A Gilded Glory: The NASL

Gilded: having a pleasing or showy appearance that conceals something of little worth.

What better describes the NASL than the word gilded? It is most famously used by Mark Twain in reference to "The Gilded Age", talking about the thin layer of wealth that covered the immense poverty in early 20th century America. You could say that about the NASL also. While it produced some of the most flashy soccer in the world at the time, and drew stars from all parts of planet Earth, such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, and Giorgio Chinaglia, the NASL rested upon 1 team, the New York Cosmos, and although it did raise the average American's awareness of soccer, it's original goal failed, which was to make soccer the most popular sport in America, although it was already the most popular sport in the world. It's average attendance for the league was never above 15,000, although the Cosmos' drew well over 40,000, selling more tickets in Giants Stadium than the Giants themselves!

The league started in 1968, when 2 former leagues, (the FIFA commissioned United Soccer League, and the non-commissioned National Professional Soccer League), merged into 1, the North American Soccer League, or NASL. It was at this time that Steve Ross, owner of Warner Communications, started the New York Cosmo's. He took amateurs from the surrounding New York semi-pro league's, and paid them small salaries. The first few years of the league were hardly recognizable, with the players not playing because of the money, or because it was a job, but because they loved the game. In the league's first year, the average attendance was under 5,000. The small crowds consisted mostly of the player's family and maybe even friends, with the rare non-relation/friend coming to the game. All of this changed, in 1975, with a small exchange of $1.4 million.

Steve Ross wanted to win. Badly. He would do anything to win, even, according to story, run down on the field to give the players towels. He knew that his team needed more talent, which would attract bigger crowds, thus earning him more money, allowing him to get more talent. He wanted a well known player, one who would score and earn the love of the crowd. In Pele, he found his man.

Pele and Giorgio lead the Cosmos onto the pitch.

Pele, the Brazilian star, the winner of 3 world cups, was coming to the United States. With him came an downpour of foreign talent. Giorgio Chinaglia, from the Italian club SS Lazio, was in his prime when he signed, and these 2 made up the best scoring combo, possibly in history. This was Giorgio's prime, possibly the only foreign player to sign in America still in the best days. Althought the Cosmos were the pride and showpiece of the NASL, there was also the Washington Diplomats and Johan Cruyff, and the L.A. Aztecs, who signed a fading George Best. When told he was "the white Pele", Best promptly replied, "Pele is the black George Best." This did not rest well with Pele, and he made him pay the next time the Cosmos played the Aztecs. This well represented the NASL, a league whose teams had flair in everything; their names, players and jerseys. 

The Diplomats Jersey.

Back to that word, gilded. Although it seems that the NASL's glory would never end, every good thing must end. After Pele retired in 1977, the league was destined for a downfall. In fact, the league had only ever been an uneven league, with teams like the Cosmos dominating. In 1984, the league folded. Although there were some attempts to recreate indoors, there was no returning for the NASL. The glory that was; the NASL.

A resurgence has been made in North American soccer, starting with the MLS. Some teams like the Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps, and San Jose Earthquakes taking their names from former NASL teams, and some big European stars joining the league, like Thierry Henry of the Red Bulls or David Beckham of the LA Galaxy, the level of play is nowhere near what the NASL was. The style, the flair, the "playing for the love of the game" attitude was what made it great. Nothing can replicate that. Nothing.