It was a stunning year in the Windy City. Michael Jordan won his sixth and final NBA title. Sammy Sosa eclipsed Roger Maris' single-season home run mark.
The upstart Fire, however, garnered its fair share of the city's attention, as well. Polish captain Peter Nowak earned his countrymen's adoration, as did flamboyant Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos.
"I never get tired of hearing about 1998, because it was a truly magical and special season for this organization," new head coach Denis Hamlett said this week. He was concentrating on today's opening game at Real Salt Lake, while his front office unveiled a season-long 10th anniversary celebration.
Hamlett knows the Fire "way" as well as anyone. He was the first employee hired by general manager Peter Wilt. He assisted Bob Bradley, then Dave Sarachan and Juan Carlos Osorio. He has evoked 1998 at every turn.
Hamlett influenced the club's decision to name Fire original Frank Klopas as technical director.
He rounded out his coaching staff with Mike Jeffries, who assisted Bradley in that first season, and Chris Armas, the team's destroying midfielder that first season and every one until now.
"[Armas] is the heart and soul of this club," said Hamlett. Playing defensive midfield with the spunk of terrier and the bite of a Doberman, he earned seven all-star berths before retiring in October.
A Fire trademark has been a fluid blend of lunchpail players like Armas, C.J. Brown and Diego Gutierrez, and the stars like Nowak.
"Playing for the Fire is still about honor, passion and tradition," said Hamlett. "We expect the team to play with commitment. Once you're inside, you understand what that means. This is a different club."
The "difference" has resulted in five championships (four Open Cup, one MLS Cup) - second only to D.C. United. Brown is the only active player with all five rings.
"And he'll likely play another five years," said Gutierrez.
Brown, who should make his team-record 250th regular-season appearance for the Fire today, brings stability, resiliency and leadership to the field.
When he does retire, as Gutierrez will after this season, another Fire legacy will kick in - an uncanny ability to replace key players.
When 1998 Best XI defender Lubos Kubik moved on, Carlos Bocanegra stepped in, later to be followed by Jim Curtin and now, Dasan Robinson. DaMarcus Beasley came of age after Polish marksman Roman Kosecki and Klopas retired. Justin Mapp has followed him.
To achieve the team's goal of a second MLS Cup championship, however, the transcendent skills of Nowak have never been filled. Until now.
Enter Cuautemoc Blanco. A late summer arrival to Toyota Park last season, the Mexican soccer icon scored four goals and assisted on seven in 14 games. The Fire surged all the way to the conference final.
Now comfortable in Chicago and with a full season ahead of him, Blanco may be the missing link, says Hamlett.
"He wants to win. That's all he's thinking," says Hamlett. "And on the field, he has an incredible ability to see things develop and pass with pinpoint accuracy."
"We haven't had that since the Nowak days."
Or since about 1998.
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* Former RSL GM STEVE PASTORINO contributes regularly to The Tribune on soccer. He welcomes your comments at pastorinosoccer@comcast.net.
