Because soccer isn't gay, but once in awhile it kinda is.
Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo Supporters Group Repeatedly Tweets Homophobic Slurs
05/06/13
An officially recognized supporters group of the Houston Dynamo is tweeting homophobic slurs without apology.
Don’t want these words on the main page of the site, so images of the offending tweets after the jump.
Updates from the Dynamo, an apology from the group, and details on a conversation I had with the group’s leadership are all also after the jump.
Houston Dynamo: Jersey Week 2013
02/26/13
The Houston Dynamo were the first out of the gate with an official release for MLS Jersey Week 2013, and their offering is a step back from the 2011 design.
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- 2011 (Dynamo Theory)
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- 2013 (Houston Dynamo)
The 2011 home kit for the Dynamo was a stunner, with a patterned fabric much like the center of a sunflower. This year it reverts to a simple matte orange which by comparison is nothing short of boring. The jersey also loses the collar of the last edition, although the team explains that was a comfort consideration for players in the Texas heat.
There are a few nice new touches. I like the Texas flag emblem at the bottom and the diagonal white armbands, but the Houston Dynamo had something special going on with their kits the last few years, and this cycle they’ve turned to just plain blah.
MLS Cup 2012: Brian Ching Talks Retirement
12/01/12
CARSON (g4s) — Much of the media’s attention this week has been focused on the impending departure of LA Galaxy’s David Beckham and possible retirement/departure of his teammate and captain, Landon Donovan. Lost in that discuss is the uncertain future of another MLS and US National Team mainstay (and gay4soccer #soccerally), Houston Dynamo’s Brian Ching.
Ching took time out of his practice session yesterday to talk about his health, his career plans and ending his career where he “always wanted to be.”
“The little hiccup with Montreal is over and in the past,” said Ching, downplaying the drama that started the season when Dynamo played fast and loose with the expansion draft rules, leaving Ching off of its protected list secure in the assumption that Montreal would pass him over. What resulted was just short of a hostage situation, with Montreal insisting on playing their new target forward and Houston scrambling to recover a man whose play and fan appeal cemented the team’s reputation with locals when Dynamo relocated (and rebranded) from San Jose nearly seven years ago.
Fortunately for Ching, Houston and Montreal came to a trade compromise and Ching returned to Houston, putting in a solid campaign for his side. Plagued by knee problems throughout his career, Ching played in 30 league matches this year — starting only 13 of them — while notching five goals and five assists. He acknowledges that it hasn’t been easy.
“I’ve had a lot of injuries over my career,” Ching replied when asked about his physical condition. “To be honest, sometimes I needed a little bit of help to get through games.”
Whether Ching decides to end his playing days after tomorrow’s MLS Cup final, he intends to repay Houston’s loyalty to him in another capacity – plans he says have already been discussed with his team’s front office.
“I definitely want to be a part of of the organization. I’ve sat down and talked with [Houston Pres of Business Operations] Chris Canetti and they’re going to make room form me. As far as what that is yet, we’ll wait and see.”
Texas Derby 2012: Dallas is All Talk as Houston is Triumphant
06/20/12
Each year the rivalry between Houston and Dallas takes center stage at the Texas Derby. Usually the front offices exchange banter leading up to the game, but this year was a little different. While Dallas released two viral videos and started a “Crush the Orange” campaign, Houston kept suspiciously quiet. Fans quickly reacted by poking fun at Dallas’ low ticket sales and weren’t afraid to point out that every MLS game at BBVA Compass Stadium has sold out. President Chris Canetti joined in, replying to a ‘crush the orange’ package he received, he tweeted “Thank u @FCDallas for the package. Appreciated. Sorry we haven’t reciprocated. Busy here w/ business.”
Houston Dynamo Celebrate Pride in the Park Tonight
06/20/12
It’s Pride Week in Houston, and the Dynamo are helping celebrate with Pride in the Park at their game against Toronto FC tonight at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Over 100 fans have already purchased tickets as part of Pride Night, so it’s sure to be an exciting event with the team providing Dynamo-emblazoned Pride beads for fans to keep and toss at this weekend’s parade.
If you have a group of four or more you can contact A.J. O’Rourke at (713) 276-7541 to get tickets in the Pride Night section. Individual seats can be purchased here using the code “LGBT12.”
You can check out the official Pride Houston page for the event here, and check out everyone who’s already going on the event’s Facebook page.
I know I’ll be watching on MLS Live tonight for all the great LGBT fans in the upper deck of the Walker End!
From Valencia to Houston in the Name of Charity
06/04/12
The Houston Dynamo and Valencia CF take the field in the 2012 Dynamo Charities Cup
The Houston Dynamo took on La Liga’s Valencia CF in their annual Charities Cup last week. The Charities Cup benefits the Dynamo Charities organization, which works to benefit the local community. In past Charities Cups the Dynamo have fielded a mostly reserve team; this year was a little bit different. The starting XI was a mix of reserve staples like goalkeeper Tyler Deric and first team veterans like Brad Davis.
