Re: [nas] Messing on U.S. players

--- Original Message ---
From: big_dog@fastmail.fm

>-A much improved landscape for American soccer 
>players 
>Norm Wingert and I broke into professional soccer the 
same year, he as a
>goalkeeper for the Philadelphia Atoms and I signed 
with the New York
>Cosmos.
>We both chafed under the challenges facing American 
players in a
>predominantly foreign league.

Next time someone brings up the Great Old Days of the 
NASL (which, I will admit, hasn't been as often since 
Korea) and why we need to spend money on bringing 
stars into the league for some pizazz and improved 
talent (which has happened recently, expecially after 
the whole ManU Tour deal), I am going to somewhat 
gently bring this quote up.

When US players have gotten to the point where their 
value reflects the highest standard, US fans will come 
in larger numbers and stay.  That is the only road to 
true, long-term success for the sport in the US.

This being said, don't get me wrong - I appreciate the 
role the NASL played in US Soccer history.  I 
sincerely doubt that we would have a shot at MLS if it 
hadn't been for the NASL.  Just like CCS preceeded 
Victoria Street - The Yellow Erector Set may not be 
pretty or fancy, but without it, I sincerely doubt we 
would have The Orange Toolbox.  Of all the things Hunt 
has done for soccer, that is the biggest thing he did -
 to create a permanent, physical manifestation of the 
desire for soccer in the US.


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