My50 Chicago Fire Broadcast Team Announced

Fred Huebner, Chris Doran, and Sarah Kustok to call Sept. 23, Oct. 21 Dates

 

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (Wednesday, Sept. 5) - Chicago Fire Soccer announced today the My50 Chicago/WPWR-TV broadcast team that will call two Fire home games for the 2007 regular season. Local sports radio personality Fred Huebner will handle the play-by-play duties and long-time Fire broadcast sideline reporter Chris Doran will join him in the booth as color commentator, while local Fox affiliate reporter Sarah Kustok will make her Fire broadcast debut with the sideline call.

 

Chicago Fire Soccer and My50 reached an agreement in early August to broadcast two games this season, including the Oct. 21 home finale against the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Chicago Fox affiliate will also carry the Sept. 23 contest versus D.C. United at TOYOTA PARK. The 2007 season marks the first time in team history that every game is being televised.

 

“This partnership represents another milestone for the Chicago Fire, as it is the first time since the 2002 season that our games will be broadcast locally on an over-the-air network,” said Fire President/CEO John Guppy. “We are extremely excited to partner with My50 for the broadcast of two critical games, as we continue to push for the playoffs.”

 

Huebner, 50, is considered one of the foremost soccer authorities in the Chicagoland media market and is one of the most recognizable soccer enthusiasts on air today. His voice should be familiar to Chicago sports, as Huebner has been with local radio station 670-AM The Score in various capacities since March, 1992.  Huebner began his career with SportsPhone in Chicago, from 1977 through 1990 and joined The Score as an update anchor, before moving onto weekend host, and co-host with Mike Murphy, before his current position with The Mike North Morning Show. The Chicago native lists traveling to Germany for the 2006 FIFA World Cup as one of his most memorable moments in his life. Huebner continues his role on the Mike North Morning Show, which airs each week from 6:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m., Monday-Friday.

 

Doran, 43, is currently in his sixth season as the sideline reporter for Chicago Fire regional television broadcasts. He has anchored broadcasts of men's and women's Big 10 Championships and served as a sideline reporter for Fox Soccer Channel, CSTV and the Big 10 Network. Doran is the first English radio play-by-play announcer for the Fire and the Indiana University soccer program.  He holds a B license with U.S. Soccer, has coached club and high school soccer for 15 years, and provides personal training to players from the youth to the college level.

 

Kustok, 25, moves to broadcast team after making her mark on the basketball court for the “Blue Demons” as a player, leading the squad to four postseason appearances, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths in 2003 and 2004. The Orland Park, Ill. native followed her playing career with color commentary duties for DePaul radio broadcasts, worked with ESPN on their college football productions, and has also worked on the Illinois High School girls’ basketball state championship telecasts as a color commentator.

 

“My50 has put together a broadcast team that we feel has great potential to capture the excitement of these two matches,” said Fire Director of Marketing Dan Parise. “We look forward to working with Fred, Chris and Sarah to deliver a high-quality product to our fans watching the games at home.”

 

Chicago Fire on My50 Chicago

Sept. 23 -- D.C. United -- 2:00 p.m. CT
Oct. 21 -- Los Angeles Galaxy -- 2:00 p.m. CT

 

 

 

 

About WPWR-TV (My50 Chicago)

WPWR-TV, or My50 Chicago, is owned-and-operated by FOX Television Stations, one of the nation's largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, consisting of 35 stations in 26 markets covering nearly 45 percent of U.S. television homes. This includes six duopolies in the top 10 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington D.C. and Houston; as well as duopolies in Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando. More information on My50’s programming is available at www.my50chicago.com.