Kenny Cooper firmly believed that bold and brash was the only way to go, and he quickly came to understand that was what the Baltimore fans would always expect.

So 22 years ago, there was the new coach with the new team soon to be playing the new professional sport in town, speaking at the Blast's first news conference in the packed VIP lounge at the Baltimore Civic Center.

It wasn't exactly Babe Ruth calling his home run, but it definitely raised some eyebrows.

"Our owner, Bernie Rodin, asked me what my thoughts were before the press conference, and I told him I felt with this city and the relationship we can have with their strong response, I believe we can win a championship here in four years. And that's what I said," Cooper said.

"I felt very strongly in my heart about the statement and afterward, my wife said to me: 'Do you realize what you said?' I said, 'Absolutely. It is going to take four years.' "

That was May 1980, when the Houston franchise in the 2-year-old Major Indoor Soccer League was looking for a new home and found a comfortable one in Baltimore.

Four years later, Cooper and the Blast, in their "talk-the-talk and walk-the-walk" season, captured their only MISL crown. That 1983-84 championship team will be honored tonight at 1st Mariner Arena when old nemesis San Diego comes back to town for a 7:35 game.

The Blast, fourth in the league in attendance this year at 5,254 a game, is expecting its biggest crowd since its season opener. As of yesterday, more than 7,000 tickets had been sold, with a big walk-up crowd anticipated.

It's not the 11,000-plus the Blast of the past averaged in its magical season, but much of the excitement promises to return.

"We think it's going to be simple but classy, and a night that people are going to remember," said Blast general manager Kevin Healey.

On June 6, 1984 - in the Blast's fourth season - the team flew back from St. Louis with a 3-1 lead over the Steamers in the best-of-seven championship series, fully aware of what would be waiting for its next game.

A crowd of 12,007 - the team's 20th sellout at home that season - gloriously watched Joey Fink score five goals, goalkeeper Keith Van Eron turn away 17 shots and the Blast come away with a 10-3 win for the MISL title.

"I remember for me, personally, it was a game I enjoyed because I knew after the three straight wins we were going to win," said midfielder Heinz Wirtz, who spent four seasons in Baltimore. "It gave me the opportunity to enjoy the warm-up and the game - all three hours of that night - not just the final whistle."

Most of the players from the 1983-84 championship team have returned and will play in a Legends Game against a group of local players at 5:30 p.m. They will be introduced as part of ceremonies that will include a video presentation and the honoring of the late Stan Stamenkovic, who led the Blast in its championship run.

For the better part of the '80s, every night with the Blast was one to remember. That's how the organization carefully planned it.

There were elaborate and innovative pre-game player introductions with smoke, a light show, blaring music and even a spaceship at one point descending from the rafters. On the field, the Blast gave its fans their money's worth (tickets ranged from $4 to $9 and scalpers were regular fixtures outside the arena). So many will say it was simply the place to be.

Current Blast defender Jason Dieter, a 10-year veteran and native of Baltimore, was 13 years old during the championship season and there for the ride.

"My dad had season tickets, so he took me to most of the games. It was like being at an O's game," said Dieter. "It was definitely a show. The player introductions were extravagant and, as a kid, you were in awe, thinking how great it would be to run on the field like that with your team."

As a player, too, there was nothing like it.

"When people ask me to describe those days, it's very difficult to put into words. It's very much like the old cliche, 'You had to be there,' because it was just total fanaticism," said former defender Bobby McAvan, who now does the color radio commentary for the Blast.

"When all the smoke lifted from the playing field, you were just ready. When the game started, you were just totally intent on leaving a piece of yourself on that arena field."

It didn't take long for the fans to warm to the team. There wasn't much choice, because almost everywhere they were, so were the Blast players. Each team member made up to three public appearances per week during the season, mostly visiting schools, providing clinics and just meeting Baltimore.

During the championship season, more support came the Blast's way as a result of the departure of the NFL Colts to Indianapolis.

"Baltimore was the first city I ever went to where being a soccer player meant something, where you could walk down the street and someone would say 'Oh yeah, you're so-and-so that plays soccer,' " said Van Eron, still a Baltimore resident, who played in 13 cities in 10 years as a professional.

"Kenny Cooper always preached to us that if you work hard, the fans of Baltimore would never forget you. He drummed it into us that you played for the fans and he was right. To this day I'll go to the airport or grocery store and someone will say, 'Aren't you Keith Van Eron from the Blast?' "

After reaching the championship round of the playoffs the year before, it all came into place for the Blast in 1983-84.

With the goalkeeping tandem of Van Eron and Scott Manning, the defense led by Mike Stankovic and an offense anchored by Dave MacWilliams, the team added talented forward Paul Kitson and sturdy defender Juan Carlos Michia from the New York Arrows and the final piece, Stamenkovic, better known as "The Magician" and "The Pizza Man."

Mostly, it was a group that played as one.

"We just jelled quickly," said Kitson. "Our practices were battles. When we stepped on the field to play a game, it was often easier than getting through some of our practices. Our guys just hated losing - even in practice."

Back in 1980, the original plan for Cooper was to visit Baltimore and Boston as possible options for the relocation of the franchise from Houston. Baltimore was his first - and only - stop.

"It was real simple after stepping off the plane and seeing Baltimore, the people and the tradition. And it was perfect timing," said Cooper, who now lives in Dallas as the regional director of sales for a communication company.

"I remember calling Bernie Rodin that night from the hotel and basically telling him we don't need to go anywhere else. I never got to Boston."