A hellacious schedule this week:
Sunday - FC Indiana at Chicago Gaels, 4:00 pm at Nazareth Academy, 1209 W. Ogden LaGrange Park.
Monday - Chicago WPS moves into new administrative offices at Toyota Park
Tuesday - Chicago WPS team name, logo and colors unveiled
Wednesday - Chicago WPS season tickets go sale
Thursday - WPS Board of Governors arrive in Chicago
Friday - WPS BOG Meetings and BOG and WPS staff attend Dave Matthews Band Concert at Toyota Park
Saturday - WPS BOG Meetings and BOG and WPS staff attend Chicago Fire vs. DC United match at Toyota Park
Hang on. It's going to be a busy week!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Red Stars Wins Fan Vote; Team Name TBA Tuesday
The final week of fan balloting went to Chicago Red Stars ensuring the homage to the City of Chicago municipal flag the top spot in the advisory Name the Team Sweepstakes. It was the Red Stars’ seventh weekly honor and allowed them to finish with 5,080 voting points (40.2%), well ahead of runner up Chicago Wind (3,844 points and 30.4%). The Wind managed to climb past Chicago 1871 in the contest’s final week. Chicago 1871 finished with 3,704 points or 29.3% of the total voting points cast for the three finalists over the course of the Sweepstakes which began in early March.
We also announced that the official team name and logo selection will be unveiled next Tuesday, June 3rd at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois with a ceremony that begins at 11:00 am. The ceremony is scheduled outdoors in Toyota Park’s entry plaza. If you'd like to attend, send me an email at pwilt@chicagoprowomenssoccer.com and i'll add you to the entry list.
Next Tuesday we'll reveal whether we have selected the fans top choice, one of their other top selections or gone off the board for something completely different. I will say that the fan voting successfully influenced our selection as we studied the demographics behind the balloting. It’s important that we select a name that will be supported by all of our audiences.
Vote totals below display both the cumulative and weekly vote:
Cumulative voting - FINAL:
Red Stars......5080.....40.2%
Wind...........3844.....30.4%
1871...........3704.....29.3%
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: 5/12-19:
Red Stars......634.....45.1%
Wind...........520.....37.0%
1871...........253.....18.0%
We also announced that the official team name and logo selection will be unveiled next Tuesday, June 3rd at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois with a ceremony that begins at 11:00 am. The ceremony is scheduled outdoors in Toyota Park’s entry plaza. If you'd like to attend, send me an email at pwilt@chicagoprowomenssoccer.com and i'll add you to the entry list.
Next Tuesday we'll reveal whether we have selected the fans top choice, one of their other top selections or gone off the board for something completely different. I will say that the fan voting successfully influenced our selection as we studied the demographics behind the balloting. It’s important that we select a name that will be supported by all of our audiences.
Vote totals below display both the cumulative and weekly vote:
Cumulative voting - FINAL:
Red Stars......5080.....40.2%
Wind...........3844.....30.4%
1871...........3704.....29.3%
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: 5/12-19:
Red Stars......634.....45.1%
Wind...........520.....37.0%
1871...........253.....18.0%
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Promoting Chicago Generic Women's Pro Soccer Team
The entire Chicago WPS staff was out at various Memorial Day socer tournaments over the weekend promoting our nameless team. Amber Simons, Alyse LaHue, Tiffany Martin, Carlos Clava Klimek and I promoted Chicago WPS at the Park Ridge Memorial Day Soccer Tournament over the weekend. Interaction with the tournament organizers and participants made me keenly aware of a few things (warning, unfair blanket generalizations ahead):
* All the youth payers we spoke to, girls and boys, are interested in Women's Professional Soccer.
* The older the girls, the more excited they were about the new league.
* Coaches and parents of girls teams are really excited about the launch of the League and the team.
* Coaches and dads of boys teams seem to think the women's game isn't worthy of their attention.
* It would really be nice to have a name for the team when out promoting "Chicago WPS".
* The Chicago Storm's use of a soccer tennis net, Bozo Buckets and an info table was extremely efficient.
* The education curve we face is enormous. Typical youth soccer players, coaches and parents have no idea who we are, who the new League is or even who is on the US Women's National Team.
* The opportunity we have is great, because most people in the soccer community who are aware of the new league and team want us to succeed and many are willing to evangelize on our behalf.
Next week will mark an important milestone in the team's history. More on that later this week.
* All the youth payers we spoke to, girls and boys, are interested in Women's Professional Soccer.
* The older the girls, the more excited they were about the new league.
* Coaches and parents of girls teams are really excited about the launch of the League and the team.
* Coaches and dads of boys teams seem to think the women's game isn't worthy of their attention.
* It would really be nice to have a name for the team when out promoting "Chicago WPS".
* The Chicago Storm's use of a soccer tennis net, Bozo Buckets and an info table was extremely efficient.
* The education curve we face is enormous. Typical youth soccer players, coaches and parents have no idea who we are, who the new League is or even who is on the US Women's National Team.
* The opportunity we have is great, because most people in the soccer community who are aware of the new league and team want us to succeed and many are willing to evangelize on our behalf.
Next week will mark an important milestone in the team's history. More on that later this week.
Monday, May 26, 2008
In Memoriam
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. Saturday i helped staff an information table for Chicago WPS at the Park Ridge Memorial Day Soccer Tournament, yesterday Ann and i watched the Fire victory then hosted a cookout for relatives and today we're off to our niece's graduation party. All are typical Memorial Day weekend activities. The real meaning of Memorial Day is often overlooked unfortunately. Even in this time of war when more than 150,000 US Soldiers are in battle overseas, we tend to focus on the home front and forget about the men and women who are risking their lives and those that have given their lives for our country.
i first registered as a pacifist more than thirty years ago and have been active in various peace efforts over the last three decades including Congressional lobbying for Peace Action Wisconsin. My beliefs and actions do not diminish my respect and honor for those that fight our country's battles. Nor do they suppress the sorrow i have for the families of the more than 4,000 fallen Americans in the Iraq War/Occupation. i do not know the exact number of dead in that war, but i do know that whatever the number is, it is at least one more than the official tally.
Brandon Kitchens cared for his country and he cared for the Chicago Fire. Brandon's obituary noted that he was "a senior airman and intelligence officer, Brandon's training in intelligence proved vital on the ground, assisting Army convoys and evaluating areas to locate air strips. (Last May), Brandon completed a four-year stint with the Air Force that sent him to Iraq three times and Afghanistan twice."
Afterwards, Brandon spent two months at home supporting the Fire to his fullest, took a position with the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Committee and then his heart tragically gave out on a soccer field at the age of 23.
i am not sure of the medical reasons for his death, but in my heart, i believe the effects of three tours of duty had a residual effect that cost Brandon his life and the Fire one of its greatest supporters. Yesterday the Fire destroyed Juan Carlos Osorio's New York Red Bulls 5-1 with nearly 100 travelling Fire supporters cheering them on for 90 minutes. If Brandon were still with us, he surely would have been in Giants Stadium leading the charge. And nothing would have pleased him more than to see disloyalty to the Fire rewarded with that kind of defeat. Brandon was loyal to the Fire, loyal to his friends and loyal to his country.
So on this Memorial Day, the first since Brandon passed, i ask you to remember Brandon, remember all our country's heroes and take a moment to read (or reread) the words he gave us to inspire support of the Chicago Fire.
