Fire Players Around the Town
Fans of the Fire should be on lookout as members of the "Men in Red" make public appearances around Chicagoland this week. On Saturday, Aug. 11, Fire defender C.J. Brown will be signing autographs at Soccer 2000, located at 136 Odgen Ave. in Downers Grove, Ill. from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. CT. Fire forward Calen Carr and defender Jordan Russolillo will on hand to sign autographs at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Soccer Tournament this Sunday, Aug. 12, from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. CT at the Foster Soccer Fields, located at Foster Ave. and Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. Sparky, the official mascot of the Chicago Fire, will appear at the National Night Out at the Bridgeview Village Hall, 7500 S. Oketo St. in Bridgeview, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug. 7, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. CT. On Sunday, Aug. 12 Sparky will also attend both Mascot Day during the White Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field and the Chicago Kickers Picnic from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. CT, located at 259 Grand Ave. in Lake Villa, Ill.
Chicago Fire Weekly Agenda
** Sites/times subject to change. Please call 708.496.6726 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.
Monday, August 6: Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, August 7: Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, August 8: Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, August 9: Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Friday, August 10: Chicago Fire vs. Chicago Fire Premier, TOYOTA PARK training field, 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, August 11: OFF
Fire Super-20s in North American Finals Championship Game
The Chicago Fire Super-20 team advanced to the final game of the Super-20 League North American Finals tournament in Epping, N.H. before falling 3-1 to The Players Developmental Academy of Zarephath, NJ on Aug. 5. The Super-20s passed through the group stage while amassing six points to enter the semifinal round where they beat Red Bull New York to earn a spot in the championship game. The Fire Super-20s received a national at-large bid to the North American Finals tournament after finishing their regular season undefeated with a mark of 5-0-3.
Led by a hat trick effort from forward Braden Fleak, the Fire Super-20s began the tournament with a 3-2 win over Diablo Valley Soccer Club on Aug. 2, but lost their second game against Beachside SC on the following day, 2-1. With only three points in group play, the Super-20s entered a win-or-go-home situation in their final group match against fellow Major League Soccer developmental club, D.C. United. The Fire Super-20s defeated United, who only needed a tie to advance, with a 2-1 victory on Saturday, Aug. 4. Fire Super-20 forward Keith Simpson netted the first goal of the match to give the Fire the lead, but United tied the score in the 65th minute. Fleak struck home the game-winning goal in the 74th minute for the Fire victory.
The club played its second game of the day against another MLS developmental club, Red Bull New York, in the semifinal match. The Fire Super-20s shutout Red Bull, 1-0, with a goal courtesy of midfielder Alex Jones in the 67th minute. The Fire Super-20s faced off against The Players Developmental Academy in the final on Sunday, Aug. 5. A score by Schuler in the second half was not enough for the Fire Super-20s to recover from two PDA goals scored at the beginning of each half as the Fire Super-20s lost 3-1 to take home second place.
"We'll probably look back in five years and talk about Saturday, Aug. 4 as being the day that the Chicago Fire player development program arose," said Chicago Fire Premier President John Dorn. "In the first year the Chicago Fire Premier put together a Super-20 team, they make the national championship. That's a pretty good accomplishment and sets the bar for the future."
"Chicago Fire Soccer Weekly" Radio Show - Gonzalo Segares
"Chicago Fire Soccer Weekly", a half-hour weekly soccer talk show, will air its next broadcast via WXAV 88.3 FM from the campus of Saint Xavier University (SXU) this Tuesday, August 7, at 6:00 p.m. CT, and each week throughout the rest of the Fire's 2007 MLS campaign. Host Kevin Kellam and guest-host Terry Bonadonna will talk with Fire defender Gonzalo Segares, who has played every minute of the 2007 "Men in Red" campaign. Fans are encouraged to call in at 708.429.0463 to talk about all things Fire-related - live over the airwaves and the internet, with podcasts available through Chicago Fire or WXAV subscriptions on iTunes. For more information visit www.wxav.com or www.chicago-fire.com.
Fire to Scrimmage Fire Premier on Friday
On Friday, Aug. 10, the Chicago Fire will play in a scrimmage against the Chicago Fire Premier of the United Soccer League's Premier Development League (PDL) at 9:00 a.m. CT on the TOYOTA PARK practice field. Fans are welcome to attend the exhibition and admission is free. Chicago Fire Premier is an amateur U-23 team competing in the Great Lakes Division of the PDL. Since their inception in 2001, the Fire Premier has established a reputation for excellence, winning Division Championships in each of its six seasons. The Chicago Fire Premier is an independent organization owned and operated by Amadan Soccer LLC and is affiliated with Chicago Fire Soccer. The Premier is led by first-year head coach and technical director Larry Sunderland.
