I got a huge kick watching "Once in a Lifetime", the story of the New York Cosmos, on ESPN2 in HD, of course. Some tidbits:

Matt Dillon with the narration.

Good music: "Up The Neck" by the Pretenders, Sparks' "This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us" and Steely Dan's "Dirty Work" was the closing theme.

Bugs Bunny was the on-field Cosmos mascot.

Giorgio Chinaglia is a bit of an ass, widely regarded as the one who ruined the Cosmos. The only guy to call out Pele. Pele: "You shoot from too many fucking angles." Giorgio: "The reason Chinaglia shoots from those angles is because Chinaglia can score from those angles." No ego there.

Henry Kissinger assisted in the signing of Pele.

The Cosmos had their own table at Studio 54.

Gordon Bradley, the coach, wanted to throw this long-haired skinny guy out of the locker room once, because he was obviously on drugs. Yep, Mick Jagger looked horrible in the photos.

One of my old-timey favorites, Rodney Marsh, was on. Late '70s: "Rodney, some people refer to you as the white Pele." Marsh: "I like to think of Pele as the black Rodney Marsh."

Pele declined to be interviewed for the movie. He wanted $.

The US tried to get the World Cup in 1986, when Colombia bailed early on from hosting duties. It was awarded to Mexico.

The two Cosmos who probably come off the best (why would we think it wouldn't be this way?) were "The Kaiser", Franz Beckenbauer, and Carlos Alberto. When the Kaiser showed up, Chinaglia was relegated to "third banana".

As an aside, each time I see Beckenbauer, I must say, I start to think of the Germany-Greece Philosophers Football Match from Monty Python. This is where Beckenbauer was the only actual soccer player on either team, "a surprise inclusion" on the German team. Confucius was the referee. "Confucius say, "Name go in book." when he carded some guy. The great thing is that no one actually kicked the ball, the philosophers would just walk around the field pondering things. Finally, Archimedes says, "Eureka!" and discovers that he can kick the ball, it somehow gets to Socrates, who scores on a diving header. In the 89th minute, of course, to set up this joke. The Germans dispute the call; "Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside."

Meal of Links

A bunch of ways college students can save money. They seem to be big on avoiding tips.

McDonald's may sell breakfast all day. It is lunacy to try and beat the clock on a weekend. Still haven't had a McGriddle.

Live cheap. Eat cheap. Furnish cheap.

Video of the Week

I absolutely love this video. Adrian Belew's daughter keeps asking questions like you tell me you're a rock star, but where's the hit record, the big car, cash, and what are you gonna get me? Things to look for: The rubber guitar, Belew's six-necked guitar, his Tucker Carlson dance steps, the animated Elvis Cadillac.

Adrian Belew-"Oh Daddy"



Exercise Yard

The A-Rod article from SI. OK, only two guys in the meeting between Joe Torre and Rodriguez. Lots of details. Who talked? It is interesting that Derek Jeter clams up on the situation (again) and who knew that Jason Giambi was a team leader.

Visitor

21 Across: Goddess of the dawn (3 letters) Answer: Eos