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Keeper Notes
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Happy 4th birthday, Houston Dynamo!
Dynamic details
The perfect gift for soccer fans
The Dynamo is offering a special holiday pack for $59, which includes an exclusive Dynamo tailgating chair and two endline tickets to the Dynamo's 2010 MLS home opener. Order by this Friday to ensure delivery by December 24. Be one of the first 100 to order and you get free shipping! Call 713-276-7500 or go to houstondynamo.com.
Dynamo Academy showcase Saturday
The u18 squad close their 2009 season with a match against the Academy's college players this Saturday at Carl Lewis Track & Field Complex at 10:30 am. Admission is free.
Champs v champs .... again
The Dynamo's 2010 MLS home opener has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 1 against 2009 MLS Cup champs Real Salt Lake (instead of Kansas City). This will be the second year in a row that the Dynamo start the season against the current champion. Game airs live on ESPN2; kickoff will be 8 pm at Robertson Stadium. Houston's 2010 regular season kicks off the previous Saturday as the team travels to face in-state rival FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on March 27.
Put your money where your soccer is
The Keeper is a Dynamo season ticketholder and you should be too -- you get great perks like access to the exclusive season ticketholder event, the ability to buy additional tickets at a lower rate (often before they go on sale to the public) and other cool stuff. Full season ticket packages (including the 2010 MLS All-Star Game at Reliant Stadium) start as low as $334 per seat for 20 games. Call 713-276-7500 and tell 'em the Keeper sent you.
Are you forever orange?
How about true blue? The Dynamo is looking for outgoing, smiling, passionate soccer folks to join the Blue Crew, the group of dedicated volunteers who support the team & fans at home games and Dynamo community events. Minimum age 18. Minimum commitment 10 home games per season. Email bcrew@houstondynamo.com. Volunteers are needed for both InterLiga doubleheaders at Robertson in early January.
Go Bowlin' with Holden!
This Sunday, December 20, go bowling with Stu Holden and help raise funds for "Holden's Heroes," Stu's own charity that benefits sick kids. Participants will bowl with friends & family at Palace Lanes while mingling with Stu & some of his teammates. Each person will receive a limited edition Stuart Holden scarf and enjoy unlimited bowling for three hours. There will also be a silent auction and catered dinner. For pricing and details, go to www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=6S2V3K7.
First person to correctly answer today's Keeper Query (see below) wins a 2-for-1 package for the Bowling with Stu event -- for just $75, you *and* a friend can enjoy bowling, eating and mingling with Stu & his posse. And you both get the Stu Holden scarf.
InterLiga coming to Houston
The 8-team tournament to determine two club berths for Copa Libertadores will be held in Houston, Dallas and LA this January. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com or you can call the Dynamo at 713-276-7500 for tickets to the Houston matches. For more info, see www.interliga.com.
Houston matches at Robertson Stadium
Saturday, January 2
Atlante v Tecos, 5:30 pm
Club Am�rica v Santos, 8 pm
Wednesday, January 6
Jaguares v Puebla, 6:30 pm
Tigres v Monterrey (2009 Apertura champions), 9 pm
Stars & Stripes update
US Soccer announced the first four winners of the 2009 US Soccer Best of Awards Wednesday-- see http://www.ussoccer.com/Multimedia/Media-Center.aspx#/id=02d93b50-4564-4449-8c32-7c390aec8d12. More will be announced today and tomorrow, followed by Female Athlete of the Year on Monday and the Male Athlete of the Year on Tuesday.
Two World Cup warmup matches have been scheduled -- the US men will host Honduras on Saturday, January 23 at Home Depot Center, and then will play #3 ranked Netherlands in Amsterdam on March 3. Both games will be televised live. For more info, see ussoccer.com.
Southwest Indoor JANUARY session
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Sign up anytime to play indoor soccer on the new turf field at Southwest Indoor Soccer. Year-round leagues are available for women's, men's, men's over 30, coed over 30 and high school. All sessions consist of 8 games. Adult teams pay $680 each ($100 deposit), including ref fees; individuals pay $75. Individuals can be placed on existing teams at any time.
Next session begins play on Sunday, January 10. Deadline to register is Sunday, January 3. Call SWIS at 281-564-7947 or go to www.letsplaysoccer.com/main/Locations/southwest/index.html. Or drop by the facility at 12950 Sugar Ridge Blvd. near Murphy Rd. and W. Airport -- open 5 pm to midnight, seven days a week.
Keeping up with the Keeper
Follow the Keeper on Twitter (www.twitter.com/keepernotes) to get frequent soccery updates, or subscribe to the Keeper's Houston Dynamo Examiner feed at www.examiner.com/x-31347-Houston-Dynamo-Examiner.
Check out the Keeper Notes calendar via any browser or add it to your Google calendar:
www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=keeper%40keepernotes.com&ctz=America/Chicago. All World Cup matches are listed.
If you use Google calendar, check out the calendars for soccer leagues worldwide -- go to www.google.com/calendar/render?settings=10 and click on the Sports tab, then click on Soccer. But be warned! These calendars automatically add scores after games are played.
Did ya vote?
Be sure to show your support Houston as a World Cup host city by signing the petition at gousabid.com/houston.