STAND AND DELIVER!
i first registered as a pacifist more than thirty years ago and have been active in various peace efforts over the last three decades including Congressional lobbying for Peace Action Wisconsin. My beliefs and actions do not diminish my respect and honor for those that fight our country's battles. Nor do they suppress the sorrow i have for the families of the more than 4,000 fallen Americans in the Iraq War/Occupation. i do not know the exact number of dead in that war, but i do know that whatever the number is, it is at least one more than the official tally.
Brandon Kitchens cared for his country and he cared for the Chicago Fire. Brandon's obituary noted that he was "a senior airman and intelligence officer, Brandon's training in intelligence proved vital on the ground, assisting Army convoys and evaluating areas to locate air strips. (Last May), Brandon completed a four-year stint with the Air Force that sent him to Iraq three times and Afghanistan twice." Afterwards, Brandon spent two months at home supporting the Fire to his fullest, took a position with the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Committee and then his heart tragically gave out on a soccer field at the age of 23.
i am not sure of the medical reasons for his death, but in my heart, i believe the effects of three tours of duty had a residual effect that cost Brandon his life and the Fire one of its greatest supporters. Yesterday the Fire destroyed Juan Carlos Osorio's New York Red Bulls 5-1 with nearly 100 travelling Fire supporters cheering them on for 90 minutes. If Brandon were still with us, he surely would have been in Giants Stadium leading the charge. And nothing would have pleased him more than to see disloyalty to the Fire rewarded with that kind of defeat. Brandon was loyal to the Fire, loyal to his friends and loyal to his country.
So on this Memorial Day, the first since Brandon passed, i ask you to remember Brandon, remember all our country's heroes and take a moment to read (or reread) the words he gave us to inspire support of the Chicago Fire.
STAND AND DELIVER!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Higher Expectations
Chicago WPS W-League affiliate FC Indiana outshot the Michigan Hawks 18-3 on its way to a 5-0 victory in its home opener in Indianapolis Wednesday night.
Most coaches would take the three points and dominating performance and be pleased. But FCI Head Coach Shek Borkowski, though not angry, was displeased with his team's overall performance - especially their appearance to cruise through the game.
Afterwards, Shek said, “At 3-0 we stopped playing,” he said. “When you lead 3-0 it is natural to think you are going to win – but Michigan made it difficult for us and never gave up.
"Our second half substitutes played with some intensity," he continued. At least one moment had Borkowski cheering. He smiled briefly when Laura del Rio blazed in her third goal after a good pass by Moore to make it 5-0. “Everything about that was perfect,” he said. “Moore’s pass was fantastic, and del Rio produced a great finish. It’s important to us that she keeps on scoring.”
FC Indiana defender Aivi Luik, meanwhile, echoed her coach’s relief at getting past this hurdle. “We are not pleased at the performance – although it’s never easy to concentrate when you’re three goals up,” she said.
i think W-League teams may be in for some tough nights when the League's newest team, FC Indiana, shows up on their schedule this season.
Most coaches would take the three points and dominating performance and be pleased. But FCI Head Coach Shek Borkowski, though not angry, was displeased with his team's overall performance - especially their appearance to cruise through the game.
Afterwards, Shek said, “At 3-0 we stopped playing,” he said. “When you lead 3-0 it is natural to think you are going to win – but Michigan made it difficult for us and never gave up.
"Our second half substitutes played with some intensity," he continued. At least one moment had Borkowski cheering. He smiled briefly when Laura del Rio blazed in her third goal after a good pass by Moore to make it 5-0. “Everything about that was perfect,” he said. “Moore’s pass was fantastic, and del Rio produced a great finish. It’s important to us that she keeps on scoring.”
FC Indiana defender Aivi Luik, meanwhile, echoed her coach’s relief at getting past this hurdle. “We are not pleased at the performance – although it’s never easy to concentrate when you’re three goals up,” she said.
i think W-League teams may be in for some tough nights when the League's newest team, FC Indiana, shows up on their schedule this season.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sexism Slowing Development of Women's Soccer?
Insightful author Jennifer Doyle makes a solid case showing sexism can be a barrier to the development of women’s soccer . I thought she sounded defensive early in the article, but as i read through the piece, I thought that it isn’t paranoia if there really are unmarked black helicopters in the sky. It’s a very good read and will provide you with new insight into the challenges girls and women face as athletes.
Doyle makes valid points about the lack of understanding of the specific needs of female athletes caused by the ingrained sexism of medicine and sports culture, which ties back to the high rate of ACL tears in female soccer players. She points out that coaches sometime fail to recognize that the gender differences are not only physiological, but also metabolic, social and psychological.
Beyond that, Doyle brings up the gender inequity of their soccer fields and shoes, the lack of understanding of society’s impact in the physical movement of young women and the failure of some coaches to truly listen to girls.
The article concludes with the positive side of battling the challenges by recognizing the rewards of changing how girls play and how they live. The impact of sexism on soccer is a reflection of the culture we live in. As in society, change will be slow, but recognizing the issue is the first step to addressing it.
Doyle makes valid points about the lack of understanding of the specific needs of female athletes caused by the ingrained sexism of medicine and sports culture, which ties back to the high rate of ACL tears in female soccer players. She points out that coaches sometime fail to recognize that the gender differences are not only physiological, but also metabolic, social and psychological.
Beyond that, Doyle brings up the gender inequity of their soccer fields and shoes, the lack of understanding of society’s impact in the physical movement of young women and the failure of some coaches to truly listen to girls.
The article concludes with the positive side of battling the challenges by recognizing the rewards of changing how girls play and how they live. The impact of sexism on soccer is a reflection of the culture we live in. As in society, change will be slow, but recognizing the issue is the first step to addressing it.
Monday, May 19, 2008
High Expectations
Chicago WPS W-League affiliate FC Indiana outshot the Kalamazoo Outrage 21-1 on its way to a 2-0 victory in its season opener in Kalamazoo Friday night.
Most coaches would take the away points and dominating performance and be pleased. But FCI Head Coach Shek Borkowski, though not "Outraged", was less than pleased with his team's overall performance - especially in the final third.
Afterwards, Shek said, "Statistics mean nothing. We played well at times and tried to win but still are not aggressive enough at running at defenders."
i think W-League teams may be in for some tough nights when the League's newest team, FC Indiana, shows up on their schedule this season.
Most coaches would take the away points and dominating performance and be pleased. But FCI Head Coach Shek Borkowski, though not "Outraged", was less than pleased with his team's overall performance - especially in the final third.
Afterwards, Shek said, "Statistics mean nothing. We played well at times and tried to win but still are not aggressive enough at running at defenders."
i think W-League teams may be in for some tough nights when the League's newest team, FC Indiana, shows up on their schedule this season.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Introducing Emma
New Chicago WPS Head Coach Emma Hayes completed her whirlwind extended weekend in Chicago today with a return flight to London.
In a little more than three days, we introduced her to as many of the team's stakeholders as possible.
Thursday was her busiest day:
In the morning she was introduced in person to the Chicago media. In the afternoon she was introduced via conference call to national and international media then joined our Managers Meeting for players discussion. Following the Managers Meeting, she joined Marcia McDermott, Greg Zaskowski and me for a meeting with the operators of the Max McCook indoor facility. We're considering the nearly full sized facility for indoor training when the elements drive us inside.
Friday was a longer, though less stressful day. Emma spent the bulk of the day in our temporary downtown offices meeting with Marcia and others regarding set up of scouting and networking systems. Friday night she joined Marcia, Greg, Amber Simons, Alyse LaHue and me in Algonquin to meet socially with a group of a dozen or so youth soccer directors of coaching and high school coaches including Brian Elia, Cori and Rob Eastland (Johnsburg White Lightning), Brad Wellmen (Cary Soccer Assoc.), Jim Dzialo (Jacobs H.S.), Caulbert Smith (Dundee United), Scott Jackman (Campton United), Orhan (Soccer Heads) and several others.
