Its a miracle, but the tribune has finally put something about soccer!!!! "It was around this time in 1984 that Frank Klopas led Mather High School to a 3-0 victory over Senn for the Illinois state soccer title. Now, 21 years later, the former Sting and Fire standout leads from the sidelines as coach and general manager of the Major Indoor Soccer League's Chicago Storm. Under Klopas' direction, the Storm (1-1) began its second season of indoor play Nov. 6 with a 6-3 loss to last season's champion Milwaukee Wave. Although he enjoys the indoor game's fast pace, he admits the transition into coaching hasn't been easy. "I get nervous before the games," said Klopas, 39. "As a player, I could get rid of that anxiousness once the game started because you're on the field and focused. But you can't do that as a coach." The Storm is in its second season of MISL play. It is one of six franchises in the league along with California, Baltimore, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Milwaukee. There are plans to add teams in Detroit and New Jersey the next two seasons. In their first season of indoor play, the Storm averaged 3,460 in attendance at the UIC Pavilion. For the fans it's an opportunity to see more scoring during Major League Soccer's off-season. For some of the league's players, it's a steppingstone to a higher level. "The younger players I'm sure want to use this as an opportunity to get experience and play on an MLS team," Klopas said. "The [MLS] coaches are at our games and practices. Someone might look at you. "A kid we had last year, Andy Rosenband, was picked up by the Fire and [played] on the reserve team. But then there are guys like Lazo [Alavanja], who have played this indoor game for many years and that's all they want to do." Klopas knows all about playing the sport professionally, having played for the NASL's Sting out of high school. He finished with 62 goals and 48 assists during his four seasons in the now-defunct league. "Back then, [we] would have 20,0000 to 25,000 fans at games," Klopas said. "We played at Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park and had some of the best players in the world like [Franz] Beckenbauer, Pele, [Johan] Cruyff and George Best. "Soccer went away for a bit after that, but I think it's back now for good." The Storm faces the California Cougars Saturday at the Pavilion and will donate $4 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository for every ticket sold." Chicago Tribune
The Trib finally has an actual soccer beat writer who they hired towards the end of the Fire's season. This, apparently, is from him, and while I'm glad to see coverage, this isn't great work. As we know, unfortunately, they're 0-2, not 1-1. You already said that. 3,408, actually, but who's counting? I thought last year was Lazo's first year playing indoor. He was on the All-Rookie Team, and if memory serves, it was his first year. And he played outdoor this summer, so indoor may not be all he wants to do. Maybe Frank said Novi (which makes more sense) and the guy just wrote it down wrong. 68 goals and 42 assists, actually, in four years in the MISL. Because of the broken leg, he never played in the NASL. Just for the record, the Sting's all-time top ten crowds outdoors: 6/28/1981..New York......35,501 (Wrigley Field) 6/23/1976..New York......28,000 (Soldier Field) 7/06/1980..Tampa Bay.....26,468 (Wrigley Field) 8/19/1983..Team America..21,913 (Soldier Field) 5/28/1979..New York......21,527 (Wrigley Field) 5/11/1977..New York......21,108 (Soldier Field) 7/30/1983..New York......18,546 (Soldier Field) 6/07/1980..Washington....18,226 (Wrigley Field) 4/18/1981..Minnesota.....18,181 (Wrigley Field) 7/10/1982..New York......18,023 (Comiskey Park) Again, it's great to get the coverage. It needs a bit of work, though.
I'm assuming this is regular season only, because that playoff game vs. San Diego drew 39+, I believe (my NASL Encyclopedia is at the office so I'm going off memory.
Actually Ken, Klopas signed in 84, but his leg had a stress fracture so he didn't play, he then played in the season of 85-86, then 86-87 to be specific...and yes was MISL not NASL...and yes any coverage is good coverage...I will take this over NOTHING....
Plus I don't think Mather beat Senn in the state final in 1984. Both are Chicago Public League Teams. I may be wrong, but back then the Public League had its own tournament and sent its champion to the state playoffs elite 8. So it would have been impossible for those two schools to meet in the state championship (like the Bears and Packers cannot meet in the Superbowl, but can meet in the NFC Championship game). The Chicago Public League pass to the elite 8 is no more, but only recently. So that was likely the Chicago Public League Championship. Looked online, Fremd beat Quincy Notre Dame in the IHSA 1984 State Soccer final - after 8OTs and a PK - http://www.ihsa.org/activity/sob/records/team1-2.htm. Not really a great example of the accuracy and professionalism of the writer, or the Tribune.
If Klopas was a 1984 grad, wouldn't he have played in the 1983 state title game, boys soccer being a fall sport and all?
I was actually floored that the Trib did Soccer yesturday, but we all know Kenn that that attendance was and is a mystery number
