My last column for the Houston Chronicle was this past Saturday and I want to thank all who have supported the sport and the column over the 7 plus years I have worked at the Chronicle. I took a broad guess that I have written in the neighborhood of 450 columns and believe have had a small impact on creating awareness for the sport at all levels from the youth game on up to the professional game.
I will continue to espouse the importance of all these levels supporting each other!! The bigger more impactful soccer individuals in this community in the future will continue to have a broad and larger vision. It is possible to be competitive, successful from a business standpoint and be community oriented. I will continue to focus on shining the light on those that are givers to our soccer community and that will take us into the future.
I have received many amazing emails and want to assure all that I will continue my work and passion at glenndavissoccer.com, FoxsportsHouston.com, on the radio at 790am and the tv show on Fox Sports Houston called Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis. The Chronicle informed me last week via email me that for budgetary reasons my column was no more.
I am honored and grateful to have had the opportunity with the Chronicle to bring you my original ideas about the sport. Thanks to all who came up to me at the recent Dynamo vs. SMU match, I like you am looking forward to the world of futbol in 2010.
Houston is one of the great soccer cities in North America and has an amazing synergy with a high ceiling for the sport. I look forward to serving you with top notch soccer content, opinions, and the ability to give all of you a platform.
Continue to put a healthy pressure on the media (including me), your professional team and your local politicians as you have the power to grow the sport.
Thank you!!
The last column….
February 14, 2010 23 Comments
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Oh NO!!! Glenn, you will be missed by us and we will let the Chronicle know that they made a mistake, a BIG mistake. We appreciate all your efforts and read your work every time it is in the Chronicle. Now we will have to go elsewhere.
Had a freezingly GOOD time at the scrimmage yesterday and we werwe able to hear most of what you were saying. Thanks!
Now, what are your thoughts about the scrimmage? We look forward to reading anbout it here on your site.
OH NO!! They (chronicle) have made one, absolutely HUGE mistake. No need to look at this source anymore. Will surely let them know.
Glenn, you are a wonderful, uplifting source of all that is soccer. Will definitely continue to watch you elsewhere.
thank you for all your support towards helping soccer shine in the city of Houston and beyond, i enjoy reading your columns because of all the insight and knolwedge you bring to the reader. Once again, thank you and I’ll continue to follow your shows both on tv and the radio, best of luck!
Glenn, you beleiving that you had a SMALL IMPACT on vreating soccer awareness in our city is like saying bringing the Dynamo here from San Jose was a tiny blessing. As I have said before on your blogs and on the air; :”YOU DA’ MAN!” Thanks for EVERYTHING Glenn.
Glenn, keep up the good work. I hope I am correct in sensing that Fox Sports Houston is getting more serious with soccer coverage with your show, the blog, Bobby Boswell blog, etc. I also hope 11.2 continues with the same level of coverage of our Dynamo in 2010.
As for the Chronicle, they are trying to cut their way to prosperity which isn’t going to work with the changes in new media in this decade. I know you are appreciative of the opportunity they gave you (and they have had better coverage than most newspapers in MLS markets) but I think that they have lost some of their relevance over the last few years in Houston. You have to invest in the product to get that same share of eyeballs that they used to get rather than cutting in a race to the bottom.
Glenn- Althought I live here in Las Vegas, NV, Discouraging to hear large Houston newspaper pushing soccer aside. Espically with fact MLS team based there.
I thank you for all your efforts in promoting the
” Beautiful Game”. I really appreciate the forum you provide here, where you encourage the American soccer fan to express their views and opinions.
Keep up the good work !
If you have comments on The Houston Chronicle’s coverage, you may call the reader representative at 713-362-6303. Written comments can be e-mailed to readerrep@chron.com
I hope a lot of us will take the time to let the Chronicle know how we feel.
Glenn you will be missed! Shame on you Houston Chronicle. What’s next take out soccer from the sports section. This really sucks, especially considering this is a world cup year.
The Chronicle will be poorer for discontinuing the column. We’ll still follow you devotedly on this blog and on t.v. and radio.
