D.C.

And the Houston Dynamo are the new MLS Cup champions!! I have been able to be part of it and see it more live than I ever thought.

As I said in the previous post I have been to D.C. for the w/e helping out my co-workers with MLS Cup and related events. It’s been fun. All the MLS stuff stayed at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown D.C. and we all went back and forth to the RFK stadium (home of the Nationals and the DC United) where the cup was to take place.

I arrived in D.C. on Friday afternoon, after riding on an Amtrak train for the first time. I had the chance to see Philly and Baltimore (I tried to listen to some Counting Crows songs when we first saw Baltimore but I had none at that point on my IPod) from the train. We went directly to the hotel and had just a little time to see the amazing Union Rail Station and a few buildings. We checked in and left for the stadium for a walk-through and to get acquainted with the people and the place.

On Friday night we had a party. It was my first party ever in the sports industry and I could check first hand that it is definitely all about relationships. I had the chance to meet some interesting – and friendly, generally speaking – people from sports agencies, media and companies’ sports marketing departments. I even had the chance to have a drink close to Cobi Jones and Alexi Lalas. It was kind of fun.

Saturday was a busy day and we spent most of it setting up and running a clinic for Hispanic kids sponsored by BK. Those of you who know me know that I am not very children-friendly guy. I like spending time with my friends’ kids for a while…and then turn them back to their parents. Spending some hours with 200+ kids was a challenge. I must say that I really enjoyed it. It is amazing how kids enjoy these kind events and it is impossible not to feel happy and smile when you see them having so much fun. They enjoyed every single minute, starting with the handing out of the gear – t-shirts, socks, shorts – continuing with a visit to the RFK stadium where they took pictures with, and got autographs from, MLS players, and ending with a 1-hour practice with the pros and some coaches. They were delighted and so we were once all was over.

That night we went to the MLS Gala where the season prizes were given to the most valuable players. A beautiful formal ceremony at the National History Museum and then dinner and some drinks.

Today it’s been game day and, after watching the first half, I have been right on the field to help set up the stage. It feels great to be on the field and I just wondered at some point how amazing it would have been to play in front of 40 thousand folks…it will have to wait until my next life!

In short, a great weekend, a great experience and hopefully some good contacts that will be helpful in the future. By the way, I had the chance to see the Capitol, the Obelisk and the Pentagon. D.C. seems to be a beautiful city, very monumental. Anyway, I will let you know how things develop.