Actually, I was at that match and those things were hideous...... The Bad Worst Jerseys Ever & I wish they would bring back these though....
Jesus, you, too? a - I am not sure where it was ever said that it was "SSS only," no ifs, ands or buts about it, written in stone, inviolate rule. b - Even if it was, there are exceptions to every rule, aren't there? Dude, seriously, how can you not know about Dave Wasser? He's the best. I can't recommend his stuff highly enough. I've bought like 10 DVDs from him. Actually, he sent me your Atoms' 1973 final match, but the DVD didn't take or something and I couldn't get it to play on my setup, so he is sending me another one.
Yeah, me, too--although I did caveat my response by pointing out that I am a disgruntled Philadelphian. I'm glad Seattle is in the league, and Qwest is no worse than RFK, Giants Stadium or Foxboro. But, you know--we have been hearing for years about the "necessity" of a SSS. If there are exceptions to the rules, that's fine...but, you know, we have a nice big stadium in Philadelphia, too. I'd like to see the San Jose and Seattle exceptions applied to my market, you know? I didn't realize he was selling. For years he was "trades only." Cool. I'll have to visit his site.
Pretty cool about the Philadelphia Atoms History... http://jamiepeck.com/atoms/history2.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Atoms http://images.google.com/imgres?img...mages?q=+1973+Atoms+&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&sa=N
Actually, I saw it on TV with a friend or two. We were so freaked out that there was a game on TV tha we had to see it to beleive it... I was in High School and we'd gone to a bunch of games. Jim Fryatt, Stan Startzell, Andy Provan and Bobby Smith did clinics up here in Bethlehem... It was an awesome time. We even drove to Franklin Field to see Los Atomos, butit wasn't the same. I got to play with Casey and Chris Bahr, Jimmy Miller and Bill Straub later on for club soccer... For one, maybe two, summers, soccer around hereruled the world... Of course, it didn't help that Pele was hurt when the Cosmos came to town in 1975...
But you were "there" there, as in on the field, right? PS: What was the reason the photographer caught Roy Turner (?) in mid-laugh in that team picture in Colin Jose's book (if there even was a reason)? I understand it what a long time ago (man, I was 7 that year; sheesh!), and you may not remember (like I would...not! )
And, I have to say, you rocked the first half. The Atoms calmed you down in the second, though. If you buy the DVD, keep in mind you may be disappointed: it comes from the direct live feed so, while there are no commericals, there are also no replays. As a result, you basically miss both Atoms' goals.
I bet so . That was the last time the ATL had a decent team until the Chiefs 2.0 got in the playoffs in 1981. Here's a question for ya: When y'all played the Chiefs in Atlanta during that series, did somebody really call the Tornado locker room and ask what time the game started, and whoever answered the phone in the locker room said, "What time can you be here? We'll wait for you?" I've heard that story forever, and even if it didn't happen, it's still funny.
Not even close. I have a 1996 (and a 2000?) Tampa Bay Mutiny. Those are worse than the Clash ones were.
Everybody talks "Cosmos", but it was the Atoms that brought the NASL back into public view (Sports Illustrated cover). Shame that in the subsequent ('74 & '75) expansion rush, the franchise that sparked the interest got left out in the cold. Typical NASL tale, in retrospect.
The Atoms continued to do really well at the gate in 1974, and more than held their own in the West Coast expansion. Ultimately, two things cost the franchise dearly: 1) owner Tom McCloskey's ownership of the Tampa Bay NFL franchise, along with the severe downturn in the construction industry, resulted in his putting less and less money into the team; and 2) in 1975 the club jettisoned most of its most popular players (local kids like Ducilli, Meehl, Broderick, Startzell; stars Provan and Fryatt) in favor of "seasoned" British pros. Philadelphians are a pretty parochial group--when the local kids were gone, the crowds left with them. (See also Philadelphia Fever, who went from league attendance leaders to bottom of the barrel in about two years because all of the local players were released to make room for NASL journeymen; Philadelphia Kixx, circa 2001, where they also went from top of the attendance table to lower-middle after releasing a lot of locally-bred players).
You are right. I think that was Bob Rigby on the cover of Sports Illustrated. BTW, I always wondered exactly what was Dr. Henry Kissinger's role as NASL chairman? I know he was instrumental in getting Pele over here which I guess to many may mean quite a bit , but what else did he really do?
Seeing how the cover says "Philly's Bob Rigby," it was a pretty good guess. That's Kyle Rote, Jr. jumping with him, BTW.
Ah, that cover did a lot to warm the heart of a young domestic soccer fan back in '73. Besides the featured players, significant is the well-populated grandstand in the background. Stark contrast to the vacant sea of seats so prevalent in earlier NASL match-action photos... particularly during my "favorite" season ('68). Steve: United Clubs of Jalisco. "Los Atomos" (sigh). Guess what I was trying to say is that, IMO, the franchise that was #1 in public image should not have been allowed, by the league, to crumble as it did, McCloskey or no McCloskey. (Chalk up one for the MLS model?) I suppose once the NASL snared Pele for the Cosmos, they figured potential Joe Fans wouldn't care about the Atoms any longer. Sink or swim. Sad end after such a beautiful start. Falvo: I believe there's a take on the Kissinger involvement in the NASL both in "Once In a Lifetime" and in Clive Toye's "A Kick In the Grass" book.
Well, although I think the Atoms caused their own problems, you raise a good point--with Pele on the Cosmos, Best coming to LA, etc., the league was all-too-willing to subject what had been its flagship franchise to a grand experiment--which was both years ahead of its time (cf. Chivas USA) and in the wrong location. You'd think they would have stuck the San Antonio Thunder with the United Clubs, and asked the Lay Family to take over the Philadelphia team, or something like that. But they didn't. Hopefully MLS's Philadelphia franchise (should one be awarded) doesn't make the same mistakes as the (post-1974) Atoms and Fury.
For me, it was the "Soccer Goes American" headline. 1973 was a good year for Yanks--leading scorer and rookie of the year Rote, league champions featuring six Americans in its starting line-up and an American coach, Joey Fink netting 11 with the Cosmos, Trost and some other St. Louis players grabbing goals. Of course, it turned out to be a blip, and the Brits quickly reasserted their dominance in the league at all levels. Fink was soon on the bench, etc.
the story is true. Ron Newman answered the ringing phone (somehow routed directly to the locker room) and basically jerked the callers chain.....didn't realise that story was so well known.
1) Thanks, still feel we should have won that game, although Philly played well on the day. 2) Knee problem started to kick in. 3) First goal was the killer, a John Best own goal when he sliced a cross high into our net.
I have either heard or read that story at least four or five times (I think it was a Ron Newman quote, but I didnt know if it was him, or one of the players, who answered the phone). I chuckle every time I see or hear it. My dad got a good laugh out of it too; he became a soccer fan when I started playing.