michael Parkhurst
South Texas Youth Soccer Association president Ed Loucks
Lots of interesting updates and we want to hear from you the caller! Soccer fans you are hereby summoned to bring you game tonite! This is your platform to talk your game. CALL IN AT 713-212-5790
Other notes of interest tonite: Houston area player to sign in Sweden.
Brian Ching update…..

Another opportunity to grow awareness for soccer this Sunday will come our way when the Houston Dynamo take on the New England Revolution on ABC at 11 CST. It is a historic moment again for soccer in Houston.
It’s also another opportunity for soccer to gain awareness. There is no better way to grow this awareness then by re-scheduling youth games so parent and youth this Sunday have the option to watch this game.
We get lots of responses on this subject and it continues to be a hot button topic because many are expecting more out of their local leadership.
South Texas Youth Soccer Association, Bay Area Youth Soccer Association, Timberline Youth Soccer Association, Eastern District Division One Association and Houston Youth Soccer Association are a few that must do the right thing and step up and be leaders. The community is clearly in want of the right decisions to be made here. How can we be blind to this great players development opportunity.
Consider this email from Olivier Finidori of the Cy-Fair Dynamos who has been active about the importance of professional soccer being viewed:

Dear Soccer Leaders,

I am inquiring to see if there are any plans on re-scheduling the games on Sunday.
As I am looking at our schedules it looks like we would be missing the biggest game of the year ”
ONCE AGAIN.”
I hope you are taking the right actions as we speak and that those schedules will change.
Please keep me posted one way or another so that I can plan viewing parties for our kids or simply go coaching while our home team are defending their MLS Championship.
I trust that you will make the right decision for soccer in our community.

Sincerely,
Olivier Finidori Cy Fair Dynamos Youth Soccer Club

Why do we fail to capitalize on these days of “opportunity” ? Why aren’t we making better decisions? Why don’t we as a youth community understand that these moments create more passionate soccer players.
Is it that are leaders don’t have a “true’ passion for the sport?
So STYSA, BAYSA, HYSA, TYSA, EDDOA…what are you going to do? Sit back and hope people don’t respond because many are weighing in on this topic.
It is time to lead, not to just be administrators and pass this off on someone else.
Some of you may be heading to DC like last year when you got to enjoy the Dynamo winning the MLS Cup. Please do the right thing and afford others the opportunity to enjoy this game live this Sunday.
And to those who would like change make sure you contact those in leadership postions and ask for change.
I certainly will discuss this topic tomorrow night on 790 The Sports Animal from 7-9pm.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this important subject.
Glenn

In the wake of more violence in Italy comes more tragedy as 26 year old Lazio fan Gabriel Sandi was accidentally shot and killed.
The fact is that violence in Italian soccer has not been curbed as hooligans masked as soccer fans continue to commit criminal acts.
Pathetic yes, out of control yes, so where are the authorities and leadership.
Back in the late 90’s I was calling a game for then Fox Sports World. Now let me remind you that I was calling the game off a monitor with no contact at the stadium in Italy.
Amazingly something was thrown from the upper deck of the stadium and landed in a vacant area not hitting anyone in the corwd amazingly.
During the broadcast we were never able to figure out what was thrown. Later that day I found out it was a moped.
I was stunned. Yet I am not stunned with the violence, match fixing and hooliganism in Italy.
There is not excuse, leadership just can’t get it done. How sad for a soccer nation like Italy.
Your thoughts?

Amid the focus on the Dynamo Western Conference title and another trip to the MLS Cup.
The Big 12 Womens Soccer Championship took place yesterday at the Blossom Soccer Field in San Antonio.
The Longhorns won their second consecutive Big 12 Conference tournament in front of 3492 fans.
Longhorn Emily Andrews scored the first goal only two minutes in off her head and then standout defender Kasey Moore added a second brave header which she snapped into the corner in the 57th.
Texas AM who looked impressive in their 4-1 semi-final win over Missouri produced a beauty of a goal with Ashlee Pistorious the nations leading goal scorer setting up Melissa Garey, whose left footed shot beat Dianna Pfenninger to make it 2-1.
Texas defended bravely to reverse a 2-0 regular season loss to the Aggies.
Both teams will be in the NCAA’s and AM would love to make a run as their are hosts of the Womens NCAA College Cup in December.
Did you attend this match and what are your thoughts?
The game can be seen this Thursday on FSN.

The Dynamo won the Western Conference final in front of 30,000 plus fans 2-0 over the Kansas City Wizards.
Goals from Nate Jacqua and Dwayne DeRosario in either half produced the scoreline.
The Dynamo will take on the New England Revolution next Sunday for the MLS Cup at RFK Stadium in the nations capital.
The game came with a price as Brian Ching went off injured with what was reported to be a calf injury, two people had to escort him off the field.
Kansas City could not create chances except for a wide open Eddie Johnson blast that went wide 11 minutes in.
The Wizards did not look dangerous on the night and did not even register a shot on goal despite head coach Curt Onalfo make three changes in the second half.
The Dynamo clearly the better team on the evening that will go down in Houston soccer lore.
Your thoughts.

Kevin “EL Gato” Hartman is one of the great shot-stoppers of all time in MLS but one area the Dynamo will test him tonite is in the air.
One area of the game that Hartman is suspect at is dealing with the aerial game.
Expect lots of delivery, lots of crosses and lots of tests on free kicks and corners tonite from the Houston Dynamo which could mean a similar striker set-up with Brian Ching and Nate Jacqua .
Depth wise the Dynamo look stronger than KC with Stuart Holden and Joseoph Ngwenya as attacking options off the bench.
The Wizards are relishing the role of ‘underdog and no one expects them to get past the Dynamo yet they could be especially dangerous after long periods of Dynamo possession if they can find their strikers early.
Your thoughts on tonite’s game.

The Western Conference Final between the Houston Dynamo and the Kansas City Wizards will be previewed tonite on the Dynamo Soccer Report with Glenn Davis.
The show will air at 6pm and re-air Saturday at 5pm.
Dynamo players and coaches are interviewed plus a look at highlights from last weekend’s dramatic win over FC Dallas.