Another Year with the Silver Ball!

Another perfect ending to the season: Dynamo Houston crowned MLS Cup Champions again. (Game recap.) Another year with the silver ball and scudetto, only this time we do it with a star over our shield.

As a Legend In My Own Mind, I correctly "predicted" it'd be a 2-1 victory with us either (1) going ahead 2-0 then conceding a late goal to halve the lead or (2) going down 1 goal then replying with 2 unanswered. Of course this was no true prediction, it was merely a wild guess, and I would gladly have been wrong as long as the Dynamo carried the day. Regardless, by following the above option #2, the Dynamo created a better storyline and further entrenched themselves as the never-say-die team of the MLS.

The first half was fairly even, I thought, with the Dynamo unable to capitalize on their opportunities. I'd say the run of play was tilted a bit in New England's favor, a fact that was highlighted by the 0-1 halftime scoreline. The second half (thanks in part to a switch to 3-5-2) saw the field tilt to favor the orange, leading to Ngwenya's "determination goal" and DeRo's excellent rocket of a header. In the final 10 minutes we resorted to withstanding the spirited barrage from the desperate New England side. The highlight here was Onstad's reaction save of Jeff Larentowicz's point blank header around the 86th minute.

Okay, time to correct the history books: it wasn't the switch to a 3-5-2 that turned the tide tonight, nor was it individual brilliance on the part of the players. No, it was me subbing out my untried lucky shirt and bringing on a veteran to seal the deal. It was about the 60th minute when I did this, and our fortunes changed immediately thereafter.

No, I'm not forsaking the rookie shirt. It'll get its chance again next season. But sometimes you need experience in a big game. The rookie shirt may get there someday.

Overall, it was a very even contest -- just looking at the stats will confirm that. This is to be expected with these two teams that are both forged on consistency and teamwork. The only real differences between the two is (1) the Dynamo, while playing a 4-4-2 (compared to the Revs' 3-5-2), are more attack minded in general, and (2) the Dynamo individually seem to step up in the big games.

As close as the game was, it was a deserved win for the Dynamo. Khano Smith should have been sent off. Zidane's head butt was fiercer, but was to the chest. Smith's was to the face -- and in front of the ref no less! He should've been sent off for being stupid if nothing else. (Or maybe incessant diving?) Also, I felt that Jaqua was indeed fouled in the box around the 15th minute. Had it been anywhere else on the field, it'd been free kick Dynamo. Perhaps the referee thought it was too early to make a game-changing decision like awarding a PK -- okay, this line of reasoning from commentators always confused me. When a call is justified, the referee isn't the one making a game-changing decision; the fouling player had made the game-changing decision with his foul.

(On the reffing topic: Alex Prus, the center ref, is not one of the four full time professional MLS referees. Why wouldn't the MLS pull from this corps for the championship game? Do they feel these aren't really the best of the crop? I guess Jair Marrufo didn't impress with his reffing of the Dynamo-Wizards playoff game.)

It's great seeing the Dynamo on the awards platform. The guys sure looked happy (and exhausted), with even the most stolid players breaking out in wide grins. And Don Garber, after missing the Western Conference Championship, was present for the award.

Was it me, or did Don Garber seem a bit unenthused to be awarding the trophy to the Dynamo? Was he sad for his buddy, Sunil Gulati, who still is the President of Kraft Soccer for the New England Revolution, while also being the president of the United States Soccer Federation? The potential conflict of interest has been noted by many, but the MLS is still a small cabal of insiders. That's one great thing about the new teams and new ownership: it's bringing new blood into what can be perceived as an inbred family.

Enough cynicism from me.

I saw the news reports on Channel 2, Channel 11, and Fox-26. All good, and all positive, and all with the Dynamo victory as the lead item. There were some flubs -- like Matt Musil reporting that Ngwenya's goal came via a feed from Ching, but he knew Ching was on the bench and even wrote as much in his blog. Still, he cared enough to attend the match on a day when the Texans were playing, and for that he gets my respect -- even if he gets free kicks confused with penalty kicks.

Anyone know why the team refers to the "voice of the Dynamo" Steve Mark as "Screech"? They did so on the 790 postgame report.

With the Cup in the books, now Coach Kinnear needs to settle on his protected lineup and hope we don't lose anyone too vital to San Jose in next week's expansion draft. Then Dom is apparently going to Britain and Spain to reconnoiter. Then we have to prepare for the CONCACAF Champions Cup in February (and onward, hopefully), and also the Pan Pacific Cup in February. We'll be exhausted by time the season starts and will, thankfully, have a while before we have to worry about the US Open Cup and the SuperLiga. Here's hoping that our League schedule is kind, given the extracurricular competitions in which we'll be expending our energy.

But that can wait. Before worrying about the future, let's celebrate this season at the Houston City Hall on Tuesday at 5:30.

How about this Hot News?...
Hot news: Fox Soccer has as one of its top news items the breaking story that Beckham says he wants to play in the World Cup in 2010. This is indeed breathtaking insight. Unreported is news as to whether any Americans want to play in the World Cup at this time; however, it has been rumored that both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning say they want to play in the Superbowl at the end of the season. The Houston Astros say they want to win the World Series next season. The Houston Dynamo haven't said, but are presumed to want to win the MLS Cup next year. Off the record, I believe that there are a few players on the Revolution, DC United, RBNY, Chivas USA, KC Wizards, FC Dallas, [insert your favorite MLS team name here]..., and FC Toronto who also want to win the MLS Cup next season. If I can confirm this, I'll be sure to let everyone know. (Well lookie there: I did have some more cynicism in me.)

Go Dynamo! Back 2 back champions!

DYNAMO WIN!

WOO-HOO!

More later...

Let's Go Dynamo!

It's almost H-Hour of D-Day. Let's seize the day and the Cup. You've had a season's worth of practice with that silver ball -- you've got more time with it than any other team does. Let's show the league that none are better than the Dynamo at crunch time.

Go Dynamo!

MLS Cup: 1 Day 2 Go

The official game guide for the MLS Cup is up. Interesting tidbit: "Dynamo have yet to defeat the Revolution when full-time has been reached since the club's arrival in south Texas. In the four league meetings all-time, the teams have played to three draws (including a pair of 1-1 draws in 2006) with one win for the Revolution, and the teams ended last year's final tied after 120 minutes before Houston claimed the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy on penalty kicks."

Yahoo Sports mentions Dom's off-season plans. "...His mind will not switch off from soccer when the season ends. He has already scheduled a soccer development trip to Spain to visit Real Madrid and spend more time in Britain." Don't know what will come of the trip, but I like the idea that the wheels keep a-turnin'. I'm not sure what I would consider the greatest need for the team next year. I don't think we could improve much (or couldn't afford to improve much) on: GK, at least 2 of our backline, D-Mid, A-Mid, wingers (which includes 3 people now with Holden ascendance), and Ching. Perhaps another high profile striker? Not much else needing improvement or worth spending a lot of money on. Things may be clarified a bit over the off-season as we are bound to lose someone to the San Jose expansion draft, if nowhere else. What matters is that we currently we have the personnel to win the MLS Cup.

As for the Cup, USSoccerPlayers.com has its take on the coaches (Kinnear and Nicol, y'all) and the wingers (Mullan & Davis vs Smith & Thompson).

Tino Palace at MLSnet actually hopes NE will win the Cup. Maybe he just wants the Revs to win it so they'll stop going to the final. Steve Davis, the Dallas-area journalist for MLSnet, says it's too close to call.

First Greg Lalas, and now another SI writer thinks New England is going to win.

Jeff Carlisle of ESPN says it'll be Houston.

So does Goal.com.

Is there a "formula for success" for getting to the Cup? Hey, is that Twellman who's saying nice things about the Dynamo? Stop it. I don't want to like you.

For the record, DeRo's post-goal strut is called a "the shake and bake." I was one guilty of calling it the "funky chicken." "Shake and bake" sounds too much like Talladega Nights...but I guess "funky chicken" doesn't ring of elegance either. Ah, well; what's in a name? I like the funky strut and hope to see it more than once tomorrow. Heck, how about a beaver trick?!

My Take
The teams are too close to make a failsafe prediction, and not being able to foresee the future, I have to rely on the past to predict future results. Thus, Houston 2-1 in regulation. Our defense is just too good, and the only real question mark is how our finishing will be on the day. I will assume it will be better than usual because the squad knows this is it, and their experience from SuperLiga and the CONCACAF Champions Cup will carry them through the big game. Houston gets the goal it needs, forcing New England to open up, and we get another. We can't withstand the relentless pressure and do concede one goal.

I think it'd be more dramatic if we go down 0-1 then come back 2-1. If the lads want to do that, that's fine with me. Just carry the plot out to its happy resolution.

Other MLS news:
Cuauhtémoc Blanco's sweet left-footed volley from Week 20 won Goal of the Year. It was a good goal, but I think Ngwenya's was the better goal, and a better representative of what we want other leagues to think of when they think of our players' offensive prowess. Ngwenya can be consoled that his teammates Robinson and Onstad also got screwed out of deserving awards. I think at least one of the two (E-Rob or Pat-O) should have one, given our record-setting defense this season.

3 days to the MLS Cup

Pep rally at Gallery Furniture tonight, 5:00 to 6:30. No players will be there (which begs the question: who will benefit from the peppiness?) but there will be free t-shirts.

