Monday, April 28, 2008

Here's The Story...


Tuesday's announcement of Chicago WPS' Director of Ticket Sales means that our first five staff members are Team President and CEO Peter Wilt, General Manager Marcia McDermott, Sponsor Sales Director Bobby McAuliff, Operations Manager Alyse LaHue and Director of Ticket Sales Greg Zaskowski. Greg worked with me at the Fire as the team's Manager of Ticket Sales. I am very excited to have him on board and just hope he doesn't leave us for a turn as Johnny Bravo.

If your name is Jan or Cindy and you are interested in a career in soccer administration, you may want to shoot us your resume...just sayin'.

With a little bit of luck, this could be the 2009 Chicago WPS staff photo!

Red Stars Lead Grows

The first of the four finalist weeks is in the books and the Chicago Red Stars have padded their lead. Red Stars scored 397 (41.2%) voting points this week to increase their lead over second place 1871 to more than 800 points. The Wind outscored 1871 this week, but still trails 1871 by 255 points and Red Stars by more than 1,000 points in the cumulative voting.

No more names will be eliminated through the sweepstakes. Fans can continue to vote on the three finalists through May 16th and the team name is expected to be announced in early June. Fans can vote on line at www.chicagoprowomenssoccer.com.

Cumulative voting through 4/28:

Red Stars......3924.....39.7%
1871...........3106.....31.4%
Wind...........2851.....28.9%
Riot...........2300 Eliminated April 21st
Blues..........1564 Eliminated April 14th
Union..........1056 Eliminated April 7th
Stinking Onions..611 Eliminated March 31st
Massacre......526 Eliminated March 24th
Towers........183 Eliminated March 17th
Progress.......109 Eliminated March 10th

Weekly vote: 4/21-4/28:

Red Stars......397.....41.2%
1871...........232.....25.2%
Wind...........309.....33.6%

A reminder that this poll is advisory and the final choice is up to the Chicago WPS Board of Directors...not saying that we would do this, but we could pick a name that has already been eliminated or go off the board totally and pick a name that wasn't even voted on...like Chicago Bootleggers for instance - whaddya think of that one? Let me know by commenting below. Thanks.

Friday, April 25, 2008

The Spirit of the Fire Moves On



Tomorrow's Chicago Fire game will mark the last day Donald Ortale will be paid to work for the Chicago Fire and the FireWorks For Kids Foundation. Donald is the Fire's long time Senior Director of Community Relations, CEO of the FireWorks For Kids Foundation and to many people represented the positive spirit of the Chicago Fire.

Donald is moving on to another position in the non-profit world, but it will not be the last day he works for either the Fire or the Foundation as he will stay on as a board member of the Foundation and i'm sure he'll find ways to continue his support of the team. Working to advance the Fire and the Foundation was never about compensation for Donald anyway. In fact, he worked to promote the Fire for a couple years before he was paid to do so through his position with the American Lung Association.

During my job interview with Phil Anschutz in 1997, he told me that if i got the Fire's GM position, i must create a charitable arm to give back to the community. Along with Jessica Yavitz, who will succeed him, Donald took the mantle that Mr. Anschutz, Denise Wilmer and i gave him eight years ago and built the Fire's community relations department and charitable arm into the most effective and respected in Major League Soccer.

He and his department have been honored several times by MLS, but his proudest honor is the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame's 2002 Pro Team Community Award. The Fire received this award over every other professional sports team in the United States for the way it handled its move to Naperville in the community.

Donald, like many others the last few years, will now carry the spirit of the Fire elsewhere in Chicagoland and it will be the responsibility of others to pick up his heavy load, continue his good works and most importantly, carry on his spirit within the Fire.

Farewell Donald!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

The Gift

i received a very special gift yesterday. It came from someone who gave me the gift of a second chance at life almost 40 years ago...

i was eight years old at the time. My father took my older brother Tim and me sailing in a 14 1/2-foot Klepper Passat - a German rubber skinned sailboat with a mahogany frame - on Lake Superior. High winds, large waves and limited sailing experience led to a harrowing day and night stranded on the lake they call Gitche Gumee. Our sails were down and we were rapidly drifting out to sea. If not for the skill, courage and bravery of three Porcupine Mountain State Park Rangers, we surely would have perished.

My mother reported us missing several hours after we failed to return on time. Park Manager Dave Balbaugh, Assistant Park Superintendent John Kesot and Park Mechanic Arnold "Andy" Anderson then went to work. First they drove up to a lookout in the park and using a 10x to 30x zoom telescope, spotted the mast of our tiny boat on the horizon about five miles out and slightly west of the park.

