The celebration continues. It is called State Bill 80R10511.
Just more than two weeks before Houston Dynamo begin their MLS Cup defense, the team was honored at the Texas State Capitol in Austin Wednesday with separate congratulatory resolutions on the floors of the Texas House and Senate.
Making the trip from Houston to show the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy were Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear; players Craig Waibel, Paul Dalglish and Stuart Holden; and Chief Operating Officer Chris Canetti.
Lawmakers stopped the legislative process to take a look at the Cup. A few fans from the Houston area even made the trip to witness the event in the wake of November's victory in Frisco, Texas against the New England Revolution that has made the Cup an addition to the Texas landscape.
"We're excited to honor them, said Rep. Ana Hernandez, who sponsored the House resolution. "We know what great work they do in Houston and in the rest of the state."
State Sen. Rodney Ellis listed a variety of plaudits on the other side of the Capitol.
"We're a dynamic sports town and I think it is important that the members of the Senate and House recognize this team." Ellis also made sure his fellow lawmakers are aware of the team's hunt for a stadium. "We want to do everything we can to get a new stadium for this team."
Waibel has been part of civic celebrations before. Holden, who grew up in the Houston suburb of Sugarland, visited the Capitol once as a youngster. As for Dalglish, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, this was a prized experience in his road to becoming a "naturalized Texan."
"It's a tremendous experience for me. Not many people get this opportunity and it was a real honor," Dalglish said.
Next up for Dalglish and his team: a trip to Charleston, S.C., to conclude preseason training before the second leg of the club's CONCACAF Champions' Cup semifinal against Pachuca and their MLS opener against the Los Angeles Galaxy. After bonding with state officials, Dalglish said he'll work on his Texana between training.
"Got to buy cowboy boots and a horse now," he said.
