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They can't say we didn't warn them.
When the Fire revealed their 2014-15 home kit during the annual Kickoff Luncheon - a charity event which benefits the Chicago Fire Foundation - the audience reaction was, let's say, mixed.
Remember, this wasn't at a pub - it was a midday luncheon at the Hyatt Regency downtown. At one point, Logan Pause is asked what he likes best about the new kit, and someone in the audience shouts "Taking it off!" Also, one has to love the tactic of turning the music up to drown out the boo-birds. Best-in-class everything!
Meanwhile, on Twitter, several rounds of "We are Red, We are White" were sung.
Never Forget. #cf97 pic.twitter.com/ajDyEDFKTV
— Eric J. Kekeis (@pezkoreaddict) March 5, 2014
USA-Ukraine - yes, it's really happening
The USA's on-again, off-again, now-on-again friendly against Ukraine kicks off at 1 p.m. CST today from Cyprus, and will be broadcast on ESPN2 and across the ESPN networks (WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes, etc.). Sister site Stars and Stripes FC has coverage and gamethreads - check them out!
The roster for the game is composed almost exclusively of players who play in Europe, thereby alleviating the need for intercontinental travel for the players. Well, except for Clint Dempsey, the team captain, whose tragically underwhelming loan with Fulham concludes with a meaningless friendly. When the game kicks off, Dempsey will be 70 hours and 6,500 miles away from MLS First Kick in Seattle, where his Sounders will host the defending MLS Cup champions, Sporting Kansas City. No word as yet on whether Juergen Klinsmann will rock Sporting's argyle third kit under his USA sweats on the sideline this afternoon.
Holden the Cursed
Stuart Holden, so recently the highest-rated midfielder in the Premier League, had his latest comeback from catastrophic injury interrupted by yet another potentially catastrophic injury.
Holden's injury history is reminiscent of that of USA cult legend John O'Brien:
- Had his leg broken by Nigel de Jong on USA duty in March 2010
- Needed surgery & six months rehab after a terrible Jonny Evans tackle in March 2011
- Works his way back into USA XI, then blows out ACL during Gold Cup final, July 2013
Now this, a re-injury of that same anterior cruciate ligament just 23 minutes into a reserve match. Heartbreaking.
Bradley recruits Stephens to Norway
Bob Bradley's added a familiar face to his European adventure as manager of Norwegian Tippeligaen club Stabæk, signing former Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens after an extended trial.
Stephens, 24, broke into the loaded LA midfield as a rookie, but never developed into a consistent starter behind the stable midfield duo of Juninho and Marcelo Sarvas.