Local newspaper reports from the day report what happened next:

"The three took the park boat and went out into Lake Superior to find the lost craft, but it was nowhere in sight. The park crew spotted a boat with fishermen that told them they had seen the boat which was barely visible, about five to six miles offshore and about seven miles east.

It was approximately 7 p.m. before the rescue boat reached them. The two boys, 8-year-old Peter and 12-year-old Tim, were taken aboard the park boat, but their dad remained aboard his craft as it was being towed in.

Unfortunately, the seas got too heavy and the Wilt boat filled up with water and capsized. Dr. Wilt, who was wearing a life jacket, was then taken from the water into the park boat. The rescue crew then returned to the park dock, arriving around 9:30 p.m."


It was a life changing event for my dad, brother and me. It forced us to appreciate the precious gift life is. Every August 12th thereafter, no matter where we are, we get ahold of each other and remember that day. Together and separately, we also started to return to the site on several of the anniversaries. Tim was the first to return to the Porkies. i think it was on the 15th Anniversary. My wife and i made the pilgrimage on the 20th Anniversary. Then i went again on the 25th Anniversary. It was on that excursion that i dug through the local newspaper archives to find the names of the rangers and went to the State Park welcome center to track them down, so that i could thank them personally.

i was told that Superintendent Balbaugh had passed away a few years back, John was retired and travelling the country in a motor home and Andy was retired and living in nearby Silver City.

The phone book in the Silver City General Store listed an "A Anderson" on Michigan State Highway 64. i drove to the address and parked my car on the edge of the highway. i then walked up a long gravel drive and found an elderly gentleman working in a garden:

Me: "Are you Andy Anderson?"
Andy: "Yes i am. How can i help you?"
Me: "Well you already have. 25 years ago today, you saved my life and i just wanted to say 'Thank you',"
Andy: "Are you the young Wilt boy!?!"
Me: "Yes i am"
Andy yelling to his wife: "Honey, we have a visitor. Bring out a couple of beers!"

Andy and i had a great afternoon drinking Grainbelt Premium beer and recalling that day as if it were yesterday. He put me in touch with John and we all exchanged Christmas cards for years afterward.

My whole family returned to Porcupine Mountain State Park on the 30th anniversary and we had a very nice final reunion with Andy who passed away a couple years later.

Though John and i kept in touch via Christmas cards, we never reunited until December of 2006. He was 90 years old and living in a senior home in Camden, Tennessee. While visiting my nephew and Godson Evan Darger at Southern Illinois University we decided to make a road trip to visit John and thank him in person.

His daughter and son-in-law helped make the arrangements. We had a great visit with John at his apartment and we told him we'd like to take him to lunch anywhere he wanted. John chose Pizza Hut. His daughter arranged to have the local paper join us and they wrote a nice article about the reunion.

John died a couple months ago. On his obituary page's guest book i wrote:

"My family and i mourn John's passing as we celebrate his life. His heroic actions on Lake Superior on August 12, 1968 gave my father, brother and me another chance at life. Reconnecting with him last year allowed me to see that he was as good and kind a man as he was courageous. We are forever grateful to John for saving our lives, while risking his own. God bless you and keep you."

John was the last surviving of the three brave rangers that i owe my life to.

Yesterday i found a box on our doorstep from John's daughter. Inside was an invitation to John's upcoming memorial service in Cheboygan, Michigan, a personal note and a special gift.

In part, the note read:

"Hello Folks,

You gave us the excellent idea of the "Life Celebration" we daughters are holding for my parents.

Please also accept dad's telescope that he said he used to spot you folks that day on the water. I could not think of anyone more fitting than for you to have it...

Janice"


John Kesot

God bless you John

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Piotr Has Left The Building

The Chicago Fire's brightest star was at their game Sunday afternoon at Toyota Park and barely anyone knew.

Original Fire Captain and current US Olympic Team Coach Piotr Nowak was in Chicago for the Olympic Draw.

I ran into Piotr in the hallway of the suites after talking with Wizards executives Robb Heineman and Greg Cotton.

I brought Piotr down to the Chicago WPS suite to see two women who absolutely adore him - Ann, my wife and Marcia McDermott, Chicago WPS' general manager. Ann has known Piotr as long as I have and Marcia has admired him from afar since her days coaching Northwestern when she was able to witness his remarkable play at Soldier Field on a regular basis.

This was the first time Marcia had met Piotr and she was in awe. She told me she wouldn't fawn, but when I introduced him, she gushed appropriately. It was wonderful to be able to introduce two people I respect so much to each other.