USSoccerPlayers.com is doing a series on the MLS Cup. Yesterday it was Jaqua vs Heaps. Today it's Twellman vs Robinson. More to come, I presume.

Jaime Trecker, perennial critic of the MLS, has an article focusing on New England. He slips up a few times and reveals some compliments about Dynamo-Houston. He mentions that the Dynamo deserved last year's victory, notes that Houston is one of the teams with a large following, and says the Dynamo have "one of the most explosive attacks in American soccer." That is all effusive praise coming from the curmudgeonly Trecker.

The blog, Climbing the Ladder, has a pre-MLS Cup quiz where you get to voice your opinions.

Goal.com compares Boston and Houston. Boston (the city) edges Houston (the city), BTW.

Did you know that Nate Jaqua's dad played for the Washington Redskins in RFK, the site of this year's MLS Cup? I didn't.

MLS Cup - Newsclippings

An essay on the similarities and differences of the Cup contenders, Dynamo-Houston and the New England Revolution.

Here's an article discussing the philosophies behind the two teams. It has some opinion about the benevolence of Jair Marrufo when dealing with Nate Jaqua's foul on Jewsbury.

This piece by Greg Lalas in Sports Illustrated has more on the philosophies going head-to-head in this "mouth watering" match. So, we're the artists who play with heart, and we're facing the technicians who play methodically? I can handle that. Right brain vs left brain. Dionysus vs Apollo. Brazil vs Germany. (Okay, that last one might be a stretch.) I like the concept behind the article, and I even agree with it to a good extent, although the dichotomy is probably a bit more subtle than the metaphors suggest.

Like the previous article, the SI article concludes with criticism for Jaqua not receiving a red. Greg Lalas (brother to Alexi) even beseeches the Powers That Be to suspend Jaqua from the final, kind of like they did to excess with Clark, you know? If they could successfully plunder the Dynamo's squad by getting both Jaqua and Clark out, and add to that Ching's injury, we'd have ourselves a right boring contest for the League's marquee game. But that's okay because maybe Sunil Gulati's team would win.

Not surprisingly, current Rev Jay Heaps agrees with former Rev Greg Lalas. Heaps said, "Jaqua shouldn't be playing in the final. That was not just an elbow, he followed through with it." It's one thing for columnists to lobby for a suspension, but a player? That's poor sportsmanship at best.

And as the Revs lobby for the Dynamo squad to be depleted, I've got to wonder: Shouldn't they at least pretend to want to settle it on the field? Their best versus our best?

Western Conference Champs: 2007

It certainly was enjoyable seeing the Dynamo-Houston prove their reputation this season has been warranted. They have acquitted themselves well all season -- particularly in the vaunted international competitions -- but have brought home no additional silverware yet this year. Last night, they brought home some glassware in the form of the Western Conference Championship. Now they just need to get that silver trophy.

Last night's Western Conference face-off versus KC had its ups and downs, but and Dynamo-Houston looked like they should win the game, and that's exactly what they did. Chalk up another set-piece goal (Nate Jaqua's header off a Mulrooney corner in the first half) and another master strike from DeRosario in the second half (although it's been a while since he's sealed the deal with one of those).

Despite our quality, had the referee taken a harsher view of Jaqua's elbow on Jack Jewsbury, we might have been playing a man down for much more than 45 minutes, and that would have changed the complexion of the game. And if we still managed to win, it would prove to be pretty devastating if we had to face playing the MLS Cup without Jaqua AND Ching (assuming Ching's injured calf is severe).

Despite Jimmy Conrad's pointed and acerbic post-game remark ("I think Jaqua probably played more physically in those 90 minutes than I've seen anyone play in three or four years, so that's exciting for him."), both teams were very physical. For his part, Jaqua wasn't overly-physical except for that errant elbow on Jewsbury -- but it was that elbow that will be remembered by many, including the Wizards. There was plenty going around from both sides -- Garcia, Morsink, and Marinelli weren't above knocking down a player or two either.

Oddly, one of the least physical players was E-Rob, no doubt due to the yellow card he was carrying. Nevertheless, he and Cochrane were solid in the center of our back line. I have criticized Cochrane a lot over the course of the season, but he was a difference maker last night and looked out for his yellow-tinged wingman.

(On the other end, Conrad himself managed to do well enough without being particularly rough. Then again, he almost gave us an own-goal late in the game.)

Despite the fact that we out shot KC 11-3 (6-0 on goal), KC had some really good periods of possession. That could be due to their ability or due to our strategic decision to play soft for periods in order to rest up for the next inevitable surge. Either way, there were some scary moments.

I thought the rookie Harrington did extremely well in neutralizing Mullan on the flank. However, in focusing on the flanks, it seemed that the center was softened enough for us to take advantage there. On the other side of the ball, I thought Arnaud was giving Barrett everything Barrett could handle. I didn't realize Arnaud was that fast -- outrunning Barrett more than once?! I didn't think anyone could do that repeatedly. Luckily Barrett is quite capable and still managed to keep the flank service to a minimum.

Despite all of the "if's" and "almosts," the Dynamo truly looked to be the better team and deservedly left with the 2-0 clean sheet. Better yet: none of our yellow card carriers added to their collection, so our squad should be full strength as they meet the Revs.

Okay, almost full strength. What about Ching? The way he limped off the field in the second half was extremely disconcerting. He said he felt something "snap" in his calf as he lunged toward a cross that Brad Davis fought (and fought well) to get to him. If that calf is half as bad as it looked when Ching limped away (even after the game during the award ceremony), then he won't be playing next Sunday. Drats.

There were several aspects of the game that were unequivocally good:

My wife decided to ignore fashion traditions and wear orange boxers over her leggings (in addition to the usual orange jersey and Dynamo hat). That was a fun change of pace, and I think it created the necessary orange mojo aura that kept the Dynamo on top.

I sure got a charge seeing Craig Biggio's recorded well-wishes on the Jumbotron before the game. It's great seeing a Houston sports icon pulling for the newest members of the Houston sporting fraternity.

I never get tired of seeing Oliver Luck in his Orange blazer.

Great words from Wade Barrett on the awards podium after the match. He said everything that needed to be said. I loved seeing him crane into that tall microphone stand too. He is a mighty little man. It was great seeing the elation of the players.

Hey, what was with Don Garber not making the game? He awarded the Eastern Conference Championship to New England, but we get a presentation by a play-by-play guy? Max Bretos, the voice of the Galaxy? Was there something more soccer-related going on in Garber's (and every one of his fellow East-coast suits') schedule? Does he only attend if ESPN can broadcast his visage? Does he only attend if his pal Sunil Gulati's team is involved? Does he like to insinuate preferential treatment and bias at the league's headquarters? Or was he afraid to share the stage with Ricardo Clark? I hope there is a good explanation for the oversight.

But what was NOT an oversight was the inclusion of the Caledon 3 Tenors into a second consecutive match. I guess they were well received at the FCD match last Friday, because last night they again sang the Star Spangled Banner. Maybe the front office was so pleased with the results of the FCD match that they didn't want to change anything -- just in case. Caledon even expanded their role last night, as they were on the pitch at halftime singing "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)." Outstanding fare, that!

The fallout of the Caledon halftime song was that the Dynamo Girls were doing their Michael Jackson tribute as the teams were returning to the field, forcing the D-Girls' song to be cut off early. It might have been better had the dance captain/leader/whatever worked out something with the girls so they wouldn't have to collapse into chaos when the music stopped prematurely. I was waiting for the bigger disaster to strike as the players from both teams were walking right by the pyrotechnic box. It took forever before a technician started steering the players to a safe distance.

Speaking of danger on the pitch: what was with all of the slipping players? Players were skidding right and left. I particularly remember DeRo trying to cut in the KC box, then slipping and losing the ball. E-Rob slipped as Sealy cut past him once (luckily Barrett was there to cover). This is something that the equipment manager should realize during warmups: what kind of cleats are necessary for the turf conditions. This is particularly true when it's one's home field.

Speaking of DeRo, I thought he did extremely well overall. He was the conductor for most of the game, setting up some great opportunities for others. He had an excellent through pass for Ching in the box. He had an excellent drive bearing down on the far corner that was saved by Hartman and led to the corner that resulted in Jaqua's game winner. In the second half, DeRo looked fatigued. He lost the ball a few times when he looked indecisive (or, more likely, was too tired to do what he wanted to do). I thought he showed poor judgment in the second half when he was driving to the goal with only the GK in front of him, but he chose to pass the ball off to Jaqua. The ball didn't make it to Jaqua; it was intercepted by Conrad in what nearly became an own-goal. DeRo needs to take responsibility on these occasions and take the shot -- and that's exactly what he did the next time, when he beat Hartman at the near post with a low, hard blast from the edge of the box. Fatigue can certainly be understood and excused, and he had a great game overall. Welcome back DeRo!

Perhaps the best aspect of the game was the enormity (and the zeal) of the fan support. An announced 30,972 showed up, and the Chronicle reported that some had to be turned away at the gate. Curt Onalfo, the KC Coach, said, "When we see crowds like that, it makes you realize that you've kind of arrived. The crowd was wonderful, and I thought they certainly helped their home team." His team captain, Jimmy Conrad, agreed, "Obviously, the crowd plays a big part, and if we had our crowd behind us as opposed to getting booed every time we touched the ball, that would probably make a big difference. That's our first thing, is that our goal next year is to make sure that we have home-field advantage going into the playoffs."

