NY Cosmos story on ESPN..

Discussion in 'Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International' started by pettyfog, Oct 18, 2006.

  1. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    Second airing..
    Once in a Lifetime (2006), ESPN2 Oct 22 02:00pm

    Guys WATCH this... while it's focussed on the story of the truly amazing success of Cosmos soccer in the US, there are hints as to why it ultimately led to the failure of the NASL, and suggests EXACTLY WHY MLS does as it does.

    Notable: Over televising; ABC didnt understand that televising games live would prematurely turn the casually interested sport fan off. Suggests that a Wide World of Sport type highlight show would have been better. I agree.. wait till a sizable audience DEMANDS full game televising.

    Cosmos were drawing fans at EPL big team numbers.. and still losing BIG money. Because they were paying outrageous salaries.

    Too many teams in NASL (24 at one time) owned by latecomers with marginal resources.

    Georges Chinaglia was the real star of the Cosmos.. but had the ego to match, amazing that even today it's controversial whether or not he REALLY ran the team, or was a main factor in its failure.

    Cosmos was, for all intents and purposes, the WORLD TEAM... had more good players from more countries than any other club.

    Interesting, though, that NASL Championship games were never really a 'walk-over' for them.

    But while NASL failed, it was instrumental in setting the table for the 94 WC and subsequent founding of MLS.
     
    #1
    pettyfog, Oct 18, 2006
  2. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
    Location:
    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    RE: NY Cosmos story on ESPN ....NOW....

    thanks, Fog. Got distracted by the Mets and didn't even check ESPN.
     
    #2
    HatterDon, Oct 18, 2006
  3. rumstove

    rumstove New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2005
    Location:
    Eau Claire, WI
    RE: NY Cosmos story on ESPN ....NOW....

    curses i missed it again...i must remember Oct. 22
     
    #3
    rumstove, Oct 19, 2006
  4. WonsanUnited

    WonsanUnited New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2006
    RE: NY Cosmos story on ESPN ....NOW....

    I have it on DVD but I haven't watched it yet.
     
    #4
    WonsanUnited, Oct 23, 2006
  5. rumstove

    rumstove New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2005
    Location:
    Eau Claire, WI
    RE: NY Cosmos story on ESPN ....NOW....

    crap...today's the 24th. I missed it 3 times now. I give up.
     
    #5
    rumstove, Oct 24, 2006
  6. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    RE: NY Cosmos story on ESPN ....NOW....

    eh... dont worry, that's why they have ESPN Classic but it wont be on there soon.

    Heres a snapshot list of Ebay offerings

    I think it's a must if you want to really THINK about soccer in the US and why it is what it is.
    This is must viewing for those who carp about relegation/promotion, for example... it's not directly addressed but a little analysis would get you to the obvious conclusion.

    What was interesting to me was the Cosmos not having an easy go of it in the finals... all that star power and they STILL had to play their best to win them.
     
    #6
    pettyfog, Oct 24, 2006
  7. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
    Location:
    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    RE: NY Cosmos story on ESPN ....NOW....

    There was some good fitba played in the NASL. During the 45 minutes or so of the San Antonio Thunder, I saw some fine play on the field [granted, in short patches] including a memorable night at the Rock Pile against the Cosmos.

    The best memory was of our captain. In those days, the official time was kept on the field, and when the clock hit zero, the game was over. We were struggling through a 0-0 draw when, just as the clock hit zero, our Captain Bobby Moore, drilled in his only goal of the year [of his career?].

    At least they let him play defense. The Cosmos turned Beckenbauer into a striker because the owner didn't want to spend that much money on a defender!

    The NASL's major problem is also MLS's major problem -- the summer schedule. The NASL was formed just when the first articles started hitting the press about baseball dying and the NFL being America's sport. Convinced that they couldn't survive in the fall, they opted to go against the "dying" sport. the problem was that baseball's attendances continued to rise. So we're stuck with summer play and all the world cup, copa america and other scheduling nightmares that accompany it.

    Nemmind. It's professional fitba in the states. Can't be all that bad!
     
    #7
    HatterDon, Oct 24, 2006
  8. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    RE: NY Cosmos story on ESPN ....NOW....

    Gee, Don I wish we had a Winter schedule too... so we could be like 'Real' leagues..

    Oh Wait, that's right... if MLS had been started with a fall spring sched, I wouldnt be here; becuse there would never be a Columbus Crew, and if there was, I wouldnt buy a ST because I freaking HATE sitting out in the cold and rain to watch a minor league sport.

    That's just like the 'relegation' gripe... it doesnt work when you are trying to GROW interest in anything.

    I know you are only mentioning it as a problem.. but it's a problem we didnt 'make', it just IS. There really is no alternative other than a split season, and there's a real problem with that.
     
    #8
    pettyfog, Oct 24, 2006
  9. WonsanUnited

    WonsanUnited New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2006
    RE: NY Cosmos story on ESPN ....NOW....

    I got the DVD and watched it last weekend. It was very interesting and I enjoyed it.
     
    #9
    WonsanUnited, Nov 11, 2006
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