In his humility, Lamar Hunt likely would have slowly shook his head when hearing any mention of his importance to soccer in the United States.
"Lamar Hunt was a giant; we are standing on his shoulders today. He was a pillar of the community for years, and one of the true greats in the development of American football and soccer. There is no way to overstate what he means to those who work in the industry of American soccer," said Kansas City Wizards vice president Greg Cotton.
Once Hunt, the original investor/operator of the Kansas City Wizards, experienced his first World Cup match, his passion for the sport began. Years later, millions have benefited from his determination to nurture the game in the U.S. through the NASL and Major League Soccer's growth into the solid league it is today. Saturday, the Wizards will pay tribute to Lamar Hunt the pioneer and the person.
But the tribute goes far beyond the reverence that will be paid that night. The Wizards quick start on the field and their continuing presence in Kansas City in part assure Hunt's legacy and desire that resided in him until he succumbed to cancer on Dec. 13, 2006.
Under current investor/operator On Goal, LLC, the group Hunt sold to in August of 2006, the Wizards have won four of their first five gammes this season and have excelled in a variety of challenges.
They nearly routed D.C. United, a top contender for the league championship on many people's preseason lists at their RFK Stadium, recovered from a lesser performance in Chicago by scoring three goals at home and shutting out expansion club Toronto FC, shut out Toronto FC again three days later in front of 20,148 fans at that club's first-ever home game and pulled out a patient and mature 90th-minute home victory over the previously-undefeated Columbus Crew.
Even so, naysayers point out that Kansas City has yet to take on other successful 2007 sides such as New England, the New York Red Bulls or even the defending MLS Cup champions Houston Dynamo. To them, the Wizards are unproven.
"If people think we're the underdogs, so be it. As a team, it kind of keeps us going. Right now, we're atop the conference," said right back Jack Jewsbury. "No matter who you play in MLS, there is not much disparity between the teams. Any day you go out there and you don't give it your all, your not going to come out with a victory. People can say what they want, but we've gotten the job done."
Another club Hunt helped grow from the ground up, FC Dallas, will be the Wizards' foe Saturday. Although respectful of the talent the Hoops will bring to Arrowhead, the Wizards are only concerned with being the best they can.
"We're concerned here with how our team plays, and no matter who we're playing against, we want to be able to play our game and attack and be able to work as a team. We have experience and a lot of guys who want to prove something this year," said assistant coach Chris Henderson.
Taking points early in the season is what the Wizards have proved they are adept at thus far, and they plan on getting as many as they can.
"I played for New York last year and K.C. is the team we knocked out in the last week [for entry into the playoffs], and the same thing happened to Kansas City the year before - knocked out in the last week," Henderson said. "So I reminded the guys. These are points early in the year that are going to help out in the last month of the season.
"You have to take them seriously all the way through the season; these are the things that get you into the playoffs. The guys are taking each game as serious as the game before. We just want to be focused on everybody [being] in good form and competition for every spot [being] high, and that helps us on game day for sure."
And the Wizards want to be successful on game days off the field as well as on. Noting low attendance figures for the club's first two home matches, there are once again questions Kansas City as a viable city for an MLS team, even though Hunt believed enough in the market to wait nearly two years to sell the team to local caretakers.
"This team is not going anywhere. We don't make excuses. We rise to challenges," said Cotton. "We accept the fact as true that we have a challenging schedule this year. We have only four Saturday night games, which have been the bread and butter of teams in the past. But we have made goals, and we will achieve those goals.
"We have a very aggressive, very motivated sales staff of bright individuals committed to making this work ... Our investor/operators are visionaries. We address realities square in the face and we're on track," he continued. "We're very positive from an attendance standpoint that fans will recognize what an outstanding product we have and what an exciting team with an exciting style we have. We are also confident that our attendance will rise to the level of previous years. ... We want to establish best practices in the league and our goal is nothing short of being the best organization in MLS."
Having a vision and earnestly following through with it would be something Hunt would admire. Saturday night is just another step, and very little would make Hunt more proud than a well-played soccer match in front of passionate fans between two dynamic clubs he helped birth. For a perfect night, just throw in some chocolate chip cookies.
"As professional soccer players in America, we're so thankful for [Hunt] being a part of our league and a part of the growth of soccer in this country. Not many guys playing can say they grew up watching the NASL, but I was one of them. He was a huge part of that league as well," said Henderson, who played in MLS for 11 seasons.
"None of us would have jobs in soccer the way we do now if it wasn't for Lamar Hunt. Having chocolate chip cookies passed out at the stadium because it was his favorite snack is pretty cool. Lamar was a great man. I'm pretty happy that I got to meet and get to know him when I was a player here. What a nice man."
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