The significance of this connection between the city and the Dynamo was recognized even by "mainstream" sports columnists.

Perhaps this is the best legacy of the game, not only the quality on the field, not only another chance to win the championship, but the realization of how soccer is to be appreciated (as compared to other sports) and the confirmation of the integration of the team into the fabric of our international city.

I'll have some thoughts about the MLS Cup soon. Must rest.

Western Conference final

Tonight, KC battles Houston at Robertson for the right to face New England in the MLS Cup. (Game guide.) The media and all of the soccer intelligentsia are predicting a Dynamo win. Such forgone conclusions always worry me.

Nevertheless, the Dynamo should win, as long as they do two simple things:
1. Get the ball in the net profusely, as they are sometimes known to do, rather than shooting everything wide or to the goalkeeper, as they are sometimes known to do.
2. Do everything else (midfield possession, defensive lockdown, dangerous runs up the middle, dangerous crosses across the goal) just like they always do.

With item #2 being a Dynamo staple even in their losing games, item #1 is the true wildcard with this game. Can Dynamo Houston score? Can they score multiple times?

And in order for the night to be really successful, Dynamo-H must not only win, but they must do so without any red cards whatsoever and without yellow cards being issued to DeRosario, Mulrooney, Onstad, and Robinson. All of these guys would be difficult to replace in the MLS Cup.

Wouldn't it stink if the Superbowl of the MLS had the stars of the game sitting out? That would be true even if you didn't have a rooting interest. Yet, it's a very real possibility when the first round of the playoffs involves a rivalry opponent.

Perhaps these are worries for another day. For tonight, we just have to focus on doing what we do best, and on that item #1.

I'll be wearing my tacky Dynamo shirt (the freebie from last year with Fiesta Taxi and other ads on it) since it had such good mojo for our match versus Dallas. It ain't pretty, but it's proven effective.

Go Dynamo!

Killing their way to another MLS Cup

Yet again, the New England Revolution will grace the MLS Cup with their special brand of anti-soccer. Beating the Chicago Fire with an acrobatic chileno from Taylor Twellman, all the more impressive because he had two defenders pressing him hard, the Revs are in their third straight MLS Cup match.

Raise your hand if you thought "That's it: the only goal we'll see in this match" after Twellman scored. It's difficult to type with one hand in the air, but I'm a trooper.

The Revs were aided by an ineffective Wanchope who appeared able to take any half-chance and turn it into a no chance. I think Osorio was too late in inserting Carr --Wanchope looked like he would never score. I'm not a big fan of Blanco, but he has to be irritated with his quality passes being wasted by Barrett and Wanchope. Rolfe had some good shots from distance, but nothing that panned out. I think his battered body will do well with an off-season of rest.

Credit should go to the Revs ability to defend -- some would say "kill a game" -- and protect their lead. Shalrie Joseph, Michael Parkhurst, and Matt Reis are some of the best at this.

We're halfway to a rematch of last year's MLS Cup -- a match-up that most of the US soccer community is dreading. The only thing worse than a Dynamo-Rev match-up would be a Wizards-Rev match-up. Let's hope that the latter doesn't come to pass.

And given the success of Boston in football (with the Pats winning the Superbowl and undefeated so far this season) and baseball (with the Red Sox -- the new New York Yankees some would say -- sweeping the World Series), the Revs seem destined to win the MLS Cup. That would give them the domestic double, them having already won the US Open Cup.

However, if there is a pantheon of gods that governs soccer, the Revs will not be rewarded with a win, and either KC or the Dynamo will take the silver ball. I think Lark Howorth said it as well as anybody: "...the skillful cynicism Nicol brings to the playoffs, especially with the talent he has, frankly has met its just end in all his three MLS Cup finals. I'm so glad we've got a Dynamo team to support that's more interested in winning playoff games via scoring goals, rather than locking down opponents in tactical stalemates."

Word.

I haven't always been a Revs hater, by the way. In fact, I had been impressed with the quality of their individual talent over the years. But seeing them play in person at Robertson over the past two years made me realize that this is a team that hurts the sport. In both instances (2006 and this year), the Dynamo played open, possession-style soccer against a prosaic, cynical opponent that had prostituted its game. Last year's match ended 1-1 and this year's 0-1. Credit the Revs for earning 4 out of 6 points in 2006 and 2007; but they also earned my spite for squashing the creativity from either team and for confirming the haters' stereotype of soccer being boring and banal.

Since I've turned this piece into a bit of a Revs-bashing, I guess I'll continue.

How about Michael Parkhurst as the MLS Defender of the Year? He is a talented defender to be sure, and did you know that he only garnered 5 yellow cards and no red cards all year? Isn't that amazing? It must be: it's mentioned in nearly every article about the young defender.

Is it right that he beat out a player (E-Rob) on a team that conceded 20 fewer goals than his team and another player (Claudi Suarez) on a team that conceded 15 fewer? And Suarez playes for Chivas USA, which conceded fewer goals while also playing an open, attacking style of play. Parkhurst was at the core of a defense that allowed 9 more than even lowly Colorado -- and that's with a keeper as good as Reis in the nets behind him (and a defensive style of play ingrained by Coach Nichol). Maybe Parkhurst should have fouled more.

Despite the stats, Parkhurst is indeed a good defender, and I can't say that the award is an abomination. It's not like giving Eddie Johnson the Comeback Player of the Year award or anything. (What exactly did Eddie comeback from? Underachievement? And does half a good season constitute a comeback?) But I think it says a lot about the MLS when "feel good stories" win out over performance; and the Dynamo's record-setting defense -- which smashed the previous 29 goal record by conceding only 23 goals -- doesn't win a single award. Onstad in particular was slighted.

As for Parkhurst's only goal (and only shot) of his career -- his 60-yard shot versus Toronto this year -- being up for Goal of the Year: it's interesting how the MLS got this into the running despite the fact that it wasn't selected as the best goal even in the week it occurred. (Granted, that's probably due to the votes of overzealous Toronto fans voting for Dichio the same week.) The goal is certainly impressive due to its rarity (haven't seen one since Dwayne DeRosario's shot versus Chicago and Zach Thornton last year), and Lord knows the fans love goals from really, really, really far away (with bicycle kicks right up there). I can't argue that both types of goals aren't impressive, but Parkhurst's feat has the air of luck and coincidence about it. I think a better GOTY would be one that demonstrates intentional skill.

Joseph Ngwenya's doesn't have the "gee-whiz" factor that surrounds a fortuitous strike; however, it does impress due to its focused application of skill. In fact, it is the type of feat that proves that we have skillful players here in the MLS. I think that is what the MLS should emphasize and laud: skill. It seems that we should want the world to know that we are a league of talented players, rather than knowing us as a league that has some lucky blokes every now and then -- because everyone has blind luck from time to time.

When you get a chance, vote for GOTY.

The final home game of 2008

So we get our wish and face KC in the Western Conference finals. This was our wish not because KC is a pushover, but because we get to play them in Houston. This doesn't make the game any easier (we've yet to beat them at Robertson), but it makes it a game that we fans can attend -- and that's really what's important, right?

Yeah, we've never beaten KC here. The first Dynamo game I attended was versus KC, our second game for the franchise. We lost 1-2 off a late Goal of the Week bullet from Burciaga. This year, we managed to eke out a 1-1 tie (Johnson got the opening goal, then taunted the fans). Our only win versus "the Wiz" came this year in KC, with Ianni -- yes, Ianni -- getting the lone goal of the match. We haven't had much offensive production against the Midwesterners.

What does this mean? Well, nothing we don't already know. In order to move on to the MLS Cup in DC, we're going to have to work hard, control the possession at midfield, be prepared for the fast breaks by Eddie Johnson and Scott Sealy, close down Burciaga well outside the penalty box when he comes forward, and, most importantly, finish the opportunities we create. It's pretty much the same as with any opponent we face; just the names and jersey colors have changed.

As Jimmy Conrad, ESPN web-comedian/commentator and KC's captain and defensive talisman says, "They're playing at home so they're probably excited about that. We played them well during the season but it's just a one-off game. They're going to have their fans but we dealt with the Chivas fans tonight and that'll give us confidence."

With our defensive prowess, we can probably limit KC's goal-scoring, so it's really our goal-scoring ability that's going to decide this. That's not brain surgery, I know.

Here's hoping that Dynamo-Houston isn't complacent and plays with the edge it has whenever its season is on the line. Anything can happen in a single game, and let's hope that the quality of the Dynamo is the deciding factor.

Regardless, I'll be there cheering. Hopefully we have a good turnout given that this game won't have the Beckham-package tickets filling out the stands.

San Jose Watch
In other news, Frank Yallop has resigned as head coach of the LA Galaxy. This is good for Frank. This is good for San Jose. Heck, it may be good for LA if they can get a coach like Jurgen Klinsmann -- he might be able to overcome Alexi Lalas' cluelessness.

It's also good for Houston: Dom won't be leaving now. We just need to make sure they keep their hands off our players...

Showing our Quality! (Conference Semis 2nd Leg)

What an awesome evening tonight.

