Notes of Note

Here are a few notes of interest as the month of June comes to a close:

* FC Indiana and the United States women's soccer teams are both Number 3 in the world. According to womensworldfootball.com, only Frankfurt and the Washington Freedom are better women's soccer teams than the Chicago Red Stars' W-League affiliate and only Germany and Brazil are better than the USWNT.

* Cubs dejected** and Lou gets ejected on the way to a White Sox weekend sweep over the crosstown rivals!

* Dan and Brandon honored.

* Looking over that impressive list of contacts the Red Stars have already met with in our first month again reminded me that we still have a long way to go both in reaching the depth of the local soccer community and the breadth of potential audiences. We have yet to have many meaningful discussions with representatives of Chicago's many ethnic soccer organizations, corporate or LBGT communities. These are all important non-traditional women's soccer audiences that we plan on including in our efforts to create a diverse fan base.

* Former Fire Assistant GM Steve Pastorino has been named General Manager of the United States Team Handball Federation. Click the link next to Steve's name on this page to hear an interview with Steve regarding his great new challenge.


** Oops, he did it again!

"Let's Have a Party"

Yesterday and today both provide plenty of reasons to celebrate with a party.

Yesterday:

One down, two to go on the south side.

After watching the Sox demolition of the Cubs from Giron's Italian Restaurant in Brookfield, i met up with Section 8 Chairman Ben Burton to see a living legend perform in Berwyn. Elvis Presley's former girlfriend Wanda Jackson led the party at Fitzgerald's. If you closed your eyes you could swear this was taking place on the stage. At 70, the world's first female rock and roll singer proved she could still belt out an hour plus set with energetic songs interspersed with tales of her mentors like Hank Thompson, Jimmie Rodgers, Elvis, Hank Williams Sr. and Jerry Lee Lewis. Now that i've seen the late inventor of the power chord Link Wray and Wanda live, my next goal is to see fellow rockabilly legend Ray Campi. He doesn't perform often and he's getting up there in years, so it will be a challenge.

The Chicago Red Stars missed an opportunity to promote to a unique audience at the Wanda Jackson show. People who go to local music clubs are generally young, active and looking for unique and fun entertainment where the performers appreciate and connect with the audience. This crowd will never provide the bulk of a women's pro soccer fan base, but it can provide the Chicago Red Stars with a unique nontraditional audience that will diversify the crowd at Toyota Park and expand the base of support. Our new marketing director starts next week and i'm sure that outreach through urban street teams will be part of his strategy.

Today:

1) Chicago Fire Premier: i'll be taking in my first Chicago Fire Premier PDL game of the year this afternoon as game one of a unique Fire doubleheader. After starting the PDL season by winning five of its first six games, Coach Larry Sunderland's college age Chicago Fire affiliate team takes a four game winless streak (0-1-3) into today's 2:30 pm match against the West Virginia Chaos at Argo High School which is located just north of Toyota Park off of 63rd and Harlem. This is a great opportunity for fans to see future MLS players while they're still in college. The Fire Premier generally has half a dozen players drafted by MLS teams and past players include current Fire players Chris Rolfe and Dasan Robinson. This year's team is led by University of Michigan's Peri Marosivic with three goals and an assist. Peri's Wolverine teammate and Hinsdale Central graduate Patrick Sperry has manned the Fire Premier's goal in all ten games this season with a goals against average of 0.50.

2) Fire vs. San Jose. Like their PDL affiliate, the Fire is also trying to rebound after starting the season with only two losses in their first nine MLS games followed by three straight MLS losses. Halftime of the game will feature a very special ceremony honoring Brandon Kitchens and Dan Parry who both died young after many years of leadership in Section 8 and in world outposts where their service was needed. The Fire will be unveiling a very special display and plaque on the north side of Toyota Park to honor these special young men.

Andy Rooney

Have you ever noticed....