Glenn,
I have been out of town all week and got back on Saturday. I just found out that you will no longer be doing your column in the Chronicle. My 70 year old father kept up with soccer with your column. He doesn’t keep up with on the internet and he will be very disappointed not to see your column anymore.
The Chronicle has no idea who their customers are. It is not surprising that they would cut the best thing about the Chronicle because they have been losing more customers (on a percentage basis) the past 5 years than any newspaper. We are in a conservative city and state and they continue to put out left wing drivel. They only reason I read the Chronicle was because of their soccer coverage. They will be losing a weekend subscriber and I will let them know it.
Let us know how we can support you in any way. I will continue to support your radio show on 790, glenndavissoccer.com, Foxsportshouston.com and your show on FSN. You have been a big part of big things happening in the soccer community in Houston. You were instrumental in rallying fans to get the Dynamo here and you will get a lot credit when we get the new stadium built.
Continue to do what you do in the soccer community. You have a loyal following. Let us know what the Houston soccer community can do to continue to support you for many years to come.
Sorry to hear that the Chronicle has dropped your column Glenn. I have subscribed to the Chronicle since moving to Houston 5 years ago and have enjoyed reading your columns. I can understand the financial pressure they are under, but this realy puts a huge hole in their soccer coverage. I’m glad you’ve still got many outlets through which you can spread the good word about local, MLS and international soccer.
Glenn, you were my only source for soccer information in Houston for years, way before there was a Dynamo, MLS or the internet, I would read your column to find out about games coming to Houston. At the same time I would hear you on national soccer broadcasts and think “wow, that’s the same guy who’s in the paper in Houston.” It was amazing and made me proud.
I think for you personally it might be a good thing to leave the Chronicle at this time, now you’re not tied to that sinking ship. I loved the soccer page, all the soccer coverage we used to get, but now there just isn’t much reason to subscribe anymore.
Good luck, Glenn, and keep up the good work! Next on the agenda, get your show on FSSW and let’s get FSH on Dish and DirecTV!
Ok, I’ll say it.
SHAME ON YOU CHRONICLE! Not for making a budgetary decision during tough economic times, but because you didn’t have the stones to even pick up the phone or better yet, meet face to face w/a member of your writing fraternity after 7-plus years of faithful service. Notified by email? Does it get any colder than that? VERY professional Houston Chronicle…no really.
As a promoter of the sport, you are still one of the brightest lights, not only in Houston and/or Texas, but across our nation. Who else is dialed into the wide content gamut from youth, college, domestic, and international? I don’t know what The Chronicle was paying you Glenn but frankly, it wasn’t enough for such an invaluable resource and as such, the loss is theirs.
Sorry for the rant Glenn but as a Glenn Davis fan, I believe you deserved better. YOUR response, as expected though, has been nothing short of noble and respectful. As one door closes, another will open. While I am disappointed w/the Chronicle’s decision, perhaps this will allow you to turn your attention and focus towards other more meaningful projects.
When the Chron emails you to come back before the World Cup…and they will…just make sure you ask for a raise.
It is simply incredible to me with the World Cup coming up that they would drop the most knowledgeable person on the world’s game and would bring the best coverage to Houston.
SHAME ON YOU CHRONICLE
Well once again the Houston Chronice has made a stupid mistake. But being the liberal rag that it is this is not surprising. We stopped subscribing to the printed paper long ago when their political interest was apparent throughout. We only read the online sports section, mainly about the Dynamo. Your soccer commentary will be missed. The Dynamo has lost representation. Hey, who knows, maybe the football bubbas ambushed you!!!
Hmm…
Glenn Davis let go from the Chronicle because of city & county politics?
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=19927366#post19927366
The Chronicle has made a huge mistake in letting you go. I wish you success on all your shows and look forward on reading great insights from you now that MLS and the World Cup are aroung the corner. Once again, good luck Glenn.
