Pele is so Very Special
The Cosmos train rolls on with O Rei sneaking onto CNN just before the Bin Laden news broke. The
revelation of this lengthy piece? Dude claims Pfizer told him Viagra, which he endorsed, was a
heart medication not sex pills. Should I believe this? Hell no; the guy is 70 and his 2 kids that
haven't even graduated high school yet.
...this is the last time I mention anything Cosmos related until these fools pony up and announce
that they have a team. Until then I'll be sitting quietly in my grubby little corner of Blogspot
ruing the sad devalutation of one of the most storied names in American soccer history. While I
admittedly support a team that is one of the most brand-focused entities in the domestic game, this
marketing exercise for a team that doesn't exist has grown very tiresome, very quickly.
Can I tell you something? I went to the Copa NYC final yesterday (the Polish pulled it out in PK's
against the Jamaicans to win the whole shebang) and dealt with that whole Cosmos relaunch business.
The whole thing was weird. Pele doing his "Soccer Pope" routine and making vague proclamations
about the Cosmos "being back", Giorgio Chinaglia looking very unhealthy (life on the lam will do
that to you), and various & sundry Borough Boys walking around in their new Cosmos-themed scarves &
apparel (apparently they've already abandoned their blue & orange colors).
Click this link. You can't tell me you aren't in the least bit curious as to A) who's running this
show, B) what's their endgame and C) why they thought KRS-One was the appropriate soundtrack for
their 1970's glory-seeking nostalgia trip.
Whilst skimming the business section of the Times of London this morning (because that's what
baller-assed suits such as myself do in between Powerpoint presentations and breakfasts of
California Condor eggs over easy) I accidentally spit mimosa all over my keyboard when I read the
following about the alleged recent purchase of the New York Cosmos name by former Tottenham
Vice-Chairman Paul Kemsley:
"Pele will be president of the company.
Pele will be at ESPN Zone in Times Square to launch his new children's book, For The Love of Soccer
on Wednesday, May 26 at 6 p.m. Dude used rub elbows with Mick Jagger at Studio 54; now he's sitting
on a shelf next to Raffi in Borders. My how things have changed.
I've never read his work but hopefully he's a better writer than he was a player.
I'm sure many of you feel like me and would rather not relive last night's party because it wasn't
nearly as enjoyable as Last Night's Party. Too bad they didn't listen to Pele. Perhaps Sunil &
Bobbo will get the whole crew fitted with "What Would Pele Do?" sweatshirts before the Honduras
match.
The Rest
Forgive me but I'm going to take a moment to pimp my own work from the day job. I know, I know.
It's tacky and tiring to bring my work home with me but honestly how often do I do it? About as
often as Mista scores in league play so c'mon, let some sh*t slide.
So what's so great that I have to bring it up here?
Talk about ballin' outta control. Last night the cream of players & playas' in the American soccer,
corporate & political scene converged on NYC's Gotham Hall in aid of Harlem Youth Soccer at a
$1250-a-plate black tie affair. For that kind of cash you just know the steak was as juicy as a
Biggie classic joint.
You see those glistening mounds of slow roasted deliciousness? That is what I like to call
'perfect'. It's actual nom de meat is prime rib and it comes straight off the roasting spit and on
to your plate at any Portuguese or Brazilian bbq joint worth it's salt. I defy you see that photo,
read that description and still not believe in God.
