SSV's last message to its members encouraged Houston fans to support their new team in the spirit in which those players were supported here. This is the first sign that something like that might happen. Thanks, good luck, and we'll see you in '07!
I saw Wade Barrett at Valley Fair yesterday. I told him thanks and good luck. Maybe I should've asked him a few more questions but, I can only imagine how he must feel. As I've said before, this is a sad day for us, but a flaming tragedy for these guys! Houston! cowboy boots...! god, I feel bad for them.
I'm sure Houston is very nice, and I sincerely HOPE that our Quakes won't be too unhappy. But remember, they are far from home, far from friends, family, and fans. And I sincerely doubt whether MLS/AEG is doing much to help them settle in. Not to mention that while you're used to the extremes of temperature, our guys are not. I'm the sort of person who always looks on the bright side--but even I'd have to say that you're being a just a little too optimistic here. - Holly Ward
good point too...I think the Texas hospitality thing is real. I know they kind of looked after me for awhile during a tough chapter in my life. Winnie Texas (near Beaumont)..shout out! Boss Hogs, circa 1980!
I agree that it definitely beats Houston in the amount of taxes San Jose citizens pay and the cost of living. Houston is a dream for MLS players. These guys are payed peanuts compared to other professional athletes. How in the world do they even afford San Jose? Do they live on food stamps or have 3 jobs? How many of these guys were renting apartments together because they could not afford it on their own or could not even afford to buy a house? These guys will be living like kings compared to how they were living in San Jose. Let's see what the players say after a year in Houston. 2004 MLS Salaries (I am sorry I don't have 2005) PLAYER BASE-GUARANTEED* Donovan, Landon: $280,000/$367,500 Mulrooney, Richard: $150,000/$161,000 Dayak, Troy: $100,000/$100,000 Onstad, Patrick: $93,500/$93,500 DeRosario, Dwayne: $69,457.50/$69,457.50 Corrales, Ramiro: $69,457/$69,457 Russell, Ian: $65,000/$66,250 Dunivant, Todd: $42,000/$52,000 Faria, Rodrigo: $47,250/$48,625 Robinson, Eddie: $45,000/$45,625 Alvarez, Arturo: $28,350/$41,550 Conway, Jon: $40,000/$40,750 Mullan, Brian: $34,728.75/$34,728.75 Waibel, Craig: $33,571.65/$33,571.65 Levesque, Roger: $28,350/$33,350 Ching, Brian: $32,550/$32,550 Roner, Chris: $25,200/$25,200 Walker, Jamil: $24,000: $24,000 What does $24,000 buy you in San Jose? A cardboard box.
Well they lived in California which is unbelievably expensive compared to Texas with no state income tax and I can get a 3,800 sq ft. house for $230K. Could you do that in California?
I think it's better to stay out of the comparison trap... Personally I don't like Houston, something to do with Bush, Enron, humidity, etc., etc...Texas on the other hand is okay w/ me. But, I'm going to resist the temptation to trash Houston...you guys got a championship caliber pro-soccer team. No one can fault you for wanting that. But, your gain is our terrible loss. Expect bitterness.
As a Quakes player, I'd find it difficult to play hard and sign autographs after the games in Houston. Even if the people are nice, they aren't your people. And also, for all those who perpetually focus on the business side of this decision, soccer in this country is so much more community-oriented than the other major sports. There are many reasons for that which I won't go into. But we all know what it is like to support a soccer team. Moving a soccer team as entrenched in the community as the Quakes is just plain evil. I don't see how the supposed business positives (many of which are dubious) outweigh the damage that this move has inflicted on the San Jose soccer community. Not just the players' families, but also the fans' families. Philip Anschutz likes to portray himself as a wholesome conservative family-values type of person. But he is slime. I know the Quakes players will try hard to win no matter what because they are professionals. But it would be nice to see them lay down for their home games and give the fans a poor product just to screw AEG. They can win on the road, just suck at home. Anything to send a message to AEG that they are not all-powerful and that their decisions impact real people. - Paul
We will take the baton and hopefully support the team like you guys did. I am curious what does Enron and Bush (Sr. and/or Jr.) have to do with Houston? Does this have an impact on the team coming? I can see how the humidity might have an impact on disliking the city. I would love for you guys to come down sometime and visit. We will show you great hospitality.
Thank goodness you are not one of the players and definitely not a professional. I understand your bitterness but those statements are plain ludicrous. They are making a living playing the game they love.
truthandlife, the whole basis for your assumption that the players will like Houston better than San Jose is so superficial. You say they will like it because of financial reasons. There are other reasons for wanting to live somewhere. I would not doubt that your superficial attitude is a reflection of a widespread inane perspective of life that exists in Houston. Oh, look at my big car and house. What a life! The more I gluttonously consume and throw away, the happier I am! You don't seem to understand that there may be deeper layers of life that the players found meaningful to them in the Bay Area that can't be replicated in Houston, and the higher living expense was worth it. That's the long and the short of it. - Paul
Paul you don't even know me. My wife gets to stay home with my kids because of the low cost of living here in Houston. If I lived in San Jose my wife would be working and would not have a choice. A daycare doesn't raise my kids, my wife does. I didn't say every player is going to like Houston. I just know that with the salary range that MLS players are getting paid, it is a little easier to swallow when you don't have to shack up with 4 other players just to get by. They might hate the city, humidity, people etc. I don't know. I am just highlighting some of the high points of moving to Houston. Bitterness is not a good for the soul.
I'm glad you're trying to be optimistic there, but honey, no. As a person who lived in California first, and then moved to the south and then back, it is not something they'll adjust to. I wouldn't be shocked if they didn't care for it. You can't compare your area to Any part of California, esp the Bay Area. So what if the cost of living is cheaper. They won't like the humidity. Hell, I know I sure as hell don't miss it. I'll trade cost of living over that any day. It about evens out if you think about it.
Let's not forget the uprooting their families will have to endure. Especially their kids. That's who it'll be hardest on. Which will really bother the players and their wives.
I know there are many wonderful parts of the bay area where the players live, but how does San Jose itself compare to Houston in those annual quality of life indexes? I'm down on this move and I'm not a fan of Texas "culture" myself, but in my short visits to Houston I thought it had some really cool things going for it. I also see no benefit to trashing Texas. Houston MLS fans aren't to blame for this move or for George W. Why make adversaries of fans whose support we may need in the expansion fight?
Do you think people get transfered from jobs in the non-soccer world? The players could always quit playing MLS soccer and get out into the real world into a job that doesn't even compare to playing pro soccer. We still live in a free country.
I don't think you're getting the point of the whole move. Finances don't mean squat if you're making such a huge and sudden move. I don't know about you, but I moved way too much when I was a kid, and out of the 6-7 moves I've had, two were huge out of state moves. It really messes with your life. I know the second out of state move really messed things up, and that move was for financial purposes as well. Money does not equal happiness, so you might as well drop the financial "gain" they'd be getting. Big deal. With the contracts that some have with Nike/Adidas/Puma/whoever and other miscellaneous companies, they do relatively well.