Iron Man Chris Armas Hits 400
Chicago Fire midfielder and captain Chris Armas played in the 400th game of his professional career in Saturday's 0-0 draw against the Columbus Crew. The MLS and "Fire Original" has competed for three teams in his fourteen-year career: the Long Island Rough Riders (1994-95), the Los Angeles Galaxy (1996-97), and the Chicago Fire (1998-present). He has appeared in 262 regular season games, 37 playoff matches, 20 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup games, 11 CONCACAF Champions Cup matches, and four international friendlies. Armas played six years for the United States Men's National Team, totaling 66 caps. The 34-year-old captain is third on the Fire's all-time games played list with 204 games, trailing C.J. Brown (236) and Zach Thornton (215).
Bob Bradley Inducted into "Ring of Fire" Saturday
Former Fire head coach Bob Bradley was inducted into the prestigious "Ring of Fire" Hall of Fame this Saturday at TOYOTA PARK in a halftime ceremony before the "Men in Red" drew 0-0 against Eastern Conference foe Columbus Crew. Bradley, who is currently serving as the U.S. Men's National Team head coach, and fellow inductees Peter Wilt, Peter Nowak, and Frank Klopas were all in attendance for the induction ceremony.
Bradley patrolled the Fire sideline from the team's inaugural season in 1998 until 2002, posting an impressive record of 82-54-15 during the club's first five years. The former Fire boss also led the "Men in Red" to three championship victories in that time: the 1998 MLS Cup and the 1998 and 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championships. While with the Fire, Bradley's 82 victories made him the winningest coach in MLS history, a title he still holds today with 124 MLS career wins through nine seasons, including stints with the MetroStars (2003-2005) and Chivas USA (2006).
About the Ring of Fire
The "Ring of Fire" tribute began in 2003 in an effort to honor members of the Chicago Fire who have made the team a successful organization and who displayed the qualities the club embodies: leadership, dedication and integrity. The Fire's unique Hall of Fame - the first created by any Major League Soccer club - began in 2003, when then-General Manager Peter Wilt chose former Fire captain Peter Nowak to become the inaugural member. Since then, only active members have voted on the next honoree. Nowak chose a hometown hero into the select group in 2004 by nominating Chicago native Frank Klopas. Former Fire defender Lubos Kubik was bestowed the honor in 2005, while in 2006 the award went full circle with the induction of Wilt into the "Ring of Fire." In honor of each inductee, a banner with each member's name is emblazoned upon a large, jersey-style metallic banner displayed on the east side of TOYOTA PARK.
Wanchope Makes Fire Debut Saturday
Chicago Fire Soccer announced last Friday, August 3, that forward Paulo Wanchope had been awarded his work visa and as a result was available to head coach Juan Carlos Osorio for the game Saturday against the Columbus Crew. The 31-year-old striker came on for forward Chad Barrett in the 58th minute to record his first-ever minutes with the "Men in Red". Wanchope is one of four Senior Internationals on on the 18-man Senior Roster, filling the slot vacated by defender Jim Curtin, as he has been placed on the season-ending injury list alongside Fire defender Jordan Russolillo.
Defenders Jim Curtin, Jordan Russolillo Out for Remainder of 2007
Curtin has been placed on the season-ending injury list, effective as of Friday, August 3. The 28-year-old Oreland, Pa. native played in 11 contests (10 starts) for the "Men in Red" through the 2007 campaign before suffering a serious labral tear (shoulder) injury against the Kansas City Wizards on April 21. A 2001 MLS SuperDraft third round pick, Curtin has played in 151 games (135 starts) for a total of 12,408 minutes played, and in that time has contributed four goals and six assists throughout his seven-year career.
Joining Curtin on the season-ending injury list is sophomore defender Jordan Russolillo. The 23-year-old Southern Connecticut State product saw spot time this season, making his first team MLS debut for the "Men in Red" on June 3 at home versus the Columbus Crew. The 2006 MLS SuperDraft third round pick is out for the remainder of the season due to a right hip laberal tear.
Join the Fire's Fight Against Malaria
Join Chicago Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez in the battle against malaria. Major League Soccer joined the effort against malaria through its community outreach initiative - MLS W.O.R.K.S. - collaborating with the Nothing But Nets and Malaria No More campaigns. For more information on malaria awareness and how to donate, log on to www.NothingButNets.net or www.malariaNOMORE.org.
Chicago Fire Commemorative Bricks Still Available
Reserve your place in TOYOTA PARK and Chicago Fire history by placing your order for a commemorative brick from the FireWorks for Kids Foundation. Memorial bricks still remain for those who missed the opportunity to purchase last year. Engraved bricks are available in two sizes, with donations starting at $150.00. The bricks will be prominently displayed just under the signature archway near the main entrance of TOYOTA PARK. For more information, visit http://web.mlsnet.com/t100/community/memorial_bricks.