Sitting in Section 118 (turns out I've been sitting near the Mezzanine owners all this season), the crowd was vocal and spirited. In fact, every section was roaring...well, except for the FCD Inferno section above the south goal, which was deathly quiet after Ching scored the game winning (and series tying) goal. With more than 30,000 people -- most in orange -- Robertson was a cauldron that would will the team to victory.

As I expected, the Dynamo controlled possession and territory. We had 2-3 near goals in the first 10 minutes. (I can't believe the stadium officials didn't notice the Ref's signaling of the free kick for FCD -- not a goal for Houston -- after the near-goal in the first minute...how deflating to make everyone think we tied the aggregate right out of the gate.) It was all orange on the field. As I feared, we couldn't turn our chances into goals. I couldn't see much in the south goal (due to my viewing angles), but it looked like the ball was practically bouncing off a Plexiglas shield. We were doomed to lose to an inferior team, 1-0. And to make matters worst, 5-Star took my bags of free cookies when I entered the stadium...at least I got to keep my free orange boxers.

But that was the first half.

[Note that the most important part of the evening occurred at the beginning of halftime, when birthday wishes for my wife were broadcast on the Jumbotron. Happy XXth birthday, honey!]

The second half was much better than the first. A hearty shout-out to former Houstonian, Arturo Alvarez, for losing his head and kneeing Davis in the groin in the opening minutes of the second half. Alvarez had looked pretty creative at times in the first half, and was now leaving his team short-handed. It seems another former Houstonian, Chris Gbandi, did the same last year in FCD's series versus the Rapids. Alvarez's departure helped open up the field more, and allowed Dom to immediately sub in Holden for Waibel and switch to a 3-5-2.

More Dynamo possession ensued. Then goals. Lots of goals! A plethora of goals! A cornucopia of goals! I feel a Haiku coming on!

Always creative,
Yet tonight we finish too,
In our orange cauldron.

First, Holden gets his nifty half volley off a Ching-headed layoff. Then Ching evens the series and gets the game winner by finishing off a perfectly timed through pass from D-Ro. In the waning moments of regulation, Ching misses another sitter. Would he regret that? No! Because he gets the series winner off a pass from Ngwenya in the first half of overtime. Just to seal the deal, Brad Davis shoots a dynamite laser of a free kick into the upper 90. Dallas become frantic but ineffective in the second half of overtime, and Dynamo-Houston wins 4-1 (4-2 agg.) to face either Chivas USA or KC Wizards in the Western Conference Championship. I'm pulling for KC so we get one more home game.

This game had everything: Noise. Bad officiating. Evil doers (Ruiz). Turncoats (Serioux stomping on Holden's neck...though I'm sure that's an accident). Bad guys taking a formidable lead; good guys overcoming adversity and winning in the end. Margaritas (but at $10...yikes!).

Rico Clark came onto the field on crutches and sat in the field chairs (with John Michael Hayden) right in front of us during the second half.

At the end of the game, the team considerately walked to every end of the stadium, applauding the fans. DeRo wore Rico's jersey (backwards, so Clark's name and number 13 were highly visible) in honor of his teammate who will have to sit out this match and every other match this season because of the captain of the opponent that was vanquished tonight.

And when that talisman of disrepute, Ruiz, scored the opening goal of tonight's match, it looked like the MLS might have successfully conspired to reward the maleficent while shackling the innocent (though admittedly tarnished innocent). Ruiz should not have been on the field tonight given his role in the incident with Clark, but the MLS didn't seem to have a problem with that. But since he was on the field, so should Clark have been.

And then to have Ruiz's antics coddled by the Referee tonight? Stupefying.

I guess I'm a callous sadist, because I enjoyed Ruiz getting injured by his own teammates as he strutted his stuff after his goal, taunting the fans, then tripping over the ad boards. He grabbed his head afterwards, of course. He grabbed his cranium a lot all night, not that it bothered the refs.

But all that is merely introductory exposition to set up the real story of the night: the good can prevail with hard work, skill, esprit de corps, and tens of thousands of people behind you.

Lurking through the BigSoccer boards post-game, I found a few quotes that made me feel good about the team I support:

[Regarding Houston] : Nobody else is beating Houston if they keep playing like this.

[Regarding FCD]: If the Front Office wants to know why PHP isn't full next year, they should play the tape of this game. Three years running, three implosions. Stupid, dirty play. Overreacting to fouls. ... The worst is, I really feel sad for all of you hard-core fans. This team doesn't deserve you.

[Regarding Houston fans, a left-handed compliment]: Absolutely. They have great, albeit stupid, retarded, rabid fans. Good for them. It doesn't seem right, of course, but that's life.

All of these quotes came from FCD fans, who praise the Dynamo and Dynamo supporters, and question the nature of their own team. I do wish FCD would gain some class (which would start by ditching Ruiz), but them having no class makes it so much easier to despise them. Having said that, I was impressed with the FCD fans, who drove a long way on a weeknight, and were quite boisterous. If I were to offer an opinion, it would be that they need to learn some songs to sing when things aren't going their way. They looked despondent when the balance turned on the field; perhaps some clamorous songs would hide their own trepidation while inspiring their team to reverse the tables yet again.

Those were quotes from opposing fans. Now for some quotes from the Dynamo, go here.

I'm tired and my throat aches. Off to bed. Go Dynamo!

Showing our Quality? (Conference Semis 2nd Leg)

Tonight we finish off the second leg of the Conference Semifinals. (Game Guide.) Basically, win and we move on; lose and the season is over.

Last night's DC-Chicago game shows that the better team doesn't always move on. The MLS championship goes to the team currently in the better form.

With our defense, I don't see us conceding a goal tonight, and surely not more than one. In the middle of the field, I'm sure we'll dominate possession and territory. The only question is in the attacking third. We'll create opportunities, but can we finish them? That's been a recurring bug-a-boo all year, and the answer to that question will determine if our season continues or if we take a hiatus until next season.

And that hiatus will not even include international play in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. We have to win the MLS Cup to get there. (DCU has earned one berth based on winning the Supporters' Shield.) So, other than the standard warmup at the Carolina Challenge Cup, we'll have no soccer action until the 2008 season begins. In the meantime, we'll be weathering an uncertain off-season with an expansion draft for San Jose and other events that could change the character of the team we know so well.

But let's not consider that now. We're not in the grave, just playing in the cemetery. Score, and we move on. If we're ahead by only one goal at the end of 90 minutes, we'll get more time to score more. Score, and we move on. If we're still ahead by only one goal at the end of 120 minutes, we'll go to penalties. Score, and we move on.

The secret, methinks, lies in scoring.

Win or lose, my family and I will be in Row B of Section 118. It's been a good season. I hope it continues for a couple of more games.

Go Dynamo!

Dynamo's record-setting defense draws no respect

Brad Guzan was selected as MLS Goalkeeper of the year by votes from the "media, players, coaches and general managers." Guzan is a talented keeper who looks to have a bright future ahead of him, but you'd think the award would go to the GK who had a record setting season.

Onstad was on the team that set records for most consecutive minutes (726) without conceding a goal, for fewest goals (23) conceded in the season, and for fewest goals conceded per game (an amazing 0.766). Onstad had the best goals against average (0.83) and the second most shutouts (11, second to Guzan's 13) of the season. And to do that at 39 years old? Impressive.

Guzan will surely win this award again. Will he be able to break the records the Dynamo set this season? I doubt it; Dynamo-H completely blew out the records that had stood through the millennium. If he were to break the record, I suppose someone besides him would get the awards and accolades that season, in order to keep the precedence established this season.

Michael Parkhurst of NE is the favorite to win MLS Defender of the Year on Monday. Eddie Robinson is also contending for that prize. Parkhurst is a young, solid, talented defender who plied his trade while committing only 5 fouls and earning no cards in the regular season. I can't argue with Parkhurst's selection should he take the award, but I do find it interesting that the Dynamo's record-setting defense has no one that the MLS considers worthy of recognition.

In other news where the MLS slights the Dynamo:
Ricardo Clark's appealed his "record-setting" 9-game suspension and accompanying $10,000 fine. Late last night, the disciplinary committee (comprised of Don Garber) upheld the punishment set by the disciplinary committee (comprised of Don Garber). Don Garber may be manipulative, cabalistic, tenditious, and soccer-obtuse, but at least this businessman is consistent.

(Side note: At the beginning of this season, I liked Garber and thought him unfairly criticized for the most part. I'm not sure what, specifically, has caused me in the interim to turn a jaundiced eye towards his machinations, but the whole Clark-Ruiz iniquity did play a role.)

Ricardo is going to spend his time off under the surgeon's knife, so maybe he'll be able to come out of this suspension in better health.

The Weekend's Anti-soccer

The US Soccer Players blog (I site I now regularly hit) has its take on the recent first round leg matches of the conference semis. Here are some highlights:

"We wanted to play and go forward but, at the end of the day, who cares?" Revs' coach Steve Nicol told the Boston Globe.

It's naive to imagine that Nicol might worry about entertaining the 14,165 fans who came to watch. But to say "who cares?" like an insouciant teenager suggests he thinks that everyone watching his dull but efficient team in the playoffs is similarly fixated on "smart play" and the final result as he is. The thought of the revs making it through to the MLS Cup Final again is, frankly, depressing.

Regarding the Dynamo match:

Steve Morrow reverted to the British stereotype, breaking up all opposing plays with niggly fouls and using the big lad Adrian Serioux to launch in as many long (and arguably foul) throws as possible in the hope that one might careen around and land in the right place. It worked, with Clarence Goodson banging in a loose ball for the only goal of an intense but extremely poor game of soccer.

