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Dallas Sidekicks (1984–2004)

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For the current indoor team, see Dallas Sidekicks (2012–present).
Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks 1993–2004
Full nameDallas Sidekicks
FoundedJanuary 9, 1984
DissolvedSeptember 13, 2004
GroundReunion Arena
Capacity16,626
LeagueMISL I
CISL
WISL
MISL II

The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2003–04 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor Soccer League. Over the years, the team played in four other leagues (CISL,[1] WISL, PSA, and the second incarnation of the MISL). The team's most famous player was Tatu, who was known for throwing his shirt into the stands after every goal. The team hosted the 1989 MISL All-Star Game. The team was one of the most successful franchises in indoor soccer history, making the playoffs in 16 of their 19 seasons of play. In the playoffs, the team made it to the championship game/series eight times, winning four titles.

An expansion team named after this team began play in the Professional Arena Soccer League on November 3, 2012. Home games for the new Dallas Sidekicks are played at the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas.

Honors

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Championship banners on display at the Allen Event Center on November 30, 2012.

Championships (4)

  • 1986–87 MISL
  • 1993 CISL
  • 1998 PSA
  • 2001 WISL

Division Titles (5)

  • 1989–90 MISL Western Division
  • 1993 CISL Regular Season
  • 1994 CISL Eastern Division
  • 1998 PSA Regular Season
  • 2003–04 MISL II Western Division

Key moments

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The first goal (and first powerplay goal) in team history was scored by forward Herve Guilliod on November 2, 1984, in a game against the Las Vegas Americans.[2] Goals #100, #2,000, and #3,000 were all scored by all-time team scoring leader Tatu.[2]

Around noon on Feb. 13, 1989 The Dallas Sidekicks filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, one hour before the Mavericks were scheduled to file suit seeking to force the Sidekicks to repay a $519,000 debt. Team president David Shuttee said the debt was from 1986, when a group of Dallas businessmen purchased the Sidekicks from Mavericks owner Donald Carter.[3]

Rivalry

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During the MISL I days, the Sidekicks main rivals were the San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars, and Minnesota Strikers. During the 1990s, a rivalry developed between the Sidekicks and Monterrey La Raza.

Head coaches

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In March 2013, Gordon Jago was named to the 2013 class of the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame.[4][5]

Year Coach Record Notable wins
1984–1989 & 1991–1997 Gordon Jago 231–203 2 Championship victories (1986–87 in the MISL and 1993 in the CISL)
1989–1991 Billy Phillips 53–49 1 Western Division Title (1989–90 in the MISL )
1998–2004 Tatu 84–68 2 Championship victories (1998 and 2001 in the WISL)