Stupid little things that have bugged me lately that i have no business complaining about:

IT challenges: Getting a new laptop and a new office is nice, but it comes with a price. It's amazing how dependent on computers we've become over the last decade. Without consistent online access the last few weeks, my productivity has crashed. i think the worst is behind me and i'll be back at full speed soon.

Bug bites: In the last week i've sacrificed my body to mosquitoes, flies and various other flesh biting bugs. The insect infliction occurred as i tried to take part in the great outdoors by watching the Chicago Gaels games last Saturday and last night, doing yard work on Wednesday, hiking in the woods on Tuesday and walking the beach at Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door County on Monday. i think i'm more of an indoors person.

Euro '08: i'm half Czech and half Italian. They both departed earlier than they should have.

Sox belted by Cubs: i won't deny it. Last weekend was rough and i'm looking forward to this weekend for a little revenge. "Attending" Saturday's game on a Wrigley rooftop was fun - at first. i actually enjoy going to Wrigley in spite of my Sox loyalty. i got to the game very early, stopped by Murphy's for a bit, walked around Wrigley a couple times, paid homage to former Sox announcer Harry Caray's statue (did he broadcast for another team?). Then i climbed up the back stairs to the Sheffield rooftop for the game, which started well enough with Jermaine Dye's two run homer. Then came the nine-run fourth inning and it all went down hill from there. A late inning escape to a Chicago Red Stars sponsored block party in Pilsen featuring live lucha libre and an entertaining Chicago Gaels win over Fort Wayne salvaged the rest of the Saturday.

Speaking of the 17th Street block party, i've been real pleased with the depth and breadth of our team's involvement in the community in our first few weeks as the Chicago Red Stars.

Here's a sampling of where we've been and who we've met with the last couple weeks:

These are some of the events we've attended:

Chicago Magic North Banquet
Chicago Lakefront Attack Tryouts
FC Drive Tryouts
S.I.F.E. Camp (Soccer Is For Everyone)
CUSC Practice
Park Ridge Memorial Day Soccer Tournament
Campton United's Midwest Cup Soccer Tournament
Grove United Memorial Day Shootout
Glenview Soccer Summer Soccer Fest
Windy City Roller Derby Bouts
SFL Soccer (Stickney, Forest View and Lyons) Picnic
Northwestern Girls Soccer Academy
Chicago Gaels games vs. Fort Wayne and West Michigan

Here's a list of some of the tournaments and events we're involved with:

Kicks 4 Cancer Soccer Tournament
Chicago Street Soccer Cup
USYSA Midwest Regionals
Rockford United Watermelon Tournament
Street Soccer Competition in Crystal Lake
Lincoln-way SC 3v3 Tournament
Chicago Beach Soccer Invitational

Our staff has also been busy meeting with the leadership of many adult and youth soccer organizations including:

Lindenhurst Area Soccer Club
Richmond Spring Grove Soccer Association
Glenview Soccer
Chicago Makers
Glenn Ellyn Raiders
North Stars Soccer Club
Dave Ribbens of Lab School in Chicago, Chicago Magic and long time coach of Trinity Christian College
Tom Drazek, Coach of Podlaise Soccer Club and AAC Eagles U11 and U16 Boys
Windy City Wanderers FC
Campton United
St. Charles Sportsplex
Coerver Coaching
GameWorks
Six Flags Great America
Judith McLean, Executive Director Illinois State Soccer Association
Bob Stariha of Chicago Crushers/Eclipse South

Upcoming meetings are scheduled with the following groups:

AYSO
Mundelein Soccer Club
Kickers SC (Aurora)
Genesis
Crossfire
Challengers SC

The whole Red Stars staff has been involved in getting the word out, but special mention needs to go to Community Relations Director Amber Simons and Director of Ticket Sales Greg Zaskowski who are leading the charge and A.E.s Alyse LaHue, Carrie Sear and Kait Sawyer. Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes arrived from London on Monday and immediately jumped into a number of appearances before jet lag could set in. Yesterday Emma signed more than 300 autographs in Bolingbrook before taking in the Chicago Gaels 6-0 victory over the West Michigan Firewomen at loyola University. At the invitation of Gaels owner Mark Boyle and West Michigan Head Coach Neathan Gibson, Emma greeted both teams at half time of the W-League contest.

