Blog Entries

To the Fire: It's Time to Make Good on Your Promises

bunge@mac.com — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:00:00 +0100

$25k: The Fire could spend at least that amount of money on employing cheerleaders at Toyota Park next season, or they could finally pay Section 8 Chicago the $25,000 they owe us and are refusing to make good on. The loss of that money this season seriously impacted all of our activities, but out of respect for the team, we decided not to go public with this until the season was over. As we enter the offseason, we still have no guarantee from the team that we will ever receive payment from th [...]

S8OT - EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

toaddio@mac.com — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:00:00 +0100

S8OT - EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS::
As you all know by now, the Chicago Fire is heading to Columbus on Thursday to take on the Crew in the Eastern Conference Finals. Anticipating that this might be the scenario, we’ve been able to reserve a bus to help get supporters to the match.

At this point, we have been able to secure a second bus, if you intend to make the trip and would like to take the bus, please visit the store and register – first come first s [...]

Number Dump: End of Season Stats

benjamin.kumming@gmail.com — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:00:00 +0100

This is probably ill-timed, since the post season begins this evening, but none the less, what follows is a brief look at some of the stats from the Chicago Fire 2008 Regular Season. All of the statistics below include only Regular Season games, except for the season goal, foul, and card totals, which have been unabashedly stolen directly from www.chicago-fire.com.

Chicago Fire 2008 Regular Season Stats

Top Scorer: Chris Rolfe – 9

It’s worth notin [...]

The "CF97" Crest :: What it is and Why

jl_murtaugh@yahoo.com — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:00:00 +0100

At the last home match against New York, those of you standing in 117/118, as well as those throughout the stadium, may have recieved a large flag given to 10,000 of the fans attending the match. Working, with the assistance of Best Buy, the ISA was able to coordinate the design, manufacturing and distribution of flags stadiumwide for this important final regular season contest.

While originally intended to be waved by the crowd before kickoff en masse as a powerfully inspiring v [...]

Letter from the President

toaddio@mac.com — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:00:00 +0100

To everyone that's been involved in the issues over the past two months, it's important that you read this message from Chicago Fire President Dave Greeley. Dear Ben:

It was a pleasure meeting you and some others from Section 8 at the recent New York Red Bulls game. I have only been with the Chicago Fire and TOYOTA PARK a few weeks now, but the excitement and energy from everyone at the organization, our fans and the community is indeed infectious. And, there certainly is n [...]

Two for One Ticket Deal

toaddio@mac.com — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Section 8 Chicago and the Chicago Fire have worked out a $30 ticket deal for the end of the season. It's Diego Gutierrez's final season with the team and we would like to send him out in style. That means filling the stands and honoring him on the field as well as helping him raise money for his charity efforts.

Here's the deal:

Two tickets to the game on Thursday, 10/23.
Two tickets to the yet to be announced playoff game.

On top of that, Sect [...]

Survey for new (and fairly new) supporters

polahenderson@yahoo.com — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:00:00 +0100

We have prepared a short survey for our new supporters. If you joined us in 2007 or 2008, we want your opinion!

Click here for the survey!

(The survey will be closed either once we get 100 responses or on October 31st, whichever comes first).

Backstory:

Many core Section 8-ers have been around for years, even since before the team played its first game. In recent years, however, the Association has seen an influx of new Fire faithfuls, [...]

Section 8 On Tour: Kansas City week 28

martygroark@gmail.com — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Walking over to Toyota Park early Saturday morning, I couldn't help but think I was forgetting something – camera . . . check . . . Fire jersey . . . check…Fire flag …check. What was it I'm missing? Oh yeah, pants. I had the bright idea to wear shorts, and at 8:00 A.M. on an October day in Chicago it was freezing. Why didn't I wear the pants? But there was no time to worry about it. The bus was minutes away and I was about to head to Kansas City for my [...]

Fire Players Are Drunks and Have Become Insulting

jl_murtaugh@yahoo.com — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:56:53 +0100

...at the very least that might explain the way things are going.

While our complete and utter ineptitude against Dallas is enough reason for disgust (completely winless since 2005 and winless in Dallas since 1999), it's only a symptom of a much more worrying problem -- our faltering defense of our home.

Since 1998 the Fire have never lost more than five matches at home all season, including playoff and USOC games held in their primary stadium. With three home league matches [...]

Match Preview: Fire vs. Dallas

irishboy2001@msn.com — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:00:00 +0100

The Fire come into this game on the back of their worst performance of the season against Colorado last weekend. With the playoffs just around the corner, this is not the time to be in a slump. The Fire could be looking at that situation with a loss to Dallas on Sunday, a team that is fighting for their playoff lives.

Perhaps the most surprising and disappointing thing for the Fire has been their poor performances at home. The 1-0 win over New York, in the last home game, was onl [...]