Before he left, Piotr told me a humorous story about his assistant coach and fellow Ring of Fire member Lubos Kubik. After the Olympic Draw that morning, Piotr called Lubos to discuss the group. Lubos said something along the lines of: "Not bad. Japan is good, but Norway and New Zealand are not strong."

Piotr was confused and told Lubos he was crazy, that he had the group all wrong. It took awhile, but the two ex-Fire greats finally realized that Lubos had mistaken the US Women's Olympic group with the men's. Both groups include Japan, but unfortunately the men's group has Holland and Nigeria, not the Kiwis and Norwegians.

Either way, I think Piotr and Lubos will find a way to succeed in China.

This 1-0 KC victory btw, brought back (awful) memories of the2000 MLS Cup with several eerie comparisons:

* Fire vs. Kansas City
* Early Wizards goal
* KC packs it in rest of the game
* Fire dominates and turns into a shooting gallery
* KC keeper makes great saves
* Most Fire shots right at the Wizards keeper
* Fire misses a wide open net from two yards out by mysteriously shooting the ball OVER the crossbar.
* Final score in 2000, KC 1, the best professional soccer team in Chicago history* 0.

One interesting difference. Despite long and loud protests by Fire leadership (me), MLS refused to let us wear our red uniforms in the championship game. MLS broadcasting executive Michael Cohen would not permit the red uniforms, because the contrast between the red and blue was not enough on the camera operators' black and white monitors and it would cause them confusion when receiving direction in their headsets.

At least Sunday, fans were able to watch two colorful sets of uniforms on the same field.

* My personal opinion. Followed closely by:

2) 1981 Chicago Sting
3) 1998 Chicago Fire
4) 2003 Chicago Fire
5) 1984 Chicago Sting
6) 2001 Chicago Fire
7) 2008 Chicago Fire•

• With a bullet. This year's Fire squad has the potential to crack Chicago's all-time top three if it can stay healthy, develop Patrick Nyarko and Stephen King and sign one or two more players.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Wind Blows Riot Away

i was hoping the Chicago Riot could stage a late rally to earn a spot in the final three, but the Chicago Wind held off the Riot to earn entry into the Chicago Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) team’s Name the Team Sweepstakes final round. Chicago Red Stars and Chicago 1871 continued to lead the non-binding vote and will join the Wind as the other two teams in the contest’s final month. No more names will be eliminated through the sweepstakes. Fans can continue to vote on the three finalists through May 16th and the team name is expected to be announced in early June. Fans can vote on line at www.chicagoprowomenssoccer.com.

Chicago Riot was nominated in honor of Chicago’s famous civil unrests – including the Chicago Lager Beer Riots of 1855, the Haymarket Square Riot of 1886 and the Grant Park Democratic National Convention Riot in 1968. While polarizing at the time, they all led to a better place to live for all Chicagoans and reflect (though exaggerated) the passion and spirit expected from the team’s players and fans.

I’m disappointed that Riot missed the final cut. Chicago Riot was the first name I thought of for this team more than a year ago. I think it was hurt by political correctness. Maybe some people took it literally and thought we'd be advocating violence at games. In any regards, it would've been somewhat problematic as there is already a burgeoning rugby team in town that is called Chicago Riot. No name is perfect, but Riot had a lot going for it.

The Chicago Red Stars extended their lead over Chicago 1871 by 132 more points and now lead the voting by more than 600 points.

Below are the current standings that include online voting and votes from paper ballots distributed at more than 100 locations in the area including all 44 AthletiCo Rehabilitation, Fitness and Performance Centers.

With balloting heading into the eighth and final stage, fans are welcome to vote again. Vote totals below display both the cumulative and weekly vote. Fans who voted for Progress, Towers, Massacre, Stinking Onions, Union Blues and Riot before, may want to vote again and choose a replacement for their selections from the three finalists:

Cumulative voting through 4/21:

Red Stars......3545.....31.5%
1871...........2874.....25.5%
Wind...........2542.....22.6%
Riot...........2300.....20.4% Eliminated April 21st
Blues..........1564 Eliminated April 14th
Union..........1056 Eliminated April 7th
Stinking Onions..611 Eliminated March 31st
Massacre......526 Eliminated March 24th
Towers........183 Eliminated March 17th
Progress.......109 Eliminated March 10th

Weekly vote: 4/14-4/21:

Red Stars......479.....35.5%
1871...........347.....25.7%
Wind...........289.....21.4%
Riot...........236.....17.5% Eliminated April 21st

In order to brand the team with a connection to the City of Chicago, the team nominated ten names that have direct historical connections to Chicago. The three remaining nominated names and their historical connection to Chicago follow:

Chicago 1871 - The year of the Great Chicago Fire, which is memorialized with a red star on the city flag. The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday October 8 to early Tuesday October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about four square miles. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S. disasters of the 19th century, the rebuilding that began almost immediately spurred Chicago's development into one of the most populous and economically important American and international cities. Chicago Fire Soccer was named in honor of the great Fire October 8, 1997.