Dallas committed 23 fouls in the game, to Houston's eight. The Dynamo, sometimes seen as the Revs of the West, deserved a tie at least for their effort, and because they weren't as dirty as their opponents. It's a strange game when you end up feeling sympathy for Eddie Robinson, the victim of yet another discreet Carlos Ruiz elbow to the face.

Ruiz continued his mediocre form, showing no on-field rapport at all with the lumbering Kenny Cooper. In the end, you prayed for a cameo five minutes from Denilson just to watch him backheel the ball and remind you that this was really supposed to be a game of soccer, and not hands-free rugby played by panicky, over-developed third-graders.

"We made it difficult for them to establish a rhythm," Dallas defender Bobby Rhine told the Dallas Morning News in the understatement of the weekend. Congratulations, Bobby. And did you wonder why there were only twelve and a half thousand people in the stadium for what should have been the biggest game of the season?

Check out Ian Plenderleith's article for his perspective on the entire weekend.

Conference Semis, Leg 1: Point, Counterpoint

Sam Sunshine: This was an excellent result for the Dynamo. The team thrives on adversity. Being down 0-1 gives them the focus they need to get to the next round.

Gloomy Gus: This is a horrible result. For no good reason whatsoever, the Dynamo have had atrocious finishing this year. They scored only one goal in the opening month of the league, and were held scoreless in 5 of the first 7 games. We sometimes can't even score against 10-man teams, like the Red Bulls and even lowly Toronto. We've now been held scoreless in two matches in a row, and we need to score TWO now in the next game if we want to progress … and for even that to work, we also have to keep Dallas from scoring any more.

SS: All good points, but I don't see HD being shutout three games in a row now that they're in their in-season form. Besides, we've been in this position before, with Chivas last year.

GG: Aha! But Chivas is an attack-oriented team, even back then. They opened up the field, and we could take advantage of that. Dallas will look to preserve the tie. They'll come out "aggressive" in the first 5 minutes, then spend the remaining 85 minutes bunkered in and looking for the counter attack. They're coached by an ex-Arsenal defender, for cryin' out loud -- they'll know how to kill the game. They won't open up at all, and we've proven that we cannot score one, much less two, versus a bunker -- no matter how poor the team is.

SS: Yes, but if we score one, the game will open up. We have the best defense in the league, talented wingers, a creative attacking midfielder, and one of the best target forwards in the MLS. We can get that one goal. Besides, we're at home.

GG: Our talent can certainly dominate games. They can also not score in games where they otherwise dominate.

SS: We can also score multiple times. In the month of September, we scored 11 times in 4 games. Not bad.

GG: I just worry that our mojo -- our magical juju -- is gone. The defense is great, so FCD may not get another goal; but 1 goal may be all FCD needs to end this. We may not get the one we need.

SS: I hope you're wrong.

GG: At least we agree on that.

First Leg: at FCD

Tonight, my sister-in-law (my wife's sister) gets married in a ceremony that involves the whole family. This is relevant because it explains what I'll be doing instead of trekking to Frisco to watch the first leg of the Dynamo's Western Conference Semifinal match-up versus FC Dallas. (Game guide.) I have already taken measures to record Channel 55 (The Tube) and to charge up my Blackberry for on-the-spot updates.

Dynamo-Houston has owned Dallas this year. That does not make me comfortable whatsoever. Dallas has a lot of talent at midfield (Toja, Ricchetti, Alvarez, and even Denilson if he decides to finally show up) and some potentially dangerous strikers (Alvarez again and even Ruiz, who has been anemic so far but may be saving it up for the playoffs). Their defense is suspect, but at times so is our striking ability.

The good news is that the players don't seem to be taking FCD lightly. Of course, one may sometimes say the right things, but deep down feel comfortable enough that it affects one's game.

I'm hoping for at least a 1 goal advantage on the road, then increasing our headway in Robertson next week. You with me?

And did you vote for GOTY today?

Goal of the Year

Following up on the previous post on Dynamo goals, the MLS GOTY contest has begun, with several Dynamo in the running:

Davis Week 12 (June)
Holden Week 14 (July)
Ngwenya Week 15 (July)
DeRo Week 16 (July)

I believe the choices include all of the GOTW winners, plus some extras. (Parkhurst's shot from the halfway line in the final week, for instance, lost to Dichio's spinning volley the same week, but both are candidates for GOTY.)

Here's a summary of the rules:

Who scored the best goal of the 2007 MLS season? You, the fans, have been tasked with helping us narrow down 34 great goals down to five finalists and then deciding the winner. Check out the goals below and and make your selection. There are three rounds of voting with this first round concluding on Oct. 31. You may vote up to 10 times a day, but may vote for only one goal at a time. The winner will be announced on Nov. 16. Note: if you are under the age of 18, you must choose to not receive email communication in order to vote.

So vote early and often! (And if you're torn, you can't go wrong with Ngwenya's skillful shot; long range missles aren't the only way to define a quality shot.)

2007 Regular Season Goals

Dynamo Houston scored 43 goals this past season. The "Climbing the Ladder" blog posted the highlight top 10 goals for the team on Youtube. Here they are (turn the sound down if, like me, you hate rap):


I'd swap #1 and #2, but other than that, can't argue too much.

Well, the good news is...

Games like last night's Dynamo-Chivas match are exercises in frustration. (Recap.) We're up a man (a gift from the referee if you ask me) and we muster loads of possession, but not a single goal. When a good team has a man advantage, that should mean at least a goal, right? Not with the Dynamo, as proven this year versus RBNY, Colorado, Toronto, and Columbus (the last two being in Houston). In fact, when the red card was issued I said aloud, "This one's ending in a scoreless tie."

Last night the finishing touch was off, but often so was the touch to set up the finishing touch. With Jesse Marsch out, I thought D-Ro would have a field day. Instead, he was marked tightly the whole night and never had room to do anything, and his rhythm was taken from him. After going a man up, he had better play, but even so, the real problem wasn't what happened at center midfield, it was what happened (or didn't happen) along the flanks and in the attacking third. It's a frustratingly frequent occurrence with the Dynamo: they come up impotent in the final third. As Lark Howorth bluntly put it,"the Dynamo played with a passionate incompetence."

Although the big problem was in the attacking end, we were pushing forward so hard that our back line was sometimes unorganized and gave Chivas some extremely dangerous opportunities. In fact, the best save of the night wasn't on the 10-man side, it was Onstad stopping a point blank blast from Klejstan on a counter in stoppage time. Still, I thought Mullan did extremely well as the right back shutting down Maykel Galindo. On the other side of the field, it's a bit unnerving to see Wade Barrett being subbed out. An injury to him would make things harder in the playoffs.

Let's not dwell on the loss, because there were some good things to come from the match:
1) Not having home field advantage isn't that big of a problem. Why do I say that? Because this team excels when its back is up against the wall. Give the team an advantage (like going a man up), and it struggles. Give them obstacles to overcome, and the players meet the challenge.

2) We now play FC Dallas in the first round. Despite having had Dallas' number since the founding of the Dynamo, and particularly this season, FCD will not be a pushover. In fact, they might be gunning for us particularly hard. The Rico incident and the loss of El Capitan can be avenged in their minds if they end our season. Still, you've got to like the match up between the two sides, particularly since we play the second match in Robertson on Friday, November 2. The Dynamo should have no trouble getting up for this match. How will the paroled criminal, Carlos Ruiz, be greeted?

3) After the FCD match...If Chivas gets by KC, we'll face an overconfident Chivas at the HDC. We haven't won there, so we're due. If Chivas falls to KC, we face KC in Robertson. Our home record in vital games like these is stellar. We're 0-1-1 versus the Wizards in Houston; again, we're due.

4) Winning 5 games in a row is very difficult (RSL, Chivas, then the two-leg semis assumed to be 1 game, then the Conference finals, then the MLS Cup). Now we have to win only 3 games in a row. Much easier statistically.

5) With the shutout, we have officially set the record for fewest goals conceded in a season (23 beats the 29 goal record held by LA, KC, and San Jose). We have also set a record for fewest goals conceded per game (0.766 gpg, versus 0.906 gpg held by LA and KC). As far as our performance compared to other teams just this season: our goal differential is +20, second only to DC United's +22 goal differential this season. We've also had 13 clean sheets this season (11 for Onstad, 2 for Wells). Onstad's shutout record is behind only Guzan's 13 shutouts for Chivas USA this season.

6) Ianni didn't get sent off. His tackle on Galindo in the 68th minute or so was nearly identical to the one that got Chivas' Vaughn sent off. It was an unnecessary and foolish tackle at that point, yet the young and inexperienced Ianni was lucky to not have made his team suffer any consequences, which would have been particularly difficult given Robinson and Cochrane were already out. This protects our depth in central defense for the next match.

7) Dom Kinnear managed to soothe Preki's feelings before leaving LA. Dom had a beef with Preki's assistant coach, who was lobbying the referee hard to have a Dynamo player kicked out of the game. After the game, Dom shook Preki's hand, but wanted nothing to do with the assistant coach. Preki stuck up for his assistant, and he and Dom got into a heated argument before being separated. In a post-game interviews, Dom said he went over and talked to Preki afterwards to smooth over the incident, and Preki mentioned that it was a minor incident and he has the utmost respect for Dom. This is good for two reasons: it demonstrates yet again how we are blessed with a mature, respectable coach; and it doesn't give Preki any "locker room fodder" to get his troops more motivated than they will normally be should we meet them in the conference championship.

