It was his day and everyone was properly respectful.
Tear welled up in his eyes, and he could no longer stem the flow. He tightened his grip on himself and continued, his words shaking, his voice cracking.
Pele played the first half with the Cosmos, the second half with Santos.
With two minutes left in the first half Pele was awarded a free kick from about 30 yards out. He drove the ball low and hard, a bullet that flashed into the left corner, leaving the goalie sprawled on the ground.
“I die a little bit today. Now I am born again to another life. You see, I stop playing soccer because I want to stop, and that is important.” Everyone but Bugs Bunny was here. (Mick Jagger for example).
ex NYT Kornheiser 10/2/77
Showing posts with label soccer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soccer. Show all posts
Sunday, October 02, 1977
Pele’s Legacy to His Fans: Nobody Did it Better
Pele is to soccer what Shakespeare is to the English language: he puts it all together.
He does it with physical qualities that he calls “God’s divine gifts.” He does it with charm, sincerity, friendliness and the desire to be a perfectionist. Universally acclaimed as king of the world’s most popular game.
Known in Brazil as Perola Negra, in France as La Tulipe Noire, in Chile as El Peligro, in Italy, as Il Re and in Greece as O Vasilias, Pele is a citizen of the world.
In the early Seventies, the Biafran war (Nigerian Civil War) was stopped for two days because both sides wanted to see Pele play (?). (Biafran forces surrendered Jan.15 1970)
In his career, Pele had 93 three-goal games and 31 four goal games. He scored 5 goals six times and had eight goals in one game. He led Brazil to three World Cups.
To soccer-loving Americans, however, Pele is the Beatles, Babe Ruth and Billy Graham in one package. “Now that he is gone,” said one Italian-American, “part of my blood is gone. He has taken with him part of the heart of all the people in the world who love soccer.”
NYT 10/2/77 A. Yannis
He does it with physical qualities that he calls “God’s divine gifts.” He does it with charm, sincerity, friendliness and the desire to be a perfectionist. Universally acclaimed as king of the world’s most popular game.
Known in Brazil as Perola Negra, in France as La Tulipe Noire, in Chile as El Peligro, in Italy, as Il Re and in Greece as O Vasilias, Pele is a citizen of the world.
In the early Seventies, the Biafran war (Nigerian Civil War) was stopped for two days because both sides wanted to see Pele play (?). (Biafran forces surrendered Jan.15 1970)
In his career, Pele had 93 three-goal games and 31 four goal games. He scored 5 goals six times and had eight goals in one game. He led Brazil to three World Cups.
To soccer-loving Americans, however, Pele is the Beatles, Babe Ruth and Billy Graham in one package. “Now that he is gone,” said one Italian-American, “part of my blood is gone. He has taken with him part of the heart of all the people in the world who love soccer.”
NYT 10/2/77 A. Yannis
Saturday, October 01, 1977
Ali, Pele and the Time to Retire
Muhammad Ali sounded as if he wished he were Pele, whose soccer farewell will occur today with festive elegance. “It’s important to get out with the title, with the briefcase, with the necktie.” (Pele visited Ali at his hotel the day before.)
The world’s two most famous athletes had never met until the 36-year-old soccer player visited the 35-year-old heavyweight champion. And if there is anything that will convince Ali to retire, at least until he makes a come back sooner or later, it might be watching the celebration of Pele’s departure.
The difference is that Pele, organized and wealthy, can afford to retire, while Ali, disorganized and a man who will always need another payday, really can’t afford to retire despite having earned more than $40 million in the ring.
Ali isn’t broke. He won’t end up like Joe Louis did. But the way he lives, he’ll always need big money. And boxing is the easiest, if not the only way, for him to make big money and stay on the big stage his ego demands.
“There comes a time when every fighter walks a tightrope, and sooner or later he falls off. This will happen to Muhammad Ali, as it happens to all great fighters. I wish he calls it a day before he falls off. I told Herbert Muhammad (Ali’s manager) that Madison Square Garden will never make Ali and offer to fight again as long as I’m here.” (Teddy Brenner promoter). “If Madison Square Garden wants him back, they will have to replace me to do it.”
“Arum says Ali’s fighting Leon Spinks,” the Garden Promoter said with a sneer. “If anybody ever suggested years ago that Ali would fight a kid with five pro fights, they’d be locked up. I don’t want to make a match like that.”
Ali lost a split decision to Spinks in 1978 (although he won back the title seven months later). He came out of retirement to lose to Larry Holmes and, a year later in 1981, to Trevor Berbick before finally hanging up the gloves.
ex NYT Anderson 10/1/77
The world’s two most famous athletes had never met until the 36-year-old soccer player visited the 35-year-old heavyweight champion. And if there is anything that will convince Ali to retire, at least until he makes a come back sooner or later, it might be watching the celebration of Pele’s departure.
The difference is that Pele, organized and wealthy, can afford to retire, while Ali, disorganized and a man who will always need another payday, really can’t afford to retire despite having earned more than $40 million in the ring.
Ali isn’t broke. He won’t end up like Joe Louis did. But the way he lives, he’ll always need big money. And boxing is the easiest, if not the only way, for him to make big money and stay on the big stage his ego demands.
“There comes a time when every fighter walks a tightrope, and sooner or later he falls off. This will happen to Muhammad Ali, as it happens to all great fighters. I wish he calls it a day before he falls off. I told Herbert Muhammad (Ali’s manager) that Madison Square Garden will never make Ali and offer to fight again as long as I’m here.” (Teddy Brenner promoter). “If Madison Square Garden wants him back, they will have to replace me to do it.”
