Chicago Fire soccer opens the 2014 MLS season tomorrow versus Chivas USA. Despite the polar vortex and it’s never ending grip on all of us, MLS soccer season kicks off today, and the Fire’s home opener at Toyota Park is two weeks from tomorrow. That Chicago Fire soccer scarf you like to wear- you may need it that day.
MLS is just as popular as MLB among the youth demographic, a new ESPN poll conveyed. Could Americans finally be embracing soccer? American Major League Soccer? It looks like Major League Baseball is no longer the only game going in the summertime now.
Locally, you know how the White Sox and Cubs performed last year. And you know how Las Vegas expects them to perform this season. So let’s get to talking Chicago Fire soccer, who finished with a winning record last year, and are projected by most experts to finish with a winning record again this season.
I know a Chicago sports team not named the Blackhawks having a winning record…it’s an alien concept to me too. Remember I’ve been covering the Cubs, DePaul, Northwestern and the Illini for many years, so I’m as ready as you are to talk about a potentially winning team finally.
Big Storyline: reigning MLS MVP Mike Magee and his contract extension-
The Chicago Tribune’s Jack McCarthy reported today that Magee is getting a big raise from his $199,000 2013 salary; but he will not get designated player status. SI.com says Magee will make $500,000 this year. The Chicago Fire soccer club spokesperson said that’s inaccurate
Key players: Magee obviously, the tam’s goals leader. Goaltender and World Cup Team USA hopeful Sean Johnson, who put up a 12-10-6 record last year, as the team finished 14-13-7 in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
“This season we have a lot of core guys back and we know what it takes not to sputter early,” said Patrick Nyarko.
“We just need to bring everything together and play a balanced kind of game.”
Key additions: Coach Frank Yallop, D Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, D Patrick Ianni, D Lovel Palmer. The new primary kit! (view photos here)
Key losses: D Jalil Anibaba, D Austin Berry, M Egidio Arevalo Rios.
Projected line up – Johnson; Palmer, Soumare, Hurtado, Segares; Larentowicz; Nyarko, Alex, Magee, Duka; Anangono
“It’s a new team with a lot of potential, we have a lot of good pieces and it’s up to us to put it all together, and work towards getting some silverware,” said Sean Johnson.
Going 7-1 in preseason will no doubt help.
Having gone 7-1 in the preseason will help.
Read more at https://www.redeyechicago.com/sports/redeye-chicago-fire-season-preview-instant-replay–20140305,0,304512.story#MCQS7WrRWitHyovw.99
Circle the date:
March 23rd Chicago Fire soccer home opener vs. last year’s Supporter’s Shield winning New York Red Bulls. The Fire lost to NY on the last day and that cost them a playoff berth. Chicago finished the year 4-1-1, but opened the year 1-4-1 and that’s why they missed the postseason.
April 23rd hosting New England Revolution, in the first nationally broadcast game on NBC Sports. Chicago hopes to improve their defense this year which yielded the second most goals in the Eastern Conference last year.
May 18th hosting MLS defending champion Sporting KC
June 7th the Seattle Sounders, MLS’ biggest brand with the most loyal fanbase comes in. They draw over 50,000 a game to Qwest Field, home of the Seahawks. They boast Clint Dempsey, one of the biggest stars in MLS, who played in Barclay’s Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham.
July 2nd Toronto FC comes to town, including Michael Bradley, straight from Roma, who’s another one of the MLS’ brightest stars.
July 26th international friendly with Tottenham Hotspur
English Premier League has A LOT to do with Americans gaining interest in soccer. The Fox Sports 1, but more importantly the NBC Sports contracts for the BPL television rights in America are growing the game here and MLS is clearly benefiting from that. It also goes without saying that the World Cup in Brazil will no doubt have a huge positive impact on domestic interest in soccer as well.
To bring you up to speed with the British version of the beautiful game, here’s a hilarious clip of Jason Sudeikis, as a fictional Coach of the Spurs.
Paul M. Banks owns The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An MBA and Fulbright scholar, he’s also a frequent analyst on news talk radio; with regular segments on ESPN,NBC, CBS and Fox. A former NBC Chicago and Washington Times writer, he’s also been featured on the History Channel. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)