First things first: the FCD series starts this week. We don't have to beat them in both legs, but we should really focus on leaving Frisco with nothing less than a tie, then finishing them off here in Houston. Then again...maybe we need to lose to them in Frisco in order to get the job done here in Houston. You know, part of that "obstacles to overcome" strategy. Go Dynamo!

All the marbles

Tonight we face Chivas in a match that will decide the Western Conference. (Game guide.) Winner takes the conference and home field advantage, with a tie being the same as a win for Chivas. Dynamo will be without key defensive core players with Robinson (red card), Cochrane (yellow accumulation), and Clark (suspension) all out. Bernardo Fallas reports that Dominic Kinnear will use Ianni in the center (natch), move Waibel alongside him, push Mullan to right back (interesting...), with Holden as right midfielder and D-Ro and Mulrooney as the AM and DM, respectively.

Something else to watch: should the Dynamo hold Chivas to 4 or fewer goals tonight, then we set a record for fewest goals conceded in a season (current record: 29) and fewest goals per game conceded in a season (current record: 0.906 goals per game). We currently have conceded 23 goals. Should we allow no more than 27, then we'll have a 0.9 gpg ratio.

Back to the results: While I'm of the opinion that the Dynamo might do better if they don't have the cushy road to the MLS Cup, I'm also of the opinion that winning is always good. Win or lose tonight, though, we can't lose after tonight if we want to reach the MLS Cup. (Technically we could lose one leg of the conference semis and make up the difference in the other leg, but let's not go that route.)

So, if we win tonight, we will play either the Rapids, Fire, Wizards, or Galaxy in the first round of the playoffs next week. If we lose, we face a vengeful FC Dallas in the first round playoff series. I wonder how much Carlo Ruiz would be booed in our home leg of that series.

Go Dynamo!

Pilgrimage to the Cathedral of (US) Soccer

This past week, business took me to Southern California. Luckily, there was an MLS game during my stay and I was able to finally visit the much heralded "Cathedral of the MLS" -- aka the Home Depot Center.

I haven't been to many MLS stadia, which I hope to rectify over time. I've been to Robertson (of course) and the Cotton Bowl (which the Burn have since vacated), so I don't have much to compare to the HDC. It is a very nice facility and easily better than the Dynamo's home. The seating is nice, with excellent sight lines. The luxury suites are, well, luxurious and of the highest standard. (I swear I saw a shaggy B-list star in one, but I just can't place the face exactly.) There are lots of snack bars, lots of Galaxy-related artwork festooning the place, and restrooms that don't look like they belong in a backwater prison. The field is large (which I prefer) and pristine -- no sign of the X-games on this night.

I came across a parking lot that was down Victoria Street a bit, along Birch Knoll Dr. It posted a $15 fee, which is $5 more than the stadium parking around Robertson. I thought parking any closer to the stadium would involve even higher costs, so I took it. This involved quite a hike through the campus of California State University-Domnguez Hills, and across the parking lots fronting the eastern edge of the stadium. Thankfully, the weather was cool and crisp.

I circled the stadium before finding will call (at the North Gate if you're interested). I got in line just as the gates opened, an hour and a half before game time. A couple from San Jose was in front of me and noticed the Dynamo hat and shirt I was sporting. We got to talking about the old Earthquakes, the new team starting out in San Jose next year, and how we hoped RBNY would end LA's dream that night. The couple had been to several Quake games before the move. They would travel down to watch them play LA in the HDC. In LA, they were able to stay with other supporters in the same hotel as the team, and would even have drinks with the players after the game in the hotel lounge. On Sundays when the Reserve team had a game, the fans would mingle with the first team players and their families in a picnic-style environment at an ordinary field where the game was held. Sounds like good times, and I can clearly see why the fans were sad to see the team go.

But while the fan support was ardent, it wasn't widespread. The couple mentioned that there were season openers where only 6,000 people showed up, and there was absolutely no media coverage whatsoever. They have been really impressed with how the team has been accepted by the Houston fans and covered by the Houston media. Last year the couple rooted for the Dynamo, but this year they said the team was Houston's team, and they're looking forward to next year's return of the Quakes. They do hope they're able to pilfer a few of their former players though.

I took a counter-clockwise ramble around the stadium. Besides the concessions and souvenirs, there were vendor booths and a local band was playing -- kind of like what Houston has outside its stadium. I grabbed one of the free t-shirts commemorating Cobi Jones' career (this being Cobi's final regular season home game appearance before retirement). I saw Rob Stone walking up the stairs from the field, then found a booth selling Guinness, Harps, and Smithwick's. For $9 a pop, it's only $2 more than the usual stadium swill, so I had to partake of a "Smithicks."

Sipping my drink I stood above the field level seats, not far from the supporters' corner, and watched the Galaxy warm up. Beckham was there, but not with the starting team. He was just booting the ball around, mostly with Chris Albright. I was actually standing at about ground level, with the field and seating section below me having been dug out of the ground. The field level seats are built on concrete terraces. The sidelines sport actual chairs, while the corners and areas behind the goals have metal bleachers with seatbacks. The second tier (which is on only the eastern side of the stadium) have a metal base and the same bleachers with backs. I moseyed up to my seats in the second tier: Section 234, Row PP, Seat 25. I was 4 rows from the top, right on the aisle.

The crowd was very light, even by time the teams and refs were trooping out onto the field. An American Idol contestant (Kimberly Caldwell? Never heard of her.) sang the Star Spangled Banner well, if way too slowly. Then there was a tribute to Cobi and his career. The video screen displayed well wishes from current and past teammates. Cheers rang out for Kevin Hartman, Sigi Schmidt, and especially Mauricio Cienfuegos. Boos rang out for Steve Sampson. Alexi Lalas and Don Garber (mild boos here) made some trite on-field comments, and then Paul Caliguiri, Eric Wynalda (more boos), and Alexi posed for a picture with Cobi. With the chill in the air, it was no surprise seeing the RBNY players passing the ball around in their half rather than participating in the ceremony. After a while, even the Gals started kicking the ball around trying to keep warm.

When the game actually started, the seats were filling up. I sat next to a family of Galaxy supporters, and behind a guy from NJ who was pulling for RBNY (though he also cheered for Becks and even Edson Buddle). There were a lot of youth soccer teams in the crowd. Being on the metal-floored second tier, the footstomping of the crowd seemed especially loud. Throughout the game, the chants of the supporters' group (just below me and to my left) were spirited, and the crowds cheers, jeers, and footstomping was raucous. I thought there was a good atmosphere.

RBNY came out seeking the early goal, but the match was filled mostly by poor passing and poor touch from both teams, and no rhythm by either team. Inattentive defending led to good opportunities for both teams. LA took the lead first off a blown corner kick, but RBNY's Jozy Altidore evened the score soon after on an unmarked header. The Galaxy wisely covered Juan Pablo Angel tightly, but he still had many opportunities, and missed at least two that he should have finished. Even with those fluffs, JPA looked to be a level above the rest of the players on the field.

Oh yeah, David Beckham came in around the 68th minute. I suppose a few people cheered at this event and a few flashbulbs went off in the crowd. His first two plays were a missed header then a foul from a poor tackle. His corners showed that he's a bit rusty, so it was good that he got some minutes in.

The score ended in a draw, so the Galaxy's chances for a post-season berth remain solid, tragically.

On the long walk back to my car, I asked a couple if the crowd was usually that lively. They said that the crowd was larger and louder than usual. Usually they're "pretty laid back except after a goal." They also said they hope they face Houston in the playoffs rather than Chivas. I'm not thrilled with the prospect of a mediocre Galaxy team making the MLS playoffs, with the media spotlight on the team throwing all other teams into the shadow of its mediocrity. If a team that bad is competing in the championship, the other teams must be worse, right? No, it's better if the "Superclub" sits out this post-season and waits until they're truly worthy of the spotlight. It will be better for the reputation of the league and for the status Galaxy as well. They would be better off rebuilding for the next season. If they want to be revered as the best, they had better be able to live up to the hype and not rely on skating by due to flukish results and a faulty MLS post-season structure. If they want be be respected, they need to be respectable.

At least they have a first class facility.

Breaking the Salt Lake jinx

On Monday I had to sit in the "business center" of the Hilton Garden Inn-Rancho Bernardo, watching the match feed for the Dynamo-RSL game (game guide) and reading the BigSoccer play-by-play on the hotel computer. Despite playing on fake turf and missing Ching, D-Ro, and of course Clark, we managed to eke out our first victory in Salt Lake. (Game recap.) I watched the taped match when I returned to Houston on Friday. It was indeed ugly in terms of play and in terms of aesthetics, both sins chiefly attributed to the playing surface. Lark had some great observations in his blog.

I had heard how Holden's goal was a blown cross deflected into the goal by a stubby Nick Rimando, but in watching the goal it look much more impressive than it sounded. I'm thinking that a young Stuart Holden will be one of the players we protect in the San Jose expansion in the off-season.

