High School Reunion

Last night i attended my 30-year high school reunion, which was part of Marian Central's 50th Anniversary and homecoming football game. It was one of my first times back at Marian since being inducted into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.

About 25 of my classmates attended the game. Afterwards, most of us went to the Public House off the Woodstock Square, which is most noted as the set for Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell's Groundhog Day.

The Square is also the home of the Old Courthouse and County Jail, which imprisoned the Clarence Darrow defended Eugene Debs in the late 19th century and the Woodstock Opera House, which helped launch the careers of Orson Welles as well as Shelly Berman, Tom Bosley, Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, and Lois Nettleton.

It was great to spend time with several friends i still keep in touch with on a regular basis and many others that i haven't seen for five, ten or even thirty years. They've all gotten older and i've stayed the same (yes, that's me in high school above - note the cool transition glasses!).

Milwaukee Becomes Center of the American Soccer Blogosphere

Milwaukee, Wisconsin has long been known as the home of the Cunninghams and Arthur Fonzarelli, the home of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and the beer capital of the world.

Tomorrow, albeit temporarily, Milwaukee adds another title: Soccer Blogging Capital of America. By sheer coincidence, at least six of America's soccer bloggers will converge on the Cream City.

Tom Dunmore of Pitch Invasion, Bruce McGuire of DuNord, Kenn Tomasch of Kenn.com, Jim Kogutkiewicz and Colin Deval of Match Pricks and your truly will all be in Milwaukee.

All except Kenn will be at The Highbury Pub to watch the morning's Premier League and Bundesliga matches. Kenn will unfortunately miss the morning festivities as he will be in Madison to broadcast the University of Wisconsin vs. Michigan men's soccer match for the Big 10 Network. i will get a chance to see the Fire's former play by play man tomorrow night as we enjoy Milwaukee's best stuffed pizza at Tenuta's.

Additional incentive to stop by the Highbury and meet the bloggers is included in the photo above of the Highbury crew tailgating at Toyota Park.

USWNT, WPS Player Allocation

The player allocation process has been fascinating. Part Match.com, part medical school national matching day and part MLS SuperDraft.

i think the results are going to be remarkably successful in terms of matching up player preferences, team preferences and balancing competitive and marketing issues.

It is nearly an impossible task, but WPS and the USWNT are managing to give almost all of the teams their preferred top player and most of the players their preferred market. The official announcement will be tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12:30 pm ET and can be followed via Twitter as described on the WPS social network site. BTW, i've started Tweeting recently and have found it a useful way to keep up to date with people. If you'd like to follow me on Twitter by texting 'follow Peter40' to 40404 to receive my updates.

As has been said about the legislative process and sausage-making, the player allocation shouldn't be seen close-up. The process may not have been the smoothest, but result is very good. Congratulations and thank you to WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci, USWNT representative John Langel (both pictured above) and everyone else who is participating in this process.

"Hey Ronnie Have Some Water!"

The Chicago Red Stars had a staff outing to the White Sox game last night. It was another good bonding experience that helps make our off the field team as much of a team as we expect our on the field team to be.

Thanks to John Daley, we were able to sit kinda close to the field. From there we were able to see inside the Sox dug out and witness Mark Buehrle throwing a cup of water at Ronnie Woo Woo who invaded the south side! Ronnie's no Andy the Clown. Buehrle's my new hero.

When Work is Your Passion

My Red Stars co-worker Pat McNamara posted a great blog today about his life in soccer. i worked with Pat at the Chicago Fire and am very fortunate that he accepted the Red Stars Director of Corporate Partnerships position recently. He is one of the best sellers of the professional soccer experience i have ever known.

In his post, Pat talks about how soccer has engulfed his life. i strongly believe that hiring people like Pat is a critical part of being successful. i've always called it hiring talented, hardworking people with good character. Someone today referred to it as "I.C.E." - hiring intelligent, competent, energetic people.

In either case, it is the passion for the job that makes good employees great employees. Hiring people who know soccer and have a passion for the sport results in a better office environment and a more effective and harder working staff. Hard work and passion means nothing if they're not also talented and have good character though.

One of the real differences in pro soccer administration now compared to twenty years ago when i started in pro soccer is the depth of the front office talent pool. When i started with the Milwaukee Wave in 1987, there were only one or two sports administraion programs in the country, fewer than 100 experienced soccer executives and less than a million soccer players. Now there are hundreds of collegiate sports admin programs, thousands of experienced soccer executives and tens of millions of current or former soccer players. That all increases the pool of talented, hard working people with good character who are qualified to work in pro sports administration.

The Chicago Red Stars are the beneficiaries of that progress.

Mr. Magoo, Wiffle Ball, WCQ, Red Stars, Fire and Beefy's Oh My!

Yesterday was a great day. Here's a summary:

MORNING:
* Watched various You Tube videos including Mr. Magoo Meets Frankenstein!

* Played my friend Mike in a fiercely competitive game of WIFFLE® ball on a self made diamond behind Riverside-Brookfield High School's stadium. i used to be pretty good at WIFFLE® ball, but the years have not been kind to my pitching arm nor my hand eye coordination. This was more of a game of survival than a pitchers duel, but i managed to win 1-0 with a final inning run-scoring double that dribbled up to the railroad box car in left.

AFTERNOON

* The Globe Pub for European WCQs. Intended game was England vs. Andorra, but ended up saving the $20 and hanging in the front room with friends watching Germany kill Liechtenstein and Andy Murray battle Rafael Nadal.

* Drove to Toyota Park to open up the Red Stars office for the first Red Stars supporters organizational meeting. It's important that the supporters develop organically and independent of front office influence, so i didn't sit in on the meeting, though i did come in for a few minutes of Q&A.

EVENING

* Hosted Red Stars tailgate party outside the Toyota Park Annex. The tailgate party prior to the Fire vs. New York Red Bulls game was very successful - too successful. TP management came out and asked us to refrain from future tailgates due to the size of this one and the proximity to the parking lot entrance. We'll work with TP to see if we can start them up at a different location in the future in order to address their concerns.

