Mention the name Edson Arantes do Nascimento to a sports fan and some might recognize it.
Others would give you a quizzical look.
Mention the name Pel茅 and it91裸聊视频檚 a different reaction.
The Brazilian soccer legend who led his country to three World Cup titles passed away from cancer on Thursday at the age of 82.
I was lucky enough to watch the world91裸聊视频檚 most popular footballer play live.
Bobby Lenarduzzi was even luckier 91裸聊视频� he got to play against him.
It was a magical night when Pel茅 and the New York Cosmos arrived in Vancouver to play the Whitecaps on June 30, 1977 in front of 30,277 supporters in a sold-out Empire Stadium.
91裸聊视频淚 knew because of the fact that Pel茅 was playing with them that there would be a big crowd there. Between Pel茅, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia, they all had superstar status but it was Pel茅 who was the main drawing card. The atmosphere was fantastic. People came just to see him,91裸聊视频� recalled Lenarduzzi.
Pel茅 would be held off the scoresheet as the Whitecaps defeated the Cosmos in a wild 5-3 match. Vancouver got two goals each from Derek Possee and Buzz Parsons in defeating the New York side that would win the first of its back-to-back NASL Championships two months later.
Lenarduzzi pointed out the match would be the genesis of a Whitecaps team that would win a championship two years later. The crowd that came to see Pel茅 saw quality soccer that resulted in a rise in the Whitecaps attendance. Interest grew in the team, as did expectations.
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91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 the type of impact he had on North America. It91裸聊视频檚 the type of impact he had everywhere he went. Even if you didn91裸聊视频檛 know much about soccer, you knew about Pel茅,91裸聊视频� said Lenarduzzi.
As for the match itself, Lenarduzzi remembers being star-struck, even as a professional footballer, and then having to reset.
91裸聊视频淵ou almost had to pinch yourself. Then you had to say 91裸聊视频極K that91裸聊视频檚 enough now91裸聊视频�. The hero worshipping is over because you have a game to play,91裸聊视频� explained Lenarduzzi, who remembered as a seven-year-old watching Pel茅 weave his magic during Brazil91裸聊视频檚 1962 World Cup win, then as teen, watching him play a pair of friendlies at Empire Stadium in the early 91裸聊视频�70s.
But this wasn91裸聊视频檛 the same Pel茅 that had led Brazil to glory that Lenarduzzi was facing that night. At the age of 37, his physical skills had diminished but Pel茅 still had a few tricks up his sleeve.
91裸聊视频淗e had dropped deeper from the position he had played in his peak, which was more up top. He was more of a provider. I remember the ball at his feet91裸聊视频� he would give you a look that would suggest he would be going in that direction then he would cut back on you and he did it so quickly that he would wrong-foot the defender and then have that little burst of speed to get away from you. I remember he did that on a number of occasions,91裸聊视频� said Lenarduzzi.
So did the then 22-year-old Lenarduzzi have enough wisdom to exchange jerseys with Pel茅 after the match?
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 funny you bring that up. Here91裸聊视频檚 the wildest thing. I was talking to my brother Sam today - we actually have a picture with Pel茅 in our street clothes with him in the middle. It was up on the wall at my parents91裸聊视频� house forever until my mom passed. Sam has it now and they used it for a story on Global TV. While we are having this conversation, Sam tells me that he actually got Pel茅91裸聊视频檚 jersey at the end of that game. I91裸聊视频檓 like 91裸聊视频榳hat?91裸聊视频� And he tells me that he can91裸聊视频檛 find it. It91裸聊视频檚 somewhere in storage. I said 91裸聊视频榓re you nuts? You have his jersey?91裸聊视频� I never even knew that and he brings it up to me today matter-of-fact. I told him that I91裸聊视频檇 be spending my day trying to find that thing,91裸聊视频� said Lenarduzzi.
As great of a footballer as Pel茅 was, perhaps the biggest compliment that can be said of him was how humble he was despite all of his tremendous accomplishments.
91裸聊视频淗e always played to the crowd. He knew why he was in North America. I91裸聊视频檓 not sure every player of that stature would do it but he did. Bruce Wilson (a former Whitecap and longtime Canadian National Team member) knew him from this time in New York.
He said Pel茅 was the most down-to-earth guy you would ever want to meet.
91裸聊视频淔or all that he had done, there was no ego, there was no arrogance,91裸聊视频� said Lenarduzzi.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 91裸聊视频渢he Moj91裸聊视频� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media. And check out his weekly podcast every Monday at or your local Black Press Media website.
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