Wednesday Orange Slices: Gameday Eve

I read that earlier and it was rather enlightening…I knew there had to be some explanation (and of course, I wasn’t alone in thinking that) and my immediate thought was: I don’t envy coaches. It must really painful to have gone through the transition from San Jose to Houston with those guys, from uncertainty to triumph and being embraced by your new city, then growing together not only as a team of professionals but likely as friends (in some capacity) and then knowing that you have to part ways with them, and it will likely be by your hand. That’s an experience I don’t envy nor want to.

But yes I agree that there is a plan and we are likely faithless pagans who bleat when the sun doesn’t shine on us. What can I say? That’s the lot of fandom. I know we honestly do try to stay as educated about the team as possible but sometimes we don’t have access to that information and have to draw inferences from what is there (scant or plentiful as it may be).

Oh and it was a telling statistic that JdJO put out in a tweet plus an article that since Camargo was put in the middle and Cameron moved to the back we’ve gone 4-0-2. We finally have our primary defender back and we have someone who is very quietly ushering us through one of our greatest runs this year. Come what may on Thursday and hopefully thereafter, Camargo has earned a contract for next season. [Note: its a foregone conclusion that Moffat remains]

is not a shock. I’ve gone to more Dynamo games this season than Rockets games in the past 2-3 years…and I LOVE the Rockets (shameless plug – Red94 – great fansite, between them and tDS you’re set). For me, the problem is two-fold: first of all, the tickets are expensive. Nose-bleeds still cost a good $35 or so, so if I decide to take my sons I’m already looking at a $100+ tab, not including the price for parking plus the racket they call concessions. All told, I’m plunking down an easy $150 for a Rockets game. Compare that to the 4-pack the Dynamo are promoting for a playoff game. Second, its nicknamed the Library at LaBranch for a reason: when we do go you feel guilty for cheering; unless you sit in the nosebleeds, be prepared to witness a basketball game masquerading as a silent auction. It’s why generally I just stay home and watch: I can cheer like a madman in the comfort of my home and keep the $150 I’d likely spend. I love the Rockets and follow them as much as I do the Dynamo but honestly I feel I’m being priced out and that its not much of a fan environment.

With football, and the Dynamo in particular, I get to see it played professionally (even if ref’d by Benny Hill) in a dynamic, engaged environment where its perfectly acceptable to cheer along even when there’s no action. Oh, and at a third of the price, its unbeatable. As long as MLS maintains that balance between fan experience and price points its fantastic entertainment, even for non-fans. My wife and daughter are case in point: they won’t sit 5 minutes with me during a match on TV but if I want to buy tickets to a match they’ll be hurt if I don’t include them, they’ve loved every match they’ve been to. Just my little input on this…and sadly, the NBA lockout isn’t helping at all.

/But Garber, you don’t escape scot-free: fix the refs, and now or just watch what happened with Tim Donaghy

I’d say either the LeToux flash mob or the Dancing Bear