Emma spent Saturday morning apartment hunting and successfully bagged a unit in the city. She headed out to Toyota Park in the afternoon where she participated in the Chicago WPS Advisory Board meeting. There she was able to meet and exchange ideas with representatives from IWSL (Flo and Charlie Dyson), IYSA (Mary Jane Bender), ISSA (Judith McLean), Section 8 (Ben Burton), adult social soccer leagues via Windy City Wanderer's (Matt Rosine), soccer media (Kathryn Knapp, Tom Dunmore), W-League (FC Indiana's Anton Maksimov, Chicago Gaels' Mark Boyle), Toyota Park (Dan Garnett), Chicago Fire (Javier Leon), corporate community (Mark Kaufman), college soccer (Danielle Slaton, Rob Lepley), youth soccer parents (Tom Stutesman, Lisa Buczkowski), FireWorks For Kids Foundation and local Hispanic soccer (Bob Armendariz) and Chicago WPS owners (Susan Morrison, Arnim Whisler, Gary Weaver).
Afterwards, Emma ventured out to the Toyota Park parking lots meeting Fire fans at tailgates before heading inside for the Fire game against Houston. She spent the game's first half (when it was relatively dry outside) inside our suite with team owners, FC Indiana players and execs and players from the Windy City Rollers ( Belle Diablo, Tori Adore and Malice with Chains). Belle, Tori and Malice came to the game to discuss cross promotion ideas with us. After discovering my affection for Pabst and pirates, Malice gave me my very own derby name: "P.B.RRRRRRRRRR."
After chatting it up in the suite at halftime with Javier Leon, Emma and Marcia headed outdoors to take in the last 45 minutes in Section 8. They were suitably impressed by the failure of the downpour to drown Section 8's spirit.
Emma's back in London now to complete her obligations to Arsenal and await her visa clearance, before moving here full time in mid-June.
After the taste of Chicago hospitality she received the last several days, Emma's anxious to return.
Friday, May 16, 2008
A Lovely Lady - E. Carol Hayes
Emma
Yesterday's announcement went smoothly.
In person, we had a good turnout of five newspapers plus Comcast Sports. The media conference call and news release generated plenty more coverage.
A search of online articles uncovered the following stories on Chicago WPS' announcement:
Soccer Science Blog
http://www.amandavandervort.com/blog/2008/05/top-5-reasons-emma-hayes-is-perfect-choice-for-chicago/
Chicago Sun-Times
www.suntimes.com/sports/soccer/953150,CST-SPT-womsoc16.article
Chicago Tribune:
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/fire/cs-080515-emma-hayes-chicago-womens-soccer-club,1,4050515.story
Daily Southtown
http://www.southtownstar.com/sports/953290,051608sptshorts.article
Yahoo Sports
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-chicagowomen-coach&prov=ap&type=lgns
The Daily Herald
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=191433#comment
Soccer America
http://www.socceramerica.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=26556
WQAD News
http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=8330265
US Soccer Players
http://ussoccerplayers.typepad.com/ussoccerplayers/2008/05/chicago-wps-get.html
The Dane's Head
http://thedaneshead.org/show/137906/Hayes-to-coach-new-Chicago-women's-soccer-team-(AP)
Women's Pro Soccer
http://www.womensprosoccer.com/newsitem_ektid2726.aspx
Chicagoland Soccer News
http://www.chicagolandsoccernews.com/article.php?article_id=4282
Big Apple Soccer
http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=14023
Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/wire/chi-ap-soc-chicagowomen-coa,0,7531368.story
KWQC News
http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=8330265&nav=menu83_4
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2008-05-15-1159995210_x.htm
Fair Game Magazine
http://www.shekicks.net/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=5051
Beau Dure's USA Today blog
http://www.usatoday.com/community/profile.htm?UID=1e704431d89e7993&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a1e704431d89e7993Post%3a315f049a-a5ca-4a90-9a4e-bf64323dbde5
Women's Sports Nation (Talkshoe.com)
http://www.womenssportsnation.com/2008/05/head-coach-named-for-chicagos-wps-team.html
Big Soccer Forum
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=693773
Bester News
http://www.besternews.com/sports/soccer/
AOL News
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/hayes-to-coach-new-chicago-womens-soccer/n20080515182609990001?ecid=RSS0001
International Herald Tribune
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/15/sports/SOC-Chicago-Women-Coach.php
MSN FoxSports
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8144304/Hayes-to-coach-new-Chicago-women's-soccer-team?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=176
Chicago Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/a-1393587~Hayes_to_coach_new_Chicago_women_s_soccer_team.html
Soccer Scene USA Blog
http://soccersceneusa.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html#6266195830871046668
Women's Soccer USA Blog
http://womenssoccerusa.blogspot.com/
The Daily Journal
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SOC_CHICAGO_WOMEN_COACH_ILOL-?SITE=ILKAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-05-15-18-10-57
Netscape News
http://webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com/sports/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0030/20080515/1732662676.htm
Arsenal News
http://www.arsenalnews.net/comments/45091/arsenal_coach_to_lead_chicagos_womens_pro_soccer_team/
Arsenal News 2
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=491546&lid=NewsHeadline&sub=Hayes+announces+departure+from+Club&sublid=NewsHeadline&Title=Hayes+announces+departure+from+Club&f=rss
Sports Illustrated
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/soccer/wires/05/15/2050.ap.na.spt.soc.women.chicago.coach.0186/index.html
Be Recruited
http://news.berecruited.com/2008/05/15/hayes-to-coach-new-chicago-womens-soccer-team-ap/
ESPN SoccerNet
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=535635&cc=5901
WTHITV
http://www.wthitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8330265&nav=menu593_4
i'm sure there are more out there. If you see that i've missed any, please add them in the comments.
Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Head Coach To Be Announced Tomorrow!
The big news tomorrow is the naming of Chicago WPS' inaugural head coach. But we also have a board of directors meeting, an owners tour of our new offices (more on that in a future post) and a meeting with an indoor facility.
i thought you might like to see our internal schedule for everything that's going on tomorrow. With the name of the coach (hopefully) redacted throughout, here's tomorrow's internal schedule (btw, the coach's name does not have eight letters ;-)).
i should add that after the last meeting, we're all going to head to the nearest public house to celebrate!
i thought you might like to see our internal schedule for everything that's going on tomorrow. With the name of the coach (hopefully) redacted throughout, here's tomorrow's internal schedule (btw, the coach's name does not have eight letters ;-)).
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE AT TOYOTA PARK
10:00 am – Staff arrives at Toyota Park (Amber, Alyse, Greg, Marcia and peter) . Make sure media room is set up with podium, sound, WPS press backdrop and check in table at Media Room entry all set.
10:30 am – Media check in begins – Amber greets and directs at the door, Alyse sits at check in table, hands out news releases and asks attendees to sign in. (Alyse, please make a simple sign in sheet with name and affiliation. Three pages, 15 lines per page.)
10:30 am - Photographer (Katie) begins taking head shots in front of WPS press backdrop. xxxxxxxx, Marcia and peter, Amber and Alyse first, then the other five staff and owners in any order. Greg, please relieve Amber and Alyse while their photos are being taken. Send xxxxxxxx’s photo to Karyn Lush for posting.
