Dynamo get the silver ball

One of the results of the Dynamo's MLS Cup victory is that they'll get to play with the "+Teamgeist Winner MLS Ball" for all of their home games. This is the ball used at the 2006 MLS Cup, so only Dynamo and the Revs have any experience with the ball. Does that suggest that Dynamo will have an added advantage in their homegames since they'll be familiar with the game ball? Let's hope so. In post-game comments, Twellman mentioned that the Revs hadn't been able to practice with the ball before the match and that might have been responsible for their slow start in the MLS Cup.

Marry the unique ball with the unique narrow confines of Robertson stadium and the vocal, partisan crowd, and the home field advantage might be substantial for Dynamo Houston 2007.

Speaking of unique home advantages, how about our heat and humidity? Dynamo were supposed to be used to the heat and humidity (and no, it's not a dry heat) and that was to add to their home field advantage in 2006. Coach Kinnear and others have stated that the heat was just as hard on them as on their opponents, so no advantage there. Let's hope they adjust better in 2007, because I don't think the H&H will go away come Summer.

Hey, do you think that Dynamo-H will fare better than their northern cousins in the CONCACAF Champions Cup? There's that whole H&H adaption thing, where Dynamo will feel as at-home in the rainforests of Central America as in Robertson Stadium. There's also the fact that Dynamo has a solid core of players and an aggressive, attacking mindset. It's good to have international teams, but to have the Dynamo taking on the international teams? Now, THAT's awesome.

Here's hoping we still have that solid core of players in the new year. Hands off, Toronto! (And let's designate DeRo as our Designated Player just to keep him here.)