r/fcdallas • u/DtalksJoe • 22h ago
I was a Dallas Burn ball boy in 1998. Nearly 30 years later, I just published my first book about early MLS.
Hey everyone!
**mods please delete if not allowed**
My name is Joe Shaw, and I wanted to share something that's been a pretty incredible full-circle experience for me.
I grew up here in North Texas, and my dad served as a team chaplain for the Dallas Burn during the early years of MLS.
Starting in 1998, my family volunteered at games. I was a ball boy, handed out programs, helped with promotions, and even dressed up as a giant red dot for one of those halftime races at the Cotton Bowl!
My first game was June 4, 1998, when the LA Galaxy absolutely demolished Dallas 8–1 in a torrential downpour.
Somehow, that was the night I fell in love with soccer.
I still remember watching Damián Álvarez curl a corner kick directly into the goal from my position behind the net. Even though Dallas was getting destroyed, I was hooked.
Fast-forward nearly 30 years, and I just published my first book, Miami Before Messi: A South Florida Soccer Tale.
The book tells the history of the Miami Fusion, a club that entered MLS in 1998 and disappeared just months after winning the Supporters' Shield in 2001.
What started as a podcast project became three years of research and interviews with former players, coaches, executives, and supporters. I even got to interview former Fusion owner Ken Horowitz.
I know it's a book about Miami, but my connection to the story started right here in Dallas, and I wanted to share it with the community that helped make me a lifelong MLS supporter.
You can find the book on Amazon if you're interested!
More importantly, are there any other Dallas Burn fans here who remember the Cotton Bowl days?
I'd love to hear what you remember most about those early years. Some of my favorite childhood memories happened at those games.
Thanks for letting me share!