Comments on: NASL: When Football Had Shootouts

By: Martha

Martha — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 11:41:12 +0000

I am, Lupo, it’s true. I realize it’s hard to believe anyone can stand them … (:

I assume you’re a Roma fan? (In that case I won’t tell you that I have sort of a lot of affection for Chinaglia, I think he’s a fascinating guy. Plus, I got to interview him briefly when he was doing press for the movie, which helped. There definitely is love for ability and records in the movie, but he’s totally portrayed as a dick — does that make you feel better?)

By: Lupo562

Lupo562 — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 06:11:48 +0000

Yea I read the ESPN story about the film (way too much love there for Laziele merda Chinaglia in my opinion) and it sounded like an amazing situation. Still, it is interesting that none of that excitement carried over to when those “fans” had kids (outside of token enrollment in AYSO).

By the way, are you really an Inter fan?

By: Martha

Martha — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 03:09:20 +0000

Lupo, the Cosmos were a happening, not just football — when Pele arrived it changed everything, the team turned into massive celebs, they were actually trendy and a cool cultural thing, in addition to being amazing footballs. The Rolling Stones were in the locker room after matches, along with … Henry Kissinger. Just completely, utterly insane; even after watching it play out, you won’t believe it happened.

By: Lupo562

Lupo562 — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 02:36:35 +0000

As a young American, I am so fascinated by the success of the NASL because the very same generation that sold out Giants Stadium in 1978 now poo-poos any mention of soccer being important here. I only wish I could have been alive to feel what it was like to be a soccer fan in America and be mainstream.

Great vid links and I definitely need to see the movie.

By: Shaz

Shaz — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:22:18 +0000

Bring back the shootouts! And bring back the ’stache! Those were kickin’ back then and would look great today.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:00:56 +0000

The short shorts! The bottle brush mustache! Oh! The horrors!

But I like the shootouts.

By: Francesco

Francesco — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:51:34 +0000

Thanks Nelson. I was commenting while watching the first couple of shots, I hadn’t gotten to the end yet. It was killing me that nobody was trying it.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:47:25 +0000

the mls had that format up until at least ‘02 I remember seeing a fire metrostars game at giant stadium that ended in one

By: Nelson

Nelson — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:34:59 +0000

The format was actually a pretty good idea…it gives the keeper a better chance than a pk because instead of just guessing it tested their one on one capabilities. Too many times today pk’s are just based on luck b/c great keepers guess wrong and not so great ones guess right.

Francesco, if you watch the whole thing one of the players tries a chip but the keeper jumps back and saves it

By: Martha

Martha — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:22:41 +0000

Actually, Tim, I’m 99% sure the movie was first — the copyright of the book (both US and UK versions) is 2006, and in the acknowledgments, Newsham thanks the directors and producers, saying “This is, after, their book.” It definitely was published after the movie had been released in a few European countries and debuted in the US at the Tribeca Film Festival a couple years ago.

The points is, though, that everyone needs to see the movie. (: