Crean a big soccer supporter
Marquette basketball coach Tom Crean injected new life into his school’s basketball program when he coached the men’s team to a 2003 Final Four appearance. Now, he’s looking to help boost Marquette’s soccer program. Crean is expected to donate $100,000 to help build a soccer-specific stadium, which is scheduled to open in September of 2008 (this sentence as published has been corrected in this text). The $5 million facility will be built where the current stadium is located, Valley Fields. The current plan is for the stadium to hold 2,500 seats and have four locker rooms, a training room, staff offices, video rooms, a player’s lounge and a tunnel leading to the field. Crean has been at Marquette since 1999 and is among the highest paid college basketball coaches.
— Luis Arroyave
Bradley to enter Ring of Fire
The Fire announced on Thursday that U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley will become the fifth person to be inducted into the Ring of Fire, the team’s hall of fame. Bradley, who coached the Fire from 1998-2002 with a 82-54-15 record, will be honored before the Fire-Columbus Crew game on Aug. 4 at Toyota Park. “Bob was an instrumental part of the initial years of this team, helping to instill a winning tradition in the Fire that we carry on today,” said Fire GM John Guppy. Past Ring of Fire honorees include Peter Nowak, Frank Klopas, Lubos Kubik, and Peter Wilt. Bradley coached the Fire to its only MLS Cup title in the team’s inaugural 1998 season.
— Luis Arroyave
Gonzalez commits to girlfriend
You can officially take Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez off the singles market. Well, sort of officially. He isn’t getting married, but is planning a “formal commitment ceremony” July 20 in Huntington Beach, Calif., where he’ll pledge his love to girlfriend October Russell. “We’re not signing any papers,” he told the Kansas City Star, “but I wanted the world to know that I love her and want to spend my life with her. I did it the best way for me.” They met five years ago when Russell was working at a Newport Beach, Calif., restaurant owned by Dennis Rodman and have been dating for two years. Vows written by Gonzalez and Russell will be exchanged at the ceremony and Gonzalez’s 6-year-old son, Nikko, will be involved.
