It is normal for a professional athlete's path to the big leagues to be referred to as a long road or a journey. In the case of Dynamo midfielder Memo Rodriguez, however, the path literally was a long road.
Before Rodriguez could drive, his mother, Velia, would take him from their home in Wharton to training with the Dynamo Academy on the south side of Houston. Measured from the heart of Wharton, that one-way trip is 57 miles.
That's at least two hours every day driving to and from soccer practice.
So, when Rodriguez made his MLS debut Saturday – subbing on in the 83rd minute of Houston's loss to New England – he was thankful not only to coach Wilmer Cabrera for calling his name, but to his mom for being the biggest part of his soccer development.