http://home.att.net/~naslpics/teampics/73_apollos.jpg these shirts are great! could pass for an old Spartak picture or even an old Fire shirt!
You call Karl-Heinz and demand it back! The book in question is at the Naperville Public Library, I've read it. It's cool.
I promise for at least 1 season there were a few at the Drake. I remember walking up (and vaguely recall walking back down) the old stately staircases to the reception room on the 2nd floor.
Gee, haven't been on the BS board for nearly a month and found this thread when trying to catch up. Does it ever bring back some great memories!! The book that's referred to is, I believe, The Official Chicago Sting Book by Basil Kane. Basil was a writer for one of Chicago's papers that covered the Sting. I still have my copy and it's one of my most treasured pieces of memorabilia. For the record, the Sting normally played a 4-3-3 formation under Willy Roy. In 1981, the starting lineup was normally: Keeper: Dieter Ferner Defenders: Derek Spalding, Frantz Mathieu, Paul Hahn, Greg Ryan Midfielders: Charlie Fajkus, Rudy Glenn, Ingo Peter Forwards: Pato Margetic, Karl Heinz Granitza, Arno Steffenhagen Hahn was the sweeper, Spalding played stopper, Mathieu and Ryan/Huson often overlapped on the flanks. Depending on the opponent, Davey Huson would often start in place of Ryan or Peter. Subs who got substantial playing time were Bret Hall ("the Toy Bulldog") on defense, Canadian Tasso Koutsoukous in midfield, and Johnny Tyma at forward. Tyma got a reputation for coming in and scoring important late game goals much like Josh Wolff in 1998. ( I used to root especially hard for Johnny as he went to one of my alma mater's Cleveland State.) The deciding third first round playoff game was the game that hooked me as a hardcore soccer fan for life. Down 1-0 as the half neared to the Seattle Sounders, then Steffenhagen hip checked a Sounders player and was shown red. Not to worry, the Sting came out for the second half and ripped off the next three goals for an easy victory. Talk about exciting, what a roller coaster!!! Next day at work, I could hear the colleague in the office next to me discussing the game. She and her husband had gone to the game also. It turned out we got a group of about a dozen coworkers and friends to go to each of the remaining playoff games against the Montreal Manic and San Diego Sockers. I've been a season ticket holder for Chicago's soccer teams ever since. IMHO, a free kick duel between Granitza and David Beckham would be a pickem. Granitza only rarely missed putting it in an upper corner around or over the wall. A truly phenomenal free kicker. His ability put a lot of pressure on the opponents not to foul the Sting anywhere near the penalty area. Finally, my favorite memory, in 1983, the Sting were back at Soldier Field. In a game, with the Cosmos, seated next to me were a kid about 6 or 7 and his grandpa. Grandpa knew soccer, but the kid knew the Sting. I'm enjoying the interplay between grandpa and kid throughout the game. Late in the game, the Cosmos gave up a free kick just outside the penalty area. I leaned over to grandpa and said "This is dangerous, Granitza can put it in from here." Grandpa says "Nah, it's too close." On cue, Karl Heinz curls a ferocious shot past a flailing Hubert Birkenmeier in the upper right corner of the net. We all celebrated, and I'll always remember it as one of those "this is what life's all about" moments.
Karlo could also shoot ala Roberto Carlos with power from distance on dead ball situations. I remember standing beneath the exploding scoreboard at Comiskey(better than any club seat in chicago) and watching Karlo blast one from at least 35 yards(no wall) into the upper corner. The keeper barely flinched.
Hubert Birkenmeir did not play in that game at Soldier field that you speak of , it was Davis Brcic. Hubert however was back in the nets for the next game that the Cosmos came to town in 1983 , he also ended up playing indoors for the Sting in 1986.
When you tell great stories like that one, it does not matter that the Chicago Fire has a larger attendance than the Chicago Sting did, as Peter Wilt, who I have great respect for, pointed out. You cannot compare the excitement that the Sting had at those games to the "forced" or "programmed" enthusiasm generated today for a comparably mediocre current Fire product (excluding the 1998-2001 teams).
Yes, George Best made an appearance in Chicago against the Sting. I know, because I was sitting near one of the corner flags and gave him hell for his well-publicized drinking problems, every time he came over to kick a corner kick. He made a rude, pumping-of-the-fist gesture to me just before kicking one of the corner kicks. It is a fond memory of George Best. He was a spent player by the time he came to the N.A.S.L. and did not provide many memories on the field; unlike Giorgio Chinaglia, of the Cosmos, for example, who came here in his prime and had plenty of good years left to offer.
Please think before you post jibberish like this! Bestie provided many memories while playing in the NASL, inlcuding the league's greatest goal! Where were you?
That team renewed my faith in US pro soccer. It also patched some of the heartache caused by the Sting collapse.
Spoken like a true fan. Where was I? Watching the greatest free-kick artist in history, Granitza, the greatest ball-handler in the NASL, Pato Marjetic, and the greatest #9 in the NASL, Giorgio Chinaglia. I was at all of the big Chicago Sting games. I was at two Soccer Bowls, one in Toronto and one at Giants Stadium. Those are my memories. George Best had a great career, but my opinion of him is my opinion.
