Granitza and Stern in Hall of Fame

Fireball_Dan · May 8, 2003

They announce the inductees at half. Cheers to both Karl-Heinz Granitza and Lee Stern. Also, former Sting player Bruce Wilson inducted.

RogerinIL · May 9, 2003

Richly deserved for both.

Lee Stern is the father of pro soccer in Chicago and one of the founding fathers of pro soccer in the US. He did it all right. If anyone deserves to be in the Hall, it's Lee.

Karl-Heinz Granitza was a tremendous striker. One thing's for sure. You either loved him or hated him. But he put the ball in the net. He was and still is the best striker of the ball off the free kick I've ever seen. Any time he had a free kick from 35 yards in, he was odds on to nail it in an upper corner of the net. I can recall a number of critical games that he played essentially on one leg. The other leg had been hobbled by a sprained ankle. The thing was he still made a difference.

total_football · May 9, 2003

Yeah, I remember Karl Heniz very well when he played for the Sting. My question is: how old was he when he played over here? What European club did he play for prior? Did he play for the Sting when he was in his prime? Was he considered a "star" in Europe?

I think he stuck around after the NASL folded, playing for the Sting when they went indoors, eventually fleeing to Germany after encountering some financial trouble in the US upon retirement.

Swampgas United · May 9, 2003

Originally posted by total_football
Yeah, I remember Karl Heniz very well when he played for the Sting. My question is: how old was he when he played over here? What European club did he play for prior? Did he play for the Sting when he was in his prime? Was he considered a "star" in Europe?

I think he stuck around after the NASL folded, playing for the Sting when they went indoors, eventually fleeing to Germany after encountering some financial trouble in the US upon retirement.
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Karl-Heinz came from Hertha Berlin in 1978, orignally on loan(I think). He was somewhere in his mid to late 20's. He left the Sting in 1987 after a disagreement with coach Erick Geyer and owner Lee Stern. He returned to be player/coach of the Chicago Power(indoor team) after the Sting folded.

Left the Power in 1990 and left the country in 1991.

Fireman · May 9, 2003

I don't think Granitza was on loan he was offered a $4,300 contract to play for the Sting in the summer, he was 27

karlheinz · May 9, 2003

Soccer has been....

berry berry good to me!

The Cadaver · May 10, 2003

From a Chicago ex-pat: Karl H. was my first pro soccer hero and helped turn me on to the game. Lee Stern made it all possible in those days. These two guys are very worthy members of the Hall and I couldn't be happier for them.

skinut · May 11, 2003

Originally posted by The Cadaver
From a Chicago ex-pat: Karl H. was my first pro soccer hero and helped turn me on to the game. Lee Stern made it all possible in those days. These two guys are very worthy members of the Hall and I couldn't be happier for them.
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What he said - except for the ex-pat thing. Both gentlemen richly deserve the honor.

RogerinIL · May 12, 2003

Karl-Heinz came to the Sting from Hertha Berlin.

How popular were the Sting? I recall one of the TV stations did a poll of youngsters sometime after the Sting's '81 championship. They asked the kids about their favorite sports hero, fully expecting the Bear's Walter Payton to be the runaway choice. Nope, the top choice by quite a margin was Karl-Heinz Granitza of the Sting.