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WHY WE ARE ‘MARTY’S TEAM’
The following tribute to Marty Espinoza appeared in the Coaches Memo in 2010, the year the popular Dynamos trainer passed away after a valiant struggle with cancer. Almost immediately, Dynamos Select Soccer added the logo "Marty's Team" to player uniforms and teams entered each game with the motivational shout "Marty's Team!" For newcomers to the Dynamos' family, we hope this will help explain why. Marty will be honored on April 30 with the club's annual Marty Espinoza Memorial Golf Tournament at Longwood. Please attend. . .it is always a special time for golfers and non-golfers alike.
TO AN ABSENT FRIEND AND COACH
In the eighties (the nineteen 80’s), professional soccer was in even more turmoil than now. Leagues and teams were created, leagues and teams folded. Players often lived like gypsies, moving club to club, playing indoor and outdoor, loving the game but living four to an apartment and carpooling to divergent training grounds. That was the scene into which Marty Espinoza arrived in Houston to became a pro, with a reserve team contract for a franchise called the Dynamos that enabled him to eat fast food and fuel his Pontiac Fiero, which brought him from California. The sporty car, rest assured, was not a signing bonus. He was 22 years old, fresh out of California State University in Chico, where he had fashioned quite a soccer reputation. Although spindly-legged, with fragile knees, and about half the size of Dynamos scoring king Jose Neto (once called the Babe Ruth of American soccer), the lad had this incredible knack for getting into the right places for his teammates to feed him passes. And if they couldn’t get the ball to him, he dug it out himself and put it in the net. Additionally, with a bubbling personality, he became a star on the clinic and camp circuit. You see, in those days, in addition to playing games, a player earned his keep by performing tricks and imparting skills for the benefit of thousands of youngsters clamoring for more soccer. Marty’s moments in the spotlight called for him to end a marathon juggling exhibition by bringing the ball to a dead stop on the nape of his neck, then inching his shirt under the ball and over his head. Ta Da! Applause all around, as Marty bowed and grinned and held his shirt high. But the show wasn’t over. Marty proceeded to put the shirt back on, the bubble gum crowd holding its collective breath as the ball turned with the movement of the shirt. It was a time for exposure and development by the pro club and as playing opportunities dwindled, the ‘circus’ became the wage-earner. The players loaded into a brightly decorated “Dynamovan” and journeyed to Kingwood, or Deer Park, or Sugarland, or Crosby, or, yes, Matzke fields at Jones and Grant, to reach the kids. These Dynamos heroes, including Marty (from California), Bill McDonald (from Pennsylvania), Glenn Davis (from New Jersey), Olivier Finidori (from France), David Benner (native Houstonian), Roland Sikinger (Wisconsin) and others, helped forge the name “Dynamos” that we play under today. All of the aforementioned eventually discarded vagabond ways, settled down and, when pro soccer went away, became huge in the fabric of Houston soccer. Marty honed his skills, those learned from legendary English star Sir Stanley Matthews in a California camp years before and from his formidable college coach, Don Batie, who had been a pro coach in San Antonio with the long-before Thunder. He became a popular figure on the sidelines of youth games, training at several Houston clubs before joining the Dynamos as Head Trainer and Technical Director under his friend, Olivier Finidori. His short tenure here left a huge impact. His understanding of the game and approach to getting the best out of coaches and those boys and girls playing for them, left an impact that will live on. When the occasion arose, Marty was known to whip a team of young boys or girls into a competitive froth that could overcome two goals against a formidable foe. Mostly, though, he was relaxed, chuckling and poking fun at his athletes and picking them up when they didn’t even know they were down. Outwardly, he was persistently optimistic. When cancer made its presence known, Marty used his huge heart and nimble mind to fight it in every way possible and blessed all of us with his presence long past when he could have gone home and called it a career. Marty did not go meekly. When the score stacked against him, he fought harder, as always. There were World Cup matches to watch and he saw almost half of them. When the final whistle blew, Marty was prepared, as always. It has been one of the most treasured privileges in this world to have known him. --Jim Walker
Marty Espinoza Memorial Golf
DON’T MISS THIS EVENT!