To the dynamo/MLS fans of Houston:
Just want to let you Dynamo fans know that we Sounders fans up in Seattle feel for you. The Seattle Times just changed writers covering the Sounders and that is hard enough. i can not imagine having your main paper stop covering your team.
To the Paper:
Journalism is about covering news people need. Why cut soccer when it is one of the few sports growing and your city has a successful team? Surely there is other things that could be cut first where you really do not need a local perspective? At least keep the guy on to run a blog or something?
So sad that the Chronicle is doing this. This goes to show what type of subscribers they want.
The new guy JJOrtiz seems to not have a grasp of the great soccer culture we have here in Houston, at least not now…He’s too focused on “local” stuff…
Just like everyone points out, it makes no sense, specially with the World Cup around the corner…
Glenn, there’s this saying in Mexico:
“Think wrong and you’ll be right” and in my opinion that comment that CJ just linked to has some truth to it…
I’ve always thought that the Rockets and Astros do not want the Dynamo close to them at all…they’re a better deal on and off the pitch…
and who knows there may be other bigger forces out there pushing the Dynamo out (MLB, NBA…)
There’s a reason El Franco Lee has not made any moves, when he and others were pivotal to the almost 1 billion given to the Astros, Rockets and Texans..
It is a time when all futbol supporters need to come together and keep demanding answers and good columns and coverage from our local channels…
Keep taking your friends to Dynamo games and let’s make sure we get tons of people on Saturday’s Stadium Rally…
Thanks for all you do and have done Glenn!
I am shocked Glenn. I don’t know what to say. Houston is blessed with a world class soccer expert and the Chroncle runs you off just months from the World Cup. It’s the stupidest thing I have I ever seen. I will always follow your writings and broadcasts Glenn. Thank you for everything. Goodbye Chronicle.
After sending an email this morning and expressing my displeasure, telling them that after putting up with soccer wedged between HS sports and other stuff for years, this was the final straw. I told them I’d decided to not renew my nearly 30 year subscription, I got this response:
Thank you for taking the time to write.
It was not without much thought that we decided to discontinue Glenn Davis’ soccer column. Like you, we have for years relied on Glenn to be our expert connection to Houston’s vibrant soccer scene, not to mention the world of soccer/football around the globe. Glenn’s passion for youth soccer on up to the international game, and the insider’s knowledge he brought to the table as a former top-level player, gave us a unique blend of local and global viewpoints that will be difficult to replace.
Besides that, he’s simply a genuine individual who always seemed willing to help others (myself included) with issues involving the game. I appreciate that he took time a couple years ago to help me figure out where to place my own son in a program best matched to his skill level and learning style.
At the same time, we’re excited to be taking our soccer coverage in a new direction this spring with staff writer Jose de Jesus Ortiz, who comes to the beat by way of a long and successful career covering Major League Baseball. Jesus, as he’s known to his friends, has played competitively and coaches in youth leagues. Jesus knows the game well and we are counting on him to bring new perspectives to Houston readers in this World Cup year.
With Jesus shifting over to soccer writing, we’re comfortable handing him the reins as the Chronicle’s soccer voice. We’re sure that our soccer readers will enjoy the insight he’ll bring to the table with his weekly Soccer Notebook, day-to-day coverage of the Dynamo, perspective on the international game and attention to the local youth and recreational scenes.
Again, thank you for taking the time to write, and please let us know how you think Jesus is doing in the weeks and months to come.
*********************************
Obviously a canned response.
I’m afraid I’ll be unable to comment on how the replacement is doing, as I’ll not be bothering to read the rag anymore.
Glenn, I’m shocked to have read the news! Just like everybody else is saying, the Chronicle has made a mistake! You’re work has been greatly appreciated by everybody and especially myself. I can’t thank you enough for the columns that you posted on there when i was over seas with the military. To me you’re the best out there! I will continue to follow you thru this site and your radio station, and wherever you decide to go! Thank you so much Glenn! No writer they bring will compare to you!
Hey Glen,
Not to worry, you have class and they are classless. The World Cup is around the corner. They will be back. Just make sure they pay real good. You are a great guy.