Chicago Red Stars - In honor of the four red stars on the City of Chicago’s Municipal Flag, which represent the city’s four greatest events – the Great Fire, the Fort Dearborn Massacre and the 1893 and 1933 World’s Fairs. On the city flag, each of the 24 star points also has meaning, which is described here. Mayor Daley has said the city would add a fifth star if Chicago hosts the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Chicago Wind - In honor of Chicago’s most famous nickname, the Windy City. Possible explanations for this nickname include Chicago's weather, politics, World's Fair, and rivalry with Cincinnati. Some say that the name comes from Chicago's political history. Specifically, they reference the "spectator sport" style of politics practiced in the last century, and the adage that when Chicago politicians speak they are "blowing a lot of wind".

One lucky winner will be chosen at random to receive more than $2,500 in cash and prizes including inaugural season tickets and suite tickets to its inaugural game at Toyota Park. Ten runners up will receive two tickets to the team’s inaugural home game.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Billie Jean King High-Fived Me!

While in Los Angeles earlier this week, Chicago WPS General Manager Marcia McDermott and I attended the Women's Sports Foundation's Billie Awards at the Beverly Hilton*. We were joined at the Women's Professional Soccer table by WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci, NJ/NY Sky Blue GM and Head Coach Ian Sawyers, his wife and past president of the WSF Julie Foudy and executives from Fox Soccer Channel and Andell Holdings.

It was one of the best sports soirees I've ever attended - and I've been to the Fire Meet the Team Parties at Enchanted Castle! What made it great - beyond the movie stars, professional athletes, who's who in women's sports, 90210 setting and intimate hour long Elton John performance - was the inspiration from the dozens of world class athletes on hand who overcame obstacles in the male dominated world of athletics and achieved greatness in the face of adversity and even outright discrimination

The event rose to grand stature during the parade of athletes including Michelle Kwan, Rosie Casals, Nancy Lieberman, Julie Foudy and Diana Nyad. The award ceremonies elevated the proceedings to inspirational as back stories to the pioneering work of broadcaster Lesley Visser and author Katherine Switzer were described.

My personal highpoint** was being high-fived by the founder of the Women's Sports Foundation, tennis legend Billie Jean King. For those too young to remember, it was Billie Jean King's historic victory over Bobby Riggs in 1974 that launched the women's sports movement and led to gender equity legislation including the NCAA's Title IX. Chicago WPS co-owner Susan Morrison, who is a WSF trustee and was sitting at Billie's table introduced WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci, Marcia and me to Billie.

She was most gracious and very interested in WPS' launch. We connected on the strategy of marketing women's team sports on a local vs. national level. It was at that point when she said to me, "You got it!" and raised her open right hand to me, which I hesitantly slapped. I really didn't think too much of it at the moment, but on the way back to our table, Tonya drilled it home by excitedly telling me, "Peter, Billie Jean King just high-fived you!"

Overall, the event served to validate my commitment to lead Chicago’s efforts in Women’s Professional Soccer.

* This was the second time I was at the Beverly Hilton - well technically I think it was my first since the last time I was there, I was asked to leave before actually getting inside. It was the summer of 1994 and I was living in Beverly Hills (90212, not 90210). While driving west on Wilshire Boulevard in my Ford Probe, I thought I recognized the profile of Liza Minelli in the rear passenger seat as I was passed by a long white Cadillac. Being an amateur celebrity stalker, I needed to catch up to the limousine to verify my sighting. I wasn't able to catch up, so I fell in line behind the target and followed it as it turned left once, then left again and then I followed the Caddy into a covered entry way. When we stopped, I looked up into a phalanx of reporters, and the glare of paparazzi and television lights. A doorman opened the rear door of the white limo in front of me and out stepped Dorothy Gale's daughter herself, preening to photographers as she walked into the Beverly Hilton on it's red carpet. At that moment, I heard the tap on my window of a security guard who recognized that my Ford probably didn't belong there. He politely asked if he could help me. i repeated Boon's line from Animal House "Leaving! What a good idea." and exited back into the real world.

** This moment edged out my runner up finish in the Dancing With the WPS Executives Pairs Competition - Tonya and Aaron Burch, WPS' Development/Relationships Manager, bested Karyn Lush, WPS' Managing Editor and Internet Producer, and me (at no fault of Karyn's) while we all danced to Crocodile Rock!

