Category: Sidewinder Insider

Editor’s note: This column originally appeared on October 1, 2019. It’s being republished as a tribute to Pelé, who passed away today.

We all have those “Where were you when?” moments, whether it’s remembering a major news event or a milestone in sports.

Sometimes, the two are the same, and one of those times was October 1, 1977.

On most Saturdays during the fall I’d be glued to the TV watching college football or listening to it on the radio, like many sports fans in Birmingham, Alabama. On this particular one Auburn was taking on Ole Miss in a televised contest at 1 p.m. while Georgia at. Alabama ruled the AM airwaves later in the day.

But Edson Arantes do Nascimento (I’ll just simplify things and call him by his nickname, Pelé) was also playing his last competitive soccer match on a special episode of ABC’s Wide World of Sports that afternoon. For me, that trumped everything else.

In a friendly between Pelé’s current team – the New York Cosmos, and the club team from Brazil where he got his start, Santos – the “Black Pearl” played a half for each side. A crowd numbering 75,646 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, got to see Pelé score a goal for New York in the Cosmos’ 2-1 victory.

I watched because by 1977 I was a hardcore soccer fan, but also because I owed much of that fandom to Pelé.

The first soccer match I ever saw (also on Wide World of Sports) was a December 1970 rebroadcast of that year’s World Cup Final; Pelé scored a goal in Brazil’s 4-1 victory over Italy.

The sport fascinated me, and the way he played it made it even more enthralling.

His was the first soccer poster to ever go up on my wall, and his likeness still bears a prominent spot in my Fan Cave.

I’ve always shied away from butting the words “sports” and “hero” up against each other, bit for Pelé I made (and make) an exception.

Since soccer was hardly a TV staple back in the day, any chance to see it was cause for excitement. But this really was a well-played match, and Pelé’s 1,281^st career goal (which came off a 30-yard free kick that rocketed into the right corner of the goal) was pure class.

When the match ended he took a victory lap – holding an American flag in one hand and a Brazilian flag in the other – and was mobbed by players from both clubs and thousands of fans who had made their way onto the field.

As I’m sure was the case for millions of other soccer faithful, the occasion was a bittersweet one. It was great to see this magnificent athlete go out on top, but it was sad to think he’d never lace up his boots again.

Pelé gave a speech afterward, but since it’s been a minute since I heard it, I had to look it up in the archives of the New York Daily News.

It was brief, but worth repeating:

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am very happy to be here with you in this moment of my life. I want to thank you all, and I want to take this opportunity to ask you in this moment – when the world looks to me – to take more attention to the young ones, to the kids all over the world. We need them too much. And I want to ask you, because I believe love is the most important thing in the world that we can take in life, people, say with me three times, Love! Love! Love!”

In 1999 Pelé was named World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, and that same year was elected Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee.

Certainly there’s plenty of room to argue over who the greatest footballer of all time is – names like Messi, Maradona, Best, Zidane, Cruyff and Ronaldo will no doubt enter the conversation – but Pelé transcended sports.

He made The Beautiful Game even more beautiful.

After being removed from the newspaper business for nearly two years, I’ve finally adjusted to being a fan again.

I answer to no publishers, editors or advertisers, so I can cheer for who I want to while ignoring what (and who) doesn’t interest me. It’s liberating.

But one thing I’ve noticed while transitioning from paid journalist to blogger-for-fun is I tend to root for people more than teams.

While covering Anderson University, for example, I got to know soccer coaches Samar Azem, Ciaran Traquair and John Murphy. I enjoyed my interactions with them – I like them as people and they’re terrific coaches – but you have to keep a certain amount of distance from those you write about in order to maintain objectivity.

That’s no longer an issue.

Azem and Traquair are the coaches of the women’s teams at Campbell University and The Citadel, respectively, while Murphy guides the men’s squad at Georgia Southern.

Those are three schools that were – for the most part – off of my radar during my journalism days. Now, though, I find myself following and cheering for them because I follow and cheer for their coaches.

Which brings me to Mike Noonan, the head men’s soccer coach at Clemson and a man who, last Tuesday, registered his 100th victory as head of the Tigers in a 2-0 win over Furman. Assistant Phil Jones has been there for all of them, so kudos to him as well.

I had the privilege of covering Noonan’s team for a few years, including Clemson’s Final Four run back in 2015 when the squad finished 17-3-4 and reached the national championship game. Like Azem, Traquair and Murphy, he’s someone I came to know – and like.

His coaching demeanor always struck me as “calm intensity,” although there are certain times when intensity is the alpha quality. It’s quite obvious that he expects the very best out of his players from whistle to whistle, and those same players know that’s what they’re getting from him.

As someone who is passionate about soccer, covering Clemson is a blast. Both the men’s and women’s programs are top shelf, and Riggs Field is a picturesque venue.

It might have originally been designed for American football but man, it’s perfect for association football.

So now – since I no longer write about the Tigers as part of a paid gig – I get to sit back and enjoy the show.

And so far in 2019, Noonan’s charges have put on a great one, racing out to an 8-1 record (2-1 in the ACC) and a No. 4 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll.

Last season – a rebuilding one – Clemson’s streak of five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances was snapped.

It looks like a new one is about to start.

The calendar hasn’t even flipped to October this year and already Noonan’s charges have eclipsed their victory total from 2018, with conquests of Notre Dame, Duke and South Carolina already in the books.

Following last night’s 3-2 overtime road loss to No. 7 Wake Forest, Noonan stands at 313-175-41 overall with a 100-62-28 mark earned in eight-plus seasons with the Tigers.

Noonan would be the first to tell you that his players get the wins – not him – and he’d be right.