A little bit of this, a little bit of that
Need a last-minute soccer gift?
www.examiner.com/x-31347-Houston-Dynamo-Examiner~y2009m12d10-Holiday-gift-ideas-for-Houston-soccer-fans
ESPN will provide HD coverage of all 64 World Cup matches
www.ussoccerplayers.com/ussoccerplayers/2009/12/espn-builds-up-world-cup-coverage.html
LA loves Landon, but he's gonna be a little Blue
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/12/donovan-to-stay-four-more-years-with-galaxy.html
The Beaz is back!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0rmDOCapTE
Keeper Query
Props to Doug Keyzer for the correct answer to last week's query: the three national teams that have twice reached the World Cup final but have never won are Czechoslovakia, Hungary and the Netherlands.
This week's query: Stu Holden has scored 15 goals in his MLS career, but so far has only one multi-goal game under his belt. Name the date, opponent and final score. First to answer correctly wins a 2-for-1 offer for the Bowling with Stu event this Sunday (details above ... note that you have to pay $75, but you can take someone with you for free). Email your answer to keeper@keepernotes.com.
Soccer to watch
All times CT. More at livesoccertv.com and www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/tv.htm. All times subject to change.
Today
Europa League
Genoa v Valencia, 11:30 am, GolTV
Ajax v Anderlect, noon, DirecTV
Dinamo Zagreb v FC Timisoara, noon, DirecTV
Rapid Wien v Celtic, noon, DirecTV
Benfica v AEK Athens, 1:30 pm, GolTV, DirecTV
Villarreal v Salzburg, 2:05 pm, DirecTV, 7 pm (delay), GolTV
Everton v FC Bate Borisov, 1:05 pm, DirecTV
Saturday
England Championship
Nottingham Forest v Preston North End, 11:15 am, Setanta Sports
English Premier League
Portsmouth v Liverpool, 6:30 am, ESPN2
Manchester City v Sunderland, 9 am, Fox Soccer Channel
Fulham v Manchester United, 9 am, Setanta Sports
Arsenal v Hull City, 11:30 am, Fox Soccer Channel
Aston Villa v Stoke City, 4 pm (delay), Fox Soccer Channel
France Ligue 1
Saint-Etienne v Olympique Marseille, 2 pm, Setanta Sports
Serie A
Fiorentina v AC Milan, 1:30 pm, Fox Soccer Channel
FIFA Club World Cup
3rd place match/Pohang Steelers v Atlante, 10 am, Fox Sports Espa�ol; 6 pm (delay), Fox Soccer Channel
championship/Estudiantes v Barcelona, noon, Fox Sports Espa�ol; 8 pm (delay), Fox Soccer Channel
La Liga
Sevilla v Getafe, 1 pm, GolTV
Real Madrid v Zaragoz, 3 pm, GolTV
Sunday
Serie A
Roma v Parma, 8 am, Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports Espa�ol
Inter Milan v Lazio, 1:30 pm, Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports Espa�ol
English Premier League
Newcastle United v Middlesbrough, 7 am, espn360.com
West Ham United v Chelsea, 10 am, Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports Espa�ol
Everton v Birmingham, 4 pm (delay), Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports Espa�ol
Bundesliga
Hamburg v Werder Bremen, 9:30 am, GolTV
FC Koln v FC Nurnberg, espn360.com
La Liga
Tenerife v Atletico Madrid, noon, GolTV
Monaco v Olympique Lyon, 2 pm, Setanta Sports
Netherlands Eredivisie
NAC Breda v Ajax, 7:30 am, espn360.com
Roda JC v PSV Eindhoven, 9:30 am, espn360.com
France Ligue 1
Lille v Le Mans, 10 am, Setanta Sports
Portugal Liga
Benfica v FC Porto, 2:15 pm, espn360.com
Monday
English Premier League
Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers, 1:55 pm, ESPN2
Wednesday
France Ligue 1
Lyon v Montpelier, noon, Setanta Sports
Toulouse v Bordeaux, 2 pm, Setanta Sports
Saturday, December 26
England Championship
Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle United, 6:45 am, espn360.com
Leicester City v Sheffield United, noon, Setanta Sports
English Premier League
Birmingham City v Chelsea, 6:45 am, ESPN2
West Ham United v Portsmouth, 7 am, Setanta Sports
Manchester City v Stoke City, 9 am, Setanta Sports
Sunday, December 27
English Premier League
Arsenal v Aston Villa, 7:30 am, Setanta Sports
Monday, December 28
English Premier League
Chelsea v Fulham, 9 am, Setanta Sports
Wolverhampton v Manchester City, 1:45 pm, ESPN2
England Championship
Newcastle United v Derby County, 11:20 am, espn360.com
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Keeper Calendar
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December 18: UEFA Champions League draw
Through December 19: FIFA Club World Cup, UAE
January 2: Atlante v Tecos, Club America v Santos, Robertson Stadium
January 6: Jaguares v Puebla, Monterrey v Tigres, Robertson Stadium
January 14: MLS SuperDraft, Philadelphia
January 15:
WPS Draft, Philadelphia
January 19-30: CONCACAF u20 women's championship, Guatemala
January 23: US men v Honduras, Carson, CA
February 24: Mexico friendly in the US, tba
March 3: US men v Netherlands, Amsterdam
March 3: Mexico friendly in the US, tba
March 25: 2010 MLS season begins
March 27: Houston Dynamo at FC Dallas
April 3: Kansas City Wizards at Houston Dynamo
June 11-July 11: 2010 World Cup, South Africa
Expanded calendar at keepernotes.com.