* Watched the Fire extract a bit more revenge from Juan Carlos Osorio and the Red Bulls 1-0 from the Red Stars suite. In the suite were several Red Stars investors and a star forward interested in playing for the Red Stars. i can't say who it is, but she's not from the United States and we're interested in her as well.

* Visited the IWSL suite and said hello to the winners of an IWSL/Red Stars season ticket promotion.

* Hung out with old friends after the game in the suite, in the north lot and then at Beefy's until we were kicked out at closing time.

More days like that would be good.

Time Out For Ticket Sales

Sorry i've taken a break from posting lately. Am in the middle of a very busy stretch. In the meantime, check out the first blog post ever by Chicago Red Stars Director of Ticket Sales Greg Zaskowski.

Greg and i worked together for 4+ years at the Chicago Fire and i'm very excited to be working with him again. In the post, he provides some insights to the Red Stars organization and shows the competitive nature that's at the core of every successful salesman.

We Meet Again....

At the risk of sounding like a disgruntled former employee - which i'm sure i am - i feel compelled to share a story about my only previous contact with the Chicago Fire's new team president, Dave Greeley.

First, however, please read this well written post by Steve Pastorino, my partner in crime at the Chicago Fire from 1997 through 2004.

Before i detail my memories of that meeting (it was probably six years ago, so some of the details may be wrong, but i am certain that the gist is accurate), i do want to go on record as saying that it is good that the Fire hired an experienced marketing executive with strong Chicago ties and separated the team operations from the business operations. i also want to say that i truly hope Dave immerses himself in the culture of the Fire and soccer, learns the sport and leads the Fire to more successes on and off the field. To the extent he cares to learn from my experiences, i am willing to share them with him and provide any insight and guidance he desires.

Now, to my recollection of the story Steve referenced obliquely in his post:

I too recall the new Fire president from those New Soldier Field negotiations. Dave wasn't quite the soccer guy he is now. Dave and i's first (and only?) meeting was with Bears President Ted Phillips, Mayor Daley's New Soldier Field political operative Ed Bedore and venerable Chicago attorney Dick Burke.

While most of the city and Bears representatives were polite, though a bit patronizing, Dave seemed bent on putting the Fire in its place with condescending comments. At one point during the meeting, Greeley's relentless disparagement of soccer and the Fire forced AEG's Bill Peterson and me to swear at him (as I recall, it began with an "f" and ended with a "u"), get up from the table and head for the door.

Burke stopped us in the hall way, apologized for Greeley and convinced us to return to the table.

I don't know that we've spoken since, but apparently, Dave's seen the light and he is now serving at the altar of the sport and team he once belittled!

Soccer can be a mighty inspiration. I look forward to talking to Dave again and discovering the elixir responsible for his conversion.

What Happens in Jersey...IS REVEALED HERE!

Two full days of meetings in New Jersey this week for the Women's Professional Soccer Board of Governors advanced the League considerably.

It's very exciting to see a League come together. While i'm sure many things have changed since the NFL's gestation period, i think many of the experiences must be similar to those that Curly Lambeau and George Halas had 88 years ago.

We discussed and formalized various player distribution mechanics, marketing updates, legal issues, team operations/milestone reports, League expansion and sponsorship and broadcast opportunities.

...and at night we went to dinner in a private room at Fiorino Ristorante in Summit, New Jersey. The dinner was a great opportunity to meet socially with team and League staff and owners. It also allowed us to get to know representatives of expansion candidate franchises from several markets better.

While, the dinner was great, the transportation to and from the dinner was extra special thanks to our hosts at Sky Blue Soccer. The shuttle bus provided to take us from the hotel to the restaurant and back was THE WPS PARTY BUS:

The NJ limo party bus comes fully loaded with the following luxury features:

State of the art audio surround sound system
Huge 50" plasma TV with satellite reception and 3 additional LCD flat screens
AM/FM satellite radio reception
Fiber optic lighting; mirrored ceiling
Champagne and rock glasses with colorful beverage napkins
Ice buckets stocked with water, soda, and ice
iPod connection
CD and DVD players
Two custom bars on the side and front with fiber optic lighting
Tinted windows
Adjustable window shades for privacy
On-board bathroom
Emergency exit and escape hatch
Extra large luggage and storage compartment under the main cabin

A low bridge forced the bus to make a detour which gave us a bonus hour of bonding time on the WPS Party Bus each way. The meetings themselves are obviously the important functionality of the time in New Jersey, but the WPS Party Bus ride is what will be remembered:

* Listening to veteran soccer event organizer Thom Meredith tell awe inspiring stories of Lamar Hunt's generosity, kindness, photographic memory and wisdom
* WPS expansion owner Fitz Johnson (Atlanta) serving as WPS Party Bus DJ
* Rocking out to James Taylor's "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)"
* And pictured above: me using the WPS Party Bus poles for their intended purpose - with Thom Meredith (left) and Joe Quinn (Washington Freedom) looking on in bemusement, Caryn Chasteen (St. Louis), Jeff Mallett and Michael Stoller (Boston) ignoring the proceedings on the left and Joe Cummings (Boston) turning his back to me on the right. Notice WPS fearless leader Tonya searching in the back of the WPS Party Bus for appropriate dance music for me on the satellite radio.

...and every day we get closer to being a real League. It involves a lot of hard work - and quite a bit of fun - by some incredibly talented people with a common passion to see professional women's soccer succeed.

COYW!

Great win by Fulham yesterday. 1-0 over Arsenal at Craven Cottage. Watching the game at The Highbury Pub in Milwaukee - a friendly soccer bar whose very name was taken from Arsenal's former grounds.

The bar was populated mainly with Gooners and my hopes and dreams were managed in increments. From the start, i was publicly cheering for a scoreless first 20 minutes. Amazingly the Whites achieved that goal then actually scored on a fearless goal mouth effort by Dallas born Brede Hangeland on a 21st minute cross from Jimmy Bullard.

After a minute of celebration, my hopes rose to gaining a halftime draw. Fulham exceeded those managed expectations by playing real soccer - possessing, attacking, controlling - for the first time in memory. A desperate Arsenal squad was unable to muster more than a couple solid attempts at goal the rest of the game and Fulham won the battle of Londoners 1-0.

