OCR Text |
Show October "Future ofU.S. Soccer B fi g h t After Pele’s Missionary Efforts ria By FRED LIEF UPI Sports Writer EW YORK (UPT Inside the locker room, there was champagne and talk of the future When we play a sticks in my throat r Roth. We that they're out here The Cosmos had But in 1968, the two leagues merged to form the NASL, consisting of 17 tea’ Following that season, 12 of the teams folded but the league managed t ermany or Giorgio Ch Italy for the Cosmos — akin to t For now, an aglia leaves et somesee Mn. the NASL’s high-rpcied talent has been nurtured abroad. And while Europeans can rightfully claim a game likethis it said Cosmoscap: higher caliber of play, they cannot be a “It elievable oblivious to the growing popularity of ities as Dall e United States By 1974, the NASL grew to 15 to see us just beaten the teams with West Coast franchises “There was first serious doubt Rochester Lancers 4-1 in a North bolstering its national image. Average as to whether we would makeit,” before a crowd of 73,669 in a driving 7,900 per game. says American Soccer League playoff game attendance that season was just under Woosnam, who has played on the Welsh rain storm Outside the stadium, there was no Great Leap Forward Butthefollowing year the NASL took I've been in soccer games in England and Scotland,”’ said one fan its greatest leap forward when it plucked the prize jewel from Brazil's treasure chest. champagnebut plenty to celebrate who drove morethan 50 miles for the game, “and I've never been as wet There's a certain spirit in the people about staying out there in the wet and the misery, It's what soccer is all about Soccer, a gameof uncertain origin, is Pele, the undisputed Kingof Soccer, agreed to a three-year contract with the then New York Cosmos. After debating retirement for several y Peletook it a challenge — along with $4.7 million — to conquer soccer's last riding its first real waveof success in frontier, the United States the United States after winning over therest of the world hundreds of years ago. thearrival of Pele snarled traffic more than usual in midtown Manhattan. With 300 membersofthepress andtelevision What was once perceived as a curiosity played by immigrants in city sandlo!s, is now the coming gamein much of the suburban United States High school and junior leagues have sprouted in the most unlikely places and it appears theywill keep growing Attendance Building On theprofessionallevel, attendance is building each year. With games played in bigtime stadiums beforebig time crowds, soccer is attracting a young, dedicated following. It is also attracting bigtime sponsors and advertisers, Ameri a sure sign of coming of agein And the question asked most often is simply, “Why “There are 80 manyreasonsfor it,” says NASL Commissioner Phil Woosnam. ‘Basically, it’s becauseit’s a sport that has appealed to the young peuple of the country and I think they are influencing their parents and making thembelievers.” And in a country where baseball, football and basketball are the ruling triumvirate, winning new believers to an unfamiliar gameis no small task “I think the sport has the ingredients to appeal to everyonein society."’ says Woosnamat his league office in New York, “‘It’s gota little bit of everything it's gol power, it's got skill, it’s got subtlety, it's got anything that you’re lookingfor in a sport.” Much of soccer's recent publicity in the UnitedStates has focusedonthe11year-old NASL, a brainchild of Woosnam and others, who are first starting to see returns on their investments of energy aud lime, NASLattendance reached nearly3.2 million this year — an average of more than 13,500 a game anda hikeof31 percent over 1976. But while the league nowhas a healthy supply of glamor talent and a growing, knowledgeable body of fans, that was not always the case. In 1967 there were two competing leagues, the United States Association, which imported foreign teams, and the National Professional Soccer League, which recruited foreign and domestic players. The leagues were populated bysuch teams as the Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Baltimore Bays. Rest assured, it was no average sports fan who could rattle off the starting lineups of such clubs. At the exclusive 21 Club in New York, on hand, and fans chanting his name from the streets, Pele spoke of his dream. ‘Everybody has a mission, a goal, he said through an interpreter. ‘'This is the only country in which soccer is not a major sport, and I had a dream that one day the sport would comehere with my help A little more than two years later, the mob scene was muchthe same. The Cosmos had just battered the Fort LauderdaleStrikers 8-3, a playoff victory en route to this season's championship. It was played before a crowd of 77,691 the largest to ever watch a professional soccer game in North America — and Pele wasnear tearsin the locker room “I can’t explain how| feel,” hesaid ‘It's one of mybiggestthrills I feel my mission is accomplished."’ national team. ‘‘Now | think there's total recognition that it’s going to hap: pen very quickly here.”” Of the 18 teams in the NASLthis season, the C led the way with an erage per game attendance of34,142 Thereis talk that they will sell that many season tickets for next year In Minneapolis, where somebarsof- fer a drink called the ‘‘Minnesota Kick,” the team averaged 32,771 easily outdrawing the baseball Twins on a per game basis. In Seattle, playing in the new Kingdome, the Sounders drew asolid 24,226 a game. In Tampa Bay, where the Rowdies’ slogan is Soccer is a Kick in the averageattendance was 19,492. 8S Still, there are no profits being made as yet “Anyone who tells you they're mak: ing money in soccer,” said one source. is crady And Woosnam agrees it will take time before the color of the ink changes fromred to black Youhave to have the staying power to get through years,” he the difficult, early “In five years from nowthere will be profits for every franchise.” Excitement Generated But reasons for optimism go beyond rising attendance The excitement generated by semeonelike Rodney Marsh of Tampa Bayor George Best of Los Angeles, does not end when the cluck runs out and the 90-minute gameis over. It car- sure thing Soccer programs are Vexas, Missou The USSF One Drawback? booming in ich places as New J H up soccer is that si is nol factor jot necessary to weigh240 youngsters projects 1 million people. 19 years old or under — will be affiliated with various leagues or programs On acollege level, the trend is much the same In 1967, 277 of the 598 NCAA schools fielded soccer teams. By 1976, 429 of 718 np of13 per- cent. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, for example, has begun charging admission to soccer games for the first time in the school’s 182 year history. Emphasis Shift In many of the youth leagues across the country the competitive aspect of space. Han| : soccer is downplayed. The idea is to have a good time and And we're not going to vake the placeof anything else be alongside everyone we're going to else In fact, for years to come soccerwill not crack playing the level of pro football in 10 years we're finding a way to get people in the football, as well as baseball and basket ball are Americaninstitutions that will not give way easily This year’s Super Bow! was viewed by an estimated 75 million peoplein the United States, and the National Bas- most successful season, Baseball attendancehas never beenhigher as fans andparticipants. Woosnamhas saidthat 40 percent of succer’s audienceis female —a greater pecentage than anyother professional that more than one-third of those Virginia and the Carolinas. ‘It's a social occasion,’ says Craig Beckwith, vice president of the Rain bow soccer program in Chapel Hill, N.C. “If some macho guy tries to wipe somebodyout welet him knowthis isa recreational thing The 5-year-old Rainbow programis operated on a co-ed basis andits par- sport in the nation. A survey taken at a top executive “And therefore All of which translates into money, which makesthe ball roll According to league research, 66 per- cent of NASL fans earn more than 15,000 a year. This fact has not es- caped major advertisers, who are suddenly warming up to the notion of big time. soccer Beer companies, auto makers, soft drink suppliers, cigarette producers and sporting goods manufacturers and others are not about tolet this go unnoticed We'vehada lot of people coming to us.” Woosnam says Woosnamsays the leagueis also dis- Tampa Bay gamelast year indicated cussing its long range television plans with the three major networks. Further, the league is negotiating with Topps Inc., makers of baseball cards, in hopes of putting out a similar fluence today on leisure time and product for soccer. And then the quesattending were female. In the Dallas area there are 40 women’s teams Womenare exerting a greater in- leisuredollarsthanever before,” says tion will no longer be whether soccer Woosnam. “We're going away from a can make it in the United States, but chauvinistic situation with her in: how many Maurice Whittles do you fluence coming through swapto get one Franz Beckenbauer? ticipants range in age from 6 to 50 years old ries over into youth prograsm and Pe eee ¥-|Season Opens Oct. ist Finished | Rifles Mountain Hawken Rifle Includes $17.50 Shooter's 1 59° Accessory Kit The most authentic Mountain Rifle made with Pewter nose cap. browr ned iron furniture, American mapl le stock In 45 or 50 calibers @ unnoticed. It is no