Now ordinarily this space wouldn't be dominated by the exploits of another team, but Ching is a former USL (A-League) Sounder who played in college at Gonzaga. So here is the news release from the Houston Dynamo:

HOUSTON, TX (Friday, September 25, 2009) -- The Houston Dynamo have extended forward Brian Ching's contract through the 2013 MLS season, the club announced at a press conference today.

Ching, the club's all-time leading scorer with 49 goals in all competitions, still had one full year remaining on his current contract but renegotiated a four-year deal that will keep him in Dynamo orange.

"I wouldn't want to play for any other team," Ching said. "I love the organization, the coaching staff, and the fans. [Head coach] Dom [Kinnear] has done a great job here, and I am very thankful to have been a part of it, and I want to be a part of it in the future."

Ching has been one of the franchise's most popular players since scoring four goals in the team's competitive debut on April 2, 2006, a 5-2 win over Colorado at Robertson Stadium. Since then, he has solidified his place with the U.S. national team, including a trip to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, been named to three MLS All-Star Games, and led the Dynamo to back-to-back MLS Cup championships in 2006 and 2007, earning MLS Cup MVP honors in 2006.

"Brian has sustained a high level of excellence both and an off the field and is a strong representative of the Dynamo brand," Dynamo Chief Operating Officer Chris Canetti said. "For these reasons, we are very pleased to know that he will be in a Dynamo uniform for the foreseeable future. We look forward to Brian's future contributions toward our club's continued success."

This year, Ching leads the Dynamo with eight goals in 18 MLS games and nine goals in all competitions. He has scored 49 goals in his Dynamo career in 115 total games, including 102 starts.

The Dynamo are next in action on Wednesday night, facing Mexican rival Pachuca in Champions League play at Robertson Stadium at 9 p.m. Houston will also host home games at Robertson Stadium on October 4, October 11, and October 18.

In four years with the Dynamo, Brian Ching has:

-been capped 32 times for the U.S. national team, scored eight goals, and earned four assists.

-gone to the World Cup with the U.S. national team (2006)

-won the Gold Cup title with the U.S. national team (2007)

-scored five goals in seven playoff games to lead Houston to two MLS Cup championships (2006, 2007)

-been named MLS Cup MVP after scoring game-tying goal and shootout-winning penalty kick (2006)

-played in 115 total games (102 starts) for the Dynamo

-scored 49 goals for the Dynamo, most in club history

-earned 18 assists, fifth in team history

-led the Dynamo out as captain 11 times (scoring in five of those games)

-christened the new franchise by scoring four goals in its first game ever (April 2, 2006)

-named No. 4 most beautiful person in Houston by H Texas Magazine (2006)

-won a Goal of the Year award for his playoff spot-clinching bicycle kick (September 30, 2006)

-scored series-winning goal in Western Conference playoffs (October 29, 2006)

-been the first player fined by MLS for comments made on Twitter (July 11, 2009)

-hosted a video game night with local kids, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Habitat for Humanity (July 30, 2009)

-co-hosted his own TV segment, Kickin' it with Brian Ching, on KHOU (2009)

-set a team and personal regular-season record with 13 goals (2008)

-named to three MLS All-Star Games (2006, 2007, 2009)

-named Dynamo MVP (2008)

-formed Ching's Team to fight childhood obesity

-been featured in Continental magazine

-been featured in the My Houston campaign