As we kick off my 10th year of covering the Chicago Fire for Hot Time in Old Town, I am reminded of my very first. The Fire had just come off a very disappointing 2011 season. The collapse of the Blanco era was finally over, and we were unknowingly settling in for close to a decade of futility. I’ve only covered 2 winning seasons here, and only 2017 gave me the kind of Joy where doing this has never felt like a job.
But I have a good feeling about this year. The Fire finally have a big name number 10 again in Xherdan Shaqiri, who has the skill and experience to lead a young energetic squad to glory not seen on the lakefront since the Bush administration.