10:55 am - Alyse sends News Release (with xxxxxxxx photo link) and conference call advisory out to Chicago WPS media data base and Special Chicago WPS Email Insider to Chicago WPS general data base. Jen Peters sends news release and conference call advisory out to F-H Chicago sports list, F-H priority soccer list and international soccer list.
11:00 am - News Conference Starts in TP Media Room
• Welcome and opening remarks – 1-2 minutes (peter)
• Announcement, xxxxxxxx’s background and reasons for hiring xxxxxxxx – 3 to 5 minutes (Marcia)
• Acceptance and remarks – 3-5 minutes (xxxxxxxx)
• Q&A (xxxxxxxx and Marcia)
• Posed photo op (Marcia and xxxxxxxx)
• One on one interview opportunities (xxxxxxxx, Marcia and peter)
Noon – 2:30 pm – Managers Meeting in TP Conference Room 4. Second floor near Stadium Club entrance (Gary, Arnim, Jim, peter and Jack).
1:00 – 1:30 pm - Media Conference call for Marcia and xxxxxxxx. Alyse on hand to assist. Jen Peters, F-H, to moderate call from St. Louis. Room tbd.
1:30 pm - Marcia joins Managers Meeting
Approx. 2:00 pm – xxxxxxxx, Amber, Greg and Alyse join Managers Meeting
2:30 pm – Tour of Chicago WPS offices 730 W. 71st Street (All)
3:45 pm –Depart Toyota Park for Meeting at Max McCook (Marcia, xxxxxxxx, Greg and peter)
i should add that after the last meeting, we're all going to head to the nearest public house to celebrate!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!
Nice win for USWNT over Canada last night. 6-0 shelling with Natasha Kai getting her first career hat trick, Lindsay Tarpley notching her ninth goal of the year and Abby Wambach providing three helpers.
It was quite an improvement over their last game vs. Canada in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying match - a 1-1 tie in regulation followed by 6-5 US PK victory.
Full story here.
i wasn't able to watch the US vs. Canada game as A) i was at the Prairie Home Companion broadcast at the venerable Milwaukee Theatre and B) the game wasn't televised.
While i'm not a big PHC fan, i enjoy attending the live performances. Three highllights of note from yesterday's PHC:
* The BoDeans performed. i first saw them 25 years ago when they opened for Pat McCurdy at Teddy's (now Shank Hall) in Milwaukee. i still have a soccer ball signed by the BoDeans when we brought them in to perform after a Fire game at Soldier Field in 1998. We sold an incremental 18,000 tickets for that game thanks to their Chicago popularity, WXRT's promotion and the increasing interest at that point in the Fire. Last night's BoDeans performance was great. They opened with "Wonder, Wonder" and mixed in old and new among their half dozen songs.
* Leon Redbone performed. i've always enjoyed the mystery and the music of this cool dude from another time. i didn't know who the guests were going to be before i got to my seat, so it was an incredibly great surprise to see both the BoDeans and Leon Redbone. Among the vintage songs he performed was Shine On, Harvest Moon.
* Memories of the Milwaukee Auditorium. The Milwaukee Theatre is a renovation of the old (1909) Milwaukee Auditorium where the Milwaukee Wave played during my first two years promoting pro soccer (1988 and 1989). It was the best venue ever for indoor soccer. Only 3,482 seats, it had individual padded folding chair seats arranged loosely in boxes seperated by wooden dividing walls in the lower level. The incredibly intimate and historic building had a cantilevered balcony that protruded over the lower level and allowed fans in the upper deck the best vantage point ever for an indoor soccer game.
We are now just 60 minutes away from the start of Fulham's final stand vs. Portsmouth to stay up in the Barclay's Premier League. C'mon FULHAM!
***UPDATED**** Danny Murphy keeps the Cottagers up for another year with a 76th minute header off a Jimmy Bullard free kick. The packed Highbury Pub in Miwlaukee celebrated in full voice. Way to go Fulham!
It was quite an improvement over their last game vs. Canada in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying match - a 1-1 tie in regulation followed by 6-5 US PK victory.
Full story here.
i wasn't able to watch the US vs. Canada game as A) i was at the Prairie Home Companion broadcast at the venerable Milwaukee Theatre and B) the game wasn't televised.
While i'm not a big PHC fan, i enjoy attending the live performances. Three highllights of note from yesterday's PHC:
* The BoDeans performed. i first saw them 25 years ago when they opened for Pat McCurdy at Teddy's (now Shank Hall) in Milwaukee. i still have a soccer ball signed by the BoDeans when we brought them in to perform after a Fire game at Soldier Field in 1998. We sold an incremental 18,000 tickets for that game thanks to their Chicago popularity, WXRT's promotion and the increasing interest at that point in the Fire. Last night's BoDeans performance was great. They opened with "Wonder, Wonder" and mixed in old and new among their half dozen songs.
* Leon Redbone performed. i've always enjoyed the mystery and the music of this cool dude from another time. i didn't know who the guests were going to be before i got to my seat, so it was an incredibly great surprise to see both the BoDeans and Leon Redbone. Among the vintage songs he performed was Shine On, Harvest Moon.
* Memories of the Milwaukee Auditorium. The Milwaukee Theatre is a renovation of the old (1909) Milwaukee Auditorium where the Milwaukee Wave played during my first two years promoting pro soccer (1988 and 1989). It was the best venue ever for indoor soccer. Only 3,482 seats, it had individual padded folding chair seats arranged loosely in boxes seperated by wooden dividing walls in the lower level. The incredibly intimate and historic building had a cantilevered balcony that protruded over the lower level and allowed fans in the upper deck the best vantage point ever for an indoor soccer game.
We are now just 60 minutes away from the start of Fulham's final stand vs. Portsmouth to stay up in the Barclay's Premier League. C'mon FULHAM!
***UPDATED**** Danny Murphy keeps the Cottagers up for another year with a 76th minute header off a Jimmy Bullard free kick. The packed Highbury Pub in Miwlaukee celebrated in full voice. Way to go Fulham!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
No News Here
There is no Chicago soccer news today. But the next nine days will produce plenty of talking points for fans of Chicago men's and women's pro soccer:
* The Best Buy Fire battles former Eastern Conference power VW United tonight
* The Fire hosts former Western Conference power Houston Amigo Energy May 17th
* Next week two key department head hirings will be announced by Chicago WPS
* Next week Chicago WPS will hold an Advisory Board Meeting and a Managers Meeting
* Next Friday is the entry deadline for the Chicago WPS Name the Team Sweepstakes
Additionally:
* On Sunday, we'll find out if FulhAmerica stays up in the Barclay's Premier League.
* The W-League season kicks off May 10th and FC Indiana's season opener is at Kalamazoo on May 16th. (The Chicago Gaels first game is Sunday, June 1st hosting FCI at 4 pm)
* The USWNT vs. Canada at RFK this Saturday
Stay tuned!
* The Best Buy Fire battles former Eastern Conference power VW United tonight
* The Fire hosts former Western Conference power Houston Amigo Energy May 17th
* Next week two key department head hirings will be announced by Chicago WPS
* Next week Chicago WPS will hold an Advisory Board Meeting and a Managers Meeting
* Next Friday is the entry deadline for the Chicago WPS Name the Team Sweepstakes
Additionally:
* On Sunday, we'll find out if FulhAmerica stays up in the Barclay's Premier League.
* The W-League season kicks off May 10th and FC Indiana's season opener is at Kalamazoo on May 16th. (The Chicago Gaels first game is Sunday, June 1st hosting FCI at 4 pm)
* The USWNT vs. Canada at RFK this Saturday
Stay tuned!