small matter when someone like Franz Beckenbauer leaves West Soccer TV Thompson-Center HawkenRifle Viewers Miss Action 4| fi During Commercials OR Television announcer: ‘The Cosmos are backing Seattle to the wall Pele centers to Beckenbauer a pass to Hunt on the wing he shoots... oohhh!! the goalie pushes it round thepost. Now the Cosmos line up for a corner a commercial that occupied threefourths of the screen, the remaining quarter being devoted to the match Eddie Einhorn, president of TVS, dis- theory of advertising,” that minute? stadium stage the commercials when playis at a lull and makes tne interruptions Only the fans at the he said. Einhorn said TVS does attempt to sive ation, Soccer a non-stop sport Will it Following this policy, TVS missed change to meet the demands of com two goals in the seven games it ‘vised this season. Einhornsaid mis: merce and bring in the money it needs to grow sed goals were replayed No,” is the resoun ig answer given I haven't got one bad piece of mail by the Nortt American Soccer League at this office,” he said commissioner the president of TVS But Woosnam, like Berg, argues that the independent television network that there are incentives for sponsors at broadcasts NASL games least to give the new split-screen com- and at least one general mana; 1 don't think it’s in anyone's interest to change the game.’ Phil Woosnam the commissioner, said recently But some suggested changes have been bandied about by those whg think or fear that soccer may have to meet the demands of a public and television used to stop-and-go sport, bred on the excitement of high-scoring games The main fear is that businessmen will buily or entice soccer officials into ins ttuting tt imeouts, anartificial stopp: ing of the game to permit TV commer which are common, other Americansports Woosnam says such a change has no place in soccer's future. It would destroy the game’s momentum, which he says is a “critical factor Nevertheless. the television viewer still sees a game that is interrupted by ads It's a real irritant, it breaks the flow of the game,” said Dick Berg 8 | manager of a new franchise Oakland At Berg's suggestion, the Dr Peppe soft-drink company tri¢ed one soluti to the nate x mercial format a testing I think it’s going to havea positive = Ron Hunter of American Fork is the winner of the Archery Big Buck Contest. He had a spread on his deer of 29% inches. Congratulations Ron. He won a Jennings Compound Bow. In the picture are Kelly Thurgood, Ron Hunter and Doug Mower You get more for your money at Innes Sporting Goods MODEL 700 Remington Rifle influence, it will keeppeopletied to the except magnum Reg. $229.75 they'll stay in front of the TV, and the sea ® 79° kitchen, like they might doin football commercials,” he said Healso said that because of soccer's international aspect,” it is in Madison e's interest that it succeed ished here That opens up an entire new field for Madison Avenue andthe media," he said, speaking of possible U.S. World Club and World Cup contenders of the future Einhorn also thinks inter national competition will soccer's appeal “spice up’ This is a natural growth of the sport Country to country competition § bigger than league competition,” he said The whole soccer ilminates in the World Cup As a matter of record, in live game coverag ance. ther upted by Germany countries broad world soccer-mad Belgium Switzerland ist commerei A at halftin M Enter Our Big Buck Contest For The Deer Hunt In October SaveOn | Rifle | Kits Thompson-Center HawkenRifle Kit Plains Hawk me a 0 Lyman ::: ‘Anne INUpentANMDAL VOWSyoo Bere 316 West Center, Provo, Utah 419% 99° = gy MountainRifle Kit 1099 95% ins 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily Mon, & Fri, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. PHONE 374-0755 1 49° tyled with double-set CONTEST WINNERS: television while the sport proceeds on a normal basis. Instead of going to the unble _ 199.50 List ‘‘No The agonized TV viewer watches a longer. but less frequent, because rercial1 opens a beer or crunches fewer interruptions are less ‘‘offen- com HawkenPlainsRifle AN‘ ‘That's completely against the whole client is going to go for that double-set furniture 45 or Lyman x a agrees. Walnut stock olid brass List BS Berg said. “I think it will become a partofall our sports programming.” an. + With accessory Pack,232.50 iy ‘It got just a fantastic response,’’ kick ‘And we'll be back in a minute with wre soccer action a Whe ill know what happens during 205.00 List 1 89° ctagor hooked breech barrel. i fT NEW YORK (UPI) — The scene soccer fan in front of a TVset @ potato chip hold he says. major corporations involved in what's going or While muchof competitive sports in the United States is still