Time to Recognize Soccer in Women's Sports Hall of Fame

I attended the Women's Sports Foundation's Billie Awards earlier this week, had a wonderful time and was inspired by the stories of many great athletes and award winners. The WSF, founded by tennis legend Billie Jean King in 1974, is a great organization that continues to advance the cause of women in sports, but it's International Women's Hall of Fame has a glaring omission that I believe must be corrected as soon as possible.

The International Women's Sports Hall of Fame has inducted more than 130 athletes in dozens of sports including representatives of orienteering, squash, fencing, judo, shooting and mountaineering. I don’t mean to diminish those sports, but it doesn’t seem just that there isn’t a single soccer player on the list.

This in spite of previous nominations for FIFA Women’s World Cup winners Michelle Akers, Carin Gabarra and April Heinrichs. These athletes pioneered a sport that is now one of the most popular among girls in the United States, yet they, and apparently all other women soccer players have not been deemed worthy of selection.

When I brought this issue up to National Soccer Hall of Famer Julie Foudy, who is Past President of the WSF, she explained that attendance at the induction is a criteria for selection and Michelle hasn't been able to attend. Julie said she isn't sure about Carin and April's nominations, but believes both would be worthy candidates. In addition to those three, Mary Harvey, Debbie Belkin, Tish Venturini, Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, Lori Henry, Amy Allman and others all deserve recognition for their pioneering work to put women's soccer on the map in the United States and worldwide.

The "Class of 1999" (including Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Carla Overbeck, Joy Fawcett, Briana Scurry, Brandi Chastain, Kristine Lilly and Tiffeny Milbrett), while worthy of entry as soon as the mandatory five years after retirement period expires, should be honored after the original pioneers are inducted.

If attending the event in person is important to the WSF, i believe the attendance criteria should be adjusted, so that an unavailable inductee would automatically be scheduled for induction the following year, and subsequent years until attendance is possible.

Nominations are due October 31st and can be made here. i plan on nominating the pioneers listed above. If you are like minded and have the time to do so, please follow suit as more support will help with efforts for women's soccer players to gain their rightful place in the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame.

I'll have more on the great things the WSF does and the Billie Awards in my next post.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

My Lunch With Andrew

It wasn't exactly Andre and Wally, but the internet being the internet, news of my long scheduled lunch meeting today with Fire owner Andrew Hauptman was widespread. There seems to be considerable interest in it as my name has been linked to the position i previously held, so i thought i would provide a review of our lunch here.

We met at the Andell Holdings's office in Westwood and walked to a nearby restaurant. We had a window table. i ordered an ice tea (regular, not flavored!) and Andrew ordered an Arnold Palmer. i thought about ordering a John Daly, but i didn't want to get into my story about the bartender who knew exactly what it was when i ordered one, came back and asked me "You want a pack of Marlboro Reds with that?" ;-).

We both ordered salads. Andrew's was a Caesar with chicken. Mine was garden served with ahi tuna.

i suppose you may want to know what we talked about, too, huh? i don't think it would be right to go into any sort of details, but for the most part it went as originally conceived three weeks ago when planned. We discussed Chicago WPS and we discussed the Fire's past, present and future. i learned quite a bit about the Fire's current state as Andrew did much of the talking. He was very forthcoming and was refreshingly direct with his comments.

Andrew told a great story about going to Section 8 during the Fire's home opener in a driving rain with Chicago Sting owner Lee Stern. It was Lee's first experience in Section 8 and from Andrew's description, Lee had the time of his life. He asked if i knew of any candidates for the Fire's open president position. i mentioned six or seven names, told him that i care about the Fire and want them to be successful for a long time to come and i will do anything i can to help with that. He told me he recognizes that.

It was the first time we met and i was pleased that he is personally very committed to the success and growth of the Chicago Fire and to building a collaborative culture in the organization. That bodes well for the team.

The salad was great. i give it four (red) stars.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Bye Bye Blues - Final Four

Chicago Blues went bye bye today as the latest team name eliminated from the Chicago Women’s Professional Soccer Name the Team Sweepstakes. Now the Chicago Riot faces a weeklong battle to rally against the Chicago Wind in order to stay in the race in the advisory poll. If you're a fan of Riot, now's the time to vote and keep it alive!

When Chicago MLS was looking for a name to replace Nike's nominated "Rhythm"*, the Blues were also seriously considered, then rejected. It looks like Red Stars and 1871 are likely to make it to the final three, so the real battle now is whether Riot or Wind will survive to be the other finalist.