It's no longer FulhAmerica, but it's still my EPL side. More importantly, the Fulhamometer earned its first three points of the year towards an expected 40 needed to avoid relegation!

C'MON YOU WHITES!!!

"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

i was reminded of the Yogi Berra quote in this blog post's title yesterday when i went to a Sports Authority store in Wisconsin looking for a New York Jets Brett Favre jersey.

Being a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan, it took a monumental management mess up (in my mind) to get me to do this.

The logo apparel department at The Sports Authority had a wall of Green Bay Packer Favre jerseys, but no Jets Favre jerseys. i asked an employee if they were sold out or on delivery and he said they weren't ordering any. They only sell in state team merchandise, he said. i asked him if i was the first to ask for a Jets Favre jersey and he said: "No, everyone is asking. i'm getting a little tired of it actually." i asked if they planned on meeting demand by ordering some and he said they won't because it goes against their policy.

Policies can be wrong. And this is one example.

i got mine anyway.

Golden Globe (Pub)

WOW!!! WHAT A GREAT VICTORY FOR THE USA! The Globe Pub in Chicago was packed with supporters for the Red Stars viewing party which started at 5 am for Germany's 1-0 bronze medal win over Japan. . Everyone was excited to see future WPS players battle on both sides of the gold medal match. At halftime, raffle prizes were awarded and Red Stars GM Marcia McDermott, fresh from her scouting trip to China, welcomed the group. Half a dozen TV, radio and newspaper journalists including WGN-TV, CLTV and a Chicago Tribune photographer captured the joy as Carli Lloyd's overtime blast ignited America's number one soccer bar. The bar held its collective breath through the final 20 minutes then roared when the final whistle blew. When the jumping and yelling finally subsided everyone joined in a champagne toast to the victors. This is a great day for US Soccer, the Chicago Red Stars and Women's Professional Soccer!

Olympic Impact On WPS

Everyone in Women's Professional Soccer is pulling for a US victory tomorrow both from a patriotic and a business perspective.

The prevailing thought is that a return to a world championship, if not world dominance, would provide a good kick start for WPS.

A gold medal for the US would certainly provide a boost for the League for all the obvious reasons, but i think it's also important to recognize that the League benefits if Brazil wins.

WPS intends to be the best women's soccer league in the world. That will surely happen if many of the best international players are also in the League. A Brazil victory tomorrow would demonstrate to the general American soccer fan base that women's soccer in Brazil and the rest of the world has improved dramatically in the last decade. It would also go a long way to increasing the star power of Cristiane (pictured above), Marta, Daniela, Formiga and other Brazilians who could find their way onto WPS rosters.

WUSA had built in US stars from the 1999 Women's World Cup. WPS needs to create its own stars - both domestic and international. So a Brazil Olympic gold medal, while probably not ideal for WPS, wouldn't be the worst thing either. What do you think?

Who Pays These Guys' Salaries Anyways??

The Section 8 Chicago organized protest last night intended to force the Chicago Fire front office to address alleged racial incidents by Toyota Park's security firm resulted in ridiculous red herring quotes in the Chicago Tribune from Fire star Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

Blanco's "fans are garbage" quote was translated from the Spanish "el hinchada es pendejada" and as such may have lost something in the translation, but even if minimized to "the fans are stupid", the quotes stand up in absurdity to other infamous athlete quotes against the fans who pay their salaries:

Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers: "I don't feel I need to sell myself to the fans. They need to get on board now or keep their mouths shut."

Charles Barkley regarding Dan Issel's fine when calling a heckling fan a Mexican: "I don't think he (Issel) should have been fined or suspended. Some fans just need to be beaten down!"

Rey Ordonez of the New York Mets about New York fans: "The fans here are too stupid. You have to play perfect every game. You can't make an error. You can't go 0-for-4. Are we like machines?"

Blanco reponding to allegations that Toyota Park security called Latino Fire fans derogatory racial slurs: “I feel that it’s possible that the fans at the time were inebriated,” he said. “When people are drunk, things can get out of hand and things can get crazy.”

Blanco again in today's Chicago Tribune: "The fans are [garbage]," said an annoyed Blanco, who blames fans for friction with security. "They get drunk and become insulting. It's the same way in Mexico. I don't think security has anything to do with it."

This whole drama is sad, because it is taking the focus away from the team, which is battling for the top spot in MLS and is tearing the soul out of a group of volunteers who have passionately and unselfishly given much of their lives to the Chicago Fire.

Another Video

This one's from a tour of the Red Stars expansive offices i recently gave. In it, i show off my mad foosball skills!

Contest OVER! Katie will win!

The WPS Top Town Video Challenge is virtually over barely after starting thanks to this great video.

After viewing it, you must agree that Chicago Red Stars fan Katie is absolutely going to win the Grand Prize of a trip for two (2) to the WPS Public Allocation Event in September 2008, round trip coach airfare from the major airport nearest Grand Prize Winner’s place of residence, hotel accommodations and a “meet and greet” with future WPS players.

Way to go Katie!

Blimey Me Hearties and Happy Birthday Marcia. Your Addled Crew Misses You!

Tomorrow is Red Stars General Manager Marcia McDermott's birthday and her staff threw her a pirate themed party in absentia yesterday. International talk like a pirate day is September 19, but the staff couldn't wait, so we all dressed up and celebrated Marcia's birthday pirate style with a bar-b-que outside the Red Stars Annex. i think we need our general manager to return from her extended mission to China soon!

Chatting

Red Stars hosted a chat session with me last Thursday. Emma and Marcia joined me from China along with a couple dozen Red Stars fans. Some of the info covered is old, but some was new. Here are some highlights and here is the complete transcript.

Ps: i've become a blogging machine this month!

Lessons

Alexi Lalas was let go yesterday and it reminded me of an email exchange we had when he was first named general manager of the San Jose Earthquakes in 2004.

i offered him some unsolicited advice about running an MLS team, because the front office side of MLS was new to him and we both were under the AEG umbrella.

