A couple of news items for you to chew on this afternoon...
MLS just released the full 2010 schedule and -- at first glance -- the Fire's looks relatively back heavy. The Fire plays 10 of their 30 regular season games in the final two months of the season, finishing up with three games at Toyota Park.
Here's the Fire's full schedule:
03/27 - Saturday at New York 6 p.m. ESPN, Deportes
04/03 - Saturday at Colorado 3 p.m. TeleFutura
04/10 - Saturday San Jose 7:30 p.m.
04/17 - Saturday at D.C. United 6:30 p.m.
04/24 - Saturday Houston 7:30 p.m.
05/01 - Saturday Chivas USA 7:30 p.m.
05/08 - Saturday at Toronto 3 p.m.
05/15 - Saturday at Kansas City 7:30 p.m. FSC, FSE
05/22 - Saturday Colorado 5 p.m. FSC, FSE
05/27 - Thursday FC Dallas 7 p.m. ESPN2, Deportes
06/05 - Saturday Philadelphia 7:30 p.m.
06/26 - Saturday at New England 6:30 p.m.
07/03 - Saturday at Columbus 7:00 p.m. FSC, FSE
07/08 - Thursday Real Salt Lake 8:30 p.m. ESPN2, Deportes
07/24 - Saturday Kansas City 7:30 p.m.
08/01 - Sunday at LA Galaxy 6:30 p.m. FSC, FSE
08/08 - Sunday New York 6:00 p.m. ESPN2, Deportes
08/18 - Wednesday New England
08/21 - Saturday at Houston 7:30 p.m.
08/28 - Saturday at Seattle 9:30 p.m.
09/04 - Saturday LA Galaxy 3:00 p.m. TeleFutura
09/08 - Wednesday Toronto FC 7:30 p.m.
09/11 - Saturday at Philadelphia 4:30 p.m. FSC, FSE
09/18 - Saturday at Real Salt Lake 3:00 p.m. TeleFutura
09/25 - Saturday Seattle 7:00 p.m.
09/29 - Wednesday at San Jose 10:00 p.m. ESPN2, Deportes
10/02 - Saturday at FC Dallas 7:30 p.m. FSC, FSE
10/08 - Friday Columbus 7:30 p.m.
10/16 - Saturday D.C. United 3:00 p.m. TeleFutura
10/23 - Saturday at Chivas USA 10:00 p.m. FSC, FSE Games that I'm already looking forward to include the opener at New York (3/27), the first game against Philly (6/5 at TP), and Seattle (9/25), Columbus (10/8) and D.C. (10/16) at home.
The local TV schedule has yet to be finalized. I'm planning on contacting the My50 people to see what the status of their contract to broadcast Fire games -- which expired after last season -- is. Eleven of the Fire's 15 home games are on the weekend.
In other news, the [Fire's full preseason roster was announced today](http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20100203&content_id=8014364&vkey=news_chf&fext=.jsp&team=t100). No real surprises on the list, except for goalkeeper Jovan Bubonja and defender Mark Blades making the roster as trialists.
Bubonja and Blades are both rookies who went to school in the area, with Bubonja having attended UIC -- where he played with Baggio Husidic -- and Mark Blades coming through the ranks at Northwestern. For selfish/school pride reasons, I'm hoping my fellow Wildcat Blades somehow squeaks through and makes the team. Not really holding my breath though. It's a bit of a long shot for the former Fire PDL player.
And one final roster note before I go, free agent forward Izzy Iriekpen will join up with the Fire in Phoenix on a trialist basis. A 27 year old forward, Iriekpen last played for Hamilton Academical of the Scottish Premier League. He left Hamilton in late August due to family reasons.
Barring any other breaking news, that's it from me for the day. If you're looking for a little more soccer reading, [check out this profile of GolTV color man Ray Hudson](http://www.themillions.com/2010/02/the-magisterial-goal.html). Thoroughly enjoyable read.
Filed under: 2009-10 Offseason, Other
Tags: Chicago Fire, Izzy Iriekpen, Jovan Bubojna, Mark Blades, Preseason Roster, Schedule
Can you give any more information of the player from France?
Is the first game only available on ESPN Deportes or is it on ESPN, too? And are the other Spanish-speaking games also going to be in English on My50? There's no chance that we might not get a local station, right?
The first game is on both ESPN and ESPN Deportes. No local tv deal has been worked out yet, I'll let you all know as soon as I hear anything.
Anything on the forward from France?
Unfortunately we're going to have to hold off on that one for a while. I made a mistake with when my source wanted me to run with it. My apologies.
No problem, hopefully it will be worth the wait.
How about radio broadcasts? The fact that the team doesn't have games on the radio really makes it look bush league.