THE COSMOS

After receiving my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from Rutgers University in 1973, I began my professional career in the news media with my home town (New Brunswick, New Jersey) daily newspaper, The Home News, first as a copy boy and then as a sports writer. I continued my career as a sports writer for The News Tribune daily newspaper in Woodbridge, New Jersey and as sports editor of the weekly newspaper out of Piscataway, New Jersey, the pd review. The highlight of working for these newspapers was covering the professional soccer team, the Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. I had the opportunity to travel with the team which included the great Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia, Carlos Alberto and other outstanding players.  Articles about the Cosmos which I wrote can be found in the sections: The Home News, The News Tribune, Hellenic Times, Soccer America, Super Sports, Kick, New York Cosmos, Soccer Corner and Soccer Digest. Here you will find various items I collected dealing with the Cosmos team. After receiving my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from Rutgers University in 1973, I began my professional career in the news media with my home town (New Brunswick, New Jersey) daily newspaper, The Home News, first as a copy boy and then as a sports writer. I continued my career as a sports writer for The News Tribune daily newspaper in Woodbridge, New Jersey and as sports editor of the weekly newspaper out of Piscataway, New Jersey, the pd review.

Pictures I took of the Cosmos practice session at Las Vegas Stadium on April  8, 1977. Photo at right player Ramon Mifflin refreshing himself, assistant coach Julio Mazzei looking on and Pele signing autograph for a young fan. The Cosmos the next day last 1-0 to the Las Vegas Quicksilvers. A souvenir button of the match is seen at left as the match featured soccer superstars Pele vs. Eusebio.

Picture I took of Aloha Stadium in Hawaii prior to the North American Soccer League contest between Team Hawaii and the Cosmos on April 13, 1977. The Cosmos won the match 2-1.

Pictures I took on May 27, 1977 in Tampa, Florida during the Cosmos practice session and newly-acquired German superstar Franz Beckenbauer giving his first interview on television as well as giving a press conference later. The Cosmos were in Tampa to play the Tampa Bay Rowdies the next day in a North American Soccer League game, won by the home team 4-2 and spoiling Beckenbauer's debut.

Pictures I took of the Cosmos practice session at Fort Lauderdale, Florida inside Lockhart Statium on June 7, 1977. The Cosmos faced the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League contest won by the Cosmos 3-0. Pele is seen taking a shot in the photo at left.

Pictures I took on June 16, 1977 at the Cosmos practice session in Toronto, Canada with Pele leading the players in training and at left Pele's son Edinho taking a shot. The Cosmos beat the  Toronto Metros the following day at Varsity Stadium 2-1.

Pictures I took on August 17, 1977 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida during the Cosmos practice session. At top left is Franz Beckenbauer, top center is Giorgio Chinaglia and top right is Shep Messing and Pele. At left is Terry Garbett, Jomo Sono and Beckenbauer; at right is Pele, Nelsi Morais, Beckenbauer and Chinaglia. The Cosmos the next day beat the Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3-2 to win the Eastern Division title of the North American Soccer League.

Pictures I took on August 20, 1977 at Rochester, New York. Above left the three superstars of the Cosmos at Holeder Stadium, from left, Franz Beckenbauer, Pele and Giorgio Chinaglia at the Cosmos practice session. The three were kind enough to autograph the photo at a later date. Above the Cosmos training at Holeder Stadium. At left, me and Pele outside Holeder Stadium before embarking on the team bus. He was kind enought to autograph the photo at a later date. And the same day Pele gave me an autographed photo, at left. The Cosmos beat the Rochester Lancers the following day in the first North American Soccer League playoff match 2-1. The Cosmos also beat the Lancers at home the following week 4-1 and advanced to the NASL Soccer Bowl '77 final against Seattle Sounders, who they beat 2-1 in Portland, Oregon.

Pictures taken at the Los Angeles Coliseum on July 1, 1977 at the Cosmos practice session, Top left, me and Franz Beckenbauer; top right, me and Giorgio Chinaglia; at left, Chinaglia with me, Cosmos Public Relations Director Jim Trecker, Newark Star-Ledger sports writer Ike Kunz, Herald-News sports writer Hank Gola; at right, Chinaglia with me, Kuhns, New York Post sports writer Phil Mushnick and Gola. The Cosmos lost to the Los Angles Aztecs the following day 4-1.