Shortly after a hard practice on a field that nests in the middle of the University of Houston track stadium, the Houston Dynamo sat on the grass discussing another hard day on the job.
Under a clear sky with temperatures in the low 60s, it was a perfect day for practice. It was perfect day for Houston Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear to run his team and run them some more. It was a perfect day for the Dynamo to train as hard as played every game of their first two seasons in the league.
And what did all of that hard work produce? Two championships.
Asked what he thought it would take to win another MLS Cup, Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson thought, paused for a moment and delivered the only right answer.
"Perseverance and the right attitude," he said.
He knows -- as do every one of his teammates -- that every team in the MLS will be gunning for every player wearing bright orange and white.
"I think now it's even more important for us to come to games with the right attitude," Robinson said. "Teams are always shooting for the best teams in the league. They are always shooting for the champion and now it has been twice. And that is going to frustrate a lot of people. There are a lot of players out there on good teams that are going to want to change that. I think it is important as ever that we show up at every game with the right attitude."
On Feb. 20 and 23, the Dynamo played in the Pan-Pacific Championship in Honolulu, Hawaii and split a pair of games with Sydney FC (3-0 win) and Gamba Osaka (6-1 loss). That is when the long 2008 schedule officially began for the Dynamo, who will play in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, SuperLiga and U.S. Open Cup competitions in addition to the MLS portion of their schedule.
Kinnear said he team had better be ready for the challenge of a long season.
"I think the guys are more aware this year of what is going to be thrown at us," Kinnear said. "I think it was a bit of a shock to see that we open CONCACAF on March 12, but we are constantly sending out reminders to the guys that there are a lot of games coming up.
"I think these guys are going to be ready when they are asked to give themselves up for the team, as always."
Unlike last year when the Dynamo had more home games on the front end of their schedule, Houston will play four of its first five league games away from Robertson Stadium. The team opens the season against the team they beat in the final a year ago and will host their intrastate rivals, FC Dallas, just more than a week later.
After that it's on the road to Kansas City, Los Angeles and Columbus.
Robinson said having most of the team coming back from a year ago will help the team with the early challenges. The team lost Joseph Ngwenya and Nate Jaqua to overseas clubs, and backup 'keeper Zach Wells was traded to D.C. United for defender Bobby Boswell.
Also, defender Ryan Cochrane was lost to the new San Jose Earthquakes in the expansion draft.
"I think one of the biggest things I am excited about is the fact that we were able to keep so many of the same players, so many important players from last year," Robinson said. "And now there are some guys that have even more experience in big games, and even in international games."
Other than Boswell, the team added 'keeper Tony Caig to back up Pat Onstad, who is arguably the best goalkeeper in MLS history. With the loss of Ngwenya, the team is hoping that Argentinean forward Franco Caraccio will get into shape quickly.
He could be a force along side Brian Ching if he is able to adapt to Houston scheme of speed and defense.
Kinnear said he likes the look of his club. A perfect mix of the old and new might be the best way of describing what the Dynamo will have to offer in 2008.
"You always get excited when you see the players you have in the locker room," Kinnear said. "It is always going to be a difficult season, as you know, but the guys we have are a year older now and some of the really young guys have another season of experience under their belts.
"We'll have to see where the season is going to end up, but I think we are going to be competitive for a lot of trophies this year."
Whether of not the team is capable of winning three league titles in a row is a question the Dynamo are going to have to get used to. Any reporter covering the team for the first time will be tempted. And those that are around the team daily and weekly are curious to see if the local 11 can win it all, this time in southern California.
Richard Mulrooney knows he plays for a marked team and is ready for that challenge.
"We are proud to be champions again and this year the "X" is on our back," said Mulrooney. "And I am proud to say that because I think we want that. It's going to be a long hard year again, but having said that I think the preseason is going really well and the coaches have put us in the right direction.
"Come November, we hope to be in that final game in L.A."
Andrew J. Ferraro is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