No argument... Granitza was fantastic! Fixed your post as you seem like a great fan from back in the day and it is my pleasure to help you out a little! Respectfully, Stan Terlecki, George Best, Johan Neeskins, Ace Nstolenge
I would give top dollar to see any one of the above playing today. I am glad that our disagreement is amicable. I hate pig-headed fans. We both have a little home-town bias, which is healthy. Now lets open up this discussion to create a little heat...do you think that Donavan and Beasley are as exciting as any of the above NASL players that we mentioned? I know that you cannot turn the clock back, but it does not appear that we are going forward, either. I read some of these MLS threads and you would think that these people are talking about real soccer! Come on, the product stinks! It is one-entity, socialist soccer - ironically, in a free-market society! I understand the initial reasons for the structure of MLS, but it will never be taken seriously until the teams are allowed to sign players as they see fit and bring in top talent from anywhere in the world, not just banana republics that have never made it out of the CONCACAC region. There is a lot of soccer-fan money out there. Look at the crowds for the international matches in the USA (AC Milan, Manchester United, Real Madrid, etc). Those tickets were not cheap, by any means. People are starved for the real thing. And what do we give them? Socialist soccer. Then we point to a bogus FIFA ranking for our national team and say, "You see, it is working! The USA is in the TOP 7! We beat Mexico!" Now there is a real world power in soccer, that Mexico. They have won what? Who has the USA ever beaten on the world stage when it counted? We caught a perennially underachieving Portugal with their pants down in the World Cup once, in the year-of-the-upsets (France and Italy also were sent home early). We do have some quality players, mostly outside of MLS (McBride, Reyna, Bocanegra and a whole bunch of top-notch goalies). Any thoughts?
I think most current MLS clubs would run the old NASL teams off the field (but with considerably less flair). The NASL was build largely around guys in the mold of Lothar Mathaeus and Steve Guppy who couldn't keep up in MLS. In my mind, your criticism of MLS essentially boils down to not liking the direct style of most USA trained players. I think that's a reasonable view from a spectators point-of-view -- it's not always fun to watch matches where the defensive clampdown/counter style is so prevalent. It's fun to rip on single entity, but I'm fine with it. The issue isn't the single entity, it's the lack of owners. AEG shouldn't own 5 teams. Would be nice to find some new owners. Single entity does discourage certain types of potential owners from investing, but might actually encourage some others.
I am with you 100%! I still remember the '83 playoffs like it was yesterday between the Earthquakes and Sting. I wonder if Taylor Twellman has ever seen the tape of his dad and uncle from that series? I am a die-hard proponent of the NASL and all of it's history. However, I don't think you can compare it to MLS and vice-versa. The NASL had players from all over the world that were well known. I agree that MLS games can be incredibly boring to watch whereas NASL games were often very exciting. However, what I will give to MLS is that they have younger players who have better nutrition and training habits than did the NASL players. MLS and the NASL had two completely different philosophies. I have said for many years now that MLS teams should be independently owned. Look at the Sting back in the day... Lee Stern was a tremendous owner. He spent the money and hired incredible players and staff. There are plenty of wealthy people out there that would jump at the chance to own 100% of a professional soccer team in the US. I could not agree more with your comments! MLS was created with the intent of promoting soccer in the US. Have they done a good job? Yes. However, can it be better? Definitely. They appear to be controlled by AEG who wants to build SSS's all over the country to promote their concert company. It is time for a 100% single owner philosophy for all MLS teams. Then, let the smart owners go out and put the best product on the field. My opinion for what it's worth!
]MLS was created with the intent of promoting soccer in the US. Have they done a good job? Yes. However, can it be better? Definitely. They appear to be controlled by AEG who wants to build SSS's all over the country to promote their concert company. It is time for a 100% single owner philosophy for all MLS teams. Then, let the smart owners go out and put the best product on the field. My opinion for what it's worth![/QUOTE] Your opinion is worth a lot, especially because you appear to have a love for the game. The current ownership wants to fill venues with entertainment. Soccer is almost an afterthought; an excuse to build new venues supported by season ticket money, so that the real money makers (Celine Dion, etc,) can fill the small new stadiums.
Unfortunately, you are 100% correct! Could you imagine if Lee Stern owned the Fire? He would have one hell of a great team there that would be exciting and fun to open that new stadium. His primary focus would be the product on the field, not the next concert to roll in!
I talked to someone recently who played in both leagues. He said the Nasl would destroy the mls team. I am not so sure. Landon evokes some of the fond memories of the old league and Youri has that same flare. Are we top 7? I hope so, but doubt it. I think many of us are craving some of the old nasl attributes that you list. As far as player development, wouldnt LD be better if he played with some of the nasl greats? (of course). Look what Stoichkov did for DMB. Maybe it would come at the expense of a Rolfe or Jaqua. I am still convinced that the 35 yard off-sides rule in the nasl was a minimally invasive positive advancement leading to more creative play.