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Six days to go: An auspicious number for Dynamo

It took six seasons for the Houston Dynamo to lift its fifth trophy, the 2011 Eastern Conference cup. The next trophy will be the team's sixth.
It took six seasons for the Houston Dynamo to lift its fifth trophy, the 2011 Eastern Conference cup. The next trophy will be the team's sixth.

There are six days left until the Houston Dynamo open the 2012 regular season against Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center on March 11. The game kicks off at 6 p.m. Central Time (natch), and the all-time record between the two is heavily weighted to Dynamo (natch, natch) at 10-4-6 in all competitions (not including preseason). As was reported here three days ago, the two teams met six times in 2006, Dynamo's first season, splitting the year 2-2-2. And of course, the sixth game produced Dynamo's first-ever playoff victory en route to its first of two MLS Cups.

So, with six days to go until First Kick, let's look at the significance of the Number 6 for the Orange. The most important six in the team's history is of course, that the team has been around for six seasons. Over that time, the Orange have hauled in an impressive five trophies, and fell in trophy games (Again, preseason not included) a grand total of three times (2010 Western final, 2008 SuperLiga and of course, 2011 MLS Cup). It goes without saying (though I will say it) that that's a pretty impressive history right there for a team that has only been in existence such a short span.

PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS SERIES:

Goal No. 9 beats the Amerigoats.

Eight: A little math equals happiness.

Seven: Luck is an Orange Lady

Only one team in MLS matches that over the past six years, (tournaments include CONCACAF Champions League/Cup, SuperLiga, MLS Cup, Supporters Shield, Conference titles, US Open Cup and Voyageurs Cup), and I think we all know who that is.

Jump here to see the list.

  • Houston Dynamo: 5 (2006 and 2007 MLS Cup, 2006 and 2007 Western Conference and 2011 Eastern Conference)
  • Los Angeles Galaxy: 5 (2009 Western Conference; 2010 Supporters Shield; 2011 Supporters Shield, Western Conference and MLS Cup)
  • Columbus Crew: 4 (2008 Supporters Shield, 2008 Eastern Champ; 2008 MLS Cup, 2009 Supporters Shield)
  • New England Revolution: 4 (2006 Eastern Champs, 2007 US Open Cup and Eastern Champs; 2008 SuperLiga)
  • D.C. United: 3 (2006 and 2077 Supporters Shield, 2008 DC United)
  • Seattle Sounders: 3 (2009, 2010 and 2011 US Open Cup)
  • Toronto FC: 3 (2009, 2010 and 2011 Voyageurs Cup)
  • Real Salt Lake: 2 (2009 Western Conference and MLS Cup)
  • Colorado Rapids: 2 (2010 Eastern Conference and MLS Cup)
  • Chicago Fire: 1 (2006 US Open Cup)
  • New York Red Bulls: 1 (2008 Western Conference)
  • FC Dallas: 1 (2010 Western Conference)
  • *Montreal Impact: 1 (2008 Voyageurs Cup) (* Because the Expos were not in MLS at the time, but I include it to give them some good will because, hey, they're at least as decorated as FC Dallas.)

Now of course, one might be willing to write off the Voyageurs Cup, which is awarded to the Canadian team that qualifies for the CONCACAF Champions League. But just because it's only four years old does not mean that the Canadian Soccer Association isn't at least trying to act legit from time to time. And really, it means that Toronto and the Sounders are neck and neck in winning trophies that have the exact same meaning (and little else). And for those of you who are fans of trophies like the Emirates Cup, the Disney Pro Soccer Classic or any other invitational and/or preseason in nature, well, there are numerous volunteer and state organizations that exist for you. I advise you to act now before it's too late.

I also am not including in this trophy haul the four times Dynamo have taken El Capitán, the Civil War-era mountain howitzer awarded to the winner of the Texas Derby, because really, at that point we'll be just picking nits, and not only those who play in Frisco.

We seem to have gone a bit far afield here in our quest to find meaning in the No. 6 for the Dynamo. So here's where we get back on task. The point of all this is that the next trophy the team wins, which we all sincerely hope will be raised at BBVA Compass Stadium this year, will be its sixth. So, when it comes to Dynamo, it's six down and a sixth to go. And that, my friends, would be a six-y treat indeed.