Monday, May 5, 2008
This and That
Here are a few updates from the weekend:
* NAME THE TEAM SWEEPSTAKES: Chicago Red Stars won the weekly voting for the sixth time in nine tries to extend their lead over both Chicago 1871 and Chicago Wind. The fans are certainly showing consistent support of the Red Stars name. Their support is providing pressure to go in that direction, but the Wind and 1871 are receiving strong support from some important demographics and they are scoring well in formal and informal focus groups as well. We'll be taking all this information into consideration before announcing the winner. Details on last week's voting will be posted here later today.
* USWNT SCORES FIVE GOALS...AND BARELY WINS: Anyone who says women's soccer is boring should be forced to watch the United States thrilling 5-4 victory over Australia on Saturday. It was a great example of the wide open, high scoring style the women's game often provides that i described in a March post about the Mexico Women's National Team game against the University of Illinois women's team. Hats off to Angela Hucles who scored the winner three minutes and fifteen seconds into the "three minutes" of added time for the red, white and blue!
* TEN MORE GAMES: The USWNT thriller was my Saturday afternoon palate cleanser in the middle of ten other televised soccer games i took in that day. i watched five EPL matches in the morning at the Highbury Pub in Milwaukee highlighted by my Fulham side's HUGE 2-0 victory over Birmingham City to climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since December 22nd. The Whites likely need one more win next Sunday over Portsmouth to stay up another season. C'mon Fulham!! Section 8 Chairman Ben Burton made a pilgrimmage to Milwaukee on Saturday. Fire supporters Elizabeth Currie, Samantha Garivay and Zach Schaefer joined Ben and a flock of the Highbury's "Ride at Dawn Club" for a tour of Milwaukee's Lakefront Brewery - the self proclaimed "Animal House of Brewery Tours". We were back at the Highbury for five MLS games Saturday night highlighted by the Fire's 3-0 slashing of the hated New England Revolution. Seeing Jay Heaps on his knees in mourning after Stephen King's first career MLS goal was reminiscent of another great moment in MLS history.
* DON'T SPREAD ANY RUMORS: Chicago WPS General Manager Marcia McDermott and i are heading to Wheaton Academy this afternoon to see this guy train a team and meet with him for a bit.
* NAME THE TEAM SWEEPSTAKES: Chicago Red Stars won the weekly voting for the sixth time in nine tries to extend their lead over both Chicago 1871 and Chicago Wind. The fans are certainly showing consistent support of the Red Stars name. Their support is providing pressure to go in that direction, but the Wind and 1871 are receiving strong support from some important demographics and they are scoring well in formal and informal focus groups as well. We'll be taking all this information into consideration before announcing the winner. Details on last week's voting will be posted here later today.
* USWNT SCORES FIVE GOALS...AND BARELY WINS: Anyone who says women's soccer is boring should be forced to watch the United States thrilling 5-4 victory over Australia on Saturday. It was a great example of the wide open, high scoring style the women's game often provides that i described in a March post about the Mexico Women's National Team game against the University of Illinois women's team. Hats off to Angela Hucles who scored the winner three minutes and fifteen seconds into the "three minutes" of added time for the red, white and blue!
* TEN MORE GAMES: The USWNT thriller was my Saturday afternoon palate cleanser in the middle of ten other televised soccer games i took in that day. i watched five EPL matches in the morning at the Highbury Pub in Milwaukee highlighted by my Fulham side's HUGE 2-0 victory over Birmingham City to climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since December 22nd. The Whites likely need one more win next Sunday over Portsmouth to stay up another season. C'mon Fulham!! Section 8 Chairman Ben Burton made a pilgrimmage to Milwaukee on Saturday. Fire supporters Elizabeth Currie, Samantha Garivay and Zach Schaefer joined Ben and a flock of the Highbury's "Ride at Dawn Club" for a tour of Milwaukee's Lakefront Brewery - the self proclaimed "Animal House of Brewery Tours". We were back at the Highbury for five MLS games Saturday night highlighted by the Fire's 3-0 slashing of the hated New England Revolution. Seeing Jay Heaps on his knees in mourning after Stephen King's first career MLS goal was reminiscent of another great moment in MLS history.
* DON'T SPREAD ANY RUMORS: Chicago WPS General Manager Marcia McDermott and i are heading to Wheaton Academy this afternoon to see this guy train a team and meet with him for a bit.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
A Sign?
Shortly after sunrise today, i'm taking my morning walk along the secluded Lake Michigan beach near my Wisconsin home. While following a set of deer tracks a shiny object got my attention in the water. About 50 yards offshore there was a red object bouncing in the waves. i stopped and watched as the waves brought it closer to shore. It soon became apparent that it was a red mylar balloon. It got even closer and i could see that it was in the shape of a star!
Could this be a sign from above (well, it was a helium filled balloon that once indeed was "high above") telling me that we should follow the voice of the people and name Chicago's WPS team the Red Stars!?!
A minute or so later, the red star balloon made its way to the shore and my feet. i noticed that it was a five pointed star, not the unique Chicago flag six pointed star that the Chicago Red Stars name references.
You may not think that one little point makes a big difference when it comes to heavenly sent messages, but since today is May 1st, instead of receiving a message from above about the civic minded and patriotic Chicago red star, i might've been receiving a different message from the cold war runners up...0r it may have just been a sign to shop here or drink this. It's hard to know how to take messages from above without a translator.
Could this be a sign from above (well, it was a helium filled balloon that once indeed was "high above") telling me that we should follow the voice of the people and name Chicago's WPS team the Red Stars!?!
A minute or so later, the red star balloon made its way to the shore and my feet. i noticed that it was a five pointed star, not the unique Chicago flag six pointed star that the Chicago Red Stars name references.
You may not think that one little point makes a big difference when it comes to heavenly sent messages, but since today is May 1st, instead of receiving a message from above about the civic minded and patriotic Chicago red star, i might've been receiving a different message from the cold war runners up...0r it may have just been a sign to shop here or drink this. It's hard to know how to take messages from above without a translator.
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.
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"
God bless you John
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"
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
Monday, March 31, 2008
STINKING ONIONS ELIMINATED!!!
i guess it had to happen sooner or later....Chicago Stinking Onions, the underdog favorite of many, was eliminated from the Chicago Women’s Professional Soccer Name the Team Sweepstakes today. i would've preferred if it happened later. At first most people were either aghast or amused by the name. When it became apparent that it wasn't going to get enough support to mount a serious case, people became more comfortable with the quirky name and assumed it didn't have a real chance.
i wanted to keep it in the race awhile longer, because the longer it stayed in, the more people either found it humorous or became uncomfortable with the prospect of a professional sports team having a smelly nickname. The discomfort concept reminded me of Andy Kaufman's sense of humor. Andy was a genius.
There was movement at the top of the table where the Chicago Red Stars overtook Chicago 1871 to recapture first place in the advisory poll.
Cumulative voting through 3/31:
Red Stars…..2344…..22.6%
1871…………….2145….20.7%
Wind……………1605…..15.5%
Riot…………….1565…..15.1%
Blues……………1129…..10.9%
Union…………….960…….9.3%
Stinking Onions…....611……5.9% - Eliminated March 31st
Massacre.............526 - Eliminated March 24th
Towers..............183 - Eliminated March 17th
Progress............109 - Eliminated March 10th
Weekly vote: 3/24-31:
Red Stars………..399…..31.6%
Riot…………...….226…..17.9%
1871……………....188…..14.9%
Wind……………....172….13.6%
Blues……………....128….10.2%
Stinking Onions….78……6.2%
Union……...….….…70……5.6%
The Chicago Wind’s lead over the Riot shrunk to a mere .4 of a percentage point in the battle to be listed in a group of three over the final three weeks of balloting. The group of three is determined April 28th and voting on the three will continue through May 16th. The team will eliminate one name each of the next three Mondays. Chicago Union and Chicago Blues are separated by only 1.6% in the battle to stave off elimination another week and make it to the final five.
