So I really am tickled pink that Dynamo has resigned Brian Mullan, their 2007 co-MVP. (Story here and Dynamo's press release here.) I expected no less for the guy that makes the right side go. My friend and fellow prawn-sandwicher Dimitri even goes so far as to say that as Mullan goes, so goes Dynamo. I'm not so sure I'd go as far as Dimitri on that one, especially since his finishing and often crossing can be atrocious at times (Brian's, not Dimitri's), but I will say this, insofar as the Orange thrive on wing play, Mully is one of the top 3-4 key guys on the field at any time.
One thing I've always noticed about Mully is his speed and the creativity he brings to even the simplest run. Opposing mids and backs are always on their heels. Even idiot Wynalda has noticed this about Mullan, mentioning in a broadcast last year that whenever Brian is in a tackle, either as the tackler or tacklee (is that a word?), he is always, ALWAYS, the first to get up. This has gone so far as to be a key component of seemingly about 50 percent of his runs up the side. Defenders go after him, they both go down and while the defender is still getting up, Mully-Mull is already about 10 yards away and resuming full speed with the ball and space in front of him.
He's also one of those Jekyll/Hyde guys who looks totally different with facial hair and without. I mean, check out the challenge with the candystriper above and now look at this one right here. With beard, dude is Brian Mullan, Into the Wild mountain hermit. Clean shaven, he's Brian Mullan, teen heartthrob. I mean, look at this guy, does he look like the kind of player who's among the toughest attacking forces in MLS? To me, he looks like he's about to break into a rendition of Jesse's Girl any moment now. I gotta move on because this photo is starting to freak me out.
OK, while we're on the subjects of mountain men and teen heartthrobs.
The Dynamo site is currently running two journals, one from Brad Davis about his experiences in Cali with the US MNT camp, and another from Stuart Holden and Patrick Ianni from the right coast with the U-23 camp in Bradenton, Fla. You can check out both at the Men in Orange's wonderful Web site at houstondynamo.com.
And here are their lovely pics for your viewing pleasure, first Brad Davis, Scruffmeister extraodinaire.
Next is Holden and Ianni, good buds and breakers of hearts (I'm glad I don't have a daughter) far and wide. I'll bet Awty alumnus and Sugar Lander Holden is still even sporting his oh-so-sexy scar from this little incident chronicled here three years ago. (Thanks to The Offside Rules' SF for digging this one up.) Geordies' wrath or no, Holden is just about the No. 1 Bachelor from Buffalo Bayou, or at least so say several friends of the female persuasion up at my office.
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