CHICAGO - It's one thing to be an All-Star. It's something else to be a lone All-Star representative for your team in the host city.
Nate Jaqua is in the right place at precisely the right time and that point figures to be loudly reinforced by a rousing ovation on Saturday evening when Chicago Fire fans greet Jaqua at Toyota Park prior to the 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game.
Chicago has always embraced its pro athletes in the spotlight and that's where Jaqua resides as the only Fire player to make an MLS All-Star squad looking to take down a celebrated Chelsea club.
"I'm just trying to take it all in," Jaqua said after working out with the MLS All-Stars on Thursday at the University of Illinois-Chicago. "It's a great bunch of guys we have here. Hopefully, we'll go out there and have a very strong showing on Saturday."
The All-Star selection for Jaqua represents a validation of the steady improvement he has made since entering the league in 2003.
"Every year, I think I've gotten better," said the 24-year-old Fire forward. "I want to keep moving up and making an All-Star team is a real honor and accomplishment."
Jaqua didn't grow up in a soccer hotbed. He's from Eugene, Ore., which is known for being the home of the Oregon Ducks and a haven for track-and-field aficionados. But for Jaqua, the opportunity to kick a soccer ball as a kid translated into pure joy.
Jaqua comes from a sports-minded family. His father, Jon, played defensive back for the Washington Redskins for three years before injuries ended his career. Brother Josh played soccer at New Mexico and the University of Portland.
Nate Jaqua became a high school soccer sensation and followed his brother to Portland where he led his team in scoring for three consecutive years and set himself up for a pro career.
"Soccer isn't huge in Oregon, but it's growing," Jaqua said. "I knew from the time I was 13 or 14 that this was what I really wanted to do. We had a pretty decent club team and we gained a lot by traveling and playing better competition. Luckily, there were some other guys around my age who were pretty good at it, too."
At Portland from 2000 to 2002, Jaqua had the opportunity to play for the late Clive Charles, a highly respected coach who died from prostate cancer in 2003.
"He was a tremendous guy, a great coach and great person," Jaqua said. "On and off the field, he taught me a lot. He had a professionalism about him. He always seemed to make the right decision, even if it was a tough decision. His impact is something I'll always carry with me."
Jaqua is known for his fearlessness on the field. Just as his father was willing to sacrifice his body in the NFL, Jaqua doesn't take the easy way out.
"My father couldn't pass the physical for his fourth year," Jaqua said. "I guess that's where I got some of that. Sometimes, I'm trying to taper that down a little bit and not be quite so reckless."
Peter Nowak, the coach who will try to quickly blend the MLS All-Stars into a harmonious unit, thinks Jaqua will represent his city and team well.
"It's important for Chicago to have a good representative," Nowak said. "Nate was an obvious choice because he has made a lot of progress. I think playing in this All-Star Game will be an important step for him as he builds on what can be an outstanding career."
Jaqua's father will be flying in from Oregon to see the All-Star Game. Special memories for the Jaqua family will be created and they'll seem extra sweet if the MLS All-Stars win the game.
"We want to show well for our league," Jaqua said. "Peter will take the talent and put us in position to do that. The rest is up to us."
Robert Falkoff is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
