Comments on: The Dark Ages: Soccer in America From 1984 to 1996 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/13/the-dark-ages-soccer-in-america-from-1984-to-1996/ A soccer blog featuring essays, news and photography exploring soccer around the world Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:59:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ButlerBob http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/13/the-dark-ages-soccer-in-america-from-1984-to-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-29213 ButlerBob Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:19:46 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7594#comment-29213 That's a nice reveiw of the time frame between the fall of NASL and the launch of MLS. Just a clarifications and a couple of interesting points. With the launch of MLS in 1996, there were no teams from the APSL / A-League involved with the new league. The SISL which would eventually become the USL, started as a proposed feeder / development league for MISL. Also, not sure if the AISA really contributed to a salary escalation in the MISL. They were more of a lower budget league at the time. I think the owners themselves in the MISL contributed to a salary escalation. Although they did put a salary cap in place near the end of the 80s and had a collective bargaining agreement. A couple more interesting indoor points of interest. The current AEG president Tim Leiweke first made a name for himself in the MISL and was in SI as a rising sports promotor and innovator. He was with the KC Comets at the time. That team contributed to the NBA team there leaving town. You could also say that the San Diego Sockers contributed to the Clippers leaving town. Also, it should be noted that the first pro soccer team to make a profit in the US was the MISL Cleveland Force. Also, it should be noted that the CISL was started by NBA teams and arena owners as a way to use their facilities when they were mostly empty. Again, enjoyed your article. That’s a nice reveiw of the time frame between the fall of NASL and the launch of MLS. Just a clarifications and a couple of interesting points. With the launch of MLS in 1996, there were no teams from the APSL / A-League involved with the new league. The SISL which would eventually become the USL, started as a proposed feeder / development league for MISL. Also, not sure if the AISA really contributed to a salary escalation in the MISL. They were more of a lower budget league at the time. I think the owners themselves in the MISL contributed to a salary escalation. Although they did put a salary cap in place near the end of the 80s and had a collective bargaining agreement.

A couple more interesting indoor points of interest. The current AEG president Tim Leiweke first made a name for himself in the MISL and was in SI as a rising sports promotor and innovator. He was with the KC Comets at the time. That team contributed to the NBA team there leaving town. You could also say that the San Diego Sockers contributed to the Clippers leaving town. Also, it should be noted that the first pro soccer team to make a profit in the US was the MISL Cleveland Force. Also, it should be noted that the CISL was started by NBA teams and arena owners as a way to use their facilities when they were mostly empty.

Again, enjoyed your article.

]]> By: Meubelen http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/13/the-dark-ages-soccer-in-america-from-1984-to-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-28943 Meubelen Sun, 16 Jan 2011 07:19:25 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7594#comment-28943 very classic team very classic team

]]> By: dgrdsh http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/13/the-dark-ages-soccer-in-america-from-1984-to-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-28515 dgrdsh Sat, 27 Nov 2010 16:08:51 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7594#comment-28515 Hello. My friend === http://www.aeooe.com === Dedicated service, the new style, so you feel like a warm autumn!!! WE ACCEPT PYAPAL PAYMENT YOU MUST NOT MISS IT!!! thank you !!! === http://www.aeooe.com === Hello. My friend

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]]> By: dave http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/13/the-dark-ages-soccer-in-america-from-1984-to-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-25890 dave Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:11:14 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7594#comment-25890 I love that someone else remembers Steve Zungul and Tatu. As a Baltimore Blast fan growing up (complete with a signed 1984 MISL Championship Ball) I remember how great those games were. Richard Chinnapoo, Keith Van Eron, Stan Stomankovich, Scott Manning, Carl Valentine and on and on... The game was exciting and spectacle....Wasn't it Steve Zungul who was known as lord of the indoor...I remember Stomankovich ordering pizza to the penalty box....Tatu, of the Dallas Sidekicks, dribbling with his knees and throwing his jersey to the crowd after every goal...and a friends father that brought his "Tatu this" sign to every game. We shouldn't forget that Prek was an MISL star with the Wichita Wings (I think) before he went to MLS and later the USMNT. Dominic Mobilio, a Blast staple, competed with the Canadian National team. MISL may have been a bastardization of the game, but it was my first exposure to soccer at any level higher than high school and I credit the league with introducing me to pro soccer... I don't think I would have watched Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday mornings religiously if not for the fun I had watching MISL. I still have the signed ball and the complete sent of trading cards I love that someone else remembers Steve Zungul and Tatu.

As a Baltimore Blast fan growing up (complete with a signed 1984 MISL Championship Ball) I remember how great those games were.

