Fire happy to have landed Blanco

Chicago Fire Press Release:
CHICAGO - The Chicago Fire expect to be just as happy with Cuauhtemoc Blanco as the Los Angeles Galaxy hope to be with David Beckham.

The rush of excitement coming with Blanco's arrival to the Fire has to last until July, when the iconic Mexican striker is expected to join MLS.

And it just might.

A day after more than 5,000 fans attended a hastily planned welcome for him at the Fire's Toyota Park home in southwest suburban Bridgeview, Blanco signed a contract that, at the end of June, will end his association with Club America of the Mexican First Division and bring him to the United States.

"I wouldn't call him the Mexican Beckham," John Guppy, the Fire's president and CEP, said Tuesday before the team's annual preseason luncheon at a downtown hotel. "But I did love that sign at Toyota Park last night that said, 'Who needs Beckham? We have Temo.' He's very unique."

Blanco, a 34-year-old veteran of two World Cups and an Olympics, has 176 career goals scored (including 31 for Mexico's national team) since 1995. He's known for his charisma, original passing and scoring abilities, plus an occasional temper display.

He also had ACL surgery five years ago and has dealt with a series of lesser injuries in recent seasons, as many players do, Guppy said. Blanco also was left off Mexico's most recent World Cup team.

No worries, Fire captain Chris Armas said. He compared Blanco with Hristo Stoichkov in terms of ability and style and Peter Nowak in terms of impact.

"We had a good team already, but it'll be nice to have a credible centerpiece," said Armas, a member of the team since inaugural campaign in 1998.

Through a Spanish interpreter, Blanco said he wants to bring championships to Chicago, which previously won the MLS Cup in '98. Promising to return their love, Blanco still could not quite grasp the reaction of Fire fans at Toyota Park, where mere hundreds were expected.

"I'm very surprised with how I've been [received]; I did not know that was possible," Blanco said. "I'll come here to work hard and give the fans grand satisfaction."

Chicago's large Hispanic community - about 1.8 million strong and 85 percent Mexican - could embrace Blanco even tighter.

"He's waking up the Hispanic fan in Chicago that, perhaps, wasn't coming to the game before," Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez said. "He's a guy that can still play; he can score goals, he can set up goals. He's still a magnificent player. On the other hand, his personality and his character - the way he incites and engages the fans - I think is going to help."

Blanco cannot play here until after the season ends for Club America and the CONCACAF Gold Cup final - which is set for Soldier Field - is played in late June.

The delay is upsetting, and results probably won't be instant come July, but Blanco will be worth it, Fire coach David Sarachan said.

"We're adding someone who can make the difference, the final pass, the final play," Sarachan said. "I think our guys will appreciate having him on the field."

Former Fire coach Bob Bradley, currently the U.S. national team boss, said Blanco is a difference-maker in two ways.

"He's a special player, capable of making the kind of plays that determine matches," Bradley said. "He will bring, also, a great deal of attention to the league.

"Sometimes, we don't always tell our story well enough and to bring in players like Beckham and Blanco, they bring the spotlight on so many of the other good things that have been happening."

As the Galaxy did with Beckham, the Fire used its Designated Player spot for Blanco - which means $400,000 of his salary counts against the salary cap and is to be paid equally by all MLS investors. The rest of his salary - a "confidential" detail, Guppy said - will be paid by the Fire. Blanco is under contract through 2009.

The Fire open the 2007 season at home against the New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m. CT Saturday. Blanco's first game could be July 1 against the Colorado Rapids.