Ching, a Dynamo forward, will never be the highest-paid local star. But when it comes to this city’s celebrated sports figures, Ching should be listed among the greats.

That was the case before he rejoined the Dynamo on Thursday after being acquired in a trade with Montreal. But because he took a minimum 44 percent pay cut to return to the team that he says is part of his identity, Ching ought to be given a private wing in the Houston sports hall of fame.

Name another star who took about half of what he should get just to play in the Bayou City? Take your time.

Full column: http://www.chron.com/sports/solomon/article/Can-t-put-price-tag-on-Ching-s-devotion-to-Dynamo-3340293.php

With nearly two dozen news cameras tracking Brian Ching, his Dynamo teammates welcomed him back in a way professional athletes commonly show affection.

They teased him.

“Chingsanity!” the Dynamo players declared.

The last time Ching wore his orange No. 25 jersey, few sports fans had heard of Jeremy Lin. But Thursday, the Dynamo’s all-time leading scorer was greeted with a play on the Linsanity theme used to describe the New York Knicks’ NBA sensation.

“It’s the guys. They’re making fun of me again,” Ching said. “It’s something that I’m used to and that I love.”

Full article: http://www.chron.com/sports/dynamo/article/Ching-s-deal-lets-Dynamo-seek-impact-player-3337947.php

The Houston Dynamo have reacquired forward Brian Ching from the Montreal Impact in exchange for a conditional draft pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, it was announced today.

Ching, an original Dynamo player and the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, was selected by the Impact in the 2011 MLS Expansion Draft in November. Ching returns to Houston among the leaders of several franchise records, including games played (fifth, 168), games started (fourth, 144), and assists (third, 24). His club-record 63 goals is nearly twice the amount of the second player on the all-time list (Dwayne De Rosario, 32 goals).

“I am very happy to have Brian back with the team,” said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. “This is a very important year for the Dynamo, and if anyone deserves to be involved with the team, it’s Brian.”

In 2011, Ching was limited to 20 appearances due to injury, but still tied for the team lead with five goals. The forward was instrumental in Houston’s run to the 2011 MLS Cup Final. In the playoff series victory over Philadelphia, he assisted on the game-winning goal in the first-leg win and scored the lone goal in the second game, the final MLS goal scored at Robertson Stadium.

“It feels good having Brian back where he belongs,” said Dynamo president Chris Canetti. “It was a long and difficult process, but we got the right result. I am happy that he will have the opportunity to play in the new stadium in front of his Houstonian fans who so badly wanted him here.”

The perennial MLS All-Star forward led or tied for the team lead in goals in five consecutive seasons (2007-2011) and set a franchise and personal record with 13 goals in 2008. Ching has tallied ten or more goals in two other seasons, recording 11 in 2006 and 12 in 2004.

Ching, a native of Haleiwa, Hawai’i, became the face of the Dynamo franchise by scoring four goals in Houston’s inaugural game in 2006. He capped the season by winning MLS Cup MVP after scoring the tying goal and converting the winning penalty kick in a shootout win over New England.

CARSON — Brian Ching‘s first game against his former Houston Dynamo teammates started with a warning. His one-time (and again) nemesis Bobby Boswell told him before kickoff: “Make sure you wear your shinguards.”

Ching’s response: “Are you sure I don’t need a helmet?”

That’s about as emotional as it got for the Montreal Impact’s veteran forward, who was forced in November to leave Houston for Major League Soccer’s newest club against his (and the Dynamo’s) will, and wasn’t shy about saying so.

On Wednesday, some 2½ months after Montreal plucked him in the expansion draft, he took on his former ‘mates in a preseason friendly on one of the training fields outside Home Depot Center’s main stadium. He played the first 45 minutes, battling Boswell and fellow center back Geoff Cameron with some success but few real opportunities, then watched the Dynamo score twice in the second half for a 2-0 victory.

Full article: http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/soccer/post/_/id/14456/chings-emotions-in-check-vs-dynamo