Dynamo Soccer Report with Glenn Davis is on the air tonite at 9:30 pm on Channel 55. Guests include BRIAN CHING, DOMINIC KINNEAR and former DYNAMO ALEJANDRO MORENO now with the COLUMBUS CREW. Lots of playoff talk, highlights and we hear from you the fan. Don’t miss it.

As if anyone expected NE to pull anything off against Chicago tonite at Toyota Park.
Lets face it, between injuries and dealing with the additional games due to international competition it has been a tough second half of the year for NE. They are always hard to count out when managed by STEVE NICOL and PAUL MARINER but it came down to one thing. Their eleven players were just not good enough, just not experienced enough. Goals from CHRIS ROLFE, WILMAN CONDE and GONZALO SEGARES sealed the deal. CHICAGO will take on the winner of COLUMBUS AND KC a game that you can see on HDNET.

OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS:
Something for the record here. As I flew back from Kansas City this past weekend I sat in the plane wondering, baffled and somewhat outraged as to why the stadium issue has dragged on so pathetically. What is the hold-up of our elected officials. It is what prompted me to write my column in the Chronicle this past weekend but also to question why this amazing opportunity just might slip through the hands of Houston.
It also led me to pursue interviews with key players in this . County Commissioners, elected officials SYLVIA GARCIA and EL FRANCO LEE should be questioned and ask to do their civic duty and speak on an issue that effects many. An issue that goes beyond the soccer community , an issue that is “opportunity” for Houston to develop, benefit economically, bring dollars to the city as well as the national and international spotlight. It’s an opportunity to continue to develop and grow downtown, grow property values and create jobs. And these are only a few of the benefits.
Sylvia Garcia has campaigned in the past on developing downtown. Finally to her credit Garcia agreed to an interview which quite frankly I was shocked to realize that this Hispanic leader whom so many follow…well really seems to be out of touch with the love that Hispanic fans have for soccer. What this sport means and could possibly mean in the long term to this city.
Not to mention what the amazing support from fans from Mexico, Central American and beyond have done to create an amazing sports environment. Could she be this out of touch on this issue?

Commissioner Garcia seemed to not want to take any responsibility for much of anything by putting it back on the city or County Commissioner El Franco Lee. She suggests putting the issue to a vote by spending huge dollars on a brochure and city-wide campaign. Just another way of saying that she is not behind this.
Remember we are talking about 10 million dollars here not the 200 million that it took for Toyota Center…..Not to mention that the risk is being assumed in the majority by AEG whom intend to put in the neighborhood of 70 million dollars into a 100 million dollar stadium.
Ms. Garcia should say yes or no so that this franchise fairly can plot it’s future. Like I have said many times before…the only thing worse than a no, is a slow no!

The same carries for Commissioner El Franco Lee…. Sir step up to the plate. I know you can remain in your job till eternity but certainly you and Ms. Garcia do not want to have the legacy of losing an amazing professional sports asset in this town on your head. Answer your constituents by doing your job and speaking out on this issue.
It seems that both Garcia and Franco have not really convened and discussed this issue much, or lets just say that is what I took out of the interview with Garcia.
Many civic groups in both of these areas are supportive of new development in the area (East End Chamber of Commerce, East End Management, East Downtown Management District, Hispanic Chamber, Empresarios Latinos) and why wouldn’t they be? But for some reason both Ms. Garcia and Mr. Lee have not seemed to want to pay attention and are filibustering…….I chose to try and bring the issue back to the forefront because of “politics” that are being played and this continual “blow off” that seems to be occurring on an issue that encompasses more than just the soccer culture and the Dynamo and more than just “soccer fans”. Of course I want the stadium because I am involved with soccer and want the sport to grow in a city that is “The Gateway” to Mexico, Central America and South America but I am not naive to think that this is just a Dynamo/Soccer issue, this is an issue that regards the city of HOUSTON. Many would probably like it to remain only a “soccer” issue.
This has to do with growing our city also both nationally and internationally.