You can vote on line at www.chicagoprowomenssoccer.com through May 16th.
i wanted to keep it in the race awhile longer, because the longer it stayed in, the more people either found it humorous or became uncomfortable with the prospect of a professional sports team having a smelly nickname. The discomfort concept reminded me of Andy Kaufman's sense of humor. Andy was a genius.
There was movement at the top of the table where the Chicago Red Stars overtook Chicago 1871 to recapture first place in the advisory poll.
Cumulative voting through 3/31:
Red Stars…..2344…..22.6%
1871…………….2145….20.7%
Wind……………1605…..15.5%
Riot…………….1565…..15.1%
Blues……………1129…..10.9%
Union…………….960…….9.3%
Stinking Onions…....611……5.9% - Eliminated March 31st
Massacre.............526 - Eliminated March 24th
Towers..............183 - Eliminated March 17th
Progress............109 - Eliminated March 10th
Weekly vote: 3/24-31:
Red Stars………..399…..31.6%
Riot…………...….226…..17.9%
1871……………....188…..14.9%
Wind……………....172….13.6%
Blues……………....128….10.2%
Stinking Onions….78……6.2%
Union……...….….…70……5.6%
The Chicago Wind’s lead over the Riot shrunk to a mere .4 of a percentage point in the battle to be listed in a group of three over the final three weeks of balloting. The group of three is determined April 28th and voting on the three will continue through May 16th. The team will eliminate one name each of the next three Mondays. Chicago Union and Chicago Blues are separated by only 1.6% in the battle to stave off elimination another week and make it to the final five.
You can vote on line at www.chicagoprowomenssoccer.com through May 16th.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Moonlighting
i hope this blog won't get jealous, but i've started a relationship with another soccer news service - Section8Chicago.com's Backdraft News and Views. The leaders of Section 8 asked me to contribute occassionally with news oriented articles and my first attempt is here.
The concept is a good one and if handled properly, will provide unique perspectives of the Fire and MLS. While i think my own "former insider" perspective will be of interest, i think the supporters themselves are in a position to provide thoughts and news that can not be reported elsewhere. The minimal journalistic background of most of their reporters will provide certain challenges and obstacles including concerns of professionalism, but i think most of the new reporters will be sensitive to that and the tradeoff for the occasional journalistic misstep will be news filtered only by an independent, concerned view of the team and League. i look forward to following the 2008 MLS season as translated by witnesses from a brand new angle.
The concept is a good one and if handled properly, will provide unique perspectives of the Fire and MLS. While i think my own "former insider" perspective will be of interest, i think the supporters themselves are in a position to provide thoughts and news that can not be reported elsewhere. The minimal journalistic background of most of their reporters will provide certain challenges and obstacles including concerns of professionalism, but i think most of the new reporters will be sensitive to that and the tradeoff for the occasional journalistic misstep will be news filtered only by an independent, concerned view of the team and League. i look forward to following the 2008 MLS season as translated by witnesses from a brand new angle.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Sit Down and Shut Up or Stand and Deliver - your choice.
Today is the first anniversary of the epic Section 8 creed, Stand and Deliver, written by Fire supporter Brandon Kitchens to inspire Fire fans and players. Brandon supported the Fire since he was 14 years old. He also supported the United States with four tours of duty overseas as an Air Force intelligence officer. He lost his life last summer at the age of 23. Not on a battle field in the Middle East, but on a soccer field in Chicago playing the sport he loved. Brandon was President of Fire supporters group Whiskey Brothers Aught Five. i was honored by Brandon and WB05 at the 2006 Section 8 AGM and again last July by serving as a pall bearer. i miss him greatly. His message of Fire support and spirit of living life to its fullest must live on. The beginning of the Fire’s season is the time for Brandon’s message to be trumpeted.
Here is Stand and Deliver in its entirety . If you are a Fire supporter, i encourage you to read it and digest it. Even if you’re not a fan of the Fire, reading it will give you more appreciation for anything in your life that you are passionate about.
The last paragraph of Stand and Deliver was written for the team. If you are a Fire player or coach, please read and follow Brandon’s passionate plea:
“We will be strong for you every game, no matter our numbers, all we ask is you do the same, it is your PRIVILEGE to wear the colors as it is ours, it is our HONOR to stand behind you, as it should be yours to play for us. If you leave it all out on the field every game nothing can stop us, no matter who we play make 11 into 1, make us proud, and let Chicago be known for all time.”
I had planned to pay tribute to Brandon yesterday at the FireWorks For Kids Foundation’s Season Kickoff Luncheon. The Fire turned down my request saying the timing wasn’t right.
Instead, I will use this forum to do what Brandon would do – get in your face and scream:
"DON'T SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP, STAND AND DELIVER!"
to inspire Fire fans and players. Brandon supported the Fire since he was 14 years old. He also supported the United States with four tours of duty overseas as an Air Force intelligence officer. He lost his life last summer at the age of 23. Not on a battle field in the Middle East, but on a soccer field in Chicago playing the sport he loved. Brandon was President of Fire supporters group Whiskey Brothers Aught Five. i was honored by Brandon and WB05 at the 2006 Section 8 AGM and again last July by serving as a pall bearer. i miss him greatly. His message of Fire support and spirit of living life to its fullest must live on. The beginning of the Fire’s season is the time for Brandon’s message to be trumpeted. Here is Stand and Deliver in its entirety . If you are a Fire supporter, i encourage you to read it and digest it. Even if you’re not a fan of the Fire, reading it will give you more appreciation for anything in your life that you are passionate about.
The last paragraph of Stand and Deliver was written for the team. If you are a Fire player or coach, please read and follow Brandon’s passionate plea:
“We will be strong for you every game, no matter our numbers, all we ask is you do the same, it is your PRIVILEGE to wear the colors as it is ours, it is our HONOR to stand behind you, as it should be yours to play for us. If you leave it all out on the field every game nothing can stop us, no matter who we play make 11 into 1, make us proud, and let Chicago be known for all time.”
I had planned to pay tribute to Brandon yesterday at the FireWorks For Kids Foundation’s Season Kickoff Luncheon. The Fire turned down my request saying the timing wasn’t right.
Instead, I will use this forum to do what Brandon would do – get in your face and scream:
"DON'T SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP, STAND AND DELIVER!"
Monday, March 24, 2008
Massacred
The Stinking Onions staged a huge comeback this week to climb a mere seven points above the Massacre and stave off elimination for another week in the Chicago WPS Name the Team Sweepstakes. The Massacre is the third name eliminated in the Sweepstakes that continues through May 16th.
The name was originally conceived as an honor to Fort Dearborn and the first red star on the city of Chicago municipal flag. The idea of naming a team after an event in the War of 1812 that saw the ambushed slaughter of 50 US Soldiers, women and children never caught on for some reason. The ambush by the Potawatomi Indians occurred while 148 US Soldiers, women and children were abandoning the U.S. fort at the mouth of the Chicago River across from what is now the Wrigley Building. The group believed they had negotiated safe passage and were marching to Fort Wayne, Indiana when they were attacked (interestingly) at what is now the home of the United States Soccer Federation (18th and Prairie).
