I played soccer for two different teams in one season when I was about nine – or ten years old. I recall wanting to play for the Police Athletic League (PAL) because they had nicer uniforms — complete with mesh shirts, shorts, and high quality socks. Moreover, the team names were cooler: Cosmos, Earthquakes, etc.
Instead, my mom signed me up to play for the Parks & Recreation league because it was cheaper. The first team I was put on was called “Jaws.” To this day I can’t think of a team name more whack!
Aside from a dumb name, team Jaws was pretty darn good! After a few jaw-dropping wins, my coach asked me if I wanted to play on the same team as my older brother Joey.
If I was any good, I doubt the trade/player-swap would have happened. Still, I didn’t mind leaving a talented team for my brother’s team, since they were good, too. Plus they had a better team name: Aztecs.
If my memory serves me well, we beat team Jaws in a head-to-head matchup, credit to my brother, and two stellar players named Eric and Mario. Our team goalie — Jenny — was dope, too. “Play like a girl” wasn’t really said back in those days, but if it was, I think everyone would have loved to play like Jenny. She was outstanding!
When I think back to my short-lived soccer career, thoughts of Pelé usually come to pass.
I remember watching an instructional soccer video in class featuring Pelé. What he could do with a soccer ball was so impressive, even to someone like me — whose interest was in other sports.
During the few weeks we focused on soccer during PE, the father of one of my classmates came to school to help out. His goal was to teach us how to dribble, head the ball, and slide tackle. Of the three, slide-tackling was something I did well. I even saved a goal using the move against a short, bobbed-haired, ornery brunette no one particularly cared for. When she jumped up to cry foul, my buddy came to my defense, shouting “Quit crying, Christopher Columbus!” Ouch!
Back when I started teaching I asked my students — especially those with an affinity for soccer — about Pelé, and was happy to learn that all of them knew something about him.
Just two weeks ago, shortly after Brazil’s loss, two of my students asked if my dad had ever met Pelé. I shared that he interviewed Pelé in 1973, at the old Hyatt House in San Jose, the best hotel in town during that time. Both students were stunned.
I’ve always admitted that my appreciation for soccer ebbs and flows with each World Cup. What doesn’t, however, is my admiration for Edson Arantes do Nascimento.
Some of you may remember that when Pelé retired, following an exhibition game between his longtime Brazilian club, Santos, and the New York Cosmos, he asked the fans in the sold out crowd at Giants Stadium to repeat these words at the end of his speech: “Love, love, and love.” With those words reverberating throughout the stands, the great Pelé bid farewell.
If Heaven has a stadium, chants of “Pelé” are forthcoming.
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