Twellman fired up by trip to Chicago

CHICAGO -- Taylor Twellman has 41 career MLS goals, but none at Soldier Field. Twellman has had plenty of experience at the stadium, though he was only 4 years old when he joined his father for Chicago Sting practices in 1984.

"The last year and a half my father played in Chicago I was with him in the locker room every day," Twellman recalled yesterday. "I goofed around there and kicked the ball around with the guys. There were some great players on those teams and I appreciate it more now. I didn't realize it at the time, but watching the old tapes you realize how good they were."

Twellman will make his official debut at the restructured Soldier Field when the Revolution meet the Chicago Fire tonight, his first game in Illinois since the Fire relocated from Naperville last year.

Twellman's father, Tim, was among the top US players in the North American Soccer League, which existed from 1967-85. Though Tim Twellman performed mostly in defensive roles, he scored one spectacular goal at Soldier Field, a 19-yard blast against the Cosmos that will be among the subjects discussed during a halftime show featuring former Boston NASL players on tonight's telecast. Two of Taylor's uncles (Steve, with the Boston Minutemen, and Mike) also performed in the NASL.

"There were only a handful of American players who were able to play 10 years in that league," Twellman said. "My father was a forward his whole life, but when he got to the NASL they told him he either had to play defensive midfield or right back. If he was not willing to do that he was not going to play. He had to have a lot of humility to be able to do that, and that humility is something that I have brought to my game."

Twellman scored once in the Revolution's first eight games, but has been out since May 29 with a hamstring strain.

"I feel good and I am looking forward to getting back," Twellman said. "My family is here and they haven't seen me play this year. My aunt Kim, who was here watching my dad play, is still here and she is coming to the game. Chicago is a great soccer town, it was one of my dad's favorite places to play. The coaches were Willie Roy, who was pretty crazy, in Chicago, and Freddie Goodwin in Minnesota. You could learn different things from both of them. They played on Astroturf in those days, it was like playing on cement with a rug over it, it was very tough to play on. They had some very good German players -- Karl Heinz Granitza, a great goal-scorer, and Arno Steffenhagen. My dad said they used to like to have me go to practices because I was about the only kid there. I still have a jersey from the Sting -- No. 21." . . .
Steve Ralston holds the record for games played in the MLS with 264. Ralston started in an outside midfield position in all of those matches, except when he moved to right back last Sunday at Colorado. And Ralston will remain at right back when the Revolution meet the Fire tonight, following the US-Poland exhibition.

"The more times I play there the better I feel," Ralston said. "I am never isolated because Richie [Baker] or Jay [Heaps] are always there to help. But I would rather not play there, because I never played there before and I am not a natural defender. But as long as I am playing I am happy. My first choice is the midfield because I am comfortable and confident in that position.

The Revolution have changed formations and lineups mostly because of injuries. Eight Revolution players have started at multiple positions this season. Heaps, a right back in nearly every one of his 166 MLS matches, became the sixth starter in central defense against Colorado, as the Revolution have attempted to compensate after Carlos Llamosa was injured in the final preseason game.

Former England national team defender Steve Howey could join the Revolution after coming in for a tryout last week. Phil Smith, Howey's agent, set up the deal after a meeting with Revolution coach Steve Nicol.