Richard Chinnapoo, Keith Van Eron, Stan Stomankovich, Scott Manning, Carl Valentine and on and on…

The game was exciting and spectacle….Wasn’t it Steve Zungul who was known as lord of the indoor…I remember Stomankovich ordering pizza to the penalty box….Tatu, of the Dallas Sidekicks, dribbling with his knees and throwing his jersey to the crowd after every goal…and a friends father that brought his “Tatu this” sign to every game.

We shouldn’t forget that Prek was an MISL star with the Wichita Wings (I think) before he went to MLS and later the USMNT. Dominic Mobilio, a Blast staple, competed with the Canadian National team.

MISL may have been a bastardization of the game, but it was my first exposure to soccer at any level higher than high school and I credit the league with introducing me to pro soccer…

I don’t think I would have watched Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday mornings religiously if not for the fun I had watching MISL.

I still have the signed ball and the complete sent of trading cards

]]> By: USA World Cup History (Part II: 1990 – 2006) - World Cup Blog http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/13/the-dark-ages-soccer-in-america-from-1984-to-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-23195 USA World Cup History (Part II: 1990 – 2006) - World Cup Blog Tue, 04 May 2010 23:21:12 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7594#comment-23195 [...] between the death of the North America Soccer League and the birth of Major League Soccer, a period detailed very nicely by Benjamin Kumming on Pitch Invasion. Most of Bob Gansler’s squad was made up of recent college graduates and players from the [...] [...] between the death of the North America Soccer League and the birth of Major League Soccer, a period detailed very nicely by Benjamin Kumming on Pitch Invasion. Most of Bob Gansler’s squad was made up of recent college graduates and players from the [...]

]]> By: The Evolution of American Soccer Support Through a Kid at Heart | Pitch Invasion http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/13/the-dark-ages-soccer-in-america-from-1984-to-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-21176 The Evolution of American Soccer Support Through a Kid at Heart | Pitch Invasion Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:02:27 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7594#comment-21176 [...] Day morning.  To me, Al represents a generation of Americans who helped escort soccer from the dark ages of the sport in the 1980s to today’s relatively enlightened era in which soccer plays an [...] [...] Day morning.  To me, Al represents a generation of Americans who helped escort soccer from the dark ages of the sport in the 1980s to today’s relatively enlightened era in which soccer plays an [...]

]]> By: Ben http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/13/the-dark-ages-soccer-in-america-from-1984-to-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-21127 Ben Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:56:07 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7594#comment-21127 Krolpolski, let's get back to that tradition of meeting up for a few drinks at an "official" bar! Krolpolski, let’s get back to that tradition of meeting up for a few drinks at an “official” bar!

]]> By: Tales From the Dark Ages of American Soccer | Pitch Invasion http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/13/the-dark-ages-soccer-in-america-from-1984-to-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-20947 Tales From the Dark Ages of American Soccer | Pitch Invasion Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:52:29 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7594#comment-20947 [...] week Benjamin Kumming wrote a salient column for this site detailing the “Dark Ages of Soccer” in the United States.  He correctly used the 1984 death of the North American Soccer League and [...] [...] week Benjamin Kumming wrote a salient column for this site detailing the “Dark Ages of Soccer” in the United States.  He correctly used the 1984 death of the North American Soccer League and [...]

]]> By: We’re Nationwide « http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/13/the-dark-ages-soccer-in-america-from-1984-to-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-20914 We’re Nationwide « Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:31:35 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7594#comment-20914 [...] February 16, 2010 by Benjamin Kumming Okay, not really. We’re hardly even right here most of the time. But in at least this one instance, we’re happy to share that Benjamin Kumming has an account of the history of soccer in the United States between the collapse of the NASL and the rise of MLS, over ‘pon yon Pitch Invasion. [...] [...] February 16, 2010 by Benjamin Kumming Okay, not really. We’re hardly even right here most of the time. But in at least this one instance, we’re happy to share that Benjamin Kumming has an account of the history of soccer in the United States between the collapse of the NASL and the rise of MLS, over ‘pon yon Pitch Invasion. [...]

]]> By: Daily Dose: February 15th, 2010 – Pelé Photo Extravaganza - - The Offside - Soccer News and Opinion from leagues around the world http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/13/the-dark-ages-soccer-in-america-from-1984-to-1996/comment-page-1/#comment-20905 Daily Dose: February 15th, 2010 – Pelé Photo Extravaganza - - The Offside - Soccer News and Opinion from leagues around the world Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:01:27 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7594#comment-20905 [...] Good news: At least it’s not 1984 – 1996 (Pitch Invasion) [...] [...] Good news: At least it’s not 1984 – 1996 (Pitch Invasion) [...]

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