Former Fire defender played with club for 13 seasons.

by Dan Gaichas

BRIDGEVIEW, IL--Former Fire defender CJ Brown will become the seventh member of the Ring of Fire on Wednesday, May 9th when the Fire host Real Salt Lake. Brown, a Fire Original, played with the club for 13 seasons making 372 appearances across all competitions which is third all-time amongst MLS clubs. Brown was the Fire’s captain for the 2008 and 2009 seasons and is currently an assistant coach with Real Salt Lake.

CJ Brown joins former captain Peter Nowak, former forward and current head coach Frank Klopas, former defender Lubos Kubik, former Fire General Manager Peter Wilt, former Fire head coach Bob Bradley, and former captain Chris Armas.

“Honestly I’ve been trying to figure out words to describe it since [Andell Managing Director] Javier Leon called to tell me,” Brown told Chicago-Fire.com Tuesday morning. “It’s obviously a huge honor to be considered and be put in the Ring with those guys.

“I spent 13 years [in Chicago] so obviously the first thing you look at is the double in 1998. You never anticipate that happening, you never anticipate playing much your first year. [Brown played 28 of 32 regular season games in 1998.] I have memories from relationships of people I grew up with during my time in Chicago. Fans that I met the first day that I keep in touch with now, the supporters in Section 8 and the memories you have hanging out and partying with them. Just coming from Soldier Field, seeing Toyota Park being built. I was able to see the Fire grow, it was like our child. We brought it up, watched it thrive and it’s a part of my family.”

Brown is one of three Fire players (Armas and Zach Thornton) who have been a part of all six domestic trophies that the club has won.

“C.J. Brown played his entire MLS career with the Men in Red and is deserving of the Ring of Fire recognition. His longevity, commitment and passion for our club make him a standout among Fire players,” said Javier Leon, Managing Director of Andell Sports Group. “C.J. led by example, brought grit and toughness to the field and did things the right way off the pitch. We’re happy to honor his career with an induction into the Ring of Fire.”

Armas, who was the most recent inductee in 2009, was extremely supportive of the move to induct Brown.

“When Javier called me to discuss the Ring of Fire and the possibility of C.J.’s induction, I was extremely supportive,” said former Fire captain and Ring of Fire member Chris Armas. “It’s great that the Fire continue to preserve and connect with the tradition and history at our club. Every time I stepped on the field, I knew C.J. had my back. C.J. was a tremendous soccer player and he had great character and class. He was humble, unselfish and a pit bull of a defender all at the same time. C.J. led by example, rather than words, and he is the model for what we want Chicago Fire players and people to be like.”

CJ will be honored prior to the May 9th match against Real Salt Lake at Toyota Park. Kickoff is at 7:30pm.