N.Y. Cosmos: Lost in San Francisco

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND SHIN KICKERS

SOCCER BOWL '17

N.Y. Cosmos    0

S.F. Deltas        2

New York Cosmos: Bid For Three-Peat Bogged Down By Deltas.

The New York Cosmos bid to win a third straight championship, and their fourth of the modern NASL era, ended in defeat Sunday night at San Francisco.

An improbable loss, considering the expansion San Francisco Deltas are now champions after their very first season of existence.  More so for Cosmos Country locals, considering the Cosmos finished the Spring session second in the league with 56 goals, then topped the Autumn session with 34 goals, yet fell to San Francisco two-nil.

They were made to play from behind early on.  San Francisco forward Tommy Heinemann converted a penalty kick at the 18:53 mark and the Deltas never looked back.  Frisco threatened again at the 59:40 mark when a centering pass was headed just wide/right of goal.  Then at 59:20, goalkeeper Jimmy Mauer made a huge stop from point blank range to keep the Cosmos within one.

New York forged ahead with fine chances inside the 76th and 77th minutes of play, but were ultimately turned away.

San Francisco sealed the victory with their second goal at the 4:38 mark of extra-time.  The game ending whistle sounded shortly thereafter.

*

The modern era NASL is a Division-II soccer league which began play in 2011, and has no affiliation with the original North American Soccer League.  Their desire to be sanctioned as a Division-I circuit compelled the NASL into taking issue against US Soccer over anti-trust matters.  In turn, US Soccer is now threatening to no longer sanction their Division-II status.  Barring a last minute agreement, the NASL appears under threat of folding.

N.Y. Cosmos: Futbol by the Boardwalk Opens for Business

From the desk of:  CONEY ISLAND FC

Futbol by the Boardwalk

FINAL

Cosmos     0

MiamiFC   3

NEW YORK COSMOS: Miami FC Spoils BKFC's Coney Island Home Opener.

Despite Miami FC's convincing three/nil victory, the lively atmosphere at MCU Park Saturday evening otherwise suggested the New York Cosmos first ever Brooklyn home opener went very well.

The game wasn't a complete sellout, but it was a full house nonetheless (considering the rather raw chilly weather along the beach).

The famous fanatical Five Points federation (La Banda, Cross Island Crew, Borough Boys) wasted no time planting their respective flags.  In short time commenced the lesson demonstrating exactly how extreme rooting in Cosmos Country gets done.  With their signature green smoke billowing from the bleachers, the chorus - replete with drums, a brass section, and spirits - broke into their evening long anthems.

Coney Island FC and Miami ended Saturday's first half tied at nil.  Unfortunately, the second half was no April Fool's joke.  There's just no real way of escaping their defensive zone negligence which repeatedly kept placing goal keeper Jimmy Maurer in very uncompromising positions.

The Cosmos are now scoreless through their first two games.

Defensive substitution Jimmy Mulligan drew an incontrovertible red in the second half after a pair of swift and misguided yellow card infractions.

Rechristened in 2010, the neo New York Cosmos captured the NASL championship during their initial return to action in 2013, and are presently the reigning back-to-back Soccer Bowl champions.

After previously playing their home games at Hofstra University from 2013 through 2016, the Cosmos are making Coney Island their new home sweet home.

N.Y. Cosmos - Welcome Back To Cosmos Country

...But Cosmos Country Looks Very Differently From When They Ruled Last.

Now that the New York Cosmos have joined the reformed North American Soccer League and played an official game in the local area (Hofsta) again, I can believe it.  I can now say with certainty, the Cosmos are (actually) back.

I care.  I do.  I was a tremendous fan of the original team, attending many games between 1977 and 1980.  Pele of course got all the headlines, but I was a Giorgio Chinaglia supporter.  The rift between the two soccer legends was no great secret, and fans were almost made to chose sides.  Rest his soul - as he is not here to witness the return of the team he helped make history with.  But it's good to see some of the old faces resurface to re-launch the Cosmos.

Can they regain their former mega-status and glory?  Doubtful.  The NASL is not even a top tier league anymore.  The Red Bulls and the MLS now dominate the soccer landscape, but I say that in the loosest of terms.  Plus, there is additionally a New York City team joining the circuit shortly - New York City FC.  So what's a soccer fan to do, or the Cosmos for the matter?

