News Thu Oct 02 2008
- Eddie Vedder, Schmeddie Vedder. The Tampa Bay Rays have their own crooning fan in Kevin Costner.
- Sure, they're involved in a heated playoff series. Doesn't mean that Derrek Lee and Mark DeRosa shouldn't think about their longterm future.
- The Wrigley Field faithful aren't the only ones singing "Go, Cubs, Go". A "fan" in California wants them to win too, although for admittedly selfish reasons.
- If the Twins had their way, it would have been double-or-nothing against the White Sox. (OK, not really, but...)
- According to one writer, the Fire fans are some of the nicest around town.
- Got an extra $90,000 or so lying around? You can sponsor your own triathlon.
- Two more elite runners (PDF) announced for the Chicago Marathon field.
- Now that Ben Gordon is back in the fold and Derrick Rose is in the lineup, the Bulls should be a front-runner in the NBA's Central Division, right? Not so fast...
- Got crazy flipper fingers? A supple wrist? Check out the pinball expo.
- The Chicago Outfit Roller Derby team host their last clash of the season when they take on the Hammer City Rollergirls of Hamilton, Ontario.
- Ken Green |
News Thu Sep 25 2008
- The White Sox ship may be sinking, but Juan Uribe is worried about a different boat.
- Cubs' manager Lou Pinella talks about his future with the Cubs.
- "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks has added to this personal roster.
- With talk of the sale of the Cubs heating up again, a YouTube video offers one possible outcome.
- That All-Time Cubs/White Sox team has irked one fan... in Indianapolis.
- The White Sox will take on the Reds in next year's Civil Rights Game.
- Donovan McNabb says he's fired up to play against the Bears this Sunday. Great... just great.
- An AIDS activist is running from New York City to Chicago to raise awareness of the disease's devastating affect in Africa
- The Chicago Red Stars of the Women's Professional Soccer league obtained the rights to four international stars.
- "Cicero Fury" comes to, well, Cicero in the form of an evening of boxing on October 17.
- Brush up on your Big Wheel skills. The Urban Assault Ride is coming to Chicago this weekend.
- More pedal-powered fun: bike polo.
- Ken Green |
Feature Thu Sep 18 2008
- If Chicago is the stress capital of the U.S., the New York Times has one reason why.
- Meanwhile, The Trib's Steve Rosebloom sticks by his Cubs/White Sox World Series prediction. Um, has he looked at BOTH teams' bullpen?
- Ozzie being Ozzie, part 37.
- The good news: Carlos Quinten's cast has been removed. The bad news: They're not rushing him back.
- Ok, so Kosuke Fukudome didn't exactly set the Chicago baseball world on fire. There could be another Japanese baseball star trying to make his mark at Wrigley Field next season.
- They haven't had their first match yet, but the Chicago Red Stars already look like the team to beat, thanks to three new additions to their roster.
- A survey says nearly every kid plays video games. Will the Jumbotrons of today be the playing fields of tomorrow?
- Apparently he wasn't punched enough the first time. A local boxing promoter is returning to action IN the ring.
- In case you missed it, the Chicago Open crowned a squash champion recently.
- The Chicago Storm joined the four-team Xtreme Soccer League. You know it's wild because they spell it "Xtreme".
- Check it out: U.S. Women's Soccer vs. Ireland at Toyota Park. The Chicago Cyclocross Cup at Jackson Park. The Blackhawks Training Camp Festival. The AIDS Run/Walk at Grant Park. Tuesday Night Pub Quiz at The Globe.
- Ken Green |
Soccer Thu Sep 11 2008
The crowd of nearly 11,000 for the US National Team's 3-0 World Cup Qualifying win over Trinidad and Tobago was more than the 8,500 expected. But it still wasn't particularly great for a US National Team game, let alone a World Cup Qualifier. Maybe it was the 7pm kickoff time on a Wednesday. It certainly wasn't easy to get out to Bridgeview in time; I ended up about five minutes late due to rush hour traffic. Maybe it's the sheer amount of soccer games Chicago has been treated to over the past couple of years (the Gold Cup, the All-Star Game, as well as appearances by Barcelona and Brazil). Maybe it's just the economy. But it could be the price the US National Team has paid for becoming competent.
Not so long ago, away games a home game against a team like Trinidad and Tobago would give the US the heebie jeebies. Now, it's a foregone conclusion that the States will win. In fact, the US never looked troubled from the opening whistle, but you could hardly say they looked inspired either. Over the past 10 years the US has gotten a thousand times better at winning the games they're supposed to win, and not losing too badly in the games they're supposed to lose. And it's undeniably progress, but I think the question is, is it the kind of thing that people are willing to pay $50-$100 to go see? A lot of Chicagoans answered no.