Here is what i wrote to him:

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Wilt [mailto:PWILT@chicago-fire.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 5:00 PM
To: Alexi Lalas
Cc: Peter Wilt
Subject: The 10 Commandments of MLS staff management and 10 Secrets of selling MLS

Lex, Following are my ten commandments to successful MLS staff management.....ok, if you're going to quibble, there's 12 of 'em - so shoot me.

Also listed 10 secrets of selling MLS. It's mainly common sense....though unfortunately, it's not so common. Hope it helps.

1. Ticket sales above all else - EVERYTHING else succeeds as a result of this.
2. Sell to those who are ALREADY economically and emotionally attached to the sport (the soccer community)
3. Hire hard working, talented people with good character - get rid of all others.
4. Hire department heads that are experts in their field and are better at their job than you would be
5. Delegate then provide resources and advice as needed
6. Praise employees publicly, criticize privately
7. When you must criticize, do so constructively with a positive statement given before and after the criticism
8. Explain reasons for decisions and include staff members in decision making process
9. Be a good listener
10. Provide good customer service - cheapest and best form of advertising and business retention
11. Get people to CARE about the sport, team and League
12. Personal contact with the team (players) is the best way to achieve number 11.

10 Secrets about the selling of MLS:

1. Our crowds are almost entirely manufactured through promotions, discounts, special events.
2. VERY few people care enough about our League to come to the games on their own.
3. Attrition of season tickets is ridiculously high (1/3) and we have to recreate our season ticket base every three years.
4. Paid general market advertising does not return dollar for dollar on investment
5. Neither does direct mail.....even targeted direct mail.
6. E-mail and phone calls to pre-qualified lists are the cheapest and most effective way to sell. INCREASE your e-mail database.
7. Your sales staff must work the phones - 40 calls each every day minimum.
8. State associations have very little power. The clubs and teams have the access and control of their membership NOT the state associations
9. You should meet with every youth soccer club board/president - ask them how you can help them and then do it (actually, then delegate it).
10. i'm not going to tell you ALL the secrets......some stuff you have to learn on your own. Enjoy!

peter j. wilt
General Manager
Chicago Fire

Certainly there are some generalizations in there that shouldn't be taken literally in all instances. And since i wrote this almost five years ago, some things have changed including the number of people who seriously care about MLS - which i think is one of the League's greatest accomplishments to date.

Commemorating an Extra 40 Years....

Today, Tuesday, August 12th is the 40th Anniversary of the rescue of my father, brother and me on Lake Superior by three brave park rangers.

My family is again celebrating the anniversary with a quick trip up to the UP and Michigan's Porcupine Mountain State Park.

Family members who live in Houston, Minneapolis, Carbondale, Illinois and McHenry, Illinois are all joining me for the pilgrimmage to Lake Superior's southern shoreline. My Mom, Dad and brother will all be there and my sister's two sons Bryan and Evan will also make the trip.

We'll head up to the old mine adit at the M-107 look-out this afternoon. We'll pull out the telescope that the rangers used to spot our tiny sailboat on the horizon 40 years ago and look where they looked. Tuesday is also the peak day for the Perseid meteor showers, so we'll be using the same telescope to look up in the heavens for shooting stars. i'll look for the rangers, too. Surely they're up there, too.

And Another One Bites The Dust!

The iconic Wall Arch from Arches National Park succumbed to gravity and erosion. Before and after above.

Sigh.

If a Tree Falls and No One is There to Hear it...

....well, this particular tree heard many sounds nearly a century and a half ago. One of only four remaining Gettysburg "Witness Trees" fell yesterday in a Pennsylvania thunderstorm.

And time marches on...

If you have an interest in Civil War history, i recommend this blog....and not just because i'm related to the author!

FC Indiana Claims US Open Cup Title Again

Chicago Red Stars W-League affiliate FC Indiana defeated Ajax America 1-0 in overtime last night to claim its fourth championship in the last four seasons - two US Women's Open Cup titles and two WPSL crowns.

From the FCI website:

In overtime, FC Indiana dictated the tempo and it was a matter of time before midfielder Fatima Leyva took a pass from Laura Del Rio and quickly slotted home a 20 yard shot past Ajax goal keeper Ali Lipsher in the hundred eight minute. "It’s a great feeling to win our fourth trophy in four seasons - we’ve got a great team spirit and work ethic," said FC Indiana’s captain Fatima Leyva. "Scoring that goal gave me one of the best feelings ever."

Head Coach Shek Borkowski believes his side deserved to lift the US Open Cup because of the brand of soccer they have played. "I think the way that we have played this season, I think we deserved this victory.”

The Pole, whose side has been lauded for its attacking style during the season, realizes that it will be struggle to keep his winning side together. "I think there’s no doubt some players will go, so we have to start again," he said. "We have to try to keep this team and bring in three or four better players."
FC Indiana finish the 2008 season with a 20-1-1 record.

LINEUPS:
FC INDIANA: Kristin Luckenbill, Jenny Jeffers, Marie-Eve Nault, Aiviv Luik, Julianne Sitch, Kelly Parker, Fatima Leyva, Alicia Milyak Corie Moore 114’), Laura Del Rio (Veronica Phewa 112’), Lauren Sesselmann Annie Hamel
AJAX: Ali Lipsher, Daniella Bosio, Andrea Alfiler, Leah Wilson, Stephanie Scholl, Carmen Bognanno (Jennifer Brewer 102’), Myisha Delaney, Brooke O’Hanley (Genele Ives 65’), Renee Scachetti (Jessica Edwards 70’), Shannon Cross ( April Colen 80’), Cami Boswell (Kandace Wilson 70')

SCORING:
FCI - Leyva (Del Rio) - 108’

STATS:
Shots: AJX 3, FCI 11
Saves: AJX 5, FCI 1
Fouls: AJX 11, FCI 11
Offsides: AJX 1, FCI 4
Corners: AJX 3, FCI 7

Congratulations to the Champions!

That's a little more like it (R)

Carli Lloyd's volley in the 27th minute gave the US Women's Olympic Team a 1-0 victory over Japan this morning and an important three points in the Group G standings. Tuesday's match against New Zealand is a rematch of a game played at Chicago's Soldier Field exactly one year earlier.