The worst part of the game was the fact that we've lost Cochrane (yellow card accumulation) AND Eddie Robinson (bogus red card) for the final regular season game versus Chivas. The winner takes the top spot for the Western Conference and maintains home field advantage throughout the playoffs. A tie gives Chivas the top spot. Can we beat Chivas on its home field, where it has lost only once this year? And do we want to beat them? We dominate at home, for sure; but we also seem to prosper when the cards are stacked against us. Regardless, wins are always good. Let's win the next 5 games: the Season finale, both Conference semis, the Conference final, and the MLS Cup...that'll do it.

Salt Lakers - the trap game

Chivas surprisingly fell to a 10-man Colorado team today. I think this is the 2nd game in a row that Colorado played (and won) short-handed. Last week they played with 9 men for a stretch.

What does this mean? It means that if we win at Salt Lake tomorrow, the winner of the Chivas-Houston game next Saturday will be first in the Western Conference and will maintain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That'd be a nice place to be for the Dynamo, since they do so well at home; but ... do we want all home games? That would give the Dynamo an apparent edge, and that might be a problem. You see, the team seems to perform better under adversity. Should they have what looks to be an easy path (though it never is), the irony is that the Dynamo would probably stumble. Maybe we should hope they don't get home field advantage. They'd then play with a chip on their shoulder and may progress farther.

For instance, tomorrow they should easily beat RSL. The Salt Lakers are struggling and are experimenting with next year's lineup. Yet, Dynamo-Houston is notorious in its struggles versus bottom feeders. Give us the creme de la creme and we'll hold our own, but goodness, not the dregs! Lark Howorth has a similar take on this strange facet of the team.

Besides home field advantage, coming first in the Conference means nothing. It's not like finishing first in the Western Conference makes a team the Conference Champion. That only comes from winning the Conference Championship, which is the match just prior to the MLS Cup. One match determines the Conference champion, just like one match determines the MLS Champion. Ridiculous...particularly because a team like LA with a losing record can still win it.

Speaking of the vile Galaxy: I'm in the LA area this week for business, so I'm planning on watching the Red Bulls take on the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center this Thursday. That'd be my first trip to the Tool Box (or at least my first trip beyond the road that runs around the parking lot), so I'm looking forward to it. I'll be pulling for the RBNY to end the Gals "dream run."

Here's hoping that the Dynamo can put away the Salt Lakers tomorrow night. Dynamo should easily triumph; therefore, they will struggle. I can't explain it, but that's the way the team seems to roll. Go Dynamo (and RBNY?)!

Offside enforcement for the betterment of the game

I enjoyed this editorial from usssoccerplayers.com. The subject is on how MLS referees should understand the spirit of the Offside law and use it as a tool not only to prevent the game from degrading into skill-less kickball (the original intent of the law), but also to encourage creative, attacking play.

The editorialist uses an incident during the recent Chivas USA - FCD goalless draw as an example. I have to agree that, as in baseball, ties should go to the offense in order to err on the side of attacking (which is by nature creative, since the opposition will not create the opportunities for you), rather than to err on the side of stodgy defense (which, though a necessary and admirable skill, is still destructive since it seeks to undo what the opposition is creating). This could also have the side effect of slightly increasing the goals in a game due to increasing the number of goal-scoring opportunities in a game -- and that would help the game in the US.

(As an aside, we Dynamo fans should relish this draw as it keeps the Dynamo safely in the top four of the league, thus ensuring our berth in SuperLiga next year, while still keeping Chivas USA within reach of us...for now. This is a short term benefit, but a long-term benefit would arise from enforcing the spirit rather than the strictest letter of the offside law. Such a policy could help improve the style of play league-wide by creating more attacking opportunities and forcing defenders to improve their marking, tackling, and decision-making skills. The risk is that defenders will be put in more desperate situations and resort to Ty Harden-style fouling tactics -- brutality over skill.)

Other ways changes in enforcement could have a positive effect on the game: allowing cards to be issued for gamesmanship (e.g. diving, intentional handballs, pushing/pulling) based on video review after a match. While post-facto review wouldn't reverse an injustice committed in a previous match, it should serve as a deterrent and would ensure that those who bring disrepute to the game are punished. Belated punishment is better than none. Violators would sit out future matches for severe fouls (as with any red card) or if there has been an accumulation of such incidents (like any Yellow accumulation would do). The details of such a policy would need to be worked out, preventing fickle punishments and perhaps dictating that such punishments would have to be announced within a certain period (perhaps 5 days or so) after the match, but that is minutiae that could be easily determined.

BTW, ussoccerplayers.com is a great website that I've just stumbled across within the past month or so. Under the "Exclusives" tab you can find some great editorials on various facets of the game.

SuperLiga, here we come!

With the draw between Chivas and FCD last night, we are locked into the top 4 teams for the season. Dallas could have passed us had they won this game and their next, final, game had we lost both of our remaining games. But the draw keeps us in the top 4, which means we're playing in the SuperLiga next season. That's exciting news that hopefully will pan into a SuperLiga championship for us in 2008.

Back to 2007: while we're locked into the top 4, we're not locked at #4. If we win out, we'll have 54 points, a point total that DC United has already reached with 2 games to play. The other top 4 teams, Chivas USA and New England, are ahead of us, but haven't gotten to 54 points yet. With 2 wins, we'll pass up New England should they lose but one of their remaining two games (vs Columbus and Toronto, neither particularly formidable) and we'll pass up Chivas should they lose both of their remaining two games (vs Colorado and Dynamo-Houston).

To make any of these even possible, we need to win out. Even if we don't gain ground on the other top 4, we should win out anyway, just because it's the right thing to do when you're the class of the league.

A Craptastic ending to a craptastic week

Well, the Dynamo once again stumbled against an inferior foe. We had two goals this afternoon: 1. get three points and 2. keep a clean sheet to get a step closer to the defensive record.

We failed on both counts.

And once again, we failed to secure a win against a weak team. This happens too often for it to be coincidence. Do the Dynamo look at the stats and play conservatively against bottom feeders, thinking it'll be enough? If you ask them, of course they'll deny it. They may not even realize they're doing it; but the fact is, whether it's RLS, Colorado, Toronto, or LA, we have proven to be less than a top tier team.

Who is "top tier"? I would put DC, Dynamo, and Chivas USA (this year) into that category. New England may be there too, based solely on their consistency though not in their style of play.

But, while teams of the top tier may have the occasional letdown, those letdowns are few and far between. The Dynamo lose too often versus poor teams. In the MLS, even the top tier are not so far ahead that they can relax versus the mediocre or the pathetic. In fact, there are few teams that can do that in any league in the world.

Of course, as with any player of any sport, in pre-game interviews, the Dynamo will say their weak opponent is "dangerous" and that the Dynamo will remain focused during the game and "can't afford to let up"; but the team had better start believing it to their core and better learn that they have to play the full 90 versus every team, regardless of where the opponent is in the standings. Otherwise, crap like today's 1-2 loss to the Galaxy will happen.

What a crappy week. We've lost Rico for the season and then some, the Longhorns lost to OU, Brian Ching hurt himself (I would assume) before the game, the pathetic Galaxy can continue their obnoxious late season resurgence, and we fall further behind in the "race for the SuperLiga."

I've said it before: the media spotlight on the Galaxy means a good Galaxy is good for the league. But the fact is: the Galaxy are a pathetic team. Even if they win all of their remaining games, they'll have a losing record and don't deserve a place in the playoffs. If a crappy team like LA can make it to the playoffs, then a crappy team like LA can even win the MLS Cup. That a losing record could still get a team into that realm is a perfect argument for the meaninglessness of the MLS Cup as a way of determining a champion...and is more fodder for the argument that the MLS is bush league.

I've stewed about this all the way home from the game. I'm mad that the Dynamo did not get the 3 points they need, I'm mad that the Dynamo lost versus an inferior team, I'm mad that the Galaxy can still get into the post-season, I'm mad that Abby-O is such an incompetent ref, and I'm mad that we allowed 2 goals at home versus crap forwards. Heck, I'm mad that our fans are sometimes fools: down a goal and with time as our enemy, don't throw things onto the field to delay the game. Are you stupid?

I'm just mad.

1...2...3...4...5...

Okay, relax; there are some things that make this not so bad…

First, we were a long shot for winning the Western Conference, primarily due Chivas getting the job done and to our past failure to snag points against LA, Colorado, Real Salt Lake, Toronto, Chicago, and even our home game against New England when we outplayed the visitors but didn't have the quality finishing necessary to put the game away. And how about not being able to get more than a point against the Crew -- the Crew! -- at home? We should never lose at home, especially with the silver ball. Dang, I'm getting mad again. Okay, my point is this was a long shot, so not much lost here.

Second, only FCD can knock us out of the top 4. Why is this important? Well, the top 4 teams get to compete in next year's SuperLiga. The possibility that FCD can knock us out is remote. FCD has to win its final 2 games and we have to lose both of ours in order for us to be ousted from this group. All we need to do is tie one in order to claim this honor.

Third, we are still on track to set the record for best defense in terms of goals conceded. If we allow 4 or fewer goals in our next two games, we set the record for fewest goals conceded in a season, and fewest goals conceded per game. For some reason, I want this badly.

Fourth, it was a good environment today. The weather ranged from breezy and cool to humid and hot to rainy and cool. That quite a range in only 90 minutes.