The added second reference to the (warning: gratuitous, yet historic, violent link ahead) St. Valentine's Day Massacre mob hit perpetrated by Al Capone's south side mob against Bugsy Malone's north side group wasn't an eye catching connection either.
The big mover of the week was 1871 who surged into the lead just 12 points ahead of Chicago Red Stars. On the other end, the other Potawatomi connected name besides Massacre, Stinking Onions, will need another big week to stay alive. The English translation for the Potawatomi "Checagou" trails the Chicago Union by 3 1/2%.
The Chicago Wind leads the Riot by one slim percentage point in the battle to be listed in a group of three over the final three weeks of this advisory vote from April 28th through May 16th.
Cumulative voting through 3/24
1871……………....1957…..20.3%
Red Stars………..1945…..20.2%
Wind……………....1433…..14.9%
Riot…………….....1339…..13.9%
Blues……………....1001…..10.4%
Union…………….....890…….9.2%
Stinking Onions….533….…5.54%
Massacre…………...526…….5.47% Eliminated March 24
Towers Eliminated March 17
Progress Eliminated March 10
Weekly vote: 3/17-24:
1871……………....1241…..33.4%
Red Stars………....766…..20.6%
Union…………….....484……13.0%
Riot…………….......461…..12.4%
Wind……………......298…..8.0%
Stinking Onions….234……6.3%
Blues…………….....176…..4.7%
Massacre………….....60……1.6% Eliminated March 24
Towers Eliminated March 17
Progress Eliminated March 10
The name was originally conceived as an honor to Fort Dearborn and the first red star on the city of Chicago municipal flag. The idea of naming a team after an event in the War of 1812 that saw the ambushed slaughter of 50 US Soldiers, women and children never caught on for some reason. The ambush by the Potawatomi Indians occurred while 148 US Soldiers, women and children were abandoning the U.S. fort at the mouth of the Chicago River across from what is now the Wrigley Building. The group believed they had negotiated safe passage and were marching to Fort Wayne, Indiana when they were attacked (interestingly) at what is now the home of the United States Soccer Federation (18th and Prairie).
The added second reference to the (warning: gratuitous, yet historic, violent link ahead) St. Valentine's Day Massacre mob hit perpetrated by Al Capone's south side mob against Bugsy Malone's north side group wasn't an eye catching connection either.
The big mover of the week was 1871 who surged into the lead just 12 points ahead of Chicago Red Stars. On the other end, the other Potawatomi connected name besides Massacre, Stinking Onions, will need another big week to stay alive. The English translation for the Potawatomi "Checagou" trails the Chicago Union by 3 1/2%.
The Chicago Wind leads the Riot by one slim percentage point in the battle to be listed in a group of three over the final three weeks of this advisory vote from April 28th through May 16th.
Cumulative voting through 3/24
1871……………....1957…..20.3%
Red Stars………..1945…..20.2%
Wind……………....1433…..14.9%
Riot…………….....1339…..13.9%
Blues……………....1001…..10.4%
Union…………….....890…….9.2%
Stinking Onions….533….…5.54%
Massacre…………...526…….5.47% Eliminated March 24
Towers Eliminated March 17
Progress Eliminated March 10
Weekly vote: 3/17-24:
1871……………....1241…..33.4%
Red Stars………....766…..20.6%
Union…………….....484……13.0%
Riot…………….......461…..12.4%
Wind……………......298…..8.0%
Stinking Onions….234……6.3%
Blues…………….....176…..4.7%
Massacre………….....60……1.6% Eliminated March 24
Towers Eliminated March 17
Progress Eliminated March 10
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Carnak, the Magnificent
Minnesota Thunder Head Coach Amos Magee, Thunder President Manuel Lagos and i started an MLS prediction pool** last season and are bringing it back this year. For the record, i managed to top both of the former Thunder and Chicago Fire players in the pool's inaugural season last year.
Making preseason sports predictions are generally safe, because usually, if you're wrong seven months later, nobody remembers and nobody brings it up. If you're right, you have the ability to remind everyone of your prognosticating power and pose as a genius. Not this time, though. i promise to dredge this post up in November, for better or worse.
With that in mind, here are my preseason MLS picks for all the major (and several minor) predictions (You may notice a bit of Windy City bias in my picks ;)).
Golden Boot.......................Luciano Emilio
Rookie of the Year................Brek Shea
Defender of the Year..............Wilman Conde
Goalkeeper of the Year............Joe Cannon
Newcomer of the Year..............Marcello Gallardo
MVP...............................Marcello Gallardo
Coach of the Year.................Denis Hamlett
Western Conf Champ (reg. season)..Houston
Eastern Conf Champ (reg. season)..DC
MLS Cup Champ.....................Chicago
Supporters Shield.................DC
US Open Cup Winner................Chicago
First Coach Fired.................Ruud Gullit
Western Conf. 1st Place...........Houston*
Western Conf. 2nd Place...........Chivas*
Western Conf. 3rd Place...........Dallas*
Western Conf. 4th Place...........San Jose*
Western Conf. 5th Place...........Colorado*
Western Conf. 6th Place...........RSL*
Western Conf. 7th Place...........LA*
Eastern Conference 1st Place......DC*
Eastern Conference 2nd Place......Chicago*
Eastern Conference 3rd Place......KC*
Eastern Conference 4th Place......NE*
Eastern Conference 5th Place......NY*
Eastern Conference 6th Place......Columbus*
Eastern Conference 7th Place......Toronto*
All-Star Winner (West Ham or MLS).MLS
* Each category is worth one point except the Western and Eastern Conference 1st through 7th place predictions, which are cumulatively worth one point. For that category, we lose one point (in terms of calculating that one category, not overall) for each place we are off for each team, i.e. if Chicago finishes 4th, I lose two points in the calculation of that single category which overall is only worth one point.
If you would like to post your own predictions in these categories in the comments, i will revisit the predictions in November and compare your Nostradamusness versus mine.
** For entertainment purposes only.
Making preseason sports predictions are generally safe, because usually, if you're wrong seven months later, nobody remembers and nobody brings it up. If you're right, you have the ability to remind everyone of your prognosticating power and pose as a genius. Not this time, though. i promise to dredge this post up in November, for better or worse.
With that in mind, here are my preseason MLS picks for all the major (and several minor) predictions (You may notice a bit of Windy City bias in my picks ;)).
Golden Boot.......................Luciano Emilio
Rookie of the Year................Brek Shea
Defender of the Year..............Wilman Conde
Goalkeeper of the Year............Joe Cannon
Newcomer of the Year..............Marcello Gallardo
MVP...............................Marcello Gallardo
Coach of the Year.................Denis Hamlett
Western Conf Champ (reg. season)..Houston
Eastern Conf Champ (reg. season)..DC
MLS Cup Champ.....................Chicago
Supporters Shield.................DC
US Open Cup Winner................Chicago
First Coach Fired.................Ruud Gullit
Western Conf. 1st Place...........Houston*
Western Conf. 2nd Place...........Chivas*
Western Conf. 3rd Place...........Dallas*
Western Conf. 4th Place...........San Jose*
Western Conf. 5th Place...........Colorado*
Western Conf. 6th Place...........RSL*
Western Conf. 7th Place...........LA*
Eastern Conference 1st Place......DC*
Eastern Conference 2nd Place......Chicago*
Eastern Conference 3rd Place......KC*
Eastern Conference 4th Place......NE*
Eastern Conference 5th Place......NY*
Eastern Conference 6th Place......Columbus*
Eastern Conference 7th Place......Toronto*
All-Star Winner (West Ham or MLS).MLS
* Each category is worth one point except the Western and Eastern Conference 1st through 7th place predictions, which are cumulatively worth one point. For that category, we lose one point (in terms of calculating that one category, not overall) for each place we are off for each team, i.e. if Chicago finishes 4th, I lose two points in the calculation of that single category which overall is only worth one point.