Foursomes and sponsors are beginning to arrive, so hop aboard the bandwagon for the Marty Espinoza Memorial Golf Tournament coming up fast—Mon., April 30, at Longwood Golf Club. It’s an important fundraiser for the Dynamos to support scholarships and other operational areas, so it’s important that all members of the club family lend their assistance as golfers, volunteers, and providing silent auction items. This is a good time to approach businesses about tournament sponsorships, insists the event's director, Andrew Bridges. "We have eight teams with golfers committed. Sponsors sold are Closest to the Pin, Gold and one hole sponsor. Still lots of work to be done,” he said. “With the passage of the Tax Cut & Jobs Act of 2017, corporations tax rate went down from 35% to 21%. At the end of the 1st quarter they may be more willing to sponsor golf events so get out there and ask them.” If you can help in any way, contact Andrew at abridges@dynamossoccer.com or Volunteer Coordinator Sue Easley at sue.easly@gmail.com. Don’t miss this wonderful event!
May Tryouts
May 14 and May 16--Under-11 boys & girls - 5:30-7pm, Under-12 boys & girls - 7-8:30pm
May 15 and May 17--Under-13 boys & girls - 5:30-7pm
June tryouts
June 4 and June 6--Under-14 boys & girls - 5:30-7pm, Under-15 boys & girls - 7-8:30pm
June 5 and June 7--Under 16 boys & girls - 5:30-7pm, Under 17-18-19 boys & girls - 7-8:30pm
Players must register online (elsewhere on this website).Players who are unable to participate due to injuries, holidays, or other valid reasons, still must register online to be eligible for selection. They must also notify their respective trainers with a specific reason why they are unavailable.
LOOKING BACK
2010—I just know the spirit of Marty will hover over Dyess Park, and every field where we play, believes Coach Cy Fair. Quoting Coach Marty, Coach Flo told her team someone has to be the winner, it might as well be you.
2017—Coach Cy Fair warned ‘em, but several trainers nonetheless fell victim to the French Firecracker on April Fool’s Day, trying the phone number for Mr. Harry Lyons to learn information about a hot, new prospect. It was, of course, the number for the Houston Zoo, and Hairy Lions weren't available to talk soccer. Someone gave the same number to Oli, requesting him to call a Mr. Gee Raff, but he didn’t bite.
THE BUZZ
Wishing a speedy recovery to Arthur Yonge, scheduling czar of the Eastern District Division One Association, who was hospitalized early this week to undergo tests for breathing problems. . .The upcoming Marty Espinoza Memorial Golf Tournament is a fun event whether or not you play golf. The action on the golf course is always competitive and full of laughs,of course, and the clubhouse provides a great place to gather throughout the afternoon for conversation and, later, the post-tournament dinner and social camaraderie. It’s an important fundraiser for the club, too, so lend a hand in whatever way you can. . .Regular goalkeeper training with Roland Sikinger and Eddie Bloise will continue until Thurs., May 10, the week before Dynamos Select tryouts. . .Glenn Davis welcomes you to his audience on “Soccer Matters,” his radio call-in show on ESPN 97.5FM on Wednesdays at 7pm. Glenn conducts meaningful interviews and discusses local, national and international soccer during a fascinating two hours of soccer talk. Call-in number is 713-780-3776. . .To submit items for The Buzz, or the Coaches Memo, email jwalker@dynamossoccer.com.
QUOTABLE
“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”--Coach Oliver Wendell Holmes
THOUGHT ON COACHING
“I hope people realize how much coaches care about their players. Always excited when I cross paths with them (former players) as they’re growing up fast! Some of the players I see and don’t really get to talk to, but I definitely notice them and hope they’re doing well. A lot of these girls have been promoted to the top teams of their age group. Don’t stop playing! There will be a point in your life around college and beyond that will prove to be the most enjoyable if you keep playing!”--Facebook post by former Dynamos player Brad Higginbotham, reflecting on his years as coach of his daughter's youth team.
ANOTHER THOUGHT
"Eighteen holes of golf will teach you more about your foe than will18 years of dealing with him across a desk."--Coach Grantland Rice, the legendary sportswriter who surely would enter Marty's golf tournament April 30 if he was around these days.
IT’S ONLY FAIR
The road to success, Coach Cy Fair has learned, always seems to be under construction. I would like to slip into something more comfortable, Coach Flo insisted after her team’s latest loss, like a coma.