When Valencia scored in the 2nd minute, it looked as though the men in orange were going to face a big loss. Ultimately, though, the Dynamo pulled themselves together. Kinnear fielded the starting forward combination of Brian Ching and Will Bruin, but neither managed to score. The lone Dynamo goal came from a long range rocket fired off by Calen Carr. Kinnear has shifted Carr to the midfield in recent games, and he seems to play a bit more naturally there. With Dominic Kinnear’s knack for shifting versatile players around successfully (Geoff Cameron was a midfielder before Kinnear stuck him in the back line,) the Carr shift looks quite promising.
Three Huge Hits to the Dynamo Starting XI as International Friendly Season Approaches
05/25/12
Geoff Cameron tweets from USMNT Camp
The MLS Cup Finalists have struggled to make their mark in the standings and their backline is about to take a big hit.
Newlywed and resident Canadian Andre Hainault has been called up to camp for Canada. Hainault played a pivotal role in Houston’s late success last year, and helped take the team to the MLS Cup finals. Hainault is a Canadian National Team regular and will most likely see some minutes in their upcoming friendlies against the USMNT, Cuba, and Honduras. Fellow Dynamo, and another key to Houston’s backline, Geoff Cameron has been called up by Jurgen Klinsmann to join the USMNT camp. If retained, Cameron could face off against Hainault on June 3rd in Toronto. Midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson, also a regular member of the Dynamo’s starting XI, has also been called up for his country. Watson joins Jamaica for upcoming friendlies, and team mate Jermaine Taylor will most likely follow shortly. Dynamo midfielder and Jamaican Captain Taylor is on suspension due to a red card received in his last international fixture. It is expected that once his suspension is up he will join the Jamaican National Team.
With an MLS Cup re-match on Saturday, Houston’s depth will be tested. Though the backline has been shaky at times, it is one of the areas that Dominic Kinnear tends to have set in place. Fans could see a formation shift, or more likely, may see the emergence of Oscar Recio and rookie Warren Creavalle. The route in the midfield will almost certainly feature Nathan Sturgis who performed brilliantly in Houston’s May 15th match against the Portland Timbers. The Los Angeles Galaxy will also be without forwards Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane who have been called up for the USMNT and the Irish National Team, respectively.
Best of luck to the men in orange as they fight for their countries, and how cute does Cameron look in official USMNT gear?!
Net Impact: Tally Hall and Troy Perkins Duke it Out in Houston
05/17/12
by Ayla
in Houston Dynamo
Tally Hall before the Inaugural Game at BBVA Compass Stadium on May 12th. Photo by Ivannah Bandalan.
On May 15th under the bright lights of BBVA Compass Stadium there was a battle of epic proportions. The Houston Dynamo took on the Portland Timbers in the first night time match at the new stadium. While the other twenty men on the pitch put in amazing performances, there were two who really shone that night. Those two men were Tally Hall and Troy Perkins. I have always had a soft spot for keepers. Scoring goals is great, but to me stopping those chances is even more impressive. Ultimately that man in the net is the deciding factor. It doesn’t matter how well (or how poorly) the rest of the team is playing, in the end it all comes down to the keeper. That is his box and what he does in it can make or break a game.
That said, I do not want to downplay the impact of the other players. There was some particularly beautiful (in every sense of the word) work by Michael Chabala in the second half, and Nathan Sturgis was on fire for the Dynamo. Despite that, this game was all about the keepers. Tally Hall and Troy Perkins, in my opinion, are a couple of the most hardworking keepers in the league and their performances on Tuesday proved that.
Soccer Ally May: Houston Dynamo
05/16/12
Yesterday Real Salt Lake really blew me away by going from one player to seven on the Soccer Ally list, making them the most well-represented Major League Soccer team.
Today we look at the Houston Dynamo, whose captain Brian Ching joined the list via Twitter last month. And this morning I added Colin Clark to the list.
Who will join them today? Will Houston meet the bar set by Real Salt Lake yesterday and Sporting Kansas City earlier in the month? Help us ask the players below to join the #soccerally list.
Colin Clark, Soccer Ally
05/16/12
One of the sincerest pleasures I had this weekend in Houston was to meet Dynamo midfielder Colin Clark.
I’m fairly confident I don’t need to recap what happened with Colin almost two months ago in Seattle, but if you need a refresher, you can read about it here.
Soon afterward he sent us this tweet:
@gay4soccerI’m very sorry for my actions tonight and I would love for you to consider me a #soccerally moving forward
— Colin Clark (@cOlin_cLark7) March 24, 2012
