The CultureMap Interview

Dynamo star discovers Houston shopping, monster trucks & BBQ — and dishes on teammates

If you haven’t heard the name Giles Barnes floating around Houston by now, clearly you don’t follow soccer. Or football, as he’s quick to correct me. Not futbol.

“I call it football – futbol as some say is more of a Latino/South American thing – in England we call it football,” he says.

A fast and explosive forward/attacking midfielder with English Premier League (EPL) experience, Barnes was the leading scorer for the Dynamo in 2013 and 2014 and capped his best season last year snagging four club awards including Most Valuable Player. The Jamaican native has been playing since he was 7, and now his third season with the Dynamo which he says, “hopefully the best one yet.”

Now that you know he’s incredibly awesome at football (NOT SOCCER), there are some other things worth noting about #10. For starters, he’s from London, so his accent is glorious.

CultureMap: Are there Texas stereotypes?

Giles Barnes: I’m still not going to get over the big trucks — I thought monster trucks were a sport, not for driving, however I’m a big fan. And Texas BBQ — I always heard people talking about it, but until you try it, you’ll never understand.

CultureMap: How are the fans in Houston?

GB: One of the best sets of fans I’ve played in front of — their energy and enthusiasm and the way they care about our team is second to none.

CM: Favorite thing in Houston?

GB: It has to be shopping. One of my favorite places is The Class Room in Rice Village. Also the Galleria is a cool spot to hang out!

CM: Tell me something about one of your teammates.

GB:Rico Clark — you can literally tell him anything and he’ll forget it in 10 seconds flat – he’s a great guy and a big friend of mine. And JJ (Jason Johnson) can play any musical instrument he picks up — he’s a very talented guy.

CM: A lot of Houston folks don't "get" soccer as much as they understand football and JJ Watt – help us out.

GB: Firstly it's called football (sorry guys) but it is. And the stadium downtown is easily accessible. If you ever see any of the players, we’re always approachable and willing to talk about football. We’re always promoting the growth of the sport. Get yourself down to BBVA Compass Stadium — it’s the best in the league in my opinion — once you’ve been you’ll want to come back.

CM: Athlete you most look up to?

GB: Ronaldo - the original R9. He was my hero growing up and will forever be the greatest futboler. Even after his injuries and accomplishing everything, his desire to play until his knees couldn’t take it anymore — it was amazing. I even shaved my head trying to be more like him as a kid!

CM: What's your style of play?

GB: I’m a hard worker with some flair and am pretty quick. I like to play off the cuff and let my imagination take over. I also like to entertain people and try to score goals.

CM: If you could take a trip anywhere, where would you go?

GB: Jamaica — for me it’s paradise. Always nice to get back to my roots.

Barnes is one of the most down to earth and genuine athletes around. He even talks in emoticons – seriously, follow him on Twitter: @GilesBarnesReal & Instagram: @gilesb_10

As a youngster, Barnes idolized soccer great Ronaldo Luís Nazário.

$Ronaldo Lui\u0301s Naza\u0301rio, May 2015$

Real Madrid CF

As a youngster, Barnes idolized soccer great Ronaldo Luís Nazário.

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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