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MLS Chicago Fire FC

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July 14, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


CHICAGO FIRE TO TAKE ON REAL SALT LAKE

The Chicago Fire (7-5-3, 24 pts.) host Real Salt Lake (6-6-5, 23 pts.) in the second of two regular season meetings this Saturday, July 19, at TOYOTA PARK. Kickoff for the match is at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Fire are fresh off a 2-1 win over Toronto FC and are in third place in the Eastern Conference standings. The club is 3-3-1 in games contested at TOYOTA PARK this season. For the first time in team history, Real Salt Lake sits atop the Western Conference standings after a 2-0 win over Columbus Saturday. The game will be televised on My50 Chicago, and can be heard on Chicagoland radio station WRTO 1200-AM (Spanish). Tickets for the game are available by calling 800.MLS.FIRE, by logging onto chicago-fire.com, Ticketmaster outlets or by visiting the TOYOTA PARK Box Office.

The Fire hold the all-time series against Salt Lake with a mark of 4-1-2 including a 1-1 tie in their first meeting this season on 3/29 in the season opener at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Fire have posted a 2-0-1 record against Real Salt Lake in games played in Chicago.

CHICAGO FIRE WEEKLY AGENDA

** Sites/times subject to change. Please call 708.496.6725 or 6726 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.

Monday, July 14 OFF

Tuesday, July 15 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday, July 16 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, July 17 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.

Friday, July 18 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.

Saturday, July 19 Chicago Fire vs. Real Salt Lake - TOYOTA PARK - 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 20 OFF

JOHN THORRINGTON NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK

John Thorrington was voted the MLS Player of the Week for Week 16 for his 92nd minute stoppage-time goal that helped the Fire to the 2-1 win over Toronto FC. This is the first Player of the Week award for Thorrington. He joins Cuauhtémoc Blanco who earned Player of the Week honors early this season for his 1 goal, 3 assist effort in a 5-1 win over the New York Red Bulls in Week 9.

The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.

ROLFE UP FOR GOAL OF THE WEEK

Chris Rolfe's 6th minute goal against Toronto FC has been nominated for the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week. Rolfe received the ball just outside the 18-yard box, ducked a defender, and sent a far-post strike just past goalkeeper Greg Sutton to open scoring for the Fire in Saturday's 2-1 win over Toronto. Visit http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/sights/goal_of_the_week/ to vote for Rolfe's goal.

BLANCO NAMED TO MLS ALL-STAR FIRST XI

Cuauhtémoc Blanco has been chosen to the league's All-Star First XI that will take on English Premier League club West Ham United on Thursday, July 24 at BMO Field in Toronto (6 p.m. CT, ESPN, Telefutura and CBC Sports). The First XI received the most votes at their respective positions from 4 groups - fans, players, media and coaches/general managers. Blanco received the 3rd-highest total votes behind only a pair of Los Angeles Galaxy players - Landon Donovan and David Beckham.

On Tuesday, July 15, New England head coach Steve Nicol, who is the All-Star head coach, and his staff will select 5 additional All-Stars, who will join 2 Commissioner Selections to complete the 18-man game-day MLS roster.

KIDS NIGHT OUT AT TOYOTA PARK THIS SATURDAY

Chicago Fire Soccer and local contributors and businesses teamed up for the fifth consecutive year to celebrate "Kids Night Out", a soccer evening organized by the Fire and the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, for underprivileged children in Chicagoland. Kids Night Out provides underprivileged children the opportunity to experience a Chicago Fire game at TOYOTA PARK.

Local businesses and individuals purchased group tickets to the game, with the total of major contributors numbering 130. The Fire organization matched each gift given to the FireWorks for Kids Foundation so each contribution was doubled. The tickets will be donated to nearly 60 local youth-based organizations.

BLANCO NOMINATED IN THREE CATEGORIES AT PREMIOS DEPORTES AWARDS PROGRAM...

Cuauhtémoc Blanco will attend the prestigious Premios Deportes program tonight, Monday, July 14, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California at 8:30 p.m. CT. The program will be broadcast as a two-hour sports and entertainment television special on Univision, honoring the 2007 Latino athletes of the year for their excellence in sports and their impact on the Hispanic community. Blanco has been nominated in the categories of 2007 North American Midfielder of the Year, Soccer Player of the Year, and Male Athlete of the Year. The event will air on Univision on July 20, at 2 p.m. CT.

