The Cosmos-Caricola Curse

Discussion in 'New York Red Bulls' started by wandering soccerdog, Oct 16, 2003.

  1. wandering soccerdog

    Mar 29, 2003
    Allow me to explain the Curse that has fallen upon the MetroStars:

    Back on August 12, 1984, the Cosmos, in their final NASL season, hosted an international friendly at Giants Stadium against Juventus of Italy in front of a crowd of 36,724. The Cosmos beat Juventus by a score of 2-1 on goals by Americans Steve Moyers and Ricky Davis.

    Among those In the lineup for Juventus were Paolo Rossi and Michel Platini. But here's where the Curse begins:

    The player wearing number 13 for the men of Turin that day was none other than.............(wait for it)..........Nicola Caricola!

    Yes, it's true. Caricola was a second-half sub for Juventus in that game against the Cosmos.

    And I've always figured that the Cosmos-Caricola Curse went something like this (I'm imagining this might have been Caricola's own words):

    "What a travesty and injustice! Not only do we have to waste our precious pre-season time playing these stinkin' American glamour-boys, but we LOSE to them! And not only THAT, but I, the Great Caricola, have to start the game ON THE BENCH! NO, this is not acceptable! I am ENRAGED! I am SO enraged that I will put a curse on them! First, I will destroy this Cosmos team. By the end of this season, this team will have played its final game! Second, I will destroy their ENTIRE league! The NASL will be no more! Third, there will be no professional Division I soccer in this country for at least a decade! Fourth, when a new league finally returns, the Cosmos name and tradition will be no more, and will be replaced by the stupidest name in professional sports history! Something like "New York/New Jersey MetroStars!" Then, I will come to play for this new Giants Stadium team, AND I WILL DESTROY THEM, TOO! A championship team will NEVER return to New Jersey until Juventus avenges this catastrophic loss against the Cosmos! Only when Juventus beats the Cosmos will I lift this horrible curse! The Great Caricola has spoken! Damn you all to hell!"

    I figured that if Juventus had beaten Manchester United back in July at Giants Stadium, that might have chipped away at the Curse a bit, but no such luck, it seems.

    So, two things have to happen in order for the Curse to go away:

    1) The team must re-brand itself. It must make peace with Peppe Pinton and buy the Cosmos name and logo.

    2) The team, after the re-branding, must invite Juventus to play here...and lose.

    THAT is the story: It's the Cosmos-Caricola Curse.
     
  2. Michael K.

    Michael K. Member

    Mar 3, 1999
    There or Thereabouts
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    [​IMG]

    "And so now you know the REST......of the story."
     
  3. ElMetrofan

    ElMetrofan New Member

    Jan 20, 1999
    SHAPE, Belgium
    *#*#*#*#, that sounds easier than waiting for Moreno to heal and Mathis to score.
     
  4. gwebster

    gwebster New Member

    Aug 30, 2002
    Bethany, CT
    Wow. Couldn't we just call an exorcist?
     

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