On August 12, 2007, more than 7,000 fans witnessed Abby Wambach score two goals to lead the US to a 6-1 victory over the Football Ferns (formerly known as the SWANZ).

If the US can beat the former SWANZ on Tuesday, their reward will likely be a quarterfinal match Friday against either Germany or Brazil - who squared off in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup Championship match.

Be sure to check out the new WPS social network site that includes blogs from China by both Chicago Red Stars GM Marcia McDermott and Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes.

Arrrrr - Let's Take This Inside

Please join me inside the WPS/Red Stars chat room this morning between 11 am and noon to discuss the women's and men's Olympic soccer tournaments, WPS, Chicago Red Stars or anything else that's on your mind...including this brilliant call of a horse race and my first car.

Olympic Viewing Party

The Olympics officially start on the very lucky 8th of August, 2008 (Friday) - but you can get an early dose of the Beijing Olympics this Wednesday morning (tomorrow) at The Globe Pub. Join a gang of Chicago Red Stars staff and fans for the US Women's Olympic Team's opening game vs. Norway.

Kickoff is 6:45 am and i'll buy everyone's first beverage.

Hope to see you there!

CHECK THIS OUT

Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) became the first major professional sports league in the world* to create its own social networking site today with the launch of the online WPS Fan Zone branded for now as "Beijing Now, WPS Next".

The site includes behind the scenes video like this piece from Leslie Osborne. This is another indication that this League is going to be very smart and efficient in the way it connects with its fan base.

i'll try to communicate regularly with Red Stars fans through my page on the site.

More information on the site is available here.

* ok, i didn't research this point, but it sounds good and anyone can feel free to prove me wrong ;-)

No Cigar (R)

FC Indiana came ever so close last night to winning the championship in their W-League debut season.

Two Pali Blues header goals in the game's 83rd and 88th minutes gave the Chicago Red Stars affiliate their first defeat of the year by a 2-1 margin.

The game will be replayed on Fox Soccer Channel today at 3 pm CT. I suggest turning the game off around the 80th minute, ignoring any "official" result and popping the cork on a bottle of champagne to celebrate the greatest debut in a soccer league by a team since 1998.

Congratulations to FC Indiana Head Coach Shek Borkowski and Co-Founder Gary Weaver (pictured above in Virginia Beach this weekend with Red Stars Coach Emma Hayes) and everyone at FC Indiana on a fantastic season.

Advisory Board Meeting and Chicago Fire vs. Los Angeles Fire

It's a beautiful day here in Milwaukee. i'm heading to Toyota Park soon for a Red Stars Advisory Board Meeting followed by the Fire vs. Chivas USA game. The meeting agenda follows:

Chicago Red Stars Advisory Board
August 2, 2008

1. Team Update (Peter Wilt)

a. Tour of offices
b. Staff updates
i. Olympic travels
c. Red Stars in the community
i. Recent events
ii. Upcoming events

2. League Update (Peter Wilt)
a. Expansion news
b. Staffing
c. Player Timelines
i. Allocation, combines and drafts

3. Online/Internet Social Marketing (Amanda Vandervort)
a. Update on current league and team initiatives
b. How to reach the fan?
c. How to keep the fan?
d. The value of social networking/online initiatives for different segments i.e. adult, ethnic, corporate etc
e. WPS social networking launch with the Olympics
f. Implications for ticket sales and building on live events

4. Tickets (Greg Zaskowski)
a. Current goals and numbers
b. Ideas of how to reach the players/coaches and their families directly
c. Opening day 2009

The meeting will be followed by the Chivas USA vs. Fire game. This match has the elements for a great rivalry game. Though Cuauhtémoc Blanco will miss the game due to suspension, there should still be elements of Mexico's greatest rivalry (Chivas vs. Blanco's former team, Club America) manifested in the stands and on the field.

Fans often discuss fantasy matchups of teams from different era. Well, tonight Chicago Fire fans will get a chance to see how today's Fire team would matchup against some of the original 1998 Fire squad. Chivas USA added yet another ex-Fire player yesterday when the American Goats acquired Fire legend Zach Thornton from the New York Red Bulls. Big Zach joins Jesse Marsch, Ante Razov andJim Curtin as former Fire players on Chivas USA. There are now more original Fire players on Chivas USA (three) than on the current Fire roster (two).

My friends at The Highbury Pub in Milwaukee will be in attendance 100+ strong and cheering for Jesse Marsch and Chivas USA from behind the south goal in the stage end tonight. Jesse's brother Craig is a bartender and bon vivant at The Highbury.

i hope the Chivas USA fans all have a good time tonight, but i also hope they go home with no points.

Bovines, Lionesses and Butterflies

Thursday was marked by cows, Lionesses and Butterflies. it started with a Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation board meeting in the afternoon, which was held at Wisconsin State Fair Park on the opening day of the Wisconsin State Fair. After the meeting, i strolled through the cattle and sheep barns then purchased a scary Lucha Libre mask at the Fair's Mexican Village.

When i returned home, i began getting text updates from Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes and Red Stars Investor Gary Weaver who were both at the W-League semi-finals in Virginia Beach. Emma reported that the only goal of the game , which was by FC Indiana Lioness midfielder Fatima Leyva in the 89th minute, was a beautiful give and go with Laura Del Rio. The goal held up to earn FC Indiana a spot in the W-League Championship Game this Saturday. The game will be shown on Fox Soccer Channel Saturday night at 10:00 pm CT and again on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm CT. the Pali Blues won the W-League regular season championship and earned a spot in the final by defeating the Washington Freedom Thursday 2-0.

i finished the last day of July by finally watching The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. i'd seen the trailer a dozen times, but never had a chance to see it in the theater. Thanks to NetFlix, i was able to see one of the best motion pictures i've ever watched. The cinematrography, acting and story are all remarkable. This powerful film based on a true story earned artist/filmmaker Julian Schnabel the Best Director Award at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. i highly recommend it and give it two thumbs up. If i had another hand, i'd give it three thumbs up.

