"Once in a Lifetime" is a flashy and mildly interesting documentary about the rise and fall of the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League which was a moribund, semi-pro league until Warner Communications CEO Steve Ross stepped in and brought Brazilian soccer great Pele to New York. There are some
fascinating parallels between the Cosmos and the Yankee teams of the same era, but the Yankees definitely had more personality.(I don't think there is a single reason why soccer has never flourished here. Maybe it is because the United States is a heterogenous country that already has several popular sports, each with their own devoted following. Certainly, nativism is too simplistic an explanation.) Included is archival footage of games along with interviews with management, coaches, players, sportswriters and even the mascot...and oh yeah, almost forgot, Henry Kissinger.The effect that the Cosmos had on soccer in the United States was almost negligible and it would not be until the 1994 World Cup, that soccer would be firmly established here with Major League Soccer. The overall mistake was in aiming too high, making the league too top heavy by signing expensive world players and concentrating them in New York, thus laying a foundation of cards. There would have been no problem with more modest aims in starting from the ground up. Plus, the North American Soccer League had 24 teams at its peak compared to 13 currently for Major League Soccer. The documentary lays the blame at the feet of egotistical star player Giorgio Chinaglia. Right reason but wrong ego. Steve Ross should get the lion's share of credit for the success of the league but also the blame for its downfall.
June 27, 2007
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