If you'd like to talk to the Red Stars regarding a partnership that could be beneficial to your organization, please write me at pwilt@chicagoredstars.com.

Goal: Perfection

Last night in Indianapolis, Chicago Red Stars W-League affiliate FC Indiana shut out the Cleveland Internationals, one of the Midwest Division's better teams, 3-0, while outshooting them 33-0. Despite the apparently dominating performance, the team's recap says:

FC Indiana coach Shek Borkowski was not impressed with his squad despite his team out-shooting Cleveland 33-0.
“Our defenders were steady in difficult circumstances because we kept losing the ball in midfield and attack. But in attacking areas we did not play well. In the first half we were too slow and the players didn't look motivated. In the second half we improved, we were a bit better.”

i didn't see the game, but Shek continues to impress me with the high standard he is setting for his players. He is always looking for improvement - not necessarily in results, but in discipline, effort and quality of play.

The Lionesses win keeps them atop the W-League Midwest Division standings at 7-0-1 while Cleveland drops to 4-2.

Soccer, Baseball, Soccer, Baseball

i never understood why some soccer fans feel the need to rip on baseball just like many fans of traditional American sports rip on soccer. i think people should be welcome to be fans of both sports just like people should be welcome to be fans of both the White Sox and the Cubs.

Well,the next four days will provide plenty of great action for fans of both soccer and baseball.

We've got the Fire vs. Chivas USA on national television tomorrow night, Euro Quarterfinals starting up this weekend and the USWNT rolling into the Peace Queen Cup Final tonight with an anticipated victory over Italy.

On the baseball side, the Cubs/Sox rivalry moves to the north side.

i'll be watching Friday's game from the venerable Bridgeport Sox tavern Schaller's Pump. My dad went to grade school with owner Jackie Schaller in the 1930s at St. Sabina's on the south side. i believe Schaller's is Chicago's oldest tavern and is worth the trip just for their signature butt steak!

i'll be viewing Saturday's game from one of the Wrigley rooftops with Farnese member John Daley. This is the best way to watch a Sox game at Wrigley - i get to enjoy watching the Sox win without giving any money to the Cubs!

After the Sox rollover the Cubs, John and i will be heading over to the always awesome 17th Street block party in Pilsen. Get there early to cheer on the lucha libre from 2 pm to 4 pm and stay for Punk, Indie, Country and Mexican Rock from 4 to 8. Chicago Red Stars are sponsoring the lucha libre.

Red Stars WPSL Affiliate doing well, too!

Looks like we chose wisely with our minor league partners.

FC Indiana is undefeated and atop the W-League Midwest Division and the MYSC Lady Blues are undefeated in their inaugural WPSL season and atop the Midwest Division with a 3-0 record.

The Chicago Gaels, anothe Red Stars partner have played the fewest games to date of the Red Stars minor league partners and are 2-2 in the W-League's Midwest Division.

W-League Recap

Chicago Red Stars W-League affiliate FC Indiana dominated the Minnesota Lightning last Wednesday at Purdue University, but only managed a 1-1 tie against their fellow unbeaten team. If there were any justice or a lesser goalkeeper, FCI would've scored a half dozen goals as the Lionesses outshot Minnesota 27-2. Lightning keeper Ann Marie Gleason made eight saves and received some woodwork help as well.

Lightning Forward Caroline Smith scored a beautiful goal over the outstretched arm of FC Indiana Goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill in the 28th minute. The highlights make the second half seem like a half field match with FC Indiana peppering the Minnesota goal with only an 85th minute shot by Julianne (Lu) Sitch alluding the Lightning goalkeeper.

Here is the game recap and FCI interviews with Coach Shek Borkowski, Forward Lauren Sesselmann and Defender Christie Shaner.