If you would like to post your own predictions in these categories in the comments, i will revisit the predictions in November and compare your Nostradamusness versus mine.
** For entertainment purposes only.
Monday, March 17, 2008
One More Team Name Eliminated
Not too much suspense or surprise in this week’s eliminated name in Chicago WPS’ Name the Team Sweepstakes. We’ve reduced the field to eight by taking out Chicago Towers, which maintained its last place standing since Progress was eliminated March 10th. The name was in honor of Chicago’s famous skyscrapers including the nation’s tallest building, the Sears Tower.
Towers suffered a bit from political incorrectness. The same concern that prevented me from headlining this post “Towers Fall” or “Towers Dropped” was brought up as a concern by most people who even bothered to comment on the name. The fear, of course, is that the name could lead to insensitive references to New York City’s destroyed World Trade Center twin towers in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As an aside, the 9/11 attacks are occasionally brought up as a reason WUSA failed. The argument is that first year sponsor renewals and second year new sponsorships were shelved by companies fearful of a major economic downturn after the attacks. 9/11 may have contributed to WUSA’s economic struggles, but i personally feel the overspending, lack of ownership engagement and de minimus outreach were the real culprits.
The Wind, Blues, 1871 and Riot all made gains on the first place Red Stars who continue to maintain the lead in the popular vote of this advisory referendum. We’ll eliminate one name each of the next five Mondays and the votes will be used to influence, but not make the decision for the name of the team.
Chicago Red Stars numerical lead shrunk from 170 to 44 points and its percentage lead dropped from 3.4% to 0.8%. Riot, Blues and 1871 remain in double digit percentages followed by Massacre and Union. Stinking Onions, the English translation for the Potawatomi "Checagou" now holds on to the last of eight remaining names in the popular votes. Come on Stinking Onions fans. NOW is the time your support is needed. Vote early, vote often! It’s the Chicago way!
With balloting in the third of the eight stages, fans are welcome to vote again here. The Sweepstakes continue through May 16th. 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 our first game at Toyota Park. Ten runners up will receive two tickets to our inaugural home game.
Below are the current and last week standings that include votes from paper ballots distributed at more than 100 locations in the area including all 44 AthletiCo Rehabilitation, Fitness and Performance Centers and many area indoor soccer facilities and soccer retail stores. Comment below if you have a high traffic area that would be good to display the counter card/ballot box with tear off ballots/sweepstakes entry blanks and we’ll mail or drop off a box. Fans who voted for Progress and Towers before, may want to vote again and choose a replacement for their selections from the remaining options:
Cumulative Voting:
Red Stars...........1179..........19.6%
Wind................1135..........18.8%
Riot.................864..........14.3%
Blues................811..........13.5%
1871.................696..........11.6%
Massacre.............460...........7.6%
Union................406...........6.7%
Stinking Onions......291...........4.8%
Towers...............183...........3.0% (Eliminated March 17)
Progress (Eliminated March 10)
Week of 3/10 - 3/17
Wind................246..........23.1%
Blues...............185..........17.4%
1871................157..........14.8%
Riot................155..........14.6%
Red Stars...........120..........11.3%
Union................67...........6.3%
Stinking Onions......51...........4.8%
Massacre.............48...........4.5%
Towers...............34...........3.2% (Eliminated March 17)
Progress (Elimintaed March 10)
In order to brand the team with a connection to the City of Chicago, we nominated ten names that have direct historical connections to Chicago. The eight remaining nominated names and their historical connection to Chicago are here.
Like “Towers” a few of the eight remaining names could also be perceived as being politically incorrect or at least politically charged. In fact, I’ve received criticisms of every name and comments criticizing eight of the original ten suggestions due to some people feeling that the names are offensive, insensitive or politically incorrect in some fashion. Care to guess which names have been causes for complaints? Any guesses which two have escaped the pc complaints (so far)? Feel free to comment below.
Towers suffered a bit from political incorrectness. The same concern that prevented me from headlining this post “Towers Fall” or “Towers Dropped” was brought up as a concern by most people who even bothered to comment on the name. The fear, of course, is that the name could lead to insensitive references to New York City’s destroyed World Trade Center twin towers in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As an aside, the 9/11 attacks are occasionally brought up as a reason WUSA failed. The argument is that first year sponsor renewals and second year new sponsorships were shelved by companies fearful of a major economic downturn after the attacks. 9/11 may have contributed to WUSA’s economic struggles, but i personally feel the overspending, lack of ownership engagement and de minimus outreach were the real culprits.
The Wind, Blues, 1871 and Riot all made gains on the first place Red Stars who continue to maintain the lead in the popular vote of this advisory referendum. We’ll eliminate one name each of the next five Mondays and the votes will be used to influence, but not make the decision for the name of the team.
Chicago Red Stars numerical lead shrunk from 170 to 44 points and its percentage lead dropped from 3.4% to 0.8%. Riot, Blues and 1871 remain in double digit percentages followed by Massacre and Union. Stinking Onions, the English translation for the Potawatomi "Checagou" now holds on to the last of eight remaining names in the popular votes. Come on Stinking Onions fans. NOW is the time your support is needed. Vote early, vote often! It’s the Chicago way!
With balloting in the third of the eight stages, fans are welcome to vote again here. The Sweepstakes continue through May 16th. 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 our first game at Toyota Park. Ten runners up will receive two tickets to our inaugural home game.
Below are the current and last week standings that include votes from paper ballots distributed at more than 100 locations in the area including all 44 AthletiCo Rehabilitation, Fitness and Performance Centers and many area indoor soccer facilities and soccer retail stores. Comment below if you have a high traffic area that would be good to display the counter card/ballot box with tear off ballots/sweepstakes entry blanks and we’ll mail or drop off a box. Fans who voted for Progress and Towers before, may want to vote again and choose a replacement for their selections from the remaining options:
Cumulative Voting:
Red Stars...........1179..........19.6%
Wind................1135..........18.8%
Riot.................864..........14.3%
Blues................811..........13.5%
1871.................696..........11.6%
Massacre.............460...........7.6%
Union................406...........6.7%
Stinking Onions......291...........4.8%
Towers...............183...........3.0% (Eliminated March 17)
Progress (Eliminated March 10)
Week of 3/10 - 3/17
Wind................246..........23.1%
Blues...............185..........17.4%
1871................157..........14.8%
Riot................155..........14.6%
Red Stars...........120..........11.3%
Union................67...........6.3%
Stinking Onions......51...........4.8%
Massacre.............48...........4.5%
Towers...............34...........3.2% (Eliminated March 17)
Progress (Elimintaed March 10)
In order to brand the team with a connection to the City of Chicago, we nominated ten names that have direct historical connections to Chicago. The eight remaining nominated names and their historical connection to Chicago are here.
Like “Towers” a few of the eight remaining names could also be perceived as being politically incorrect or at least politically charged. In fact, I’ve received criticisms of every name and comments criticizing eight of the original ten suggestions due to some people feeling that the names are offensive, insensitive or politically incorrect in some fashion. Care to guess which names have been causes for complaints? Any guesses which two have escaped the pc complaints (so far)? Feel free to comment below.
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