I've been looking around on the web for copies of some of the NASL games either on video or DVD. Does anyone know where I might be able to come across some? I saw one person selling them for $25 a DVD, but I'd prefer to trade for blanks or something less than that. Any advice or help on this, I appreciate it. You can email me off line at david_przybylinski@hotmail.com as well. Dave P.
The alpha and omega of NASL video collectors is Dave Brett Wasser, a frequent poster on these boards under the name "Dave Brett." I know he trades; I don't know whether he trades for blank tapes, but PM him and find out.
Thanks for the info. I've actually been in touch with Dave, but I really didn't want to pay $25 to watch an old NASL game. That's why I was posting a message to see if there were other options out there. I pretty much missed the NASL because I was too young for most of it and I lived at the time in Milwaukee which didn't have a team and my family didn't watch any of the weekly games. I'd love to see some games, but was hoping to send B&P or something less than $25 for a copy of a game. So if anyone knows of any connections or can help out, let me know. Dave P.
Goto EBAY and type in NASL. If that doesn't work Type in Soccer. You have to sift through ALOT but there are VHS/DVD's available.
I'll second that re eBay, Pints. Just won a copy of highlights stuff from the '70s for ten bucks. Some of it revealed how embarrasingly bad some of the play actually was (especially the 15 minutes it included from the CBS telecast of the '75 title match. Best part was Lou Rawles singing the anthem). Funny, as a kid I thought it was great stuff at the time. Amazing how perspective can change over time. It did include a half-hour 1971 season highlight film produced by CBC. Included coverage of Santos (Pele) at Varsity Stadium... jam-packed with fans actually climbing the West Bloor Street walls like Mexicans at the Alamo. Some good Rochester Lancers stuff ("the Green Bay Packers of soccer"), too. Carlos Metidieri. Quite a talent. Two Blizzard features, but the best part there are their cheerleaders. This tape shows up for auction quite often on eBay, so be on the lookout for it. One game I recall on TBS was a Chiefs-Dips match, where the Atlanta keeper cut loose a kick that bounced over everyone, including the Washington keeper, into the net for a score. So bad it was humorous. Hope that turns up someday. Might be worth $10 to see again. Happy hunting, Przy!
Thanks for the advice, I'll keep my eye out for stuff on Ebay. If anyone has a game on DVD that they've bought, I have a DVD burner if there's any interest, I can make extra copies to trade or sell to others. Just something else to think about. It's funny to see that old games are so popular for purchase. When I was in England last month, they have all the old FA Cup games from the 70's for 5.99 Pounds. With shipping to the US I think it would run you about $12.00 for a copy. You just have to have a PAL compatible player. I'll keep searching.
Hey, now don't you go picking on my beloved Rowdies! I wouldn't be involved in this sport without them. Seriously though, I can't compare the level of play back then to now - I was just beginning to learn the sport. Unfortunately, I don't have any old videos, or I'd be more than happy to share. Przy - good luck!
Joe-- I'm surprised that you do not think much of the quality of play in the 1975 Soccer Bowl. I recently picked up the 1971 NASL Highlights video, and was surprised to see the "bonus" Soccer Bowl footage. I was also shocked to be reminded of just how good the match was--attacking soccer played at a brisk pace, with players much more inclined to take on defenders...lots of dribbiling, in fact. Plenty of shots, very little "dead time" in midfield. Not exactly artful, but certainly exciting. Of course, this footage is almost 30 years old. A much different game than we have today. But I thought the quality of play was outstanding. Bear in mind this was, after all, the final--the league's two best teams. Also, it was essentially an English Division One (i.e., EPL today) match--Portland was made up entirely of British loan players, and Tampa Bay was primarily English. So I am not suggesting that the NASL as a whole was a top quality league. It's best teams (Cosmos, Rowdies, etc.) played great soccer, but its many, many bottom feeders played the worst form of kickball. It is much more difficult to compare teams of different eras in soccer than it is in, say, baseball. But I'll ask this anyway: How would a final between the 1975 Rowdies and, say, 1997 D.C. United play out? My view? Watching it would be a lot like watching U.S. v. Mexico: Tampa Bay, like Mexico, would hold a lot of possession and draw oohs and ahs with their fancy offensive play, and always have you on the edge of your seat waiting for what seems like an inevitable goal. United, like the U.S., would play a sound, fundamental game, strong on defense and tactics. Nothing fancy--maybe the occasional nice run or breathtaking through ball. And United would win. As the U.S. has demonstrated with some regularity in its recent games with Mexico, strong tactical play triumphs over individual skill. Go MLS. BTW -- I'll agree the 1971 footage was pretty painful to watch.
