A dozen players and coaches from Cleveland’s soccer past sign autographs at today’s Soccer Expo at the Western Reserve Historical Society. The ex-pros include the Force’s Zoran Karic and the Crunch’s Nick DiCello. “Some of these guys were popular in their day,” insists Scott Longert, Western Reserve’s sports archivist. “There are still a lot of their admirers around.”
@cal body 1:In addition to the old-timers, fans can meet players from the city’s latest stab at soccer immortality -- the minor-league Cleveland City Stars, who play their first game next month. Folks can also purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win autographed jerseys. “It just wasn’t the Force and the Crunch we’ve had,” says DiCello. “There have been championship teams in amateur ball going back to the ’50s. I want people to say, ‘Wow! We do have a soccer history in this town!’”
Sat., March 24, noon