- Steve Gillies |
Soccer Tue Sep 09 2008
The US is playing its first World Cup Qualifier in the modern era in Chicago tomorrow and the Trib is reporting only 8,500 tickets have been sold. This is the US National Team. It's not a friendly game. It's a competitive World Cup Qualifier And by the way, Trinidad and Tobago is no pushover. Don't get me wrong. I love going to Fire games, but this should be a step up from a regular season MLS game in terms of the level of play and the importance of the game. It should draw at least as many fans. Come on America, do the right thing. Go to a soccer game.
- Steve Gillies |
News Thu Aug 14 2008
- It may not make it to the side of a milk carton, but the Chicago Fire fan club Section 8 is missing their banner.
- Some people might have an opinion about who they are, but a new book of photos entitled "We Are Cubs Fans" seeks to define the loyalists visually. The obligatory Ronnie Woo Woo photo is included.
- Speaking of the Cubs, Sports Illustrated joins the rest of the country in being amazed that they AND the White Sox are both in first place and may make the playoffs in the same season for the first time since 1906.
- And speaking of the Sox, Fox Sports calls the acquisition of Carlos Quinten the steal of the century. OK, they call it the steal of the season. It just LOOKS like the steal of the century.
- The Bears are set to unveil a major advertising blitz. Too bad they can advertise for a quarterback.
- Tickets for the National Pro Fastpitch softball championships go on sale this Saturday at Judson Sports Complex in Elgin, home of the Chicago Bandits. The Bandits are one of the four teams who will be participating.
- Now that the Blackhawks are enjoying a resurgence in popularity, new fans might want to read about one of the team's legends featured in a story from the Sports Illustrated vaults.
- Mark them on your calendar: The Human Race, the cycling National Championships in Downers Grove, Chicago Gems women's baseball, Windy City Rollers action and gay rodeo.
- Ken Green |
Soccer Wed Aug 06 2008
Early birds will get their first chance to see the Chicago Fire's latest signing, Brian McBride, as the U.S. Olympic soccer team kicks off their medal campaign against Japan in Qinhuangdao tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, it means waking up at 4 a.m. The Olympic team is made up of the U.S. Under 23 National Team, plus three overaged players - one of which is McBride. With players like McBride, Freddy Adu, Josi Altidore and Michael Bradley, it may be the most talented group ever assembled for a U.S. Olympic effort. But they face a very tough field in Japan, Nigeria and Holland. Of course, an early exit for the U.S. would mean McBride joins the Fire that much sooner.
- Steve Gillies |
Fire Sun Aug 03 2008
I'll cop to it. I really screwed up. Faced with the chance to see three professional soccer games in Chicago this week, I only saw two. Worse than that, I missed the one that actually mattered: the Chicago Fire's 1-0 win over Chivas USA. Call me a blatant Eurosnob (or a guy who had way too many scheduling conflicts this Saturday), but I chose international friendlies over a competitive league match. The good news is that when faced with a glut of options, not everyone did.
The Fire's friendly against Everton FC, the fifth place team in the wildly popular English Premiere League, drew a paltry 9,000. Barcelona's friendly against Chivas Guadalajara drew 40,000 to Soldier Field. That's nothing to sneeze at, but a little disappointing considering we're talking about Barce-friggin-lona here. And really there were waaay more Chivas fans there than people that bought Barca jerseys out of the Eurosport catalog. Meanwhile, the Fire drew a sellout 20,492 crowd to Toyota Park for their regular MLS league game against Chivas USA. That number was helped by the fact that they sold combo ticket packages with the Barcelona game, but the fact that that much soccer happened this week and it didn't cannibalize the MLS attendance says something for the loyalty and interest the team is starting to generate.
And, OK, the games that I went to were approached like they were totally just friendlies, but that doesn't mean there wasn't a lot to enjoy about them. Observations after the break:
Continue reading this entry»
- Steve Gillies |
Soccer Wed Jul 16 2008
If watching just soccer games at Toyota Park or on one of the three soccer channels on cable isn't enough anymore, check out Windy City Wanderers FC. They have several outdoor leagues to choose from, as well as hosting numerous pickup games. They also host various social functions and bus trips to Fire games leaving from Fado and Small Bar. Additionally, their affiliation with the Illinois State Soccer Association means higher quality refereeing and a more organized approach to games than a lot of the multi-sport recreational leagues in the city.
- Steve Gillies |
Fire Thu Jun 19 2008
When the Chicago Fire didn’t want to let Wilman Conde follow Juan Judas Osorio to New York just because he wanted to, people called them jerks. When the Fire didn’t let the Red Bulls sign Lider Marmol because the Fire had already put a discovery claim on him, people called them much worse. But they were wrong. The Fire was doing everything in their rights to stay as competitive as they could and not help a rival Eastern Conference team. That’s what a sports team should do.