The Cosmos joining the MLS would have been nice - a nice fit that is.  That possibility seems remote now.  Regardless, the club and the MLS have different ideas.  MLS runs a "socialist" omni-brand system, and the Cosmos, then as now, chose to operate as raging capitalists.  Yeah, just like the good ol' days.  I can't say I'm an avid follower of MLS soccer.  Honestly, I maintain only mild interest in the Red Bulls.  I am in no way captivated by today's circuit like I was as a ten, eleven, twelve, and even thirteen year old boy consumed with the NASL.  Back then, Cosmos versus the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers really meant something.  Today?  I'm going to have to find a way to reinvest myself in their product and play.  That means the Cosmos will need to be wildly creative and....good.

I don't know what happens from here.  But I'm glad they're back



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Cosmos ~ CHINAGLIA!! A Soccer Legend Passes

NEW YORK COSMOS:   Number 9 Strikes His Final Goal.


From the ages of ten through fifteen or so, I was one of those kids who attended New York Cosmos games at the old Meadowlands.  Basketball was the first sport I ever played and had a passion for.  And Baseball was and always will be my first true love in life.  Hockey, then Football found my favor.  However, Soccer was the first sport I was ever exposed to as a child.  Passed down to me from my Pop, I still maintain an Old World love for the game, and a passion for our favorite team outside this country.


I am here to tell you now - In those days, attending games, being a fan, and rooting-on the Cosmos, was as thrilling a time for me, as any time I've spent rooting-on my regular teams.  For me, the late 70's was a era made memorable by Chris Chambliss' home run in game five of the 1976 ALCS; because I was there; - by Ron Greschner's clinching goal against the Islanders in 1979; and by watching Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto, and Giorgio Chinaglia win NASL Championships together.

Giorgio Chinaglia was as much a great sports figure to me, and in my opinion, as much a super star in this city, as there ever was.  I'm happy to have been a witness to that whole Cosmos phenomenon back then.  And I am happy and feel fortunate to have seen the great Giorgio Chinaglia play in person.



Yes, he was great; as great as any player was in their respective sport.   At least that's the way this kid saw things back then.  And I still feel that way today.


Rest in Peace, and thank you.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Cosmos ~ This is Cosmos Country

 

Brooklyn is Cosmos Country!

 

Mike.BTB

N.Y. COSMOS ~ ...Spotted In Brooklyn

NEW YORK COSMOS

Bedford Avenue and Grand Street: Wall Mural

 

 

 

Mural Credit:

Mike.BTB

Goodbye GIANTS STADIUM, good riddance Meadowlands.

Tah-Dah!!
Consider this my first post into anything other than Baseball and Brooklyn.  And away we go...!

Good-bye Giants Stadium, and greater Meadowlands Sports Complex.  I appreciated you.  But somehow this doesn't have the gravitas like the closing of SHEA STADIUM, or The House Where Sparky Spit,  The House That George Razed, the Cathedral, YANKEE STADIUM has.

I had some good times there.  Don't get me wrong.  There's just not that much of an emotional attachment like Shea, The Stadium (better?), or even what Madison Square Garden means to me.  It is what it is.

In my 43 years on this planet, as a FOOTBALL GIANTS fan,  I've been to 3 games; one in 1985, 1989 and lastly, the 1993 playoff game versus the Vikings.  That was a great time, and the best moment I was present for.  The best moment of all time at Giants Stadium was voted on.  That moment is the 1986/7 NFC Championship, Wind Blown, Paper Snowing victory over the Redskins.  Voted the second greatest moment was opening day the next season when the Giants celebrated their 3rd Super Bowl victory with their fans.

However, I have awesome memories of going to many NASL COSMOS games in the late 70's.  Pele's last game was THE biggest event I attended at the Meadowlands.  1978 was as fun a year rooting for the Cosmos as any other, with any of my teams.  You didn't know it then.  But I know today, those COSMOS days were special!  The crowds were incredible.

My other source of Meadowland merriment came when the U.S.F.L. kicked-off.  I took an instant liking to the league and the NEW JERSEY GENERALS.  That league should have stayed in the spring.  They would probably still be around today.  Those were good times too!

I went to a couple of concerts at the old Brendan Byrne Arena (I don't keep up with these dumb name changes anymore).  I saw Judas Priest, OzzY, Sabbath and I don't even remember who anymore back in the 80's.  But there were others.

And that's it....the extent of my associations with Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands.  Good-bye 'Ol-Chum.  It's been...alright.

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