Chicago Riot Hosts 'Chicago Soccer Heritage Night' January 30 Against Baltimore
December 28, 2010 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Chicago Riot News Release
CHICAGO (Dec. 28, 2010) -- The Chicago Riot of the Major Indoor Soccer Leagues announces today that it is hosting "Chicago Soccer Heritage Night" at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, for the team's game against the Baltimore Blast at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center in Villa Park, Ill. The night is in honor to all those who have put Chicago soccer on the map, including long-time Chicago Fire veteran C.J. Brown, who will take the ceremonial first kick as part of the rescheduled festivities from Dec. 12.
The recently retired star will take the ceremonial first kick along with his daughters Canessa and Kali before the 7 p.m. match. All of the honorees will be recognized at halftime with an on-field ceremony.
Joining the Fire's Brown are former players, coaches and staff from the Chicago Horizon, Sting, Shoccers, Storm, Red Stars and Power. The Riot also has invited former players from the Chicago Mustangs, Cats and Vultures.
The Chicago Power's 1990-91 National Professional Soccer League championship team will hold its 20-year reunion at the game and will include many of the players and staff, including players Mirko Castillo, Tommy Isirov, Teddy Krafft, Russ Prince, Ed Puskarich and Larry Sunderland. Riot Owner, President and CEO Peter Wilt served as the general manager of the championship Power team. Wilt will be on hand with other Power staff members including Steve Davidson, Howard Balson, Willie Fajkus, Steve Cetera and Deb Puskarich.
Chicago Shoccers representatives include former players Louis Mateus and Erwin Fleps, while the Odeum's Director of Soccer, Tony Dallas, will represent the Chicago Horizon as one of the team's goalkeepers from the 1980-81 season. More attendees will be announced in the coming weeks.
"This will be a great opportunity for players and fans to reconnect, reminisce about some great memories and create new ones," said Wilt, who also served as President of the Chicago Fire and Chicago Red Stars. "Chicago has such a rich professional soccer history and the Riot is honored to be able to recognize some of the people who helped create it."
Tickets are available starting at $10 at www.ChicagoRiotSoccer.comor by calling 630-708-6284.
Fans are encouraged to wear jerseys from Chicago's other current and former professional soccer teams. Those that do will receive a complimentary Riot pin and will be included in a group photo on the field with the Chicago pro soccer alumni.
Brown played with the Fire of Major League Soccer from 1998 to 2010, beginning with the team's inaugural MLS Cup-winning season and retiring after this past 2010 campaign. Over his 13-year career, Brown logged a club-record 296 appearances, of which 32 were in the playoffs.
The former center back and team captain also holds the club record with 25,738 minutes played and was named the Fire's Defender of the Year in 2006 and 2010. He was named to the MLS All-Star Team in 2001.
The last remaining of the "Fire Originals" helped the team win its first-ever MLS Cup in 1998, starting in the team's 2-0 win over D.C. United in the championship game. Brown also has won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006).
Brown made 15 appearances with the U.S. National Team, making his international debut on Jan. 24, 1999, against Bolivia. He played all 90 minutes in one of the bigger upsets in U.S. soccer history as the Americans defeated Germany, 2-0, in the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Brown played four years for San Jose State University, earning All-Western Athletic Conference honors in 1995 and 1996. After graduation, Brown joined the USISL's San Francisco Bay Seals before beginning his illustrious MLS career with the Fire.
Next up for the Riot (1-4) is a 7:35 p.m. match on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at the Missouri Comets (1-5). The Riot then hosts the Omaha Vipers at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center.
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Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from December 28, 2010
- Comets Sign Former Rockhurst Standout, Will John and Jamie Harding - Kansas City Comets
- Chicago Riot Hosts 'Chicago Soccer Heritage Night' January 30 Against Baltimore - Chicago Riot
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