My dad took me to see the Chicago Sting play the New York Cosmos at Soldier Field circa 1977. I was not a soccer fan by any stretch at that time. I don't remember much of the game, but I remember the atmosphere. All of the PA announcements were repeated in both Spanish and Polish. Almost no one around us spoke English (including my dad and I). At every mention of the name Pele, and at his every touch of the ball, the crowd went nuts. I'm pretty sure the home team lost, but no one seemed to care. At the time, I couldn't really understand the passion for this game. But now, it all makes sense.
Growing up in Chicago (in the pre-Michael Jordan days), there were only a few sports superstars of our own to feel passionate about, but I got the opportunity to see a lot of them on opposing teams. I spent many nights in the old Chicago Stadium cheering on hockey and basketball heros. As crazy as the atmosphere was in the Stadium second balcony during playoff games, I'll always remember that meaningless regular season soccer game as one of the loudest and most colorful crowds ever.
