Mustang Kenny Stern Self-Publishes Novel About Soccer

[MrMustang1965]

By Rob Miech <rob.miech@lasvegassun.com>
Las Vegas Sun

Nonstop rain flooded Rio Cuale and poured over sidewalks and into Banderas Bay. Inside his rental unit in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, words thankfully flowed just as smoothly for Kenny Stern.

After eight years of sporadic work, he finally finished his novel "Kicks" during three rainy weeks in 1992.

A Las Vegas resident since 1995, Stern spent the 1970s and '80s in the front office of the Chicago Sting. The book is loosely based on players and events of the now-defunct North American Soccer League.

"I was very well inspired when I came up with characters and some of the stories," he said.

Stern's work introduces our summer reading column. He started playing soccer in suburban Chicago in his youth and continued until he injured a knee at Southern Methodist University in 1977. Now 48, he has a general membership on the Chicago Board of Trade, and he spends about 70 hours a week trading equities and futures.

Soccer, however, is in his heart. He has served as the color analyst - he's known for his neutrality - for television broadcasts of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire since 1998.

Rolly Ford, the main character and narrator in "Kicks," was drafted out of North Texas State by the Oklahoma City Billies of the North American Continental Soccer League (NACSL). Just when he comes to terms with being the last cut on an 18-man roster, his luck turns. Congratulations, coach Rodger Holt tells Ford, you've worked hard for this. Then a twisted and turbulent 1984 season unravels.

From the start, "Kicks" takes some getting used to. Ford has an inner voice, Ivy, who has some friends of his own, all of whom converse with Ford.

There are grammatical and punctuation errors, but that's what happens when a book is self-published.

Stern is halfway through his next book, which will be a futuristic look at the game. Think Galaxy Cup, instead of World Cup, and you'll conjure up a pretty good preview of his sophomore effort.

If he gets another case of writer's block, look for Stern in Puerto Vallarta.