With balloting heading into the seventh of eight stages, fans are welcome to vote again. Vote totals below display both the cumulative and weekly vote. You can vote on line at www.chicagoprowomenssoccer.com through May 16th.

Cumulative voting through 4/14:

Red Stars......3066.....26.70%
1871...........2527.....22.0%
Wind...........2253.....19.6%
Riot...........2064.....18.0%
Blues..........1564.....13.6% Eliminated April 14th
Union..........1056 Eliminated April 7th
Stinking Onions..611 Eliminated March 31st
Massacre......526 Eliminated March 24th
Towers........183 Eliminated March 17th
Progress.......109 Eliminated March 10th

Weekly vote: 4/7-4/14:

Wind...........341.....26.0%
Red Stars......266.....20.1%
Riot...........260.....19.7%
Blues.........240.....18.1% Eliminated April 14th
1871...........216.....16.3%

* BTW, i find it interesting that all, but one (Galaxy) of the original MLS teams named by Nike are now extinct: MetroStars, Burn, Clash, Mutiny and (almost) Rhythm are all now part of MLS history.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Do you know the way to...Oakland?

i attended the San Jose Earthquakes Media Day this afternoon at McAfee Stadium in sunny Oakland, California. Both the Quakes and Fire trained and i was able to catch up with a number of old friends.

Stepping out of the A's dugout, i thought of A's greats Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi and Vida Blue and A's non-greats Herb Washington, Skip Pitlock and Mike Andrews who were among the hundreds of baseball players who represented Oakland since the team completed its two-stop cross country journey from Philadelphia (with a decade plus layover in Kansas City) in 1968.

Soccer America's Ridge Mahoney, MLS' Will Kuhns and ESPN Soccernet's Jeff Carlisle immediately came over to exchange greetings. i soon made my way across the sod covered batters box for my quest - current Quake and former Fire All-Star midfielder Ivan Guerrero. Ivan is one of my favorite Fire players ever and he was unceremoniously lost in the expansion draft last fall to the San Jose Earthquakes V.03. It was great to see Ivan and be reminded what a great gentleman he is and how his skill, hard work, heart and friendliness benefitted the Fire on the field and in the locker room.

After a short talk with Quakes Head Coach Frank Yallop, i caught up with Fire players Andy Herron, Gonzalo Segaras, Wilman Conde, Justin Mapp, Chad Barrett, Dasan Robinson and John Thorrington. i also spoke with Fire coaches Chris Armas, Mike Jeffries and Daryl Shore as well as Fire staffers Ron Stern and Charles Raycroft. I then got Fire Head Coach Denis Hamlett alone and asked him how Ivan got away. He made it clear that it wasn't his idea, but he also laid out a scenario where, short of a trade, San Jose was going to select an important player from the Fire's senior roster whether or not Ivan was protected.

i then spoke to Cuauhtemoc Blanco and long time Monterrey Security supervisor Juan Gaytan, who now serves as Temoc's personal security and translator. Temoc and i spoke about the to-die-for Red Snapper in Diablo Sauce at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, El Barco. i first met Temoc at the Ashland Avenue eatery last fall.

Media relations stars Jed Mettee (San Jose Earthquakes) and Lauren Brophy (Chicago Fire) were both welcoming as ever. Finally, i spent a little time with Quakes VP David Alioto and commiserated with him over the challenges of changing and upgrading stadia.

Afterwards, Soccer Silicon Valley's Jay Hipps, his co-hort Pete Ratajczak and Chicago WPS email vendor and iPost executive Katrina Anderson (who is also a former Chicago Fire and current San Jose Earthquakes season ticket holder) went out to celebrate the start of the weekend with a frosty beverage.

It was there, in Brennan's in Berkley that i received the news...the BlackBerry started buzzing with emails, texts and phone calls - from former Fire colleagues Yaro Dachniwsky, Kenn Tomasch, Dave Sarachan, Trent Sheridan, Kim Beauvais, Andy Stengren, Steve Dilenardi, Pat McNamara, Greg Zaskowsi and others...in addition to messages from former Fire staff, they came by the dozens from friends, family and fans.

Coincidentally or not, the news that the Chicago Fire was going to replace John Guppy, was made three years to the day after he was named to replace me.

A number of good things happened under John's watch including the opening of Toyota Park, the capturing of the 2006 US Open Cup, the signing of Cuauhtemoc Blanco and the signing of jersey sponsor Best Buy. This offseason however, it became apparent that the Fire had lost much of its luster as a place where players, coaches and staff wanted to work and that ultimately cost him his job.

i wish John all the best and hope his successor will lead the Fire to more success on and off the field.

i'm looking forward to cheering the Fire on in person Saturday as the team battles San Jose in its first game following John's departure. Ironically, the Fire's first game after John started was a win over the San Jose Earthquakes V.02. Here's hoping for a repeat performance.

