Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago
Date: Thursday, 13 Aug 1992 19:05:29 CDT
From: LINDA GEHARD <U43405@uicvm.uic.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: WC negative press in chicago

To all soccer and world cup fans,
     This is an article found in the Chicago Sun Times July 1 issue.  It was
written by Steve Rosenbloom and all responses should be directed to him at
the following address:

Attn: Steve Rosenbloom
Editors of the
Chicago Sun Times
401 N. Wabash
Chicago, IL 60605
USA
     Please do not send any responses to me, since I did not write this
article.


==============================================================================
                SOCCER'S SO-SO BIG SHOW ALIEN TO LIFE WE KNOW

     So, Chicago was awarded the opening ceremonies and first games of
soccer's 1994 World Cup.  So, the United States is going to host this
allegedly mega-event.  So, what was supposed to be the sport of the '70s,
then the '80s, is going to show up here in the '90s.
     So what.
     Or maybe I'm missing the excitement presented by the rare opportunity to
have hundreds of thousands of haughty Europeans and fans of drug cartel
countries invade Chicago in two years to go crazy over a game that has no
rules, no goals, and no point.  Sort of like having Steve Sax and Frank
Thomas take infield practice.
     Frankly, penalty-kick enthusiasts, they can take their silly game and
dangerous fans and stay out of Chicago, stay out of the United States, stay
out of this hemisphere.
     Hey, someone call the World Cup's head honchos in Switzerland and tell
them we want to return this thing.  Tell them we got it as a gift and thanks,
but it's the wrong size.  Tell them we lost the receipt.
     Apparently, they hold these things every four years because that's how
long it takes a team to score a goal.
     No, wait.  Germany did score a goal.  I think it was in 1990.  Maybe '91.
Could've been earlier this year.  Whatever, Germany won 1-0.  Big surprise
there, huh?  Imagine, a 1-0 soccer score.  Gee, I'll bet that doesn't happen
very often.
     Anyway, I think Germany beat Argentina, which, if you believe Nazi
hunters, is like beating your own farm team.  But given its history in wars,
Germany needed to win something this century.
     So, because they scored a goal, the Germans come here for the 1994
opening game in Soldier Field.  Let's see now.  A team with a predictable
offense and an inability to score that's playing in Soldier Field.  Gee,
that'll be different.
     And, boy, won't the World Cup add to Chicago's illustrious soccer
history?  We've already had seven teams go bust here, but, hey, pro soccer has
only been in Chicago for 25 years.
     No, wait.  Eight teams have died here.  One, the Blaze, formed in the
late '80s, staged a press conference in which it put a jersey on Mayor Daley,
then never played a game.  Talk about a proud heritage.
     And the city's one "successful" soccer team - the Sting, which won three
titles in eight years - lost $15 million.
     Chicago's latest exercise in futility, the Power, drew all of 1,000 fans
to an outdoor game recently.  Soccer fever, forget it.
     But, wait.  The World Cup is bigger than all that, they tell us, as if
such a thing is even possible.  It's the Super Bowl of soccer.  Which is like
being the Chanel of insect repellents.
     And, header fans, all that pulsating excitement is coming to our city.
And it's bringing all that tourist money, too.  Two-hundred-million bucks,
they're guesstimating.  Good.  Maybe that will be enough to cover the damage
that all those hooligan fans will cause.
     And you just know it's going to happen.  You just know there will be
busloads of crazies who will trash the area because of some misguided free
kick.  Hey, even an alderman knows it will happen.
     "In some countries, they attack and kill each other and the referees,"
said Ald. Williams M. Beavers (7th), Police Committee. "Soccer is a game
that's too emotional.  If it's as violent as it is in some foreign countries,
we're in for a big surprise."
      Remember, too, the city couldn't handle the "celebrations" that followed
the Bull's championship - and the Bulls won.  Jeez, just imagine what will
happen if the English team loses - and, remember, those fans are professional
whackos.
      About the best we can hope for is they'll send the English team to
Detroit, a city that knows how to throw a sports riot.
      So, in all, World Cup '94 ought to be a fun time.  We'll get to see the
world's best play a game where nobody scores and a bunch of people get hurt.
Plus, we'll play host to thousands of foreigners who act like we should be
grateful they're dropping their lira on us.
      So, make your plans now for that June event: "Waste of Chicago."

===============================================================================

     The views expressed in this article do not reflect my views or the entire
American public's views....This is an editorial....I thought the entire net
should read this...Please respond to Mr. Rosenbloom...This shouldn't be left
alone....thank you for your time....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These opinions aren't mine....thank god.
-Linda Gehard
 u43405@uicvm.uic.edu
 ircnick: Marie1 (The one, the ONLY!)