Retiring Pause did things the right way for Fire
When Logan Pause won the 2012 Major League Soccer Fair Play Award, he seemed almost sheepish about it.
Hard-nosed defensive midfielders aren't supposed to play fair.
But there was something right about this award, affirmation that on the field and off, Pause did things the right way. You can play hard and well without trying to injure.
Pause, 33, announced Friday he will retire when the season ends after 12 years with the Fire.
"The last 12 years I've been given some of the most amazing life-giving experiences, and I've poured my absolute heart and soul every single day, game and practice, but what I've gotten in return has been way more than I can even remotely explain, from this club, from this city, from the fans, from my teammates and coaches," Pause said at a press conference after training with family, teammates and coaches there for support.
Pause didn't score a lot of goals - 3 in league play - and he didn't draw a lot of attention to himself.
The North Carolina product just kept showing up, putting his head down and playing the game hard, for 281 MLS games and 21,644 MLS minutes so far.
"What I really like is the Fair Play Award as well," Fire coach and director of soccer Frank Yallop said, reading Pause's list of accomplishments. "That for me speaks volumes of you as a person."
He didn't seek the limelight, but he didn't shirk his responsibilities either, standing before the media during his years as captain even when the team was struggling, taking the heat for his teammates when he had to.
When injury and age stole his spot in the starting lineup, costing him his captain's armband, Pause accepted it as a fact of life and prepared himself for the substitute's bench.
"I've known Logan for nine years and played many games with him," longtime Fire left back Gonzalo Segares said. "Great guy on and off the field. Great leader. He represents what the Chicago Fire is, just like C.J. (Brown) did, just like Chris Armas did, just like the legends of this club have done. It's tough to lose a guy like that just because he's family, not only on the field but off the field as well. So many good things to say about Logan."
Younger players always looked up to him. When 17-year-old Downers Grove resident Collin Fernandez signed with the Fire as a homegrown player last week, he went out of his way to credit Pause for helping him learn how to play the game and prepare himself the right way.
Pause didn't seem sure what his next step in life will be, but it would surprise nobody if he wound up in a MLS front office or on a coaching staff somewhere, possibly with the Fire. Pause earned an MBA in sports management from Northwestern a few years ago. He is prepared for retirement, even if he's not yet sure what it will bring.
The Fire will honor Pause before the final regular-season game Oct. 24 against Houston.
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