Optimism

Had board meetings this week for both Women's Professional Soccer and Chicago WPS.

Both went very well and were full of optimism as we begin the one year countdown until the team and League's launch.

The support of Chicago's ownership including the board which is made up of owners Gary Weaver, Jim Willett, Arnim Whisler and me, is matched only by the enthusiasm of the people we talk to in the Chicago soccer community. Everyone seems to want to offer their assistance to assure the team's success. This reaction is different than 11 years ago when the Fire started. At that time, the soccer community was skeptical and even resistant to MLS.

Chicago WPS General Manager Marcia McDermott and i were able to report to the board that we had identified outstanding candidates for the five department head positions. If we can bring all five aboard, i believe we will have a staff that rivals the Fire's 1998 leadership and that has me feeling very good about our potential for success in Chicago.

The League Board of Governors meetings in San Francisco also generated excitement and optimism for all the owners in attendance. In addition to the progress of the seven previously committed teams and Soccer United Marketing (SUM), the expansion committee i serve on also reported good news about both short term and long term expansion possibilities. While we are cognizant of the need to embrace slow growth and vet ownership groups carefully, it is apparent that this league will have the opportunity to expand to traditional sized soccer Leagues (18-20 teams) much more rapidly than MLS did. The reasoned business model is directly responsible for the considerable attention WPS is receiving from investors in the U.S. and Canada.

Tonya Antonucci's leadership along with Joe Cummings, Aaron Burch and Karyn Lush in the WPS office gives us confidence in the League. The next key hires, including Marketing and PR, will be very important to maintain the quality of the League's personnel and maintain the WPS Board of Governor's current level of optimism.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Caring About American Soccer

It's one of my favorite topics and it came up twice in the last 24 hours - the importance of the US soccer community caring about American soccer.

Tom Dunmore is writing a piece for ESPN the Magazine and ESPN Soccernet and another for Pitch Invasion on the topic of supporters culture in MLS. He asked my thoughts for the articles and my comments included the following:

"The supporters’ energy and passion is not only felt within the section, it is transferred throughout the stadium. It gives emotion to the game experience for everyone who attends and elevates the meaningfulness of the game that is talked about the following day at school and at work.

That “water cooler talk” is critical because, good or bad, it is the team’s advertising to tens if not hundreds of thousands of others who weren’t at the game. It is unbiased, independent testimony to the game experience. If the experience is bad, the negative impact can be devastating to future sales. If the communication is positive, it can lead to organic growth of the team’s diverse fan base.
"

Then this morning's Soccer America Confidential had a terrific column by one of the country's very best soccer writers, Ridge Mahoney. His column today about the improvement in MLS is enjoyable to read based on both the content and style. If you're too cheap to subscribe to Soccer America and receive its essential online coverage, i'll tease you with a few paragraphs from the end of Ridge's column:

"And I realize what I'm seeing is not just glimpses of soccer scenes savored in other parts of the world, but what fans are feeling: the anticipation and excitement and passion and ferocity they share with players as they battle on the field.

In Toronto and Washington D.C. and Houston and Salt Lake City and Chicago and a few other places, there are a lot of fans who care about their teams. Really care.

MLS isn't EPL or La Liga or Bundesliga or Serie A or the Mexican League, yet no league can progress if the players who play and the people who pay don't really give a damn. When those people are reduced to a tiny minority, MLS will truly be major league."


Now after reading that, you should be motivated to go here and subscribe. Ridge's musings alone are worth the $79.

Union Busted

To no one's surprise, Chicago Union was eliminated today in the Chicago WPS Name the Team Sweepstakes. Union managed to break the 1,000 point barrier in the voting, but it came up well short of the fifth place Chicago Blues. The Blues will need a miracle week of its own to stay in the race in the advisory poll, which is helping Chicago WPS choose its team name.

The Wind gained ground on 1871 and put a little distance between itself and Chicago Riot in the race to be in the final group of three over the Sweepstakes' last three weeks (April 28th through May 16th). i'm a little sad, as Union was a very good name. Chicago Union's really the first of the nominated names i could've lived with that has been eliminated.

Thanks for voting. You're welcome to vote again as we head into the sixth of eight stages of balloting.

Here are the numbers for this week.