largely an all male domain, soccer is drawing women it positions,” Woosnamhopesto bring the game to someone's head open in front of the Florida, southern California, northern But Woosnam ws full well that generating interest in the suburbs will eventually bring handsomedividends It’s being playedin the suburbia and, the fathers of the children that are now still be behind everyone else. Although Boal It is this attitude chat is behind many of the soccer programs in, forinstance. ‘It brings people into soccer who s that promote and teach the would not otherwise come iniv a comfundamental skills. long road from the dirt-poorvillage of petitive situation,” Beckwith says Butit has taken the glamour talentof ‘Our hopes are to set an example of Tres Coracoes, Brazil, where he was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento. the NASLto help get these programs what soccer can be.” The son ofa local player, Pele began off the ground. While generations of Gordon Hill, a former NASL official his soccer education by kicking an old Americans have grown up witha fixa- and considered one of England's allstuffed sock. He grewup to score more tion on baseball, football and basket- timegreat officials, agrees. than 1,200 goals in a career unsurpas- ball, soccer is making its mark*with In Plymouth, Mich., where live, I sed by anyother player. another generation. refereeing and coaching in And as soccer’s top players comNow heis a elspa personality, hav‘al youth soccer programs,”’ says ing met with popes and prime mand more attention, it will be that Hill, “the kids are being given the ministers. His name is synonymous mucheasier for youngsters to identify chanceof developing skills in a nonwith the game. When someone like threatening. truly recreative manner.” with the gameof socceritself. Gordon BanksoftheStrikers or Derek The Catalyst Low Cost ‘We wouldn't have made this Smethurst of the Rowdies is treated Thereis also the matter of costs and progress without Pele,’ said like a star, it adds another dimension to safety Woosnam. “He was the catalyst in playing the game. To outfit a high school football making all these things happen The player expenses can run in the Ten yearsfrom nowthe player it credibility that the league now has neighborhood of $100, taking into acaround the worldis largely due to him. be home grown products,’ says count helmet, cleats, jersey and padBut we've grownto the point where Woosnam. ‘You won't need to go out ding. With a soccer player, costs may import superstars when you're wedon’t haveto have Pele to maintain and beone-third that amount, the most exyour own. It takes a long that,” he added. "The gamecanstand producing time to produce superstars. It took 80 pensiveitembeing the shoes. on its own two feet.”” Injuries, which are as much a part years of background to produce a It is standing securely not only in of football as an end sweep, playa far metropolitan New York, where the HenryAaron.” less prominent role in soccer. In one According to the U.S. Soccer Federa: Cosmos have suddenly taken on Dallas school district, according to a celebrity status, but in cities such as tion there are about 830,000 youngsters San Antonio newspaper, serious foot- f Seattle, Minneapolis, Fort Lauderdale, registered in soccer programs ball injuries were reported down one throughout the country. San Jose and Tampa ‘Howmanykids are actuallyplaying season but soccer injuries were pratiThe cities do not have quite the mathough is hard to measure,’’ said one cally non-existent. At the Universityof jestic ring of Munich, Rome, Londonor official, “But thereare millionsof kids North Carolina, the insurance Buenos Aires, where the game is appremiums for the varsity football team proached as a kindof holy crusade. But kicking a ball around out there inat's even in these world capitals of soccer, the progress of the NASL hasnot gone For the 36-year-old Pele, who played his last game Saturday, it has been a ng follow ketball Association is coming off its While the numbers are encouraging more importantly there has been a shift of emphasis in the way in which the game is handled of white. he simple Js not enough park 1 whole new opportunity for a breed of 1970. schools had teams e sport pounds, stand 6-foot-8 and breathe fire nt-9 and weigh jesbless programs of somesort In Texas, the ratacekus 1 fromm 500 in 1970 98,000 this year. In Caliifornia, the most recent figure 1s 161,000 — com- with ¢ By 1980 the USSF presents itse a youngster taki eal for yaungsters in New Jersey New York State are in pared with 8,000 in r the sport is woman. boy er girl oneover: Florida ifornia tes that 35,000 Rentuexy Rifle Kit 68.95 List 32° Octa Oe| ty Li eSek DeAL an : ETL ery 1290 S, STATE, OREM: 225-9500 |