Introducing a new Hot Time In Old Town daily segment - Chicago Soccer Smolderings. We revisit some of the hottest stories of the last 24-48 hours and link to some other interesting items you may have missed. If you only have a few minutes to stay up-to-date on Chicago soccer, check Chicago Soccer Smolderings: Dave Wilson's Daily Links after the break...
Top Stories
Fire Sign Diego Cháves | Chicago Fire Soccer Club
Men in Red Add second Uruguayan striker to roster.
Video highlights of new Fire signing Diego Chavez - Hot Time In Old Town
The unnamed international signing was finally revealed. Here's a taste of what we might see from Player X.
Get To Know Gaston | Chicago Fire Soccer Club
VIDEO: Meet the first of the Fire's new Uruguayan strikers.
HALL OF A BALLOT Armas leads first timers
Former Chicago Fire player Chris Armas and former Northwestern assistant coach Danielle Slaton were among the six new players named on the ballot for the National Soccer Hall of Fame, U.S. Soccer announced on Thursday. Former Fire midfielder Peter Nowak, former Chicago Sting goalkeeper Victor Nogueira are also among the 25 candidates.
MLS, FOX Extend National Broadcast Rights | Chicago Fire Soccer Club
One-year extension includes up to 31 matches, one of which includes Sat, July 9 LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire.
Notes from today's Chicago Fire pre-season scrimmage - Hot Time In Old Town
Jeff Crandall tweets us with the starting lineups from Sunday's Chicago Fire pre-season scrimmage ahead of the New York Red Bulls clash.
Get Hooked: Single Game Tickets in Section 8
Sections 117 and 118 (and this year, 116 and 119) are open to all Fire fans that wish to be active and openly express passion for the club. Section 8 Chicago's new ticketing system doesn't add any fees or hidden charges to the cost of the tickets: They're $20 and available in limited quantities. All fans are encouraged to learn the songs, sing loudly, wave flags, and have a great time supporting the Fire. You don't need to be part of a group, although you are certainly welcome to bring friends. Who knows? You might get so hooked on the passion that you'll start a Tradition of buying Season Tickets...
Some You May Have Missed
Guillen shows love for Fire at CSN charity event - Chicago Tribune
The White Sox manager won a Lifetime Achievement Award and told the story of the red shirt he wore under his uniform when the Sox won the World Series. "I grew up watching soccer and I was a huge soccer fan," he said. "People thought it was a Blackhawks shirt. It was a Chicago Fire shirt because of my love of soccer."
Chicago Fire Will Finish Dead Last | 2011 MLS Season: 11 Outrageous Predictions for the Upcoming Season | Bleacher Report
Last season the Fire finished in 10th place. In 2009 D.C. United finished in 10th place. Remember what happened next? Bleacher Report predicts the Chicago Fire will follow United's 2010 horrors in 2011 and earn that Wooden Spoon infamy finishing with the weakest record.
"Jonny's Ball" | Chicago Fire Soccer Club
VIDEO: Jon Conway discusses the first preseason match, and explains his vocal habits.
Group to hold first used soccer gear drive | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger
Rigo Cedeno, coach of the Chicago Fire Juniors of Mississippi states in a news release "My coach gave me a pair of used cleats before a tournament. They had a big hole in the front. I got them mended and scored 15 goals in the tournament." Eric Hughes and friend Ken Busby coached recreational league soccer together and cheered on their kids as they progressed through premier soccer. "The more we talked, the more the notion emerged: Here we have coaches who we knew came up in needy communities, who had really reached an amazing level of success. They got there with a lot less than what our kids did. There have to be more kids out there who, for a lack of a pair of even used cleats, or a faded ball that hasn't popped yet, could be spotted and brought into a soccer academy." That was the beginning of Give-N-Go.
Fire help build soccer culture | The News-Press | news-press.com
As ballboys for the Chicago Fire's Thursday exhibition with FGCU, Ben Klatzkow, Brian Garcia, Jacob Smith, Sam Nunne and Daniel Zuloaga of Naples were taking notes. Starting just a year ago, the Fire's junior program in Naples now has about 175 players, with more than half from surrounding Florida counties.
Chicago Fire: Elmhurst product Jason Herrick glad to be home trying to make Chicago Fire - chicagotribune.com
After successful career at Maryland, forward brings offensive skills to the table for Chicago Fire.
RIOT
Riot will bring out the stars - Chicago Sun-Times
Sunday’s Chicago Riot indoor soccer match against the Baltimore Blast should be a blast from the past. Recently retired Fire standout C.J. Brown and his daughters will participate in the first kick as part of ‘‘Chicago Soccer Heritage Night’’ starting at 7 p.m. at the Odeum in Villa Park. Stars from Chicago teams of yesteryear expected to be on hand (or foot) include Pato Margetic, Willy Roy, Bret Hall, Frantz Mathieu, Rudy Glenn and Brian McBride. Fans wearing current or old-school Chicago-based pro soccer jerseys will have the chance for a photo op.
Chicago Riot playoff hopes increase daily as crucial Milwaukee/Missouri road trip kicks off - Hot Time In Old Town
We detail how Omaha is going down and Chicago is going up. You don't want to miss this.