...AND FOR AN ESPY

Cuauhtémoc Blanco is among the six nominees for the 2008 ESPY Award for Best MLS Player. Blanco joins fellow nominees Luciano Emilio (D.C. United), Matt Reis (New England Revolution), David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls) and the 2007 award-winner, Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy) as finalists for the annual award. The 16th Annual ESPY Awards, hosted by Justin Timberlake, will take place on Wednesday, July 16, at the new Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, and will be televised on ESPN and ESPN HD, on Sunday, July 20, at 8:00 p.m. CT.

¡FUTBOLITO! COMES TO CHICAGO THIS SATURDAY AT RIIS PARK

¡FUTBOLITO! comes to Chicago this Saturday, July 19, at Riis Park, 6100 W. Fullerton. As the official 4 v 4 tournament of Major League Soccer, MLS ¡Futbolito! brings fast-paced soccer action to 14 communities across the country. The day-long event offers food, music and fun activities for the whole family, all alongside a fierce and fun soccer competition for all ages. Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. with the tournament beginning at 9:00 a.m.. For more information or to register, visit www.mlsfutbolito.com.

GUTIERREZ TO SPEAK AT FUNDRAISER FOR LOCAL MALARIA VICTIM

On July 18, Diego Gutierrez will take part in a fundraiser to benefit a local malaria victim, Dawn Dubsky, who contracted the disease after returning from a mission trip to Ghana, Africa. On Feb. 23, Dawn went to Northwestern Hospital in Chicago, Ill. to get tested for Malaria because she had been experiencing fatigue, fever, and a severe headache. The test result came back positive and she was admitted immediately. On March 3, Dawn lost her limbs to her knees and elbows. In an effort to raise money to help Dawn live the best possible life with the most advanced tools the medical field has to offer, the luv-a-dub organization has formed to assist Dawn in her time of need, sponsoring the July 18 fundraiser at Bourbon Street, 3359 W. 115th Street, in Merrionette Park, Ill. Gutierrez will be speaking at the fundraiser which will directly help Dawn in her recovery, rehabilitation, and with her arm and leg prosthetic devices.

The Chicago Fire has donated a soccer ball signed by all Chicago Fire players, as well as an authentic #8 Diego Gutierrez jersey with his autograph for the raffle and silent auction. For more information, or to join Chicago Fire Midfielder Diego Gutierrez at this special event, please visit www.luv-a-dub.org.

CHICAGO FIRE AROUND TOWN

- Sparky will be at Arlington Park for the 7th Annual Fiesta In The Park at Arlington International Racecourse. Fiesta in the Park celebrates the heritage and culture of the Latino community and their contributions to thoroughbred horse racing. The Latino-styled family event will be seasoned with traditional Latin American food, family entertainment, and Latin American music.

- Sparky will also be at the Brookfield Zoo on Tuesday, July 15 from 12-2 p.m. as kids have the opportunity to sing karaoke to try and win a family four-pack of tickets to the KIDZ BOP concert at House of Blues on July 17. Sparky will also be in the crowd and signing autographs at the KIDZ BOP concert on Thursday, July 17, at the House of Blues. Tickets are available at the House of Blues box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, and Ticketmaster.com. For more information visit, www.kidzbop.com/tour.

GRASSROOT SOCCER UNITED DRIBBLE TO HIT TOYOTA PARK SATURDAY

This fall, Grassroot Soccer Inc. co-founder and ambassador Ethan Zohn will embark on the first-ever GRSU Dribble (2008), from Boston, MA, to Washington, D.C. - dribbling a soccer ball the entire route. The Dribble 2008 is a fundraising and promotional effort that marks the official launch of Grassroot Soccer UNITED, an international youth movement to end HIV/AIDS in Africa (www.grassrootsoccerunited.org. Zohn, who was the winner of Survivor: Africa, will be at TOYOTA PARK Saturday to raise awareness of his program. He will hold a clinic for underprivileged children Saturday and will also be part of the halftime festivities.

JIMMY BUFFETT COMING TO TOYOTA PARK JULY 24 & 26

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band are in town for two Chicagoland appearances at TOYOTA PARK on Thursday, July 24th and Saturday, July 26th, as part of THE YEAR OF STILL HERE Tour 2008. Prime tickets are still available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com or 312.559.1212) or the TOYOTA PARK Ticket Office (open M-F from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.).

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