Emma's First Impressions

Chicago Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes spilled her guts in a Q&A with Red Stars' Amanda Vandervort.

Emma talks about her first impressions of Chicago, her thoughts on going to scout the Olympics in China and her planned style of play. Here's a player she may want to consider!

The Dartmouth Connection

The Chicago Red Stars have minor league affiliates in the final four of both the W-league and WPSL playoffs and they're both backstopped by Dartmouth goalkeepers.

FC Indiana, with Kristin Luckenbill (Dartmouth '01) in goal, emerged battered, but victorious in the W-league Central Conference Championship match-up Sunday evening 4-3 in overtime over Ottawa. FC Indiana advances to the W-League final four in Virginia Beach along with Pali Blues, Washington Freedom and Seattle Sounders. FCI wll match up against Seattle and Pali Blues will play Washington in the semis.

The MYSC Lady Blues scored early against the Brevard County Cocoa Expos Monday night and held on for a 1-0 victory to advance to this weekend's WPSL final four in Sacramento. A solid defense and Lauel Peak's (Dartmouth '09) spectacular goalkeeping held the Sunshine Conference champs scoreless.

Good luck to both teams in their respective championship weekend tournaments and thank you Big Green for producing two great goalkeepers.

Leslie's Trip to Chicago

Injured USWNT star Leslie Osborne spent yesterday in Chicago promoting the Chicago Red Stars and Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). Leslie, who is from Brookfield, Wisconsin, and played and coached with Chicago's Eclipse Select Soccer Club, flew in from LA late Friday night. She was picked up by Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes ridiculously early Saturday morning and taken to the IWSL Fall Seeding Meeting in Schaumburg, which started at 7:30 am. Leslie's not new to public appearances and showed her experience in the professional way she handled her appearances in Chicago.

Leslie, Emma, Red Stars Director of Sales Greg Zaskowski and i spoke to all the IWSL U-8 and U-9 team representatives before Emma and Leslie left for another appearance on Chicago's lakefront.

While Greg and i met with IWSL's upper age team reps through the day, Emma and Leslie met the crowd at the Chicago Beach Soccer Invitational.

i didn't see the reaction to their appearance firsthand at the beach tournament, but Emma and Leslie were very well received in Schaumburg and reports i heard from the beach were also very positive. If you were there, let me know how you thought it went. Like our two US/Brazil viewing parties earlier in the month, these two appearances demonstrate the different audiences the Red Stars are reaching out towards. If we can be successful attracting traditional women's soccer fans from suburban families and traditional men's soccer fans from the city, we will have an exciting and diverse fan base to support the team.

i spoke to Leslie about her missed opportunity in China and she was philosophical about it. She noted that this will give her more experience in broadcasting, which could prepare her for opportunities in the future.

As i type, i'm getting W-League playoff updates from Emma who is at the Central Conference Championship in West Lafayette, Indiana. Late in the game, Ottawa holds a 2-1 lead over Red Stars affiliate FC Indiana.

EDIT: Laura Del Rio equalizes for FCI in final moments of regulation!!!!

EDIT2: THREE GOALS IN OT! A "world class goal" by Del Rio according to Emma, another by Veronica Phewa for FCI to make it 4-2 and then a PK for Ottawa to make the final score FCI 4, Ottawa 3. The Lionesses advance!! Congratulations to Shek and everyone at FC Indiana!

A Day Brightener

i received a phone call today from Chicago Fire legend and fellow Ring of Fire member Lubos Kubik. He was at the airport waiting to board a flight to Hong Kong and the Beijing Olympics where he will serve as Piotr Nowak's Assistant Coach for the United States Men's Olympic Soccer Team.

We talked about getting together in October when he plans to be in Chicago and he offered to help the Chicago Red Stars source players in Eastern Europe.

Lubos has always been one of my favorite people in soccer. He was a very special player, has a great soccer mind and is as kind as anyone in the game.

i asked him to give Piotr and soon-to-be-new Fire forward Brian McBride my best and wished him well in China.

News From the Annex

The Toyota Park Annex (aka as the Chicago Red Stars office) has been rockin' with action lately. Consider:

* The interior rehab was recently completed with the addition of cubes for our sales staff and interns.
* The exterior design was completed yesterday with the addition of Red Stars and Toyota Park logos, Women's Professional Soccer word mark and a number of red stars.
* We've been planning for Leslie Osborne and Emma Hayes' appearance Saturday afternoon at the Chicago Beach Soccer Invitational this weekend.
* Leslie and Emma will be joining Red Stars Director of Ticket Sales Greg Zaskowski and me at the IWSL Fall Seeding Meetings this Saturday morning.
* The Red Stars Managers Monthly Meeting is today
* Emma's travelling to West Lafayette, Indiana this weekend for the W-league Central Conference Final Four featuring host FC Indiana, Chicago Gaels, Toronto Lynx and Ottawa on Friday and Sunday.
* Staff members are meeting daily with IWSL club leaders to discuss partnerships.
* The team continues to sell season tickets at a healthy clip of 50 per week. We are pacing well for our goal of 3,000. If you haven't already done so, i recommend putting your $50 deposit down now.
* Red Stars Director of On-Line Marketing Amanda Vandervort is working with the League on preparations for the League's social networking site, which will launch in time to follow future WPS and Red Stars players at the Beijing Olympics.
* Amanda's also working on a new merchandise site that will be easier to navigate and allow us to offer more Red Stars items.
* Emma has been on the phone non-stop using her network to gather updated information on the world's best women's soccer players in preparation for the WPS allocation of USWNT players in mid-September and the three WPS drafts in September, October and January.

The Chicago Red Stars are now in full operational mode.

i'm back....

ok, i swore last year that i wasn't going to go back, but today i did. Chicago Red Stars launched its Facebook page recently and i broke down and rejoined, so i could be part of the Red Stars Facebook community...in the interests of keeping up with the Red Stars social networking efforts and increasing my accesibility, i suspect that my return to MySpace can't be too far behind.

If you're on FB, feel free to Friend me...and buy me a virtual drink...or pirate hat.

Arrrrr!

