Ching pondering his next move

CARSON, Calif. » Major League Soccer’s championship game served as the encore for a Haleiwa native who has become as much a part of Houston’s sports scene as Matt Schaub, J.J. Watt, Jeremy Lin or James Harden.

Brian Ching, a former Kamehameha Schools standout, might retire after his Houston Dynamo lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 in the MLS Cup 2012 on Saturday at the Home Depot Center.

Ching, the Dynamo’s captain and all-time leading scorer, earned a permanent place in Houston’s sports history by scoring four goals in the Dynamo’s first game in 2006.

That year, Ching also represented the United States in the World Cup and was named the MLS Cup’s most valuable player after leading the Dynamo to the first of two successive titles.

In 2004, two years before the Dynamo moved from San Jose, Calif., Ching made the MLS Best 11 after scoring 12 goals to share the league lead with Eddie Johnson.

When he returned to the Dynamo in February — he was briefly training with the expansion Montreal Impact, who traded him after making him their first draft choice — Ching received the kind of welcome reserved for a long-lost favorite son.

Nearly two dozen camera operators recorded his first practice. Ching conducted radio and television interviews, and even served as a fashion model for a local magazine.

"He’s adored in Houston," Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear said. "He’s meant everything to this team. We wouldn’t be who we are today without Brian."

But at 34, Ching feels the increasingly pervasive effects of numerous injuries he suffered during his 11-year career. Those cumulative effects will help Ching decide his future.

"It’s still up in the air, to be honest," Ching said. "I still haven’t made a decision either way. I’m going to give it a month to see where my body’s at, how I feel, if I miss being out there playing."

So how does his body feel?

"Some days good, some days bad," Ching said. "To be honest, sometimes I need a bit of help to get through games."

Last year, Ching had to recover from plantar fasciitis, separated rib cartilage, a hamstring injury and a torn thumb tendon. Doctors operated twice on his right knee in his career.

"I’ve had two meniscus operations and I’m missing some cartilage, as well," Ching said. "It’s bone on bone in there. It’s something I’ve been managing since 2006."

This season, Ching also had to manage an abrupt, dramatic change to his role. After starting 12 of his first 14 games, he made his final 17 appearances coming off the bench to provide late offense.

"I’m not capable of doing a full 90 minutes at this level anymore," Ching said. "You want to be out there from the start, but you can’t."

The shift reflected the development of second-year forward Will Bruin, who scored a team-leading 12 goals. Kinnear changed the Dynamo’s 4-4-2 formation to a 4-3-3 that made Bruin the main forward.

"Will deserved to start," Ching said. "He’s playing well. He’s scoring a ton of goals in that formation."

The change also provided Ching with perhaps his biggest career challenge — one he surmounted without petulance.

"Brian’s attitude is absolutely selfless," said midfielder Brad Davis, one of two remaining Dynamo originals besides Ching. "It could be difficult for a lot of guys to make that change. But I think he’s doing an absolutely amazing job.

"He’s still staying involved in the locker room and being a leader. Every time he steps on the field, he always brings that boost of confidence to the guys."

Despite reduced playing time, Ching maintains his reputation for quiet, intense concentration during practice.

"One of the most important things I’ve learned from Brian is just his work ethic," Bruin said. "Day in and day out, he’s one of the hardest-working guys on the field in training , whether it’s an easier day or a more intense day."

Despite reduced playing time, Ching enjoys his new role.

"Getting on the field is exciting," Ching said. "It’s fun. You’re waiting all game to make a difference."

Despite Ching’s reduced playing time, Kinnear paid the forward perhaps the ultimate compliment.

"If I was playing, I’d want Brian as my teammate," the coach said. "That’s how highly I think of him."