The Baltimore Blast

The Baltimore Blast is proud and excited to be the first professional sports team to have their games televised live on Maryland Public television, starting in the 2007-08 season. The Blast and MPT have teamed up to broadcast four Blast games, live from 1st Mariner Arena in downtown Baltimore.

The four-time MISL Champion Baltimore Blast are gearing up for the upcoming 2007-08 MISL season! The team started training camp on September 24th, led by head coach Danny Kelly and assistant coach/player David Bascome. The Blast will open the 2007-08 season at 1st Mariner Arena on Friday, October 19 against the MISL defending champion Philadelphia KiXX.

Denison Cabral

Although the Blast started training camp with a disappointing injury, the team looks forward to the upcoming season and the mixture of returning veteran players and new, young players. On the first day of training camp, 2006 MISL MVP Adauto Neto left the playing field with a broken foot and is expected to miss at least eight weeks after undergoing surgery. On the bright side, the Blast will field several other experienced players including Denison Cabral and Baltimore locals P.J. Wakefield, Billy Nelson, Giuliano Celenza and Mike Lookingland. Robbie Aristodemo, Carlos Garcia, Machel Millwood, Matt Watson and Sagu will also return for the 2007-08 season.

The team also recently signed Bowie native, midfielder Scott Buete, who is expected to join the team in practice shortly. Buete played college soccer at the University of Maryland and was named NSCAA All-American and First-Team All-ACC after his senior year.

It's an exciting time for the Blast and the entire MISL due to the recent league expansion which included the addition of the Orlando Sharks, New Jersey Ironmen and Monterrey (Mexico) La Raza. The Sharks will make their first appearance in Baltimore on November 10th, followed by the La Raza on November 16th. Fans will have to wait until January 4th to see the Ironmen make their 1st Mariner Arena debut.

Matt Watson

With so much talent, the outlook for the season is high, and fans can anticipate 30 exciting, fast-paced regular-season games leading up to the April playoffs. After winning three of the last five MISL Championships, the Blast knows what it takes to win and is determined to bring the MISL trophy back to Baltimore.

Practices throughout the preseason and regular season are open the public, who are welcome to attend with no admission fee.

For more information on Blast tickets, promotional nights, or for a complete schedule, please call 410-73-BLAST or go to www.baltimoreblast.com.

History of the Baltimore Blast:

Machel Millwood
• It was during the summer of 1980 that the Baltimore Blast first made its mark in Baltimore. It was at the completion of the 1983-84 season that the team earned its place in Baltimore sports history by capturing the MISL Championship. It was after the back-to-back championships in 2003 and 2004 that the Blast cemented its place among the Charm City's great sports stories. The team impressed the city of Baltimore yet again with another championship in 2006 - the third in four years.
  
  
• Originally located in Houston and known as the Summit, the team moved to Baltimore prior to the 1980-81 MISL season and played its first home game (at the then-Civic Center) on November 29th, 1980.
  
  
• Under the direction of Head Coach Kenny Cooper, the club was known for its bright red, orange and yellow uniforms and for the players' aggressive ways on the soccer field. During its first season in Baltimore, the Blast posted a 21-19 record.
  
  
• In addition to the team's on-field accomplishments, the organization built ties to the community, emphasizing its commitment to the Greater Baltimore area. Players such as Pat Ercoli, Heinz Wirtz, Mike Stankovic, Nick Mangione and Scott Manning emerged as stars, captivating fans with their skills while the legendary Stan "the Magician" Stamenkovic, amazed fans with his dazzling footwork.
  
  
• The Blast continued to flourish with each new season, on and off the field. During the pregame ceremonies, the Blast gave the Civic Center a mystical atmosphere by emerging from a giant, neon soccer ball that was suspended from the Arena's ceiling.
  
  
• On June 8th, 1984, before a record crowd of 12,007 loyal screaming fans, the Blast won the franchise's first MISL Title by defeating the St. Louis Steamers, four-games-to-one.
  
  
• Following the championship season, the team went through its first ownership change, though the focus remained on keeping the core of the team together. The squad advanced to the playoffs each of the next three seasons and in 1986 a new star was born. Billy Ronson, a young English player, joined the team and was an instant fan favorite.
  
  
• On September 15, 1989, local businessman Ed Hale purchased the Blast. Following the team's 32-20 1989-90 season, the Blast announced its All-Decade team, which included Manning, Stamenkovic, Bruce Savage, Joey Fink, Tim Wittman and Dave MacWilliams.
  
  
• After the 1991-92 season, the MISL ceased operations and Baltimore bid a fond farewell to its beloved Blast.
  
  
• It was at that time that Cooper joined forces with another local businessman to launch the Baltimore Spirit, Baltimore's National Professional Soccer League franchise. The new team set out to rekindle the "spirit" of Baltimore soccer - the winning record, the roar of the crowd and the local talent.
  
  
• In the Spirit's first season, Cooper led the team to a 27-13 record and the American Division Championship. The inaugural Spirit team featured Baltimore natives Jason Dieter and Barry Stitz and several members of the former MISL Blast, including Doug Neely and Joe Koziol. Dieter, the first player signed by the NPSL franchise, retired after the 2003 Championship and served as the team's assistant coach for the 2003-04 championship campaign.
  
  
• After the 1997-98 season, Ed Hale, the owner who saw the team flourish in the late 1980s, regained ownership of the franchise and changed the team's name back to the Blast. Behind the slogan, "The Blast is Back," Hale re-instilled the team's devotion to the community, continued the tradition of highlighting local players and increased game-night attendance at 1st Mariner Arena.
  
  
• Entering his 13th year as owner of the Blast, Hale remains dedicated to providing Baltimore's families with exciting sports entertainment at an affordable price.
  
  
• Prior to the 2001-02 season, the NPSL folded and the new MISL was created. This season, the MISL will field nine teams, including the expansion Monterrey La Raza, New Jersey Ironmen and Orlando Sharks. The Blast, California Cougars, Chicago Storm, Detroit Ignition, Milwaukee Wave and Philadelphia KiXX will also return for the 2007-08 season.
  
  
• As the Blast continues its resurgence into the community and its quest for a fourth MISL championship, local youth leagues are full of players striving to reach the level of play and sportsmanship demonstrated by the Blast players. With summer camps, school programs and numerous other community programs, the Blast is determined to continue the growth of youth soccer in Baltimore.
  
  

Sponsored by:

© 2008 Maryland Public Television
Privacy Policy