But there are few in the business who do a better job of putting their footballers in a position to succeed, and I was genuinely happy to see him reach the 100-win milestone.

So add Clemson to Campbell, The Citadel and Georgia Southern as soccer programs I cheer for throughout the season because I’m a fan of the people who lead them.

There’s nothing at all wrong with “rooting for laundry,” but sometimes the person on the sideline wearing the school colors makes it really easy to do.

I spent so much time over the last several months laughing at the National Independent Soccer Association I never stopped to think that maybe the joke was on me.

NISA? What does that stand for … the No Information Soccer Association? Or maybe it means Not Inspiring Supporters Attention.

See, for the longest time NISA’s marketing plan seemed to consist of doing no marketing at all.

Well, I take that back. Once a territory was named they put it on a pretty postcard and placed it on their website.

We’ve known a while, for example, that Charlotte would be represented in NISA. What we had trouble finding out was anything else about the club.

However, suddenly I find myself cramming on all things NISA, just in case a pop quiz comes up.

Quick … where is California United Strikers FC located?

Where and what is Stumptown Athletic?

Haven’t I seen the Philadelphia Fury somewhere before?

Not long ago I was all geared up for the National Premier Soccer League’s Founders Cup, which was to be a gateway tournament for the circuit’s pro initiative via the United States Adult Soccer Association. Clubs like the New York Cosmos, Chattanooga FC and Detroit City FC would carry the NPSL banner, and I’d follow.

That being the case, I could chuckle at NISA’s expense.

But lower division soccer is a sports tornado, and sometimes it’s hard to tell what’ll turn to debris and what’ll be left standing. Now that the sky has cleared somewhat, we can survey the damage.

The Founders Cup floundered due to player insurance issues, and several clubs like Miami FC (two-time defending NPSL champion) pulled out. Thus, it was downgraded to the Members Cup, and currently serves as a one-off tournament.

NPSL Pro – or whatever it might’ve been called – is NPSL No. My main hope in the aftermath is that the NPSL (in its traditional form) continues to be a viable circuit for adult amateur soccer.

But the other league – the one I was making fun of? Yep, it survived the storm.

Chattanooga FC and Detroit City FC jumping to NISA is a done deal as of Thursday, and it was a logical next step in light of all that’s happened. Both clubs wanted to go pro, the NPSL’s pay-for-play initiative never materialized, and the United Soccer League’s League One is on the opposite end of their philosophical spectrum.

In other words, if they wanted to compete in a league in which their players got a check, NISA was really the only box they could check. They’ll officially begin play in the spring of 2020.

Oakland Roots SC was also announced as a new NISA member, but gets a head start by being part of the inaugural fall campaign.

(As for my beloved Cosmos’ future, it’s once again up in the air. At this point I wonder if they might wind up like the Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings, wandering from town to town playing local clubs).

“Bringing Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC and Oakland Roots SC all in to NISA at the same time is very exciting,” NISA Commissioner John Prutch said via a news release. “These clubs truly represent their communities and are proof the open system for soccer is the best way forward. Each has built their support the correct way and that support will sustain them and NISA for years to come. Congratulations to each of them (owners, staff, players, and supporters) for taking that step to play professional soccer.”

CFC and DCFC are two of the strongest voices in independent American soccer, and I’m glad they get to be loud and proud together. Oakland has also seemingly done everything right to get up and running, and brings its own indie vibe to the game.

So with the most recent clubs joining the party, I can only hope NISA’s landing is better than its leap.

When it was first announced back in the summer of 2017, I was genuinely excited about the possibilities. Fans could have an ownership stake, by its fourth season there’d be a promotion/relegation system (likely in concert with the North American Soccer League), and it would be more in line with international football – right down to a fall season.

But the NISA that begins play in a few weeks has changed dramatically from the league that was on the drawing board two summers ago.

Not long after the announced launch, co-founder and general counsel Jack Cummins died unexpectedly following a brief illness. Co-founder Peter Wilt later left the league to oversee the Forward Madison franchise in USL League One.

And with the NASL dormant – and on life support pending the outcome of a lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation – a major pro/rel path is blocked.

But apart from that, NISA did itself no favors in terms of introducing itself to American soccer supporters.

For a time it existed as little more than a website featuring the aforementioned postcards. Getting information about coaches, players and venues was like going on a poorly planned scavenger hunt – you didn’t even know what you were looking for.

And with exhibition matches slated for August 31 and clubs still holding tryouts, it all seems like a rush job.

Here’s the thing, though … I bought a piece of Chattanooga FC because I believe in their mission. And that mission – like the purpose of Detroit and Oakland and, hopefully, the vast majority of other NISA members – is to be community-first, community driven organizations.

They want their footprint to be more than a cleat mark, and

NISA offers that chance. With the promise of an open system, maybe the way Chattanooga, Detroit and Oakland promote themselves will inspire the umbrella organization to up their public relations games as well.

The fall lineup, billed as “NISA Showcase,” features Atlanta SC, California Strikers FC, Los Angeles Force, Miami FC, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Diego 1904 FC, and Stumptown Athletic.

Aside from Chattanooga and Detroit, clubs in Baton Rouge, Norwich, Connecticut, and Providence, Rhode Island are expected to start competition in the spring of 2020.

Oh, and as for my homework, I found out that California Strikers FC is located in Irvine; Stumptown Athletic pays homage to Matthews, North Carolina, which was once known as Stumptown; and the Philadelphia Fury’s roots go back to the original North American Soccer League.

Obviously, I have no idea whether NISA will flourish or flop – no one does. But I have to give it a chance.

It’s here, and it’s no longer a laughing matter.