For Riverhounds fans, it has been disappointment from hope of a proposed new home that never materialized, since the site at Colliers Twp. was voted down by the residents.
But besides that, the success at the gate had gone cold, since the oppenimg seasons. I think the downfall began after g.m. Dave Kasper left for the New England Revolution. I don't blame him for following his dreams, in fact I supported him. But I wonder if naming Kai Haskivi as coach/g.m. was the right move. Maybe they should have gone more local, as they started with head coach John Kowalski and assistants Paul Child and Gene Klien.
The hounds have left us with some great memories, at Bethel Park, which is now just that-a memory.
I remember standing on the sidelines waiting for interviews with other reporters and lead by hounds P.R. Sharon Talarico, during a U.S. Open Cup game vs. Colorado, when leading scorer Phil Karns drove up the left side on a break and lofted a shot into the upper left, past then-Rapids keeper Aidin Brown, in stoppage time, for what would be the 2-0 final, before just 1,661.
I remember all the traffic congestion trying to get out of the area, with the help of the local police dept. directing traffic. The police eventually left, never to be found at the games again for whatever reason.
In addition to Karn, Micheal Apple, Adam Federko, Eduardo Child, Bobby Meyers and numberous others that I can't recall at the moment.
There was also the game that saw the hounds head to Chicago, as one of just 2 A-League teams to reach the U.S. Open Cup Eastern Bracket. Paul Daugherty scored for the hounds, to tie at 2, before we lost in 2 overtimes.
I remember a significant gathering of hounds fans at Piper's Pub, on the South Side, for that.
The hounds had a total of 3 sell-outs, the opening 3-2 shootout loss to Cincinnati, before 5,436, the appearance of U.S. women's star Brandi Chastain and the scrimmage with out then-affiliate Columbus Crew. The hounds beat Connecticut during the appearance, 2-0. And they tied the Crew, 1-1. And then there was the incident where the (Ct.) Wolves player(Temoc something) celebrated a goal by pretending to be a dog and making a peeing motion in front of the houmds bench, resulting in a league fine.
Those are just some of my memories, hopefully many more will be made in 05 at Falconi Field.
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