So it’s hard to defend this quote in the Tribune from Frank Klopas about his negotiations with Toronto FC coach Mo Johnston about acquiring the rights to Brian McBride:
Continue reading this entry»
- Steve Gillies |
Soccer Wed Jun 18 2008
This week a guy in Spain made an announcement regarding a Portuguese player, a Brazilian, and a Cameroonian that might have effected the summer plans of a few Chicagoans. Barcelona’s new manager Pep Guardiola announced a housecleaning after last season’s “disastrous” second place finish in the Spanish League only making it to the semi-finals of the Champion’s League. Barcelona is a team with high standards.
So in his introductory press conference, the new manager announced he had no further plans for Deco, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o. In terms of the tour that brings them to Soldier Field August 3rd, that's three of the team's biggest draws.
Don’t fear though. If you’ve already bought your tickets to the Barcelona – Chivas game, you can still see the rising star Lionel Messi and the shadow of the player that was formerly Thierry Henry. And this is Barcelona, they’re sure to sign someone huge this summer.
- Steve Gillies |
Fire Mon Jun 16 2008
There are plenty of good reasons for leaving your couch and watching any sport in a bar, but with soccer there are more than most. For one thing, being in a noisy, boisterous crowd does a better job of being at a live game than the mostly bored sounding American commentators. For another thing, there’s always a soccer game going on somewhere in the world, and usually more than one. And lastly, beer.
Continue reading this entry»
- Steve Gillies |
Soccer Thu Jun 12 2008
After a dormant period last week, the Fire now face a period of three games in 10 days. They kicked it off with a big overtime U.S. Open Cup win in Peoria over the Columbus Crew, furthering the theory that they should just stop playing in Toyota Park. Up next comes FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park (yes, Pizza Hut Park) on Sunday. The following Thursday they’ll play Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center in L.A.
The Fire aren’t the only ones with a busy schedule. I’m so busy trying to watch two Euro 2008 games a day and hold down a job that I haven’t had time to tell you that after Mexico’s 4-0 win over Peru at Soldier Field on Sunday, Mexican goalkeeper and well-known jerk Oswaldo Sanchez was arrested by the Chicago Police Department after noise complaints at his hotel.
Speaking of the Euros, they’ve been pretty fun so far with both Italy and Germany being humbled in their own way, Portugal living up to the Ronaldo hype so far, and Switzerland and Turkey playing in the most hilariously water-logged game I’ve seen in a major international championship.
- Steve Gillies |
Soccer Mon Jun 02 2008
With the Fire off this weekend, it’s a good time to talk about the non-MLS soccer games in Chicago this summer. At the top of the list, Barcelona FC will play at Soldier Field August 3. Barcelona features a ridiculously star-studded lineup including Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o, and Thierry Henry (although some of those names might change during the summer transfer season). Friendlies between European superpowers in Soldier Field have a deservedly bad reputation ever since Manchester United and Bayern Munich reserve teams played one of the worst soccer games of all time there. For that reason I was pretty excited when Chivas Guadalajara was announced as Barcelona’s opponent. Chivas will attract passionate fans, be more willing to make a game out of it than another touring European team, and sad to say, are probably more capable of making a game out of it than an MLS team.
Continue reading this entry»
- Steve Gillies |
Soccer Fri May 16 2008
The Chicago chapter of the Women's Professional Soccer league got a bit of Brit flash yesterday when they named a former coach of the legendary Arsenal as their new field general.
No, not Arsene Wenger, manager of the famed men's squad, but someone just as talented.
The as-yet-unnamed Chicago WPS franchise scored a coup by luring Emma Hayes, a first-team assistant coach and academy director with the Arsenal Ladies Football Club, to coach the Chicago team in their inaugural season.
Hayes helped lead the Lady Gunners to an undefeated League record and won every competition England had to offer. Under her guidance, Arsenal won the FA Women's Premier League title from 2006 to 2008, the 2007 UEFA Women’s Cup and the 2007 FA Women’s Premiere League Cup, among other honors.
The Chicago franchise will begin play in April 2009 at Toyota Park.
- Ken Green |
Soccer Fri Apr 25 2008
If his new women’s pro soccer venture doesn’t work out and he doesn’t get rehired as GM of the Fire, Peter Wilt should consider a career writing Jack London-esque adventure stories. Check out this harrowing lost at sea story from his youth, and the touching follow-up. But seriously, the Fire should really hire the guy back already.
- Steve Gillies |