A Warrior

Tonight I saw history repeated. I saw a real warrior knocked down. In the final USWNT game before departing for China and the Olympics, Abby Wambach broke her leg while trying to score her 100th goal for the USWNT.

She managed to force a smile and showed amazing inner strength and fortitude while being treated on the field.

Sadly, I was in Washington, DC eight years ago when Chris Armas tore his acl on the RFK field less than a month prior to the Sydney Olympics. And tonight, at Torero Stadium in San Diego, I saw another Olympic dream crushed.

Chris was a warrior, too and I am sure that like the former US Men's captain, Abby will work harder than ever and get back up after tonight's crushing blow. It will simply have to wait until the WPS season.

Get well Abby!

Red Stars Affiliates Roll

Chicago Red Stars W-League affiliate FC Indiana clinched the W-league Midwest Division title Sunday with a 2-0 win over Kalamazoo.

The Chicago Gaels 1-0 win over Minnesota yesterday reduced their magic number to one in order to clinch second place in the W-League Midwest Division and a playoff spot.

The Red Stars WPSL affiliate MYSC Lady Blues can clinch the WPSL Midwest Division title and a playoff spot tomorrow night with a win at the Chicago Breeze.

Good luck to all three teams.

FC Indiana hosts the Chicago Gaels Thursday night at 8:00 pm ET at Kuntz Stadium.

i am off to San Diego today for WPS BOG meetings and the USA vs. Brazil Women's National Team game tomorrow night.

Expansion, marketing, broadcast and player issues will dominate the meetings. All good and exciting stuff.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho...

Well, work in my position doesn't exactly require any heavy lifting, so i don't want this to come off as complaining, because i'm not.

After a long and fruitful night promoting the Red Stars at the Fire game* at Toyota Park Saturday, i put in 12 hours today, but it was all good and fun.

This morning i left for Judson College at 10 am for the WPSL game between local FC Twente3 and Chicago Red Stars WPSL affiliate MYSC Lady Blues. After trying to watch two soccer games Friday night only to have them both cancelled by lightning, it was great to have such a beautiful day today to watch this game. The Madison, WI based Lady Blues won 5-0 and maintained the best record in the WPSL Midwest Division. A victory Wednesday night at the Chicago Breeze (who feature Red Stars supporter Corrie Eastland), will clinch the Midwest Division title for the Lady Blues.

After speaking with FC Twente3 Coach Richard Drake and Lady Blues Coach Ben John, i took off for GameWorks in Schaumburg for the Red Stars first viewing party ever. It was also our second overflow "sellout" as Red Stars fans filled tables in the viewing room as well as in the overflow Stadium Bar area to watch the USA beat Brazil 1-0 on a second half strike by Amy Rodriguez and hear from Red Stars GM Marcia McDermott (in person) and Head Coach Emma Hayes (via internet at halftime). Red Stars staff distributed promotional materials, raffled off prizes and talked up the team to the crowd.

i then drove to Milwaukee to drop off 100 Barcelona/Chivas tickets and meet up with my friend Valdemar Escobar for a bar-b-que and discussions about promoting the Red Stars in Milwaukee's Latino community before heading home 12 hours after the day began. Sitting in the sun watching a soccer game, hosting a soccer viewing party at GameWorks and talking soccer at a Sunday evening bar-b-que - it's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it ;-).

* Saturday evening, we started at 5 pm promoting the Red Stars to fans tailgating before the Fire game at Toyota Park. The pre-game promotion was shortened when TP management asked us not to pass out anymore Red Stars brochures or window clings in the parking lot, because we didn't ask the Fire's permission. We'll be sure to ask first next time. Hopefully they'll say yes. We then entertained a number of youth soccer and corporate leaders in our suite while watching the Fire pull off a terrific extra time victory over Toronto FC. Afterwards, we mingled in the TP Stadium Club, then i met up with many Section 8 die-hards at Beefy's on Harlem - the unofficial post game meeting place of Section 8. By midnight i was ready to call it a night.

FC Indiana Loads Up For 2009

Exciting news release from FC Indiana today:

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, July 12, 2008 — FC Indiana announced the re-signing of Mexico international Monica Ocampo for the 2009 season.
Ocampo, 21, was one of twenty finalists in contention for the title of 2006 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year.
She has represented Mexico 45 times, scoring 31 goals, her most recent coming last October in a 1-1 tie with the US in Albuquerque, N.M.

“Ocampo has shown great potential with her performances for our club and the Mexican national team over the past two seasons and she will add great quality to our squad,” said FC Indiana coach Shek Borkowski.
Ocampo is the typical player Borkowski likes as she has technique, temperament and vision. In two seasons with FC Indiana, Ocampo scored 18 goals and assisted on 8 in 18 matches, while helping the club to 2007 Women’s Premier League national title and and this season to a first place finish in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) W-League - Midwest Division.

"I like technical and quick football – the way FC Indiana play," Ocampo said. “I hope to continue the success I’ve experienced here and hope to bring even more success to FC Indiana and the fans. I can play in the centre or on the wing, behind one or two strikers. I wanted to continue my career with FC Indiana because of the club’s attacking football philosophy."
“Ocampo has always been a priority, her vision and composure will be key to our future success. Her goal scoring rate at the international level is excellent,” said Borkowski.

The signing gives more credence to the Lionesses' new boast in their standard "About FC Indiana" paragraph at the end of their news releases. FC Indiana's description as "North America's only professional women's soccer team" has been replaced by:

FC Indiana is the world's leading women’s professional soccer club. FC Indiana is the most successful women’s professional soccer organization in the history of the United States. FC Indiana is two-time Women’s Premier League Champions (2005 and 2007) and winners of the 2005 U.S. Open Cup.

There may be a few people that would question the boasts above, but no one will ever accuse the Chicago Red Stars W-League affiliate of lacking self-confidence!

FYI, though FC Indiana is the Red Stars affiliate, no mechanisms have been put in place that would give the Red Stars any preference on FC Indiana players, including Ocampo.

Players, Players, Players

Lots is (are?) going on with WPS this week.

