Re: Your team before the Dynamo 2 years after MLS started I moved to Houston from L.A. All I knew was that Galaxy was L.A.'s team and that Cobi Jones and Cienfuegos played for them. I didn't consider myself a fan.
Re: Your team before the Dynamo I remember my mom taking me to a couple of Hurricane games in the Dome...I remember Kyle Rote, Jr. being my favorite...that was cool but the stands were empty...didn't they have a goalkeeper named Hammond?
Re: Your team before the Dynamo I'll probably be roasted alive for this, but I started following The Burn in 2004, just in time for the post-Sucklake rants and shortly before the excitement of the new stadium deal and the eventual re-branding as FC Dallas. I was happy that the folks of the Inferno made my only two games there more memorable than otherwise might have been, but I never did sign up with them - I had figured that Houston must eventually get its own, and then I would go balls-to-the-walls crazy. The primary reason for my decision to follow the Burn/Hoops was, of course, solely a matter of home turf: they were the closest, therefore, they were my team. And ya gotta support the home team. I think being a military brat, with its attendant multiple moves and relocations, is really responsible for this outlook. If San Antonio and Dallas had had teams, but not Houston, I would have been for San Antonio (may they get theirs when the time is right!)
my only MLS memory before the Dynamo was that madly incredible free kick by DeRosario that won GOTY when he played for San Jose...now I love the Dynamo and love MLS...see ya in RFK...STH for life...
Like most people here, I didn't have a team I followed. Every now and then I'd check and see how San Jose was doing. The team I was on for 4 years was named the Clash, so I think a few people on my team liked them. Other than that, I paid attention to the Hotshots when they were here.
None. Even though I caught some games on the tv here and there...and I'm wearing a 7 year old Metrostars t-shirt as I type this. I think back in 2000 or earlier I bought it to support Queiroz...but now that I think about it he may have been fired by then. And the t-shirt is in excellent shape. It's a nike, btw.
I should add the Burn /FCD too. That is where we used to go to our games and if SJQ wasn't playing I supported them
Rickker, I think I went to all the Hurricane games. There was one where there was a flood and the Astrodome was surrounded by water. There were some that had nice sized crowds actually. It was sorta quiet, though. Remeber the PA announcer telling fans not to blow whistles because it was confusing the players? And when they would set off the big scoreboard extravaganza for a goal, and how they would pull the plug if it got called offsides? I have all the old Hurricane programs, it's fun to look at and remember the guys, they all had funny names, even the Americans (Nicky Megaloudis). And I remember this one little boy in a Lazio jersey who stood up and yelled, "THIS IS PATHETIC, WE'RE THE CENTRAL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS AND WE CAN'T SELL OUT THIS PLACE!!!!!11!!1!!!!1!!!!!!!!11!! I went to some Tornado games too at SMU, that was fun, back when my parents lived up there. And we went to all the Hotshots games for the couple of years they were here, until they moved to the Astrohall or wherever they went, we didn't follow them over there. Then we went to some Burn games when they played Mexican league teams in the Cotton Bowl, and once I went to a game, probably a Tornado game, maybe Burn? in Texas Stadium. And I went to a Dallas Sidekicks game once. And once we went to the Houston Hurricanes game at that stadium off 90A, I forget the nameof the stadium. But since the Internet wasn't really going yet, I didn't know much about that team so couldn't follow them much. Oh, wait, you said MLS team? Hmmm, Maybe a little bit the Burn, since they were in Texas, and a little bit the Earthquakes, since I always sort of liked them, after that I just caught games infrequently since they weren't on tv much. Really, was there MLS before the Dynamo?
Dallas Burn, not the FC. Something about the name change started the slide then I gave up on them when they lost Kreis and got Ruiz. (I rarely got to go to a game, so what was the point in putting up with a bad player. ) I guess I figured I'd keep an eye on them and when 'it' was gone I'd pick them up again. The funny thing was I'd watch San Jose games in the three or four years prior to the move and wished we had a team like that here in Houston. So I guess since I spent years wishing for it I was the person who made it happen! You can all send money to me as a form of thanks, I won't be offended.