Then on Saturday, FCI demolished the West Michigan Firewomen 9-0 on the road. FCI had a similar shot advantage (31-2) to the Lightning game, but this time they found the back of the net one more time than the US Men did yesterday against Barbados. Laura Del Rio, Monica Ocampo and Veronica (Bhudu) Phewa scored twice each for FCI.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Gaels, who are an official amateur team affiliate of the Red Stars took to the road for three W-League games the last couple weeks. The Gaels beat the Michigan Hawks 3-1 on June 6th and the Fort Wayne Fever 1-0 on June 10th on the road before dropping a hard fought 1-0 match to the Lightning in front of 2,741 fans at Minnesota's National Sports Center on Saturday. Minnesota's Caroline Smith, who scored the Lightning's goal at FCI last Wednesday, did the damage for Minnesota in this game as well.

Sunday Sports Recap

Despite two of my favored teams embarrassing themselves yesterday (Czech Republic and the Chicago Fire), it was a great sports day that saw both the US Men and Women win. While the 100 degree temps took all the life out of the Fire's 1-0 losing Brimstone Cup match in Texas, the heavy downpours seemed to add life to Turkey's thrilling late three goal comeback to advance to the quarterfinals over my ethnic cousins (my paternal grandparents were from Prague). My maternal grandparents came from Italy (Calabria), so i'll be rooting for the Azzurri on Wednesday. Italy will likely advance with a win if Holland beats or ties Romania. If Italy and France tie and Romania loses, there would be a three way tie that would likely see Italy advancing according to this analysis of the various tie breakers. i think the final decider is rock, paper, scissors.

Holland's Group C finale tomorrow vs, Romania gives me the opportunity to bring back this hilarious gag from the 2004 Euro semi-finals. God forbid the Cubs are playing in late October this year, but if they are, this White Sox fan may just pull some inspiration from this video.

On the plus side yesterday, Tiger continued to overcome his painful knee injury and made another great comeback to force today's playoff against Rocco Mediate. Can't go wrong today. Gotta love both story lines. Rocco is a 45 year old everyman and Tiger is Tiger.

The USWNT used goals by Natasha Kai and Abby Wambach to beat Australia by one goal for the third time in recent months in their first game of the Peace Queen Cup in Korea. Though the game was over at 2 am Central Time, the US Soccer report didn't arrive until ten hours later. When games are televised or readily available online, the reports seem to come quickly. i know overseas events present unique challenges, but when there is no other way to find out the result, the report coming half a day later is frustrating.

It was great to read that Aly Wagner is back and made her first USWNT appearance since last year's double hernia surgery. The description of Abby's goal assisted by Aly is also remarkable. And it was nice to read that my neighbor (we both have homes in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin) Kate Markgraf was selected as the Sierra Mist Woman of the Match.

2007 Women's World Cup Runner Up Brazil is next for the US Women tomorrow (tonight). Brazil also edged its first opponent (Italy) 2-1 in its Peace Queen Cup opener.

The US Men bombed Barbados with a record 8-0 opening win in the long journey to South Africa in 2010. Was great to see Michael Bradley get his first WCQ start and his second international goal on Father's Day while his dad led the U.S. team from the bench. That had to be pretty special for both of them.

Tim Russert

This post has nothing to do with soccer in Chicago i guess, but i wanted to make my own mention of the respect i've had for NBC's Tim Russert Tim Russert who died on Friday.

My background as a journalism major, wire service reporter and political junkie helped me appreciate Russert's integrity, dedication and leadership in a business that sees so many become dishonest, lazy and followers. The many tributes the last few days have shown him to be a dedicated father, son and husband in addition to his great work.

He will be missed.

This is going to be a great day...

it's not even 7:00 am on Sunday morning as i type this and an incredible sports (especially soccer) day has already begun. It began at the stroke of midnight (central time) as a matter of fact as the US Women began their Peace Queen Cup Tournament with a match against Australia....as hard as i've tried though, i haven't been able to find the result yet...maybe i read it wrong and it kicks off at midnight tonight...