Retired uniform numbers

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Former players

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Arenas

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Year-by-year

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League Champions Runners-Up Division/League Champions* Playoff Berth
Year League Reg. Season GF GA Pct Finish Playoffs Owner(s) Attendance Average Slogan
1984–85 MISL 12–36 194 286 .250 7th West did not qualify Donald Carter 4,969 Fast, Fun and Furious!
1985–86 MISL 25–23 220 231 .521 3rd East Lost Eastern Division Semifinals vs. Minnesota Strikers, 1–3 Donald Carter 6,654 It'll knock yer socks off!
1986–87** MISL 28–24 209 197 .538 3rd East Won Eastern Division Semifinals vs. Baltimore Blast, 3–2
Won Eastern Division Finals vs. Cleveland Force, 4–1
Won MISL Finals vs. Tacoma Stars, 4–3		 Stan Finney, Jan Rogers, Joe Shea 8,637 The wild side of soccer!
1987–88 MISL 28–28 200 204 .500 3rd East Lost Eastern Division Semifinals vs. Cleveland Force, 1–3 Stan Finney, Jan Rogers, Joe Shea 9,878 Never Say Die
1988–89 MISL 24–24 185 206 .500 3rd MISL Lost Semifinals vs. San Diego Sockers, 3–4 Stan Finney, Jan Rogers, Joe Shea 8,567 Get your kicks
1989–90 MISL 31–21 217 190 .596 1st West Lost Western Division Finals vs. San Diego Sockers, 2–4 David Paschal 9,004 N/A
1990–91 MSL 20–32 257 294 .385 4th West did not qualify Phill Cobb 6,920 N/A
1991–92 MSL 22–18 231 229 .550 2nd MISL Won Semifinals vs. Cleveland Crunch, 4–2
Lost MISL Finals vs. San Diego Sockers, 2–4		 Donald Carter 7,003 N/A
1993 CISL 23–5 230 150 .821 1st CISL Won Semifinal Game vs. Monterrey La Raza, 11–6
Won CISL Finals vs. San Diego Sockers, 2–1		 Donald Carter 5,800 N/A
1994 CISL 24–4 255 160 .857 1st East Won Quarterfinals vs. Pittsburgh Stingers, 2–0
Won Semifinals vs. Washington Warthogs, 2–0
Lost CISL Finals vs. Las Vegas Dustdevils, 1–2		 Donald Carter 7,310 N/A
1995 CISL 18–10 215 165 .643 2nd East Won Quarterfinals vs. Mexico Toros, 2–0
Lost Semifinals vs. Monterrey La Raza, 0–2		 Donald Carter 9,380 N/A
1996 CISL 16–12 186 167 .571 3rd East Won Quarterfinals vs. Anaheim Splash, 2–0
Lost Semifinals vs. Monterrey La Raza, 0–2		 Sonny Willams, Donald Carter 9,202 Hot Soccer Cool Seat
1997 CISL[1] 13–15 165 160 .464 4th East Lost Quarterfinals vs. Monterrey La Raza, 1–2 Sonny Willams, Donald Carter 9,212 Major League Fun
1998 PSA 8–2 N/A N/A .800 1st WISL Won PSA Championship Game vs. Sacramento Knights, 6–2 Sonny Willams, Donald Carter 9,167 NSN Never Say Never™
1999 WISL 15–7 127 88 .773 2nd WISL Won Semifinal Game vs. Monterrey La Raza, 4–3
Lost WISL Championship Game vs. Sacramento Knights, 6–7		 Sonny Willams, Donald Carter 8,860 N/A
2000 WISL 17–7 153 107 .708 2nd WISL Won Semifinal Game vs. Utah Freezz, 7–4
Lost WISL Championship Game vs. Monterrey La Raza, 5–6		 Sonny Willams, Donald Carter 7,482 N/A
2001 WISL 14–10 109 108 .583 2nd WISL Won Semifinals vs Sacramento Knights, 2–0
Won WISL Finals vs. San Diego Sockers, 2–1		 Sonny Willams, Donald Carter 8,640 Not Your Ordinary Soccer
2002–03 MISL 9–27 342 427 .250 4th West did not qualify Sonny Willams 7,851 Fast and Furious
2003–04 MISL 21–15 213 167 .583 1st West Won Quarterfinal Game vs. Cleveland Force, 7–4
Lost Semifinal Game vs. Baltimore Blast, 1–6		 Sonny Willams 5,756 N/A
  • *There were 7 seasons where the league the Sidekicks were competing in did not feature divisions, so there was a regular season league champion before the playoffs began.
  • **This 1986–87 Sidekicks team was inducted into the Pizza Hut Park Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame. Known forever in Dallas as the "Never Say Die" season, the Dallas Sidekicks defeated a heavily favored Tacoma Stars squad to win the 1987 MISL Championship. Down three games to two in a best-of-seven series, the Sidekicks won the final two games 5–4 and 4–3 respectively, both in overtime and both in front of sold-out arenas in Tacoma and Dallas.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Loss of teams forces CISL to shut down". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, TX: The McClatchy Company. December 24, 1997. p. 10. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Marshall, Raymond (December 10, 2014). "Sidekicks Numerology: Goal Number 1". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX: A. H. Belo. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  3. ^ "The Dallas Sidekicks filed Monday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy..." upi.com. UPI. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  4. ^ Carrick, Buzz (March 5, 2013). "Former Dallas Sidekicks Coach Gordon Jago Named 2013 Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
  5. ^ "Former Sidekicks Coach Gordon Jago Named 2013 Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee". Our Sports Central. March 5, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
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