KANSAS CITY - The Kansas City Wizards join Kansas City, Major League Soccer and the rest of the sporting world in mourning the death of MLS founding member and Wizards founder Lamar Hunt.
"The Wizards' family of associates, players and fans would like to express our condolences to the Hunt family and extend our gratitude to Lamar Hunt for keeping the Wizards in Kansas City," OnGoal member Cliff Illig said.
Hunt approached Illig and Cerner co-founder Neal Patterson about purchasing the team initially in 2005. Once he sold the group on the future of soccer and the Wizards, Hunt worked with OnGoal to find potential sites for a permanent facility to ensure the Wizards do not leave the Kansas City metro area.
"Thanks to Lamar's diligence, this team will be in Kansas City for a long time," Illig said.
Hunt has always seen the necessity of playing in permanent, soccer-specific stadiums to make MLS a viable business and successful sports league. He became the first to construct a soccer-specific stadium on American soil since the 1920's when Crew Stadium opened in Columbus, Ohio in 1999.
"One stadium in one city and one sold-out game doesn't make a success," Hunt said at the time, "but this stadium will be here for 50 years, even if I won't be."
Crew Stadium did not stand alone for long. Since it's opening in '99, four more stadiums have opened for MLS teams (including Pizza Hut Park for Hunt-owned FC Dallas in 2005) and two more are scheduled to open for the 2007 season.
A fan of soccer since seeing his first match in Ireland in 1962, Hunt was instrumental in the foundation of first the North American Soccer League in 1967 and then Major League Soccer in 1996.
"There is no doubt that MLS and the sport of soccer in America would not be where it is today without Lamar Hunt's passion, commitment and unrelenting love of the game." MLS Commissioner Don Garber said today in a statement. "He dreamed more than 30 years ago that America could someday be a Soccer Nation. And he lived to see that dream come true."
Former Wizard and current Real Salt Lake midfielder, Chris Klein, contends Hunt did not see the full product of his accomplishments.
"What Lamar Hunt meant to our sport will never truly be realized," Klein said. "He was a leading visionary in soccer who got us our start, and the fact that we are still playing today is a testimony to his thoughts and ideas."
Klein added, "Personally, playing for Lamar meant being more than another pro athlete. He made us feel like we were always his top priority."
Klein helped the Wizards give Hunt his first and only MLS Cup championship in 2000. Klein assisted on the lone goal as the Wizards captured a 1-0 victory over The Chicago Fire. Current Toronto FC Head Coach Mo Johnston was captain of that squad and feels Hunt will be missed.
"He was a tremendous representative of the Wizards," Johnston said. "He was everything to the Wizards and the sport of soccer. Lamar was a tremendous man."
Former Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola, the MVP of the 2000 MLS Cup, expressed the emotions encountered by him and his family upon hearing news of Hunt's passing.
"Today is a sad day in the Meola household," he said. "I spent seven years playing in Kansas City and in those seven years, I learned more from Lamar about honesty, integrity, humility and being humble than I've learned, or will learn, in my entire life."
"Lamar was an icon in American soccer and in Kansas City and will be missed by a lot of people. He made everyone around him better. May God bless the Hunt family," Meola said.
Current Technical Director Peter Vermes played defender on that team and echoed the thoughts of Meola and Klein.
"The sports community has lost a legendary figure and the community as a whole has lost a gentleman," Vermes said. "I feel extremely privileged to have played for the Kansas City Wizards under the ownership of Lamar Hunt and have the chance to actually get to know him, not as an owner but as somebody that I admire and have a tremendous amount of respect for. Lamar and his family are in my thoughts and prayers."
Hunt was named one of Soccer America Magazine's 25 most influential people in 1999 after the U.S. Open Cup was renamed the "Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup." In the same year, Hunt received the U.S. Soccer Federation Hall of Fame Medal of Honor. Former U.S. Soccer President Alan Rothenberg is the only other person to receive that honor.
Twice since the competition was renamed, Hunt-owned teams have won the championship. The Columbus Crew defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 in 2002 and the Kansas City Wizards defeated the Chicago Fire 1-0 in 2004.
Bob Gansler, who led the Wizards to both championships as head coach, remembered how easy Lamar made the jobs of those around him.
"It was a pleasure to work for Lamar," Gansler said. "Once he hired you, it was an indication of his confidence in your ability to do a job and then he gave you the support that you needed. There was no micromanaging."
Hunt's support did not stop in the hiring of employees.
"When he came to the games or practices now and then, it was always in a positive manner," Gansler said. "He was supportive after every game whether it was a win, loss or tie and he always looked at the positive aspect of things."
"I was extremely blessed to be able to work for him."
Nick Garcia, who played under Gansler on both Championship teams, knew Hunt long before his playing days in Kansas City began.
"I've known Lamar since I was growing up in Dallas," Garcia said. "I have the utmost respect for Lamar and his family. It felt like the breath was kicked out of me when I heard the news of his death."
Garcia feels he has had the chance to play professional soccer in his home country because of Hunt.
"I'm fortunate to have a job because of Lamar Hunt and his vision to bring soccer to the US," he said.
Despite his wealth and acclaim, Hunt remained an accessible and friendly face throughout his time as owner of the Wizards.
"Most people will remember Lamar Hunt for his work in the NFL or the AFL, but I'm going to remember him because of his accessibility despite his position," Wizards midfielder Kerry Zavagnin said. "He was such a humble, good person. He always remembered our names and always visited us in the locker room no matter how busy he was. Lamar and his family are just good people."
Current Wizard and U.S. National Team member Jimmy Conrad remembered Hunt and his impact on Soccer in The United States.
"I feel privileged to have known Lamar and I always remember the big hug he gave me after we won the 2004 Open Cup trophy which bears his name," Conrad said. "I ran into him and his wife last month for the MLS Cup final in Frisco, Texas and all he wanted to talk about was the World Cup, the ripple effect it will have on Major League Soccer, and how he intends to make the league stronger than ever."
"As I listened, I remember thinking that despite his illness he is still brimming with hope and imagination, envisioning a better future, and trying to make what seems good even better. May Lamar's passion and ideas continue to burn bright, he will be dearly missed."
Hunt supported American soccer on every level, serving as Dallas Host Committee Chairman during the 1994 World Cup. He was one of the few people in the world to see a match in every host stadium during that competition. In 2005, the U.S. Soccer Foundation honored Hunt with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Even in receiving the award, Hunt downplayed his work and looked toward the future improvement in this country of what he called "the beautiful game."
"I'm really honored to receive this lifetime achievement award," Hunt said at the banquet held September 16, 2005. "A lifetime is a long time and I think it's most fitting to focus on the modern era of soccer, especially the last decade. MLS is a long, long way from total maturity and we haven't reached the success that all involved want to see. But it will come."
Hunt was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1982 as a builder. His influence on the United States soccer community has shown no boundaries.
The Kansas City Wizards plan to honor Lamar Hunt and the Hunt family. Details forthcoming at a later date.