The picture in a picture time starts at 1:30 pm with the kick off of the Euro Group A final games: Switzerland vs. Portugal and Turkey vs. Czech. The Fire complicates viewing efforts at 2:00 pm as the Men in Red battle FC Dallas in a Brimstone Cup match. That game will be followed at 4:00 pm as the US Men begin World Cup Qualifying in Carson, CA vs. Barbados.

In non-soccer sports, Tiger Woods goes for his 14th major starting late this afternoon. As much as i should expect the unexpected from Tiger, yesterday's final six holes simply amazed me. Maybe it's because i had just "mastered" the back nine at Chapel Hill in Johnsburg, IL with a scintilating (for me) 48. My own miracle six on Chapel Hill's celebrated 17th hole (the longest in Illinois)
helped me believe the NBC announcers when they referred to Tiger's miraculous five under for the last six holes at Torrey Pines on a painful knee as his greatest accomplishment and one that ranks with the grittiest performances of any NFL or NHL player.

You know i'll be watching the US vs. Barbados, but the TV will be switched to NBC at halftime and afterwards to see Tiger inch closer to the Golden Bear.

Say It Ain't So...

The euphoria of last week's Chicago Red Stars debut gave way to some not so good news yesterday. First, due to the Great Wisconsin Flood of 2008, i had to rip out all my basement carpeting and throw it away along with a few sentimental possessions. Next, a small deer hit my wife's car (it was in the side of the car, so she technically didn't hit the deer, the deer hit her). Ann is fine, but the car and deer have both seen better days. And finally, "Eight Men Out" author Eliot Asinof passed away at age 88. i read Asinof's definitive book on the 1919 Chicago "Black Sox" scandal when i was a kid. The book made folk heroes out of Joe Jackson (upper right) and Buck Weaver (upper left) for me. The story even inspired me to later make pilgrimages to Shoeless Joe's Greenville, South Carolina grave site not once, but twice in the 1980s.

While Jackson certainly had some responsibility in the scandal, anyone who saw the motion picture Asinof's book was turned into, knows there were plenty of mitigating circumstances - not the least of which were that he returned the money, he tried his hardest throughout the Series, he had the highest batting average of players on either team in the Series and he hit the only White Sox home run of the Series - that should have relieved him of the lifetime penalty he served. The Weaver banishment was simply absurd and is even more disheartening as he never took any money and in fact refused to participate in the fix from the beginning. Please take a moment to help clear Buck. i wonder what Kennesaw Mountain Landis would think of David Stern's NBA today...

Well, at least the Fire won its US Open Cup play-in game vs. Columbus last night. Kudos to seldom used (recently anyway) players Andy Herron, Brian Plotkin, Austin Washington, C.J. Brown, Stephen King, Calen Carr, Patrick Nyarko and Tomasz Frankowski for helping the Kings of the Cup advance. Coach Denis Hamlett is showing how to take the Open Cup seriously while using the team's depth to provide fresh, motivated players.

Early Returns

The private sale of season tickets for IWSL members and friends of IWSL began at 10 a.m. today and we've already taken more than 100 season ticket deposits in the first few hours. i'm encouraged by the response.

For more information go to the IWSL web site.

and we're off!!!!

i was right....yesterday was much better than Monday! Late morning thunderstorms challenged the logistics of our planned outdoor name and logo unveiling, but Amber Simons and Alyse LaHue led a hard working group of interns and staff to improvise in short order and turn an outdoor unveiling into a covered extravaganza with confetti cannon, Chicago flags, Chicago music and a hundred or so Red Stars supporters including Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek, Chicago Southland Convention and Vistors Bureau President Jim Garrett, Toyota Park GM Dan Garnett, Chicago Fire's Mark Washo, Jessica Yavitz and Ron Stern, Logo co-designer JL Murtaugh, Section 8 Chicago Chairman Ben Burton, Pitch Invasion's Tom Dunmore and Whiskey Bros. 05's Frank Cardenas as well as Fire coaches Daryl Shore and Chris Armas. Also on hand were Fire original CJ Brown, IWSL's Julius Roth, Pete Glon and Charlie Dyson, Windy City Wanderers Matt Rosine and many others. Team Chicago's Jaguars girls soccer team had more than a dozen players on hand including Regan Hollingshead who also attended the Toyota Park groundbreaking at the same site almost five years ago.

