Bob Stetler

The frustration was taking a toll on Bob Stetler early in the 1979 campaign. He clearly had the talent to play regularly in the NASL, but he could not seem to find his way to the top of the depth chart. He would soom depart for a better life in Memphis with the Rouges. Sadly, Stetler died in a 1990 motorcycle accident in Hawaii.

Revisiting Hair Influences

One of the first posts on this blog noted how Sonny Askew had influenced Robert Reed's choice of hair style, or vice versa. New evidence has come to light in the form of the middle photo of Paul Cannell in 1979 that demonstrates this hair do (really a hair don't) appealed to Yanks and Brits alike.

The Glamour of Life in the NASL

I apologize for the sparsity in posts recently. Teaching history on two seperate grade levels is much more challenging than anticipated.

John Feinstein wrote a poignant piece about life on the road with the underachieveing Diplomats of 1980. It serves as a cautionary tale about big time sports.

Rare Piece of Dips/Cruyff History Up for Auction

The ball Johan Cruyff used to end the Dips 1979 season is up for auction via greyflannelauctions.com. A video of Cruyff's amazing 70 yard gallop and goal is also available on the site.

Timber, indeed

To say the Dips crashed to the ground hard and fast in the second half of their 1977 match in Portland would be an understatement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GUHGAwJ-GY

Teamen in the Rain

Although I did not attend the game, I remember this match better than some I did. On Sunday, June 3, 1979, during an afternoon of torential rain, I listened on WTOP 1500 AM in my room as the Dips played the Teamen. The photos attest to the field conditions as well as where the covered seating began at RFK.

Diplomats Beat Reporter

Before he was ubiquitous on the sports scene, John Feinstein was the Washington Diplomats beat reporter for the Washington Post. He discusses those days on his blog.