Dynamo past and present, who should be in the Naranjall?
by Martek on Feb 20, 2012 6:42 PM CST
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Houston Dynamo past and present has been on parade over the last week. On the same day the reigning MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario inked a new deal with DC United, the person those of us with an Orange persuasion consider the real 2011 MVP is back at work.
The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Brad Davis has been cleared by doctors for "all soccer activities." And what's more, Calen Carr has also been given the A-OK to get back to practice tomorrow.
In one sense, the Davis news is quite possibly bigger news than the return last week of No. 25. Not only is Davis the motor that makes the Dynamo go, he is quite possibly the third leg of the playing triumvirate that has been at the heart of all Dynamo success since the beginning. I'm speaking of course about the Flyin' Hawaiian (MVP of MLS Cup 2006 and the club's all-time leading scorer), the above mentioned De Rosario (MVP of MLS Cup 2007 and arguably one of the best players in MLS history) and Davis, the man of whom David Beckham wishes he was a right-footed version.
The discussion has been broached here and elsewhere of the need to create a Dynamo Hall of Fame (Naranjall of Fame?) that enshrines some of the great achievers in club history. The team does have an Orange Blazer Club that right now has a grand total of five members, broadcaster and former pro player Glenn Davis, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Harris County judge Ed Emmett, tireless soccer advocate Victor Delgadillo and former Houston Hurricane and TV executive Jack Stanfield, with a sixth, former team president Oliver Luck clearly on the way. The organization adds one member ever year.
And the Orange Blazer Club is a very nice and classy move from a classy organization. One thing it is not, however, is a true Hall of Fame. The Houston Dynamo have not been in existence very long when it comes down to it, but I think the first members of any Naranjall would be obvious to all, starting with Brian Ching, Dwayne De Rosario, Pat Onstad and Brad Davis as players and Dominic Kinnear as manager.
The question I have for you, my dear Dynamo Theoreticians, is what players would you include in addition to those four? It would have to be a player or players with impeccable credentials, whose contributions to team and community are beyond question. I am not talking about debatable inclusions here, but rock solid and incontrovertible choices. My job was the easy one, as I gave you the first five obvious choices (four players plus one manager). I'm including a poll below with some other potential choices. For any choice you make, please in the comments field include your rationale.
This should be fun.
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I voted first and...
…included Eddie Robinson. Some might disagree, but I believe that Johnny Rocco has so solid back there. A force and with range.
If I could vote twice, I’d also vote for Wade Barrett. Captain Wademerica was the skipper on two MLS Cup winning teams. Hard to vote against that.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
I voted for Wade Barrett
If I could vote for 2, it would be E Rob
E-Rob
it was actually tough between him and Captain Wademerica but for me, the Dynamo club was and is synonymous with tough, stout defense and a knack for scoring. And for me, a symbol of that D was Robinson. But if you picked Barrett over him I wouldn’t disagree either
Holden
Love the guy, he was a super player of the bench for years but only started for one season. No way he makes the Hall.
I have to agree
He’s a great guy, a great player, but purely in terms of contributions to the club on the field, I think there was one true above average year, his last one.
I would definitely put Barrett and Robinson ahead of him in this context.
Though I’m surprised Rico isn’t getting more love. He was a rock solid DM for the first four years of this club. He delivered the Boot of Justice to Carlos Ruiz. A huge contributor, though he missed both of the first two MLS Cup finals, one for yellow accumulation and the second because of the Ruiz matter.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
anyone who kicks carlos ruiz
deserves the hall of fame just for that
I voted for Holden
There’s a good story here. A young local kid comes up through the ranks of the Dynamo all the way to the World Cup. The guy was committed to the community when he was here and remains committed to the club. I saw him at the last game in Robertson (on crutches) rooting for the Orange. So while E-Rob and Wade are locks I think Holden should also be admitted.
Too Early
Maybe the issue here is that the Dynamo haven’t been around long enough. Yeah, DeRosario was a huge part of two titles, but he only played here for three years. Does he deserve to be on the same wall as a player that comes up with the Dynamo, becomes a world class player and stays on the team for his whole career (let me have my dreams)? I would argue no. It would be like inducting Clemens or Petite into the Astros Hall of Fame for a few years of brilliance. A mention, sure, but not full entry.
These are excellent points
I would still put DeRo in there because we’re not talking about a 100-year-old club. He was frequently the best player on the field in the team’s first three years and without him we don;t establish the early winning culture of this club.
That being said, I do not think you ever induct active players in any Hall of Fame. The White Sox did that with Harold Baines in the 1990s while he was playing for another team, trying to beat them. That was just wrong.
So, of the nonactive Dynamen, that leaves us with an inductee class, if we were to assume this is to happen this season, of Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett and Pat Onstad.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
I agree...
No active players, please. Make them be retired for one full season prior to their induction, just to insure they don’t un-retire immediately after and go play for some other club.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
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