Soccer Studs

Dynamo players cheer Team USA in tough loss and pick World Cup winner

As we get deeper into the World Cup tournament, more fans stay glued to the TV screen. But what about those who work 9-5 and can’t duck away from their desk for a quick 90-minute trip to the water fountain? This is where Team USA comes into play.

Coach Jürgen Klinsmann tweeted a clever, customizable letter for soccer fans nationwide to present to their bosses in hopes of a day off. All around Houston, fans took Klinsmann at his word, flooding sports bars and restaurants to cheer on Team USA in the middle of the day Thursday. Although all that support didn’t quite do the trick — Germany won 1-0 — Team USA will still advance to the Round of 16, thanks to Portugal's unexpected win over Ghana.

Who is the best soccer player in the World Cup? “Messi from Argentina. If I had the chance to play with any player, it would be him by far."

Who knows if it was the extensive beer tabs, multiple big screens or maybe even the numerous Houston Dynamo players on hand, but Local Pour was a hot spot to watch the game. Many of the young professionals who jammed the River Oaks-area bar were taking an extra long lunch break or had even snuck out of work without their bosses knowing and asked not to be photographed to avoid their secret field trip being discovered.

I had a chance to sit down with Dynamo team captain and defender Corey Ashe and midfielder Servando Carrasco during halftime of the game —the only 15 minutes where eyes weren’t anxiously fixated on the television.

Both players were ecstatic to be able to cheer on their fellow Dynamo teammate, Brad Davis. "He is a world class player. He is the guy you try and take little things from his game and implement in your own, along with being a great leader and guy I look up to," Carrasco said.

Ashe’s face especially lit up when I asked about Team USA member and former Dynamo Geoff Cameron, who was his roommate five years. “He and I are really good friends. We still talk now. Geoff is an extremely versatile player; he can play anywhere you put him. It proves that he has done well here and in England,” Ashe said.

Who is the best soccer player in the World Cup? “Messi from Argentina. If I had the chance to play with any player, it would be him by far,” Ashe said. Carrasco agreed, asserting, “100 percent Messi.”

Taking home the trophy is not so agree upon. Asked who will win this year's World Cup (excluding Team USA as a choice), Ashe picks The Netherlands while Carrasco says, with the home turf advantage, Brazil is sure to bring home the big win if not his personal favorite, Mexico.

Want to increase your chances of running into these two soccer hot shots in Houston? Drop by some of Ashe's favorites like Saint Danes and Dogwood or Carrasco's quieter favorites like coffee spots Agora, Mercantile and Blacksmith, or El Tiempo Cantina for fajitas.

Dynamo players have their eyes glued to the screen for the USA vs. Germany game at the Local Pour.

Photo by Kate Bentsen

Dynamo players have their eyes glued to the screen for the USA vs. Germany game at the Local Pour.

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pucker up

Growing pickleball franchise smashes into Houston with 2 locations

Two men play pickleball on a Picklr court.

Photo courtesy of The Picklr

A Picklr court campus similar to the ones soon to open in Houston.

Pickleball is one of the hottest sports sweeping the nation, and one of the biggest names in the game is setting up two new facilities in Houston. Picklr is scheduled to open indoor sports campuses in Cypress and The Woodlands in the coming months.

“Bringing a pickleball facility to Cypress will not only provide a fun and engaging recreational outlet for residents of all ages, but will also foster a sense of community and promote a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Steve Nguyen, owner of The Picklr Cypress.“This facility will serve as a vibrant hub for social interaction, skill development, and friendly/competitive competition, enhancing community bonds and offering a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.”

Although the game is approximately 60 years old, pickleball saw a massive spike in popularity following the pandemic when people were looking for fun group activities with easy points of entry. Though a racket sport like tennis, it is far easier and slower thanks to using perforated balls, smaller courts, and lighter paddles. This means the game is open to players of all ages, and was originally most popular with retirees. Now, there are roughly 5 million players across America, with players under 24 making up the majority. Houston even has its own professional team, the Hammers (not the Texas Hammer; that's this guy).

The court in Cypress will be located in the old ASI Gymnastics building at 8920 Barker Cypress. It's a relatively modest facility with only six courts including a practice court. By contrast, The Woodlands location will be much more opulent. At 66,517 square feet, it will have 20 courts, 4 private event spaces (one with an exclusive viewing area), as well as a shower, changing room, dry bar, and kitchenette. Picklr The Woodlands will be located at 16590 Interstate I-45 South.

These locations are the first for Picklr in Houston. They have twelve locations all throughout Texas, including in Round Rock and McKinney, and many more nationwide. Picklr locations operate on a membership model similar to a gym. Memberships run $159 a month for adults and $89 for minors, with unlimited access to open play, league play, and tournaments , as well as four free clinics a month. Additional coaching is available.

There is currently no set opening date for the two Houston-area Picklrs. Players interested in learning more may sign up for updates at ThePicklr.com.

pickleball openings