The Dynamo Girls had a funny skit based on Posh Spice and the Spice Girls. Best line from the announcer: "That move [by Diesel] is better than anything we've seen from Beckham this year." But the best extra-curricular item was the "Real Men of Genius" song at halftime. The two guys sounded like the actual singers; I wonder if they were. I want to hear their song on the radio sometime.

There was a sign on the western side of the stadium that said "We [heart] the Dynamos." I really wish people would know not to add an "s" if they’re making signs.

You know what? There is a lot of room in those handicapped access rows. Yet you're still close to the action.

I need to read up on Ching. I saw him warming up with the "starting" group and Mullan with the "sub" group, but Ching wasn't even on the bench come game time. Reading Bernardo Fallas' blog I see Ching had a tight back. Hopefully he's 100% come next week, because we're apparently not the attacking threat without him.

Okay, deep breath. It'll be all right. The Dynamo have been brought back to earth (not that they had any reason to be over confident) and will get at least 4 points out of their next two games. They'll qualify for SuperLiga 2008 and be poised to make a run for the MLS Cup. We might also hear exciting news about a new stadium.

It'll be all right...

Ending the Gal's "miracle" run

Okay, with all eyes on the LA Beckhams, a good LA team would be good for the league. But the fact is, LA is NOT a good team, and if they were to continue their miracle run (which really isn't all that miraculous given the teams its been playing) and eke into the playoffs, well that would be bad for the league.

LA is 7-13 (with 6 draws). That is not a good team. That's not even a mediocre team. On Sunday, Dynamo-Houston can do the MLS a big favor by permanently ending LA's run. It also helps that the Dynamo would also help themselves with the 3 points.

Here's how the LA Times sums up the final stretch we face with Chivas USA:
Houston has three games left, Chivas four. To clinch the West before the Oct. 20 game against Houston, Chivas would need to build at least a four-point lead. Thus the Dynamo can keep its hopes alive by winning its next two games, even if Chivas wins its next three. If the teams finish tied for first, Houston holds the tiebreaker because it has beaten Chivas twice this season.

So Chivas needs help before the season finale, and the Galaxy could provide it.

Chivas would be in a position to clinch first place in the conference if Houston loses one of its next two games or ties both and Chivas manages two wins and a draw in its next three -- two of which are road games, starting with tonight's game.

It would be nice to make the final game versus Chivas the match that decides the Western Conference Champion. I wouldn't be surprised, however, if the winner of that game loses the successive match in the playoffs. That's how things work.

But first things first: we need to beat the Galaxy here and take the 3 points. We need it to improve our playoff position, but also to ensure we're in the top 4 of the league for SuperLiga 2008.

Tomorrow I'm sitting in a different row of chairs. I'm still in Section 118, but I'm in the "Handicap Access" rows on the edge of the walkway at the top of the sideline sections. Due to the crowds, that will be a very strange place to sit: I imagine the seats will have lots of room, but a lot of lingering pedestrians too.

The Banning of Clark; The Empowering of "El Peccadillo"

Thursday, the PTB of the MLS spoke, saying: "I have decided that it is necessary to take firm action to reflect the fact that Ricardo Clark's violent kick to Carlos Ruiz in last weekend's game against FC Dallas, while out of character, is unacceptable behavior from an MLS player. In taking this action, Major League Soccer is sending a signal that it will not accept reckless and dangerous behavior on its fields. If there is a repeat of this kind of behavior by any MLS player, even firmer sanctions can be expected in the future. I hope and believe that Ricardo Clark will reflect on and learn from his mistake and become a better professional as a result."

Then he (they?) suspended Clark for 9 games and fined him $10,000.

Oh, here's the voice mail that Don Garber left on Ricardo Clark's machine last Thursday:

...oh, there's the beep. These machines are tricky sometimes. Uh, Rico, Don here. I just wanted to let you know that one sin we cannot abide is a momentary slip into passion -- well, we encourage passion, of course, just certain types of passion. Anyway, it would be better if you wouldn't be so obvious with your violence. Regular violence done subtly is fine; and who cares if it's selfishly motivated? Just none of that "moment of provoked weakness" stuff, okay? Please try to conceal it a bit better, and remember: violence should be a tool to enhance your game and give you an edge. Use it insidiously for the betterment of the game.

Oh, and next time just break his leg in the run of play. Even if you cause a career-ending injury, we'd have suspended you only 2 games -- just ask Hristo. See ya, and good luck in the play-offs -- oops, didn't mean to rub it in.

The Internet boards are lit up with Ruiz-haters defending Clark, pacifists denouncing Clark, and wizened journalists shaking their heads sagely and reprimanding Clark for not being the professional that they are. The only journalist who has taken up a position that I agree with (including even our hometown journalists) is Ives Galarcep, who has had several blog posts about this incident. Here is one that summarizes his viewpoint.

Ives pretty much sums up my thoughts.

I think Clark's punishment was excessive. Throwing an elbow or a series of punches to someone's face is more malicious that a single kick to the arm. As violent as the kick looks (especially in dramatic slow-motion), it's pretty mild despite the histrionic lamentations of many viewers. It certainly doesn't warrant a third of the season. You wouldn't see a baseball player get suspended for 53 games or a basketball player suspended for 26 for something like that.

Maybe I watch too many Die Hard movies and I've become inured; or maybe others are too effete. Probably neither. I just think there is greater violence and greater injustice in the world and in the world of sports. Even in the game of soccer I think there are things that bring greater disrepute to the game.

Clark was definitely foolish though, and his violence should be punished. That's why I thought a 6 match ban would be appropriate punishment, plus a fine. That's what Sala earned for his participation in a post game melee. And for the record, I think brawling is more violent, more dangerous, and more disreputable than a single kick to the arm.

Also, I think that the cause of the violence explains the incident a little, and perhaps attenuates the degree of disgust associated with the violence. When violently victimized, it's natural to lash out. Is it the right thing to do? No, but it's understandable.

And the cause of Clark's violence was a punch to the kidneys administered by Ruiz.

Even with the replay, it is hard to determine Ruiz's wrongdoing. He's good at what he does and has learned how to hide his peccadilloes. You can't see anything from the Internet feeds--or at least I can't. I had to slow down the slow-mo DVR replay on my big screen TV to see the progression. When the ball is kicked, everyone (except Ruiz) is focused on playing the ball. Ruiz is focused on another target, Clark. Ruiz makes an unnatural movement with his harm that looks to be a jab or punch to Clark's side. Clark immediately collapses. Clark wasn't watching Ruiz (he was doing what you're supposed to do: playing the ball), so he wouldn't have known to "dive" then; his fall was caused by the strike. Only after Ruiz had violently dispatched Clark did Ruiz attempt to play the ball.

When Clark's momentary lapse of reason led to a kick to Ruiz's arm, Ruiz must have been elated. This created another opportunity for the Soccer Con Man. The shot to the arm obviously was harmless because Ruiz was able to go to his Plan B (every con man has a back up). He grabbed his head and rolled around in an attempt to exaggerate his own "victimization" by his former punching bag, thus masking his own earlier assault and possibly drawing a PK.

Clark could have kicked Ruiz several more times before others restrained the Dynamo midfielder. Multiple strikes are typical of hooligan activity -- but Clark didn't, because this wasn't hooliganism. It was a one-time momentary lapse of reason brought about by stress.

The major difference between Ruiz's violence and Clark's is that Ruiz's violence was premeditated and with the sole intent of gaining an advantage for himself. Clark's violence was emotional and in reaction to being wronged. Neither action was right, but a moment's weakness after being wronged is much less offensive than a pre-planned assault designed for selfish gain. Ergo, Ruiz deserves equal if not more punishment.

As for the violence itself, people can be easily swayed by the drama of a kick, but it can be argued that a kick to a fleshy arm is less dangerous than a sucker punch to the back/side.

And this has nothing to do with Ruiz's past antics. This is based on the actions and violence of THIS incident. (Although repeat offenders should be punished more harshly.)

Clark's violence should be punished, no doubt; but I find Ruiz's incessant cheating and continual violent conduct (which has, disgustedly, been refined to a subtle art) to bring repeated disrepute to the game. His transgressions go far beyond diving; his nickname should change from "El Pescadito" to "El Peccadillo".

Ruiz should be punished no less than Clark, and his cynical machinations should not give his team any advantage over potential opponents in the post-season. I don't think a Clark-less Dynamo should have to face a Ruiz-led FCD in the playoffs...not that Ruiz brings much to the pitch these days.

I am baffled how teams continue to put up with the stain that is Ruiz. But on the Internet, one can find many Ruiz-apologists to this day. This pleases Ruiz to no end, I'm sure; because without gullible folks, con men can't survive. His shenanigans could not continue without the MLS's, journalists', and even some fans' tacit blessing. They're all being conned, but the true victim is the game.

If the MLS truly wanted to end these incidents, it would go after the instigators. Instead, they let the criminals roam free to create more victims...and then the victims themselves are held to a separate standard when they react to the injustice that the criminals (and, by proxy, the MLS) have unleashed upon them.

So, if 9 games is the new standard for a momentary slip into rash violence, then so be it. Future offenders will have to be held to this ever-changing standard. But if Ruiz doesn’t get more than his standard 1 game suspension (on top of his 1 game for yellow accumulation), then he is giggling at the chaos he is able to sow…and others of his ilk are preparing their own surreptitious jabs and taunts in order to further undermine the game for their own personal gain.