Brian Ching is trying to prove something as he leads the Dynamo to the MLS Cup on Sunday night.

Ching, 33, has never been the fastest or most skillful forward, but few in Major League Soccer history have coaxed more out of their abilities. If anything, Ching's life story is about overcoming the odds.

Even though his father, Francis, left Ching's mother when Brian was 3, much of his motivation stems from his father's death from cancer on Christmas Day 1992.

"His dad passing away I think affected just a lot of things," said Ching's former wife, Charisse Luke. "He would question if his father would be proud of him and proud of what he's doing and the steps that he made.

"I think at one point having lost someone when you're young, and someone so important, it affected him. I remember we were sitting in front of a church and having that conversation. We had that conversation a lot. As far as that, I do believe his father would be proud of him. I know I am."

Ching is adamant that his mother, Stephanie Whalen, was the maternal and paternal figure for him and his two brothers. But his father's death and his upbringing as a middle child helped transform Ching into the competitive overachiever who is the Dynamo's all-time leading scorer.

Ching didn't play soccer until he was 7, agreeing to only if his mother would coach.

He grew to accept disappointment with dignity. Professionally, no blow was more devastating than the snub he suffered in 2010 when he was the final cut from the U.S. team heading to the World Cup in South Africa.

"I don't think I'll ever get over that one," Ching said.

Former Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden was hanging out in the room when the national team administrator called Ching to summon him into then-coach Bob Bradley's office.

"I think everybody's heart sank in the room because Brian had been such a big part of the team for the last six years, probably longer," Holden said. "He's such a great guy. Everybody was kind of bummed out for him. It was hard to talk to him."

Crushing blow

After returning to his room, Ching walked out to visit with several members of the team.

"His first thought was to 'wish you guys luck,'�" Holden said. "At the end of the day, it's a team game. Brian's always been that way. He wished everybody luck, and I don't think anybody knew what to say to him. I texted him the next morning at the airport when he was flying back. I know he was disappointed, but he never let that show in front of the guys."

The snub felt worse because United State coach Bruce Arena never used Ching in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

"Obviously, in his mind, that was the last time to go to the World Cup," Luke said. "He was really looking forward to getting this chance to play. It took a lot for him to get back into that soccer mode, just because you work so hard for something and then you're disappointed."

Ching probably has only a few years left in MLS. Having won titles with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2003 and the Dynamo in 2006 and 2007, he realizes this MLS Cup might be his last chance at another.

Given up for dead in the summer, a relatively young Dynamo team rallied behind Ching, who has overcome three injuries that limited him to 22 of the team's 34 games.

"For sure, this is probably the most special one to date for me," he said. "Just to be a leader on a young team, a captain, it's special to kind of help the team. It's also special to see guys mature and grow over the past two years and see the team mature."

He has scored more goals than anybody in Dynamo history, including the team's first at Robertson Stadium in 2006 and the last this month to beat the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Whether he lifts the MLS Cup on Sunday, his legacy is secure.

Burning desire

"My legacy?" he said. "I just want to be known as a hardworking guy who overachieved and is a winner. I think there's always been more talented people out there and whatnot. But I've accomplished a lot, more than I ever thought I would, because of my desire and my desire to compete."

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