Did you ever get the feeling...

msegroves@eots.org — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Did you ever get that feeling that something changed and you couldn’t put a finger on it until it had really happened and you wonder how you didn’t notice it when it was happening?

Like following the Chicago Fire? Specifically since 2004, that trying to win every game just wasn’t important?

It sort of hit me, that I might as well be rooting for West Ham or Tottenham or Newcastle or some other team that was rarely going to finish at the bottom [...]

Moving Forward

toaddio@mac.com — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:00:00 +0100

When Section 8 Chicago first approached the Chicago Fire regarding the allegations of racism at Toyota Park, we were obviously very disappointed in the club’s initial reaction. So disappointed that we felt we had to follow through with our plans for a silent protest at the game on August 16th. And while the team may have lost to D.C. United, the ISA truly hopes and believes that the overall result of voicing our concerns will be positive.

Prior to Saturday’s game, the Chi [...]

An FAQ on the current ISA/Fire situation

bunge@mac.com — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:00:00 +0100

In order to address some of the inaccuracies and misconceptions related to the current situation between Fire fans (as represented by the Section 8 Chicago ISA) and the Chicago Fire Soccer Club (as well as their contracted representatives, Toyota Park and Monterrey Security), we have prepared this FAQ -- a set of the most frequent questions recieved and their answers.

The ISA wishes to remain as transparent and clear in their representation as possible, in order to foster its maximum ef [...]

Reason and Patience Key to Success in Anti-Racism Campaign

benjamin.kumming@gmail.com — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Monterrey Security’s racially motivated inequitable treatment of Hispanic Fire fans is unacceptable. Now that I’ve said that, I can move on. What is needed on the part of supporters now, if they do truly want a resolution to the problem, is patience and reason.

Fire supporters are, rightfully, willing to take action, and the planned protest should go forth as scheduled. However, after that, everyone needs to take a slow deep breath.

This problem w [...]

Section 8 Chicago and Sector Latino Meet the Fire

tjd1979@gmail.com — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:55:27 +0100

Following last Saturday's Fire-Chivas game, the leadership of Sector Latino -- a supporters' group affiliated to Section 8 Chicago -- approached Ben Burton, ISA Chairman, and told him Sector Latino had received racial abuse from the security at Toyota Park. After a public meeting was held with Sector Latino and Fire fans on Wednesday, August 6th, about the issue, meetings were scheduled this week with the Chicago Fire.

On Monday, Ben Burton, Walter Arredondo of Sector Latino and mysel [...]

Ending Racism at Toyota Park

tjd1979@gmail.com — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:00:00 +0100

What is it like to be part of one of the Fire's most dedicated, positive and vibrant supporters' groups and yet to face continual, racially motivated abuse from security at Toyota Park? Ask Sector Latino, who have been targeted since their emergence in 2005 by Monterrey Security, and who received disgraceful racist abuse from guards at the last home game against Chivas USA.

Following this, Section 8 Chicago called a series of meeting to explore the details of the situatio [...]

Super 20s Triumph

tjd1979@gmail.com — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Last weekend, the Fire's developmental team the Super 20s headed to the national championship finals in Virginia Beach. One of their defenders, Greg Klazura from Rockford, has an exclusive account of events in the championships for Section 8.

From: Greg Klazura
Date: August 1, 2008

Section 8,

First and foremost the Fire Super Twenties are extremely grateful for the support of the best fans in the world as we make a run for a National Champi [...]

Getting to Know Tomasz

polahenderson@yahoo.com — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:56:17 +0100

With Chad Barrett gone and Brian McBride in China, we'll be getting to know Tomasz Frankowski pretty well on the field in the upcoming month. So Backdraft decided to catch up with Tomasz off the field as well, as he explains his finishing philosophy, life in Chicago, and his biggest mistake. Read the interview in both English and Polish.

An interview with Tomasz Frankowski. A Polish translation is also available.

BackDraft: You've played in leagues all a [...]

Fuerza Chicago

jl_murtaugh@yahoo.com — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:03:37 +0100

“Yo si le voy, le voy a Chikago!”

For those new to Section 8 the last few seasons, the pulsating rhythms, constant jumping, and perpetual flag-waving of Sector Latino are integral to the flavor of the Harlem End as a whole. Their new location in the front portion of 117 is a product of their alliance with Ultras Red-Side, who occupies the ce [...]

Fire Top of the League, Playoff at Home

tjd1979@gmail.com — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Two Chicago Fire teams are top of the league -- did you know that? And that there's playoff action at Toyota Park this week?

The PDL and Super-20 teams both finished top of their respective midwest divisions this season. The PDL team made the playoffs for the eighth straight season (the only USL team to be able to boast that). On Tuesday, they will host the Kalamazoo Outrage at 4pm on the Toyota Park practice field. The game and parking are free, so come out and support our boys.