CHICAGO - A few potential obstacles to success might come north from Mexico with Cuauhtémoc Blanco, the Fire's new striker.
Fire staff and players tried to douse any concerns - even turning some of these so-called negatives into positives - as Blanco was introduced Tuesday at the team's preseason luncheon. Coach David Sarachan said compromise should solve any Spanish-English entropy. Plus, soccer tends to be a language in itself.
"Maybe I can learn a little more Spanish," Sarachan said. Blanco, himself, pledged to learn more English.
Language "won't be a barrier," midfielder Diego Gutierrez said. "We've got enough guys on the field that he can communicate with. I don't expect that it will be a problem."
Team president and CEO John Guppy said that Blanco recently passed a physical and that "he's in great health. He played this weekend for Club America."
Blanco will finish the season with Club America and is expected to play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in late June - which means he won't arrive here until the 13th game of the season on July 1.
"It'll be a work in progress," Sarachan said. "It's not like he'll come in and it's a smooth transition. We have to get to know him on the field."
Losing players for international competition is something many teams deal with, and it can be disruptive. Sarachan said Blanco's continued experience in tournaments and friendlies is "very good for him, if continues to play on that world stage."
The money owed Blanco - or Beckham, for that matter - does not bother teammates Chris Armas or Gutierrez. Blanco's salary, though not announced by the club, is worth it, Armas said.
"The excitement and exposure our league is going to get is a great thing," Armas said. "Players who complain about it, they're not seeing the big picture."
Gutierrez said Blanco has earned the right to earn the money.
"It's not like he's a 20-year-old guy making that kind of money who hasn't won anything," Gutierrez said. "He's been to two World Cups and has scored tons of goals - big goals, at that. If he's coming for whatever money, I'm happy for him. I expect him to do the job."
As for Blanco's antics, Armas said Blanco is the kind you hate to play against, but love playing alongside.
"With players like Blanco, if you get that feeling you don't like him, it's because he's so good," Armas said. "He's ... a fierce competitor and he wears it on his sleeve. Gratefully, he's on our side now, helping us win."
Blanco, addressing arguments with officials, said that referees are people, too.
"They have their good days and bad days, just like everyone else," Blanco said.
Bob Bradley, the Fire's former coach who now runs the U.S. national team, said the league needs players with personality, such as Blanco.
"Blanco is a competitor, and he's a player who's always had a nasty streak and a huge desire to win," Bradley said. "Years ago, we brought Hristo Stoichkov here and, again, we felt that only made the league better."
David Brown is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