“Arum says Ali’s fighting Leon Spinks,” the Garden Promoter said with a sneer. “If anybody ever suggested years ago that Ali would fight a kid with five pro fights, they’d be locked up. I don’t want to make a match like that.”
Ali lost a split decision to Spinks in 1978 (although he won back the title seven months later). He came out of retirement to lose to Larry Holmes and, a year later in 1981, to Trevor Berbick before finally hanging up the gloves.
ex NYT Anderson 10/1/77
Monday, August 29, 1977
Cosmos Subdue Sounders for Title, 2-1
Steve Hunt (English player) stole the ball from the goalie to score the first goal. Pele said, “I always tell the players in practice to look at the ball during the game. You never know what happens – maybe the goalkeeper gets a heart attack and drops it.”
(In this case the goalie probably wanted to die by heart stoppage or a gun shot to the head.)
For Hunt it was his fourth goal of the playoffs. He also assisted on the winning goal, which was Chinaglia’s ninth of the playoffs, setting a league record. The goal came as something as a surprise since he is not known for his headers.
NYT 8/29/77
(In this case the goalie probably wanted to die by heart stoppage or a gun shot to the head.)
For Hunt it was his fourth goal of the playoffs. He also assisted on the winning goal, which was Chinaglia’s ninth of the playoffs, setting a league record. The goal came as something as a surprise since he is not known for his headers.
NYT 8/29/77
Thursday, August 25, 1977
Cosmos Defeat Lancers 4-1 Before 73,669 and Reach Title Final
The Cosmos are a game away from presenting Pele with a championship in his last year of an illustrious 22-year career.
Giorgio Chinaglia tallied the first two goals for the Cosmos only scoring in the first half. Vito Dimitrijevic scored the third and Pele iced the victory, the 11th in a row at home.
Eddie Firmani’s players came out like hungry lions, just as they said they would.
Steve Hunt raced along the left sideline and then crossed the ball to Chinaglia in front of the Rochester goal.
The Cosmos leading goal-scorer in the playoffs, who is deadly as a cobra up close, blasted the ball into the net for his seventh goal in postseason play.
NYT Yannis 8/25/77
Giorgio Chinaglia tallied the first two goals for the Cosmos only scoring in the first half. Vito Dimitrijevic scored the third and Pele iced the victory, the 11th in a row at home.
Eddie Firmani’s players came out like hungry lions, just as they said they would.
Steve Hunt raced along the left sideline and then crossed the ball to Chinaglia in front of the Rochester goal.
The Cosmos leading goal-scorer in the playoffs, who is deadly as a cobra up close, blasted the ball into the net for his seventh goal in postseason play.
NYT Yannis 8/25/77
Monday, August 15, 1977
Cosmos Triumph at Giants Stadium Before Record Soccer Crowd of 77,691
The Cosmos treated 77,691 fans, the largest crowd that has ever watched an event at Giants Stadium or attended a soccer match in the United States or Canada, to an exhibition of magic tonight.
The crowd witnessed the Cosmos’ 8-3 playoff victory over the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers in an atmosphere that was, in the words of one of those present, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, “so overwhelming.”
With Pele, Franz Bechenbauer, Steve Hunt and Giorgio Chinaglia at the helm, the Cosmos were indeed a pleasure to the eye.
NYT Yannis 8/15/77
The crowd witnessed the Cosmos’ 8-3 playoff victory over the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers in an atmosphere that was, in the words of one of those present, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, “so overwhelming.”
With Pele, Franz Bechenbauer, Steve Hunt and Giorgio Chinaglia at the helm, the Cosmos were indeed a pleasure to the eye.
NYT Yannis 8/15/77
Monday, May 16, 1977
Pele (3 Goals) Is Whole Show as Cosmos Win by 3-0
Pele shone almost as bright as the sun today, displaying the brilliance that has made him king of the soccer field.
The 37-year old Brazilian, who plans to retire after this season, delighter 21,782 fans at Giants Stadium by scoring all three goals in the Cosmos’ 3-0 victory over the Ft Lauderdale Strikers.
The 3-goal performance, the 91st of Pele’s illustrious career, came against a goalkeeper who had often thwarted the Brazilian in international competition. World Cup followers probably remember the save made by Gordon Banks, the goalkeeper of the English national team in the Brazil-England game in Guadalajara Mexico in 1970 when Brazil captured the World Cup for a record third time.
It was on a bright sunny day, like today, that Pele leaped high to head the ball toward the corner of the English goal only to have Banks lunge from an impossible position and make the save. Pele’s remark about Banks after that game, which Brazil won 1-0 was: “He got up like a salmon out of fresh water. It’s a pity that save came to no avail.”
NYT Yannis 5/16/77
The 37-year old Brazilian, who plans to retire after this season, delighter 21,782 fans at Giants Stadium by scoring all three goals in the Cosmos’ 3-0 victory over the Ft Lauderdale Strikers.
The 3-goal performance, the 91st of Pele’s illustrious career, came against a goalkeeper who had often thwarted the Brazilian in international competition. World Cup followers probably remember the save made by Gordon Banks, the goalkeeper of the English national team in the Brazil-England game in Guadalajara Mexico in 1970 when Brazil captured the World Cup for a record third time.
It was on a bright sunny day, like today, that Pele leaped high to head the ball toward the corner of the English goal only to have Banks lunge from an impossible position and make the save. Pele’s remark about Banks after that game, which Brazil won 1-0 was: “He got up like a salmon out of fresh water. It’s a pity that save came to no avail.”
NYT Yannis 5/16/77
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