Cumulative voting through 4/7:

Red Stars………..2800…..25.0%
1871……………...2311…..20.6%
Wind…………….1912…..17.1%
Riot…………….1804…...16.1%
Blues……………1324…...11.8%
Union……………1056…….9.4%..Eliminated 4/7
Stinking Onions.611.......Eliminated 3/31
Massacre.......526.........Eliminated 3/24
Towers.........183.........Eliminated 3/17
Progress.......109.........Eliminated 3/10

Weekly vote: 3/31-4/7:

Red Stars………456…..31.3%
Wind…………….307….21.0%
Riot…………….239…..16.4%
Blues……………195….13.4%
1871…………….166…..11.4%
Union…………….96……6.6%.....Eliminated 4/7

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Countdown 366 Days...

Tomorrow is the negative one year anniversary of Women's Professional Soccer's (WPS) inaugural season*.

There is so much left to do and it seems like there's not much time. Compared to the lead up of the Chicago Fire's inaugural season, however, we are well ahead of schedule.

I started as Chicago MLS' first employee July 1, 1997, which was about nine months before the team's first game. I started as Chicago WPS' first employee September 1, 2007, which was about 19 months before the team's first game.

Chicago MLS became the Chicago Fire, hired Bob Bradley as Head Coach, started staffing up and selling season tickets in October, 1997 and Piotr Nowak was signed as the team's first star player in December, 1997. Chicago WPS will certainly beat the Fire's timeline on team name, staffing, start of ticket sales, head coach and star player signing. i feel good right now that the quality of the Chicago WPS selections will stack up pretty well to the quality achieved a decade ago. If that bears out, we'll all have something special to look forward to beginning one year from tomorrow!


*exact date may vary

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Darn Rules Keep Getting in Jason's Way

Former Dallas Burn/FC Dallas scoring star Jason Kreis couldn't keep his goal scoring record from being broken, but he is having no trouble breaking MLS' rules.

i think i may have gotten him in a little trouble this week by asking some MLS folks if it was ok for an MLS coach to wear a lapel pin featuring a competitor of the League's exclusive apparel supplier.

Adidas is supporting the League that supports Jason's family to the reported tune of more than $100 Million over ten years. Makes one wonder why he would pimp their biggest competitor on the sidelines?

The Nike lapel pin was clearly visible in several sideline shots, but can also be seen ten seconds into this video

Since Jason has taken over as Head Coach last season, RSL has had a hard time following rules. Last year alone RSL was accused of breaking League rules at least three times:

* Tampered with Dallas goalkeeper Jeff Cassar - fined $20,000 and lost a 2009 2nd round pick to FC Dallas.
* Wore away uniforms at home without receiving League permission - fined $10,000.
* Accused of tampering with New England Revolution's Shalrie Joseph.

RECORDS are made to be broken Jason, not rules.

Long Day in Two Hour Increments

Last Saturday was a full day of soccer related activities....watching that is (i'm not much of a player).

Most everything was in two hours blocks (with time off in between for getting places).

10 am to Noon: Highbury Pub in Milwaukee for Fulham 2, Derby 2 and Arsenal 3, Bolton 2 matches.

1 pm to 3 pm: Home resting up for the big night.

3 pm to 5 pm: Drove to Chicago (listened to Fire Spanish language pre-game show with Oscar Guzman, Batata and Dr. Gil Muñoz)

5 pm to 7 pm: The Globe Pub for Fire's opening night 1-1 draw at Salt Lake. A late Temoc Blanco goal saved the day...and i think i might have gotten RSL Coach Jason Kreis in hot water with MLS. The highlight besides Blanco's goal was seeing the Bauser sisters (Lauren, Leah and Dana) and their mom (Bev Bauser).

7:30 pm to 9:30 pm: Went to Cicero Stadium with the entire Chicago WPS staff (Marcia McDermott, Alyse LaHue and me!) for Windy City Roller Derby which featured The Fury blowing a lead at the end and falling to the Double Crossers 41-40 and Hell's Belles slaughtering the Manic Attackers. WC Rollers are great promoters and successfully draw a demographic that we'd love to have in our supporters section. The background music was great. They even had songs for old guys like me (English Beat's Mirror in the Bathroom and X's Johnny Hit and Run Paulene!)

10:15 pm to 12:15 am: Birthday party for former and future co-worker Greg Zaskowski at a Ukrainian Church gymnasium. Kind of had that 8th grade sock hop feel to it. Saw a lot of old friends from our Chicago Fire days including Vince Formanek, Steve Dilenardi, Jessica Yavitz, Jessica Caldwell, Mike and Kim Beauvais, Nick Zahos, Agatha Mankiewicz and Dr. Gil Munoz.

Good times.