Joe Konopacki looked like a soccer version of the late “Wild Bill” Hagy as he waved his red Blast towel to lead a chant of B-L-A-S-T.
But instead of leading the cheer from Section 34 at Memorial Stadium, the 58-year-old Lutherville resident conducted a group of about 70 Blast fans gathered outside 1st Mariner Bank Tower in Canton to welcome the triumphant team home.
“The Blast organization deserves this, from the players to the owner to the fans,” Konopacki said. “We?re the No. 1 fans, the No. 1 organization. They ought to take our model or regime and let the other teams go from there. We can finally say we?re a dynasty.”
Fans waved signs documenting the team?s four championships ? 2003, ?04, ?06 and now ?08 ? in the past six seasons as they threw confetti along Clinton Street upon the team?s return after defeating the Monterrey La Raza, 14-11, in Milwaukee on Saturday night.
“It?s unbelievable,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said. “I don?t think it has really sunk in yet, four championships in six years. I told the guys, ?some players go their whole careers without playing in a championship game, and we?ve got four trophies.? I think it?s pretty unbelievable.”
Kelly became the first coach to win two championships with the same Baltimore team since Weeb Eubank won NFL Championships with the Colts in 1958 and ?59.
Including the 1983-84 title from the original Blast franchise, the organization has five championships ? the most by any of the city?s professional teams.
This year?s title was unique, as the Blast (24-11) began the season 5-0 and slid to 5-5 before closing the season by winning 19 of 25 games.
“We went through a lot as a team and we made it as a team to the finals,” Blast veteran forward Denison Cabral, who scored three goals en route to being named the game?s Most Valuable Player. “It was well deserved, and everybody contributed.”
Blast players also credited the fans, who led the league in attendance during the regular season and gave the team support by traveling to road games.
“They deserve this,” Cabral said. “We had so many people out there in Milwaukee. In Milwaukee and New Jersey in the playoffs, we played at home, I?m telling you. So many people came to support us. It was nice.”
Kelly, Cabral, Giuliano Celenza, Billy Nelson, and captain P.J. Wakefield each won their fourth ring with the Blast.
In an era in which the city?s two major franchises ? the Ravens and Orioles ? are in flux, Baltimore can claim superiority in a sport.
“I guess that?s what you want to call a dynasty,” Wakefield said. “Every year it?s amazing because it?s a different group of guys. To be part of one in your career is amazing, but four in six, it?s hard to talk about. It?s unbelievable.”
