The Orange-Headed Step Child of Houston Sports
It’s no secret I am a Houston Dynamo fan. It’s also no secret that before 2 years ago, I had no idea what a PK was.
But now I do. It’s a Penalty Kick. And I witnessed first hand in 2006 how 5 of them could determine the victorious end to an arduous 7 month inaugural season, in front of thousands of new fans who traveled 5 hours to witness Houston sports history, as the Houston Dynamo defeated the New England Revolution.
I owe my devotion to these men in orange, not to my sudden urge to learn the ins and outs of futbol, nor to the desire to watch athletic, sweaty, beautiful men run around a field for 2 hours. No. None of that played into my initial motivation for becoming the unofficial Dynamo hometown router.
It was my love of this city. Houston. A city of opportunity. And the opportunity we had to inherit a team undervalued by San Jose, CA. An opportunity for Houston to further become a world-class city by embracing a sport that has, admittedly, yet to contend with the likes of the NBA, MLB, and NFL. Rightfully so. Should we have waited until Austin got an MLS team to follow suit?
So you can probably assume my outrage when a friend pointed out to be a recent article by Houston Chronicle “sports writer” Jerome Soloman in reaction to the Celtics recent NBA Championship. An article, whose purpose was to whine about the state of Houston sports, and point out our lack of recent championships.
Soloman begins his rant with:
“Why Boston, not Houston?”
I’d like to remind Soloman that in both 2006 and 2007, the Houston Dynamo–you know, that professional soccer team that calls Houston “home”–defeated the same team back to back in the finals: the New England Revolution. I got yo’ Boston right here, Soloman.
He continues to make a laundry list of Houston’s failed sports teams, only adding the Dynamo as a sidebar AFTER a reader’s comment reminds him to.
(Oops, sorry. Forgot to mention that the Dynamo beat Boston’s soccer team, the uh, whatchamacallits, in the MLS Cup final each of the last two years. Feel better now? Didn’t think so. Who wouldn’t trade the Dynamo and all the orange paint in Houston for the Patriots’ three Super Bowl rings, the Red Sox’ two World Series titles and the Celtics’ NBA crown?)
So, who wouldn’t trade the Dynamo?
Me + Thousands of fans.
Me + Anyone who had enough pride in this city to support a venture intended to make Houston a contender as a major US city.
Me + an entire team and staff–who relocated from all over the country to make Houston their home, uprooted lives, wifes, and families–who have to read dismissive crap like THIS in their city paper.
Me + a city full of citizens who have witnessed the Dynamo participate in the development of this city through various Community Days, children’s workshops, soccer 101 clinics, and supported their fellow “Orange” friends–the Orange Show Center for VIsionary Arts– as a participating car in the last 2 Art Car Parades, something I’ve yet to see the Texans, Rockets, or Astros do.
Here’s wondering if Soloman has ever even attended a Dynamo game. Ever even witnessed the frenzied elation of El Battalion or the Texian Army. Ever even spoken to a Dynamo player to find out what sacrifices they have made by making the choice to move to this city, and be a part of this team.
I would guess, NO.
And I would recommend to Soloman, that if he plans to continue as a “sports writer” for a major national news source, that he do at least one of these things mentioned above, before he dismisses back to back champions in his city.
See you next Thursday at Robertson Stadium, Soloman?