Hello, Dynamo fans. Opening day is always special for a team and this past Sunday was no exception as Dynamo kicked off the 2007 season against the L.A. Galaxy at Robertson Stadium.
The game was special in any number of ways. First of all, we took the field for a league game for the first time as defending MLS Cup Champions. Secondly, we had inaugural broadcasts with our two new television partners. KTBU, Channel 55, did a tremendous job in the station's first Dynamo telecast. We couldn't be prouder to be associated with The Tube. Also of significant importance, the league's newest TV partner, Univision/Telefutura, had its first MLS broadcast in an Easter Sunday transmission. We are delighted to have such a strong network as a partner and look forward to working with the Univision team throughout the season. Third, of course, we played a team that has been and will be in the sports headlines for weeks to come as we get closer to the date when David Beckham joins the Galaxy.
There was also a special guest in attendance at the home opener, former President George H.W. Bush. Is there a better advocate and ambassador for all that is good about Houston than the 41st President of the United States? We were thrilled when he accepted our invitation to attend the game. Mr. Bush, an avid sports fan, is also a soccer enthusiast. While many folks are aware that he played baseball (he was a first baseman) in college and in fact led his team to the collegiate world series, he also played soccer while at Yale and during his days at prep school.
We were honored to have the former President join us for the opening game. Did you notice during the ceremonial first kick that he used his right foot? He throws left, you know. Well, I suppose that is appropriate for a Republican President to use his right foot!
Finally, let me say how proud we are of the U-18 Dynamo youth squad. The team, coached by James Clarkson, made it to the finals of the country's most prestigious youth tournament, Dallas Cup, only to lose a heartbreaker in PKs to the IMG Academy of Bradenton, Fla.
Keep in mind that we just put this team together a couple of months ago and only have the boys together one day a week for training. Even more, our team played up a division and competed against U-19s. Nonetheless, the boys made it all the way to the finals. Well done.
This is an indication of the extraordinary talent that we have in the Houston area and the solid coaching that these boys are getting not just from James but more importantly from their club coaches.
Keep your eyes on some of the talent that is playing on the Dynamo youth teams. I have no doubt that it will not be long until we start to see some of the local talent on our reserve squad.
