Detroit soaks up all the negative headlines but the NBA's four worst teams are getting outscored on a nightly basis at an alarming rate #thisleague has never seen. We've got all the damning data here
I remember my dad taking me to a friendly between Santos (featuring Pelé) and Benfica (with Eusebio) in (I believe) what was then Downing Stadium on Randall’s Island. I can’t remember much about the match, and nothing about Eusebio, but though I knew little about soccer, Pelé’s greatness was obvious.
Age sometimes has its privileges! Unrelated to soccer, I also saw Lew Alcindor playing for Power Memorial in the old MSG before a Knicks game. I think the tallest kid on the other team was about 6’3”, which was kind of unfair! (I still have the program stashed away somewhere.)
Just to add a small bit of trivia.. Tyler Ennis, a Brampton native (right on the suburban fringe of Toronto) and former Syracuse star, never got on the floor with the Toronto Raptors, but he was signed by them in 2019, then subsequently shipped to their G-league affiliate, Raptors 905. He'd play 42 games there, but never got a call up. He would go play in Turkey for a number of years, and now plays for Napoli and leads Serie A in assists.
Thanks for shaking loose some old NASL memories. I remember those NY Cosmos, although my memories of Pele on that team are vague. I remember some ABC Wide World of Sports coverage, with Jim McKay, and then a lot of Pepsi sponsored skills movies of Pele training with Santos. I do remember Beckenbauer and Chingalia very well, though. Chingalia, from what I recall, was considered the best player in the league at the time, although my lowly San Jose Earthquakes had the actual George Best for a couple years (my first ever live match saw Best score a pair of goals, in fact). RIP to Der Kaiser
Yes.. I was like 9 or 10, and our CYSA (traveling soccer team) coach took the team to game to see him play. Don't remember the opponent or the final score, but I do remember Best scoring a pair of goals. His ball handling in traffic was pretty amazing, even then as he was near the end of his career.
I remember my dad taking me to a friendly between Santos (featuring Pelé) and Benfica (with Eusebio) in (I believe) what was then Downing Stadium on Randall’s Island. I can’t remember much about the match, and nothing about Eusebio, but though I knew little about soccer, Pelé’s greatness was obvious.
You guys are making me jealous with these soccer tales!
Age sometimes has its privileges! Unrelated to soccer, I also saw Lew Alcindor playing for Power Memorial in the old MSG before a Knicks game. I think the tallest kid on the other team was about 6’3”, which was kind of unfair! (I still have the program stashed away somewhere.)
Just to add a small bit of trivia.. Tyler Ennis, a Brampton native (right on the suburban fringe of Toronto) and former Syracuse star, never got on the floor with the Toronto Raptors, but he was signed by them in 2019, then subsequently shipped to their G-league affiliate, Raptors 905. He'd play 42 games there, but never got a call up. He would go play in Turkey for a number of years, and now plays for Napoli and leads Serie A in assists.
Applaud the thoroughness ...
Thanks for shaking loose some old NASL memories. I remember those NY Cosmos, although my memories of Pele on that team are vague. I remember some ABC Wide World of Sports coverage, with Jim McKay, and then a lot of Pepsi sponsored skills movies of Pele training with Santos. I do remember Beckenbauer and Chingalia very well, though. Chingalia, from what I recall, was considered the best player in the league at the time, although my lowly San Jose Earthquakes had the actual George Best for a couple years (my first ever live match saw Best score a pair of goals, in fact). RIP to Der Kaiser
You saw George Best play for the Quakes? Lucky!
Yes.. I was like 9 or 10, and our CYSA (traveling soccer team) coach took the team to game to see him play. Don't remember the opponent or the final score, but I do remember Best scoring a pair of goals. His ball handling in traffic was pretty amazing, even then as he was near the end of his career.
Thank you for devoting some column space to the incomparable Der Kaiser, Marc. Great stuff, as always
Appreciate your admission regarding the former Denver Nuggets because I thought the same thing -- how did I not know that?
hey marc happy new year
any news on Toronto / Siakam ? Are they going to deal him? Which teams are interested?
Touched on the this in the chat last night and will naturally post more as soon as I have more ...