Thank you, Chris!

When I was drafted in January 2005 by the Chicago Fire I was more excited just to be a part of an MLS preseason in general than I was to be specifically involved with the Chicago Fire. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I was very fortunate to have been drafted by this organization. Fortunate for many reasons, but at the very top of that list was the fact that I was able to spend three years around Chris Armas.

Did I realize my good fortune right away and take advantage of it from the start? No, but before long I began to see just how special this man was and I actually found myself gravitating toward him. It wasn’t because of his 11 professional seasons (before the 2005 season), his 7 years with the National Team, his 2000 U.S. Male Soccer Athlete of the Year Award, his 5 MLS Best XI’s, his 7 MLS All-Star teams, or his 5 professional soccer championships. It was, and still is, because of the person Chris Armas is. I’ve heard many people talking about the ‘responsibility’ of athletes to be role models. Well this is the guy those people should have been using as an example.


He’s a winner, plain and simple. That’s the easiest way to sum it up for my limited vocabulary (although even that has improved thanks to Chris’s crossword puzzle influence). He’s confident but not cocky, always preparing himself to win. He is as honest as they come, telling me what I’m doing wrong and what I’m doing right. He is a great listener and seems to always have time for it. He’s a fighter, coming back from 2 ACL tears to return to dominance. He’s the ultimate competitor, willing to argue over games that most people would see as unimportant. He’s a kid at heart who plays games every chance he gets (he actually let me win a small number over the years, although it had to bother him taking the loss just to keep me interested in playing!). He’s respectful to everyone he meets. He’s considerate and thoughtful of those around him. He’s demanding – pushing me to get the most out of my abilities. He’s humble despite his incredible career and successes. He’s supportive and caring, always checking on my physical health and doing his best to insure that I received the best treatment no matter the severity of an injury. What else could you want out of anyone?

On top of that, Chris is a great friend, great teammate, and the best captain with whom I have ever played. He gives all of himself toward whatever activity in which he’s involved. Whether it’s the conference final, a pre-season game, or an autograph signing, you know what you’re going to get from him – 100% dedication, focus and effort. He’s been someone to reinforce many things that I was taught by my parents and he has been a great example for me.

Looking back on that draft day in January of 2005, I should be thanking those in control of my destiny that day. Not just for the chance to pursue my dream of playing professional soccer, but for their role in introducing me to Chris Armas. As my time as a professional continues, whether I'm on or off the field, I hope that I can show a little bit of Chris Armas in me.

I’m sure that I speak for many people that he has come into contact with and all of the Chicago Fire fans since 1998 in saying, “Thanks for everything, Chris! You’ll be greatly missed!”

*To read up on all of Chris's accomplishments on the field check out his bio on the Fire website.