Most important is the long awaited announcement of the WPS player acquisition timeline.

Condensed version:

Week of Sept. 15: U.S. WNT / U.S. WNT Player Pool Allocation
Week of Sept. 22: Draft of Top International Players
Oct. 6: WPS General Draft of Domestic & International Players
Dec. 10-13: WPS West Coast Combine
Dec. 17-20: WPS East Coast Combine
Week of Jan. 14: WPS Post-Combine Draft
Beginning Feb. 1: WPS Tryouts in Teams' Local Markets
March 1: WPS Pre-Season Begins
April 4/5(TBD): WPS Regular Season Begins

Long version.

Answers to all your questions about the allocation of the US Women's National Team players to WPS teams.

Here's a good WPS update (including expansion info) from Commissioner Tonya Antonucci via USA Today's Beau Dure.

Chicago Red Stars minor league partners FC Indiana, Chicago Gaels and MYSC Lady Blues are also busy. Red Stars W-League affiliate FC Indiana smacked the previously undefeated Minnesota Lightning on the road the other day 6-0! The Red Stars W-League partner Chicago Gaels are the next test for Minnesota this Thursday night at 7:30 pm at Loyola University's soccer field on Devon and Hoyne. I'll be there along with much of the Red Stars staff including General Manager Marcia McDermott and Head Coach Emma Hayes. Please stop by and say hi at half time. During the game, join us as we watch potential WPS players on both sides. MYSC Lady Blues will be playing WPSL rival FC Twente3 on Sunday, July 13th. Kickoff is set for 11:00 am. The match is at Judson University in Elgin (I-90 west to Route 31 south...turn left at first stop light and then an immediate right into Judson...left at stop sign and follow road to the field)...FC Twente3 also play Friday night at Loyola v. Ohio Premier at 8:00 pm.

i'm in San Diego next week for WPS Board of Governors meetings and the USA vs. Brazil women's national team game on Wednesday, but i'll get back in time to join Emma in Indianapolis for the FC Indiana vs. Chicago Gaels contest at Kuntz Memorial Stadium. Earlier in the year, FCI came out ahead of Chicago 3-0 and the Gaels will be looking to end the Lionesses undefeated mark in 2008.

The USWNT game in San Diego is one of two matches next week vs. Brazil that can be watched with Chicago Red Stars fans and staff at local Red Stars viewing parties.

Emma will be at Sunday's Brazil/USWNT game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado, but she will be piped in at halftime for a live Q&A with fans at GameWorks in Schaumburg (601 N. Martingale). I'll be at the viewing party with Marcia and other staff. Lots of free stuff - chips, salsa, soda, GameWorks game card, Fair Game Women's Soccer Magazines and raffle prizes including USWNT bobbleheads and Red Stars merchandise to those attending. Party starts at 1:30 pm and the game starts at 3:00 pm.

Emma will handle the Q&A at Wednesday's viewing party at Fado Irish Pub in person. This party is for fans 21 and over and starts at 7:30 pm with food and drink specials. The Brazil/USWNT game starts at 9:00 pm. Fado is at 100 W. Grand in the River North section of Chicago.

Zombies and WPS Players

The headline topics are not related (hopefully anyway) except that they're the two topics in this post:

Instead of road tripping with Section 8's buses to Columbus for the Fire's frustrating 2-2 tie with the Crew yesterday, i took in the historic reunion tour of seminal 60's British invasion band The Zombies at their Summerfest stop on Milwaukee's lakefront.

The tour started in March with four of the original five members in tow (guitarist Paul Atkinson died four years ago), but only frontman Colin Blunstone and keyboardist Rod Argent stayed on through the summer. Argent bass player Jim Rodford and Rodford's drummer son replaced Chris White and Hugh Grundy on the tour. Besides their chart topping hits "She's Not There", "Tell Her No" and "Time of the Season", they also played Argent's 70's hit Hold Your Head High. The Zombies songs have held up well over the last 40 years. As one recent review noted:

Next to the Beatles, the Zombies may have been the most mature and sophisticated songwriters of the early British Invasion. If this sounds like a wild overstatement, break out your guitar and try to play their stuff. Unlike competing acts like the Kinks and the Yardbirds, the Zombies actually knew the meaning of the terms minor key and modulation.

On a TOTALLY different matter, later this week, Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) is expected to announce a timeline for the acquisition of players by its teams. The timeline will show when the US Women's National Team (who defeated Sweden yesterday 1-0), other domestic players and international players will be distributed. Much thought, debate and consideration has gone into this timeline and i'm excited to see it publicized, so all the League's stakeholders can have a better sense of the timing and mechanisms that will be involved in filling the team rosters.

Red Stars Hire Marketing Execs....and Other News You Can Use - All in the Red Stars Insider

If you are signed up for the Red Stars Insider, you probably already know that we announced the hiring of our final two department heads earlier today, veteran sports marketing executive Jeff Roth who will be our Director of Marketing, Sponsorship and Communications and soccer coach and internet executive Amanda Vandervort who will be our Director of On-Line Marketing and Camps (both of the new Red Stars marketing executives are pictured above - Amanda's the woman pictured to the right of center surrounded by her soccer team).

If you haven't already signed up for the Chicago Red Stars Insider, i suggest you do so here. In addition to getting the latest updates on the Red Stars in the news like this article by former Chicago Fire Assistant General Manager/Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino, you'll be able to read the latest about the USWNT, the Red Stars affiliates and Red Stars partners like Windy City Rollers and the Illinois Women's Soccer League.

The Red Stars Insider has quickly turned into a pretty good source of info on the world of women's soccer in the midwest as well as a source for Red Stars 411 and associated interests.

Notes of Note

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

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

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

* Dan and Brandon honored.

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

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


** Oops, he did it again!

"Let's Have a Party"

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

Yesterday:

One down, two to go on the south side.

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

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

Today:

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

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

Andy Rooney

Have you ever noticed....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These are some of the events we've attended:

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming meetings are scheduled with the following groups:

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

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

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

Goal: Perfection

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

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

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

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

Soccer, Baseball, Soccer, Baseball

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

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

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

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

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

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

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