Steve: Maybe there was more of the match on your copy than on mine. I trust the tempo improved as the game went on. The narrow Spartan field didn't (and still doesn't) help matters. I mentioned 15 minutes... that included commercials (good ol' Sheriff Lobo for Trailways, Michelin's arrival in the USA, et al) during the game itself, and (lest I forget) the arrival of Crazy George by helicopter before that sloppy kickoff ceremony with Bruce Jenner & Pele. Apologies for any apparent denigration of the Rowdies, mutinywxgirl. Nor would I have gotten mixed up in the sport without the likes of Cleveland Stokers or Pittsburgh Phantoms. Of course, the kick-in-the-grass Rowdies and the Timbers (and also-heavily-English Sounders and Whitecaps) were among the good guys in NASL history. I agree with Steve on this... as it now stands, MLS is better. But the old films are fun to watch for perspective and nostalgia. Now, if anyone out there has any film from '68...
According to Wasser, 1967-68 footage from the CBS broadcasts is long gone. A snippet of 1967 footage appears in the History of Football DVD, from a British newsreel. Not particularly inspiring, but it was only about 15 seconds long.
<SIGH> Maybe someone's got some 16mm home movies somewhere. Too bad this all happened just before the advent of Beta and VHS recorders (something we only dreamed of back then... actually recording a show for posterity!). What a shame. That '68 double-OT Cleveland-Atlanta conference final would've been fun to relive on tape. Oh well... guess I'll have to wait til I reach that glorious locker room in the sky (I'm certain God records everything... the Bible says so, doesn't it?!) But with eBay, it never ceases to surprise me what turns up. Someone's got Bloomfield's '68 Chiefs NASL championship ring up for bid. Wonder if the poor bloke is still around?
That almost happened last year in MLS. It was an Earthquakes home game, and Pat Onstad kicked the ball downfield after a save, and the other keeper was off his line and had to run back and tip it over the crossbar to prevent a goal. I wish I could remember which game or who the other team was...
Dave Bret seems to be the only source for the NASL Games. I haven't found the DVD you talk about showing highlights of the NASL on Ebay at all. Does anyone have a copy that can burn me a copy? I do have one that's Cosmos 1977 - 1980 Championship Years to trade. Any help is appreciated. Dave P.
Try this website , this guy is from Canada & has only a few NASL matches , but maybe it will be okay for you . I have traded with him last year . http://www.geocities.com/nickvideotapes good luck !
easy now.....I played in 1971...and appeared in the video...and I agree the quality of the video isn't the best...but you must also remember that the pitch conditions were deadfull during those early NASL years...and didn't improve much throughout the leagues existence...in the early years the owners spent(and lost) millions on coaches, players, front office, equipment, advertising and on and on....and totally neglected the single most important ingrediant for top class soccer.... THE CONDITION OF THE PLAYING SURFACE......!!!!!! MLS realises this...and has a real chance to succeed as a result...
I got suckered into buying the NASL best goals tape off ebay. I'll make you a copy if you come across something you can trade it with.
Soccer Bowl '77 Cosmos-Sounders on DVD here: http://www.sedonamg.com/digicaststore/ProdDetl.aspx?CatID=19&ID=126
Hello. I'm a collector of Johan Cruyff items from Barcelona, Spain. I'm looking for items of Cruyff NASL years. Please, if you have everything of Cruyff send me an email to francesc69@wanadoo.es Thank you.
DirecTV showed a selection of international Cosmos games on their Spanish FreeView channel (currently their cycling some international friendlies from the last seven or eight years - every Tuesday on Channel 400): I recorded these games, and would be willing to trade (prefer USMNT, USWNT, or early MLS games): 10/1/77 - Santos at New York Cosmos - Pele Farewell (Spanish) 8/30/78 - World XI at New York Cosmos - UNICEF Match (Spanish) 9/9/78 2:2 - Boca Juniors at New York Cosmos (Spanish) 2/25/81 0:1 - New York Cosmos at Colo Colo (Spanish) 3/8/81 5:2 - New York Cosmos at Paraguay (Spanish) 3/15/81 - New York Cosmos at Club America (Spanish) 6/4/81 2:2 - Sao Paulo at New York Cosmos (Spanish) 4/4/82 1:5 - Peru at New York Cosmos (Spanish) 5/22/82 0:0 4:5 Friendly - New York Cosmos vs CD Comunicaciones (GUA) (Los Angeles, CA) (Spanish) 5/29/82 - Nacional (Montevideo) at New York Cosmos (Spanish) 5/28/84 3:5 - Barcelona at New York Cosmos (Spanish)
Actually, it was the Diplomats goalkeeper Jim Brown who scored against the Chiefs goalkeeper Graham Tutt. I talked about it with Graham Tutt last year. He laughed and said it was the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to him. I don't have that whole game on tape, but fortunately I do have that crazy goal. It was part of the pre-game show of another 1981 game. Dave www.DaveBrett.com
hello to all soccer dvd and videos collectors out there.i will trade my nasl for any soccer or sports.i have a bunch of games. write me at usasoccerpride@aol.com it dont matter how old my meassage is i,am always open to trade.dont worry if u dont have any we can always work something out. also i seek central american world cup games,pele,peru,mls,nasl,futsal,etc. peace be with you.