None. I rooted against the Dallas Burn... but it was hard to get into the league emotionally without a home team to support. Went to a handful of the USL Hurricanes games when they played at Butler stadium... but it was hard to get into that as well given that we lived over an hour away from Houston and couldn't follow the team on radio/tv etc. Also, I had a hard time following teams in foreign leagues... there was just never a team anywhere I developed an attachment to, although I toyed around a few years back with trying to support Everton because they came to Houston... but no attachment formed there either. Basically, I just followed the USMNT and hoped one day that we'd get MLS in Houston.
I had a real soft spot for the Quakes before they lost Landycakes. After they basically got ********ed out of having him on the team I wanted them to win just to spite the Gals. As a Burn fan I couldn't stand the way the league kissed the hell out of the lag's asses. That and it was funny watching them pass Ruiz and his marry gang in the standings...
Beto moved to Cali a few years back. I played with the Hotshots from 1998 to 2001 when the team folded. A bunch of the guys stayed in town, and we'd get together once or twice a week to practice and stay in shape. A bunch of us were under the illusion that the team would come back, and we wanted to be ready. But in around 2003 the practices kind of fell apart. I believe that's around the time Beto moved to Cali. Back to the original question... I followed San Jose religiously before the Dynamo rolled into town, so I was the happiest person on the planet when the Dynamo came along. Not only an MLS team in Houston, but MY MLS team in Houston!
Great topic! I always had an interest in pro-soccer yet I never invested the time to really research picking a team to pull for in Europe though I did know who Man U, Arsenal and the other big names were through video games. It was mainly World Cup action for me and even though I wanted an MLS team here, I never paid attention to the league. My first taste of the MLS was in 2004 when I was visiting my Aunt and Uncle in Kansas City and the Wizards were playing who else but those San Jose Earthquakes. I'll admit the 50% of my reason for wanting to go was to be in Arrowhead Stadium home of my favorite childhood NFL team. Anyways, my Dad and I went and with the promotion for the day I got a Wizards ball (which I still kick around my apt) and a "Goal! sign which is still on my fridgerator. I don't remember much from the game other than I knew who Donovan was, and when the first goal was scored, it was at the other end of the stadium and the place was so cavernous and quiet it was like nothing happened. It's funny looking back at my pictures from that day, most of my pictures are of the stadium... and I only remember the final score (2-0 SJ) from looking at the pics, but I can point out Ching and Donavan in one of the pics, but can't put a positive ID on DeRo. I remember being really excited though when it was announced that SJ might be moving and Houston was a strong candidate... the rest is history, I'm now a staunch defender of MLS and proud to have jumped on the Tottenham Hotspur bandwagon for some rooting interest in European action. As for following Tottenham, much thanks to Robbie Keane from my WC 2006 game on Xbox 360 and a bunch of other small coincidences/ connections to the Spurs for that one.
I didn't really follow MLS until the first rumors about Houston getting an MLS team started up. I never saw a point in rooting for a team that I would never get to see play live and in person.
new england when I lived in rhode island, and dallas when I moved to tejas. Then along came a team in oranje
Was there MLS before the DYNAMO?? I watched the first game back in 96 with the Clash winning on Wynalda's late goal 1:0 (is that right??). After that I would watch a game when and where I could catch it, but never became a fan of any team in particular. My Military commitments had me going all over the planet the next few years and until I came back Stateside I followed scorelines on AFN and in the Stars and Stripes. When it was announced that H Town was finally getting a team I almost cried. Having supported a team my entire life that has been around for 106 Years has been special and I will continue to support that team until I die, but having the opportunity to support a team in your new Hometown since the beginning will be even more amazing. Damn, is it Game time yet?
Burn since '96 and then FC. I used to drive to Dallas about 3 times a year for their games. Hey, wait, I still do that, just dressed in orange instead of red now. I was there when the stadium opened and went to both MLS Cup games played there. I also saw the Hurricane in '75. Not much to say about it. Terrible venue for soccer. Cheers.