Vipers may own, operate Dynamo development team

VipersTime · Sep 16, 2014

http://www.themonitor.com/sports/ri...cle_2965ef34-3e15-11e4-8ba0-001a4bcf6878.html

daywalker02 · Oct 9, 2014

good news

Beavis Stiffler · Nov 7, 2014

http://www.themonitor.com/sports/rgv-vipers-season-blog/article_44fbedea-6245-11e3-bae2-0019bb30f31a.html

10/16/2014 As Rocket Launch looms, Vipers/Rockets still have ways to go with RGV

The Houston Rockets arrived in McAllen late Thursday afternoon, ready to take in an evening dinner at Vipers majority owner Alonzo Cantu's humble abode in Edinburg.

The Rockets (3-1 in the preseason) are in town for the fourth Rocket Launch, when they come to the Valley for a couple days of training camp and community events before hosting an opponent in a preseason game at State Farm Arena. On Sunday, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will add Hidalgo, Texas, to their list of sights and sounds when they come with the Golden State Warriors, who are 3-0 in the preseason.

The week didn't get off to the best of starts. Mother Nature delayed the opening of the Vipers' new practice facility in Edinburg another month. The Rockets were set to practice there, possibly wowed by a building that consisted of two regulation NBA courts, professional offices, training rooms, and other luxurious amenities. It won't happen, not at least until next year.

For Friday's paper, I wrote about the Vipers' and Rockets' constant battle to overtake the Spurs as the Valley's basketball team of choice. It is something that is well on the minds of Vipers president Bert Garcia and Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey. Since partnering with the Rockets in a hybrid NBA/NBA D-League relationship in 2009, the Vipers have been wildly successful: two NBADL titles, two other finals appearances, a slew of league honors, and a potential transaction to buy and operate Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo's development team.

But it has not been enough. In the story, you can read why, some of which is obvious. But I was impressed with how candid Garcia and Morey were in regard to an issue that could be considered touchy.

I spoke with Garcia and Morey earlier this week for the story. Here are some interesting nuggets I left out the article for this blog:

Garcia on the deal with the Dynamo, and whether he projects a smoother road after going through things with the Vipers: “It’s a new sport, more or less, to the Valley. We’ve learned from our mistakes here with the Vipers, and of course we don’t want to repeat them when it comes to the RGV Dynamo, but I think it will also be another case of trial by error. It’s a new product that the Valley has never seen. I’m sure we will hit some bumps – how to sell it, who to sell it to, and engaging the community in regard to that this is their team.”

Garcia on if he or the Rockets would entertain bringing the Spurs as an opponent for Rocket Launch: “It crosses my mind all the time, for two reasons. The most important reason being that we want to bring nothing but the best to the community. We have talked about every top 10 team, about bringing them down. Obviously the Spurs would be in that conversation. Two, I feel it would help us out in the sense that the financial commitment (to Rocket Launch) would be easier for us to make, knowing there could be a way to make up some of that money.”

Garcia on if taking on the Dynamo project is overwhelming for someone who will likely be expected to oversee both the RGV Dynamo and RGV Vipers: “I don’t feel overwhelmed. This is not our first rodeo. We’ve had bumps with the Vipers, you go back and analyze and learn, but I’m surrounded by great people, great ownership. My job is easy. I’m more anxious. I have adrenaline going. My daughter plays soccer, so everyone I meet is saying how excited they are, how they hope it does well. Our ownership always pushes us to the limits. So something like the Dynamo, it’s just another day at the office. We strive for the best opportunities to give back to the community.”

Morey on Garcia: "He's been fabulous. He's won awards, which are very deserved, and he's been a great partner from the start. He became president our second year, and he's been fantastic. That role is the one that makes a lot of what we do go." (Morey noted that what makes Garcia stand out are his people skills and business acumen).

Morey on the Vipers partnering with the Dynamo for a MLS Development team:
"It increases the presence of Houston in the Valley area. It's only a positive thing."

Garcia's comments on the Spurs were interesting. They were honest, and it's true. The Vipers, who pay the Rockets $500,000 every time Rocket Launch is had, would probably see great financial response if they were to bring in San Antonio.

But it will never happen.

The last thing Morey or Garcia wants is to walk into a preseason game here in the Valley between the Rockets and Spurs and see a sea of silver and black. It wouldn't look good.

They are aware of where they stand in the Valley, no matter how many championships they've won or how many times they've been positively praised in the national media.
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