Leaving Hawks and hockey behind, Fire broadcaster enjoys soccer run

As much as Dan Kelly enjoys thinking about his future, his past is hard to avoid.

The first-year play-by-play voice for the Fire's local television broadcasts, Kelly is having fun and looking forward to many years with the Fire. But it's also difficult for him to forget he could have been a part of the Blackhawks' run to the Stanley Cup finals.

It was an awkward situation for Kelly. Hired to replace fan favorite Pat Foley as the Blackhawks' voice for the 2006-07 season, he was let go after the 2007-08 season when new management - Rocky Wirtz took over the team upon his father Bill's death - opted to bring back Foley.

"I knew when I was leaving the Blackhawks, everyone could see the direction this team was headed," said Kelly, admitting it's difficult for him to watch the Blackhawks. "I wouldn't say I follow them. I follow them more through the print. I just find myself not watching the NHL as much in general because the objective and direction is toward the MLS and soccer and trying to learn a new league."

Since leaving the Blackhawks, Kelly, 36, did a few MLS games for HDNet as well as University of Denver hockey games. But he never moved from Chicago.

He has jumped into his Fire job with both feet, going to practice to get to know the players and prepare for games.

"I really enjoy it," he said. "I thoroughly enjoy it. ... I love how soccer just keeps moving. It's fun to call, and now I get to see it up close and get a different perspective. The subtle beauty of the game is so alluring. I can see how people fall in love with it. That's happening to me."

"Dan's a great student and he cares about a quality product," added his new partner, color commentator Chris Doran. "Our first conversations included long 'Q-&-A' sessions about players, the club, the league and the sport as a part of the American landscape. I was impressed with his genuine interest."

Above all, Kelly is a professional, and he knows how to carry a broadcast, learning from one of the best in the business, his late father of the same name who was the longtime voice of the St. Louis Blues.

"You can't forget Dan comes from a family of great broadcasters, and as a professional he knows what it takes to convince an audience that he knows what he's talking about," Doran said. "And with his extra time and legwork, he's ramped-up comfortably to a level of soccer broadcasting that I think is pleasing to our audience."

Red Stars make a change: Monday's firing of Red Stars coach Emma Hayes didn't come as a surprise, but it is disappointing.

The Red Stars, who failed to make the playoffs last year, got off to a terrible 1-4-1 start this season. After making several changes in the off-season, this time it had to be Hayes' turn to go. The ugly showing against expansion Philadelphia in the last game was the clincher.

It's disappointing that Hayes couldn't make her ideas work, because it would have been a lot of fun to watch. She promised to play stylish, attacking soccer, and she seemed to have the roster to do it.

Her teams always seemed to get plenty of shots, but mysteriously those shots rarely reached paydirt. In six games this season, the Red Stars have a measly 3 goals and sit seventh in the eight-team league.

The only surprise is that the team took so long to make a move. The Red Stars should have let Hayes go a week before they finally pulled the plug, just after the Philadelphia game. Now the team's bye week has come and gone, and it still hasn't named a new coach. With league-leader FC Gold Pride visiting Toyota Park on Saturday night, time's a'wasting.

Hopefully, general manager Marcia McDermott can find a coach who can deliver what Hayes promised: a team that's fun to watch and wins.

Big weekend ahead: The Fire hosts Brimstone Cup rival FC Dallas in a nationally televised game Thursday night, a chance to reverse its own fortunes in a meaningful way.

Not as meaningful but maybe more interesting will be Sunday night's friendly against legendary AC Milan. The Italian club brings a who's who of players to town, including Ronaldinho, Filippo Inzaghi, Clarence Seedorf, Alessandro Nesta and Alexandre Pato.

AC Milan also will train at Toyota Park at 5 p.m. Saturday just before the Red Stars game. That training session is open to fans with Red Stars tickets and Fire season-ticket holders.

oschwarz@dailyherald.com

<p class="factboxheadblack">Scouting report </p>

<p class="News">FC Dallas at Chicago Fire</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 7 p.m. today at Toyota Park.</p>

<p class="News"><b>TV:</b> ESPN2.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Scouting FC Dallas:</b> Dallas (2-2-5, 11 points) has done well enough against the Fire that it hasn't lost the Brimstone Cup since 2001. Jeff Cunningham leads the team with 4 goals.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Scouting the Fire:</b> The Fire (2-3-3, 9 points) is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, but that can be a little deceiving. If the club were in the Western Conference, it would be in last place. </p>

<p class="News"><b>Next:</b> vs. AC Milan, 7:30 p.m. Sunday.</p>