Fire Look for a Win and Some Hungry Doughnut Eaters Saturday

Every Wednesday, Paul Tenorio, Frank Klopas and I head up to the Private Bank Fire Pitch and broadcast Fire Weekly.  We review the latest on the Men In Red, recap the previous game and get you ready for the next contest, in this case, Saturday at Toyota Park against Minnesota United FC. (Really...they couldn't go with just United or just FC).  I'm preparing for the show, (5:30pm on CSN Plus), which tonight will feature a couple segments with Fire Goalkeeper, Matt Lampson.

Lampson started the LampStrong Foundation which provides support to cancer patients and encourages survivors and their families to make the most of their second chance at life.

I first talked with Matt at a Chicago Fire benefit, discussing my wife, Pat's, ovarian cancer.  Later, I discussed my bout with Large B-Cell Lymphoma with Matt and his positiveness and enthusiasm are among the things that helped me get through it.

Saturday, Lampson and his teammates will have a counter-takeover Go Glazed fundraiser at Glazed and Infused, 939 W. Armitage in the city from 9-12.  What better way to provide money to his Foundation than through eating donuts?

On the pitch, the Fire have lost three in a row and five of their last six after having the lead in the MLS Supporters Shield Race for the best record in the league.  They fell to the best team in the league, Toronto FC last Saturday in front of a huge crowd at Toyota Park.  It's Minnesota in town Saturday for a 7:30 kick.  If you can't get out there, catch Dan Kelly, Klopas and Tenorio with the call on CSN Plus at 7:00.

Saturday's loss was disappointing, but I saw some good things.  The Fire looked better on the attack in the second half and I thought Bastian Schweinsteiger had his best game in the last few.  Basti, along with Dax McCarty need to get this team ready for the playoff run.  A few defenders, Brandon Vincent, Matt Polster and Joao Meira, getting back from injuries would help.  Not sure that happens for all three of those this weekend.

Fire currently are third place in the Eastern Conference with several teams on their tail.  The top six in each Conference go to the playoffs, something that has eluded the Fire for a while.

Elsewhere, the Cubs continue facing the Reds in Cincinnati, the White Sox continue their homestand and the Bears get ready for their third preseason game in Tennessee this weekend.

Mitchell Trubisky, the Bears first round pick, is all the talk on sports talk radio.  Should he start the third preseason game?  Should he be given the chance to start the season for the Bears?  He sure is keeping the airwaves, newspapers and social media busy.

Speaking of social media, The Athletic, a pay sports news service, continues to expand.  It began here in Chicago, and now has versions in the Bay Area, Detroit, Cleveland, Toronto, Montreal and Philadelphia up next.  Today, they added baseball writer, Ken Rosenthal.  You must get this!

As I go, have you watched The Defenders on Netflix?  Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Daredevil get together to help stop the attempted destruction of New York.  Fun watch.

Talk soon!

(Catch me with Ben Finfer Friday night, August 25th, 7-9 on ESPN 1000, and, as always, Saturdays from 9-12 with Mike Murphy)


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