After the announcement we went to the Stadium Club for the online video unveiling,a champagne toast, q&a with media representatives, lunch and the first game of Red Stars baggo!

Good media coverage from the news conference. A sampling follows:

Chicago Tribune

Daily Herald

SouthTownStarText

Naperville Sun

Bay Area Sports Drive

USA Today

HOI News

Blogs:

Pitch Invasion

Section8Chicago

Windy City Soccer

US Soccer Players

Kenn.com

Chicagoist.com

Red Card

Soccer Science

Soccer Blogs

Pandas...

FC Indiana....they're good. Really good

Had the opportunity to watch a very good soccer team yesterday. FC Indiana showed a good soccer team, the Chicago Gaels, what a very good soccer team looks like. Both the W-League teams have partnerships with the new Chicago WPS team I am heading up.

Laura Del Rio, Maria Ruiz, Fatima Leyva, Lu Sitch, Monica Campo, Lena Mosebo, Veronica Phewa and their teammates proved to be superior in skill, technique, tactics and fitness on the way to a 3-0 victory. Gaels goalkeeper Erin Kane and midfielder Jen Buczkowski's sterling efforts led the way for the Gaels who forced the Lionesses to work hard till the end.

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and a crowd described by Gaels owner Mark Boyle as the largest in Chicago W-League history (375 or so) cheered on the good play of both sides.

It will take a great - and lucky - team to derail the only professional women's soccer team in North America this season.

Long, emotional, difficult day...

...and i think tomorrow will be better. i was a lousy boss today. i'm supposed to set an exemplary standard for our staff and instead i let a series of frustrating events get to me on what should've been one of the most exciting days in the team's young history.

Monday was moving day for the Chicago TBAs. Started the day at our old downtown office working with our staff to complete "starter kits" for youth soccer leaders, media and guests at tomorrow's name announcement ceremony. Reached our new offices at Toyota Park before noon and encountered numerous bits of bad news and challenges throughout the rest of the day - internet failed in the afternoon, the test unveiling of the 400 sq. ft. logo banner got snagged on Toyota Park's brick arch, the forecast for tomorrow's outdoor unveiling turned ominous, word leaked out about the Bulls scheduling a news conference to announce Doug Collins as their head coach at the same time as our news conference, we had to scramble to find a solution to an on line logo unveiling problem, we had to scrap three versions of tomorrow's news release due to last minute changes from outside parties...and the whole Ring of Fire thing seemed to go sideways.

It's 16 hours since my work day started and i'm just now calming down and winding my day down. i have never worked with a better group of people and i got frustrated in front of them today. i did my best to turn an exciting day that should feel like Christmas Eve into a negative, bitter and even angry day.

i messed up. Thankfully our incredible staff rose above my petulance and i'll have another chance tomorrow to embrace this incredible opportunity we have and show the excitement, optimism and joy involved in leading this great project.

Tarnished Ring of Fire

Every year, members of the Chicago Fire's Ring of Fire select another member to join its exclusive tribute of honor. Piotr Nowak was the first selected in 2003. He chose Frank Klopas in 2004. Piotr and Frank chose Lubos Kubik in 2005. They selected me in 2006 and we all chose Bob Bradley last year.

In March, we unanimously agreed to honor Dan Parry and Brandon Kitchens. two of the Fire's longtime Section 8 supporters and leaders who died tragically in the last 18 months.

After several weeks of research and internal discussion by the Fire's ownership and upper management, i was informed on Friday that the Fire's ownership has decided not to honor our selection of Brandon and Dan, but instead plan to honor them with a seperate memorial.

Background, explanation and my commentary are here.

For the record, i believe the Ring of Fire has been tarnished by this decision.