I promise. There will be no buzzing horns to endure while reading this. World Cup fever is in the air, if you can hear it over the constant buzz of what they call in South Africa the "vuvuzela," those annoying horns fans blow during the World Cup soccer games.
They don't sell the horns at Stefan's Soccer Supply, but they have just about everything else a World Cup soccer fan in our area would want. From the brightly-colored jerseys and shoes the players wear to the authentic World Cup soccer ball, if it's World Cup stuff you want then Stefan's is the place to be. And business, says manager Craig Nowakowski, is booming these days.
"This is beyond Christmas for us," said Nowakowski. "Whatever you see on TV, whatever the pros are wearing, whatever is hot we pride ourselves on having it here."
And they've been doing it for 40 years. Stefan's Soccer Supply is a family business, started by Craig's Polish immigrant grandfather on the South Side of Milwaukee in 1969. They now have stores in Milwaukee, Brookfield, Mequon and Madison.
With the World Cup just getting into full swing now, Nowakowski says the hottest seller in the stores is the United States jerseys, both the home and away versions. He says it seems like there is more support for the U.S. team this year than there was during the last World Cup competition in 2006. (The U.S. next plays on Friday morning.)
The somewhat controversial World Cup soccer ball that is being used in South Africa is also a big seller at Stefan's.
"Any time these companies push the envelope with technology there is going to be a reaction. But every kid wants the ball that goalies hate," said Nowakowski. "It has been crazy busy here, but we like that, both from a business perspective and as fans of the sport."
Who does Craig think will win it all? Which black jersey is also a top seller?
Listen to the entire interview on the Wednesday, June 16 PhilCast show.
Phil is a Milwaukee guy. He was born and raised in Milwaukee, a graduate of UW-Milwaukee in 1982. He first took to the airwaves in the Milwaukee market in the fall of 1978 when he began attending classes at UWM.
Married to Sandy, another Milwaukeean. No children but a Cairn terrier named Gabby. (Phil is very active with the Wisconsin Humane Society).
Phil has made a connection with the people of this area through his decades of reaching out to them via the radio while talking about the events and news stories that affect the entire community. That connection is reflected in the hundreds of e-mails and blog comments that have been sent or posted in support of his next project, the PhilCast podcast.