A mid- level size multi- purpose stadium with the Dynamo in it will be a HUGE asset for this city that will be capable of holding concerts, high school football, college football (TSU will get a sweetheart deal)…..TSU is the school that both SYLVIA GARCIA and EL FRANCO LEE graduated from.
This issue has been on the table since July2 (see prior blog for official letter).
I have also phoned El FRANCO LEE’s office 7 times to ask him on the radio show and have been told they have my number and they would get back to me. Finally prior to the show this past Wednesday I asked for a yes or no and couldn’t get that. I will hopefully get him on the radio next Wednesday night. By the way, he does not have an email while most all the other City and County workers do. I say workers because they work for constituents.

This is an important issue and should be at the forefront and others in the city and county need to start doing their duty and homework on the oportunity that stands before them and not just follow Sylvia Garcia’s lead because quite frankly she does not seem to have a good handle on this and it’s impact. As a leader she has lots of consituents that trust her judgement. Many that trust her judgment are passionate followers of soccer and attend soccer matches and Dynamo games.

Seven applications from diverse, deep pocket ownership has been accepted by MLS . These groups are fighting for two expansion slots. Rest assured they are looking at weak links or teams struggling to get stadium deals done in hopes of buying a franchise. Arthur Blank the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and BARCELONA of Spain are two that want in.
The suburbs is fine and dandy for a Dynamo Stadium but you will lose alot. There is no telling what AEG wants and quite frankly if that is where it ends up it is a letdown and a missed opportunity and it can be the legacy that political leaders leave. And believe me many will not forget.
Houston this is coming to a head and as constituents and tax payers of this city you deserve an answer from elected officials. Not double talk.
Contacts: Sylvia_Garcia@pct2.co.harris.tx.us Phone: 713-755-6220
El Franco Lee Phone: 713-755-6111

*Interesting note out of COLORADO…seems GARY SMITH will be retained as the head coach. How do we know this because the Rochester Rhinos Steve Guppy who played prior at DC let the cat out of the bag in Rochester saying he was moving on to be an assistant coach to Smith in Colorado. Guppy had been hanging around Rapids training.
Another PR disaster.

*Word has Greg Berthalter coming back to MLS but what will the league pay for a 35 year old defender and who would be interested? I have always been fond of a veteran/young player combo in central defense. A “guider”, “teacher” and the wise learner.

*HERCULEZ GOMEZ will miss the KC/COLUMBUS match this weekend after recieving a red card in the last match. Ohio State midfielder Roger Espinoza could come off the bench as he has played this year, veteran Kerry Zavagnin also could be employed central with Davey Arnaud going wide in midfield though Arnaud and Jack Jewsbury have been working will central.

*Word has meager playoff ticket sales in Columbus of only 6000 so far for Saturday’s playoff match against KC…Come on CREW fans, you have to get UP for this!!!

*Dynamo are well over 23,000 tickets out for this weekends match against NY and will easily be the highest attended MLS match of the weekend. Take notice County Commissioners. In fact I invited both Sylvia Garcia and EL Franco Lee to the game this weekend. Be prepared for football lines at the “ROB” as UH takes on Tulane the day prior.
The Dynamo will want to soften up the field with it being rolled and watered prior to Sunday at 2pm.
If the DYNAMO get past NEW YORK then again the following Sunday they will host the WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL and again the day prior UH has football scheduled. Can’t control scheduling, concessions, parking, merchandising etc. without your own stadium.

* Back to NE, are the Revs really trying to secure a stadium or is it just a smoke-screen. I sure hope they are but with only 3000 people at their playoff match in Foxboro and not the best of general attendance one has to wonder if the KRAFT FAMILY is just enjoying playing in Gillette rent free. If that is the case then this is TRULY NOT GROWING THE SPORT OF SOCCER. Sunil Gulati is on the payroll and maybe we should ask him what is going on.

*I was about to direct a neighbor of mine who is a huge EPL fan to watch last weeks MLS PRIME TIME THURSDAY match in NE but decided against it because I knew the attendance would be poor in NE with the football lines. Didn’t want him to get a bad impression. He will attend an MLS Dynamo playoff match instead. First impressions mean alot.