As soon as he signed Franz Beckenbauer, he & Gordon Bradley were shown the door 3 weeks later. I think Giorgio Chinaglia had a say in that.
You forgot my high school biology classmate Darryl Gee. Cosmos 80-84 Darryl was drafted by the Cosmos straight out of high school (highest drafted high schooler drafted at the time) in 1980, it was big news as he was drafted high as a high school senior. Darryl was simply amazing in high school in 31 games his junior and senior season he had 52 goals! I think Darryl's most important accomplishment was what it did for soccer in our small community. In 1988 Howard county had 4 kids on national teams at the same time. http://www.shopofwow.com/why/history/home.htm and has produced numerous national team and professionals. I can't help but think Darryl's success had a ripple effect. Some Howard County Players Dante Washington Clint Peay Brian West Desmond Armstrong Michael Della-Russo Hamisi Dove Near the bottom of the first link under "cloak and dagger" they discuss the effort to "hide" him during the draft. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/michael_lewis/news/2000/02/04/throw_ins/ Here is what he is doing now... (No I am not him, nor have I seen him in 20 years but always remember how fun it was to watch games he was playing while we were in high school) Sadly, he injured his hip early in his career. http://www.darrylgeesoccer.com/about/about.html
there was one video game that had me and Pele on the cover. The shot was taken at Texas Stadium, I have my back to the camera and they blanked my name off the back of my shirt (so they wouldn't have to pay any royalties to me??)....can't remember the name of the game...."Pele's Soccer" or somesuch.
My brush with the Cosmos was a trip to Pele's soccer camp in 1983, after he retired. Still have his autograph. I got to take an uncontested shot on Hubert Birkenmeier too. (Blew it five feet over the bar.)
man, forgot about those hooped socks! Gotta love 'em. Those uniforms were so much better than the crap MLS has produced.
Its the most wonderful time of the year with Back To School and all, but I've yet seen a Beckham lunch box like Pele had in the 70's...
One year Young and coach Bob montgomery of Adelphi university put two teams in the CJSL in NYC. They put in two all stars teams from Long Island in our under 19 division. I guess they did it here because Long Island would not let them do it. We let anyone do anything here. I know it cost each player 8OO for the season back then to play. Here we are so hot for players the better clubs don't charge them to play in under 19. Young's team was entered in our weaker division B team name was Buckleys. Montegomrey was in our A under team name Long island united. If i recall right Young teams won the division. They should have put his team in A Montegomery team lost but was very very competive. I think Youngs son played for Penn State