My fellow Americans, in the seventies and eighties, a new force emerged in the city of Chicago. A force that not only represented the city on the field, but also captured the hearts of the people of Chicago and the entire nation. That force was the Chicago Sting.

The Sting was founded in 1974 by Lee Stern of Chicago and competed in the North American Soccer League for the first time in the 1975 season. A few years after founding the Sting, Stern brought Willy Roy on as head coach. Roy coached the Sting for the remainder of their outdoor existence. The team was named in reference to the popular 1973 film, The Sting, whose action was set in Chicago of the 1930s.

The Sting played at various venues, including Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, and Comiskey Park for outdoor games and the International Amphitheatre, Chicago Stadium, and the Rosemont Horizon for indoor games. They were North American Soccer League champions in 1981 and 1984, one of only two NASL teams (the New York Cosmos) to win the championship twice.

The Chicago Sting represented not just a team, but a symbol of the city’s resilience and determination. They were a shining example of what can be achieved when a group of individuals come together and work towards a common goal. And as we continue to strive for greatness in the world of football, let us remember the lessons of the Chicago Sting and the legends that played for them.