A Chance Meeting with Paul Cannell

Paul Cannell played hard and hit the DC bar scene harder. He once gave an interview to the Washington Star at Tramps, a bar in Georgetown. Tom C. from Bethesda, Maryland, has his own

Cannell pub story. "The Sign of the Whale was a popular after-match spot and I remember approaching striker Paul Cannell to shake his hand and talk soccer, but he looked frightened and looked frantically for an exit. 'Why the alarm? I just want to shake your hand,' I said. He sheepishly admitted that he took me for the cuckolded of one of his many 'birds.'

Cannell accosts Gordon Banks at RFK Stadium, 1978.

Final Tour

In November, 1980, only days before the NASL would euthanize the franchise, the Dips traveled to Japan for 5 friendly matches.

Ownership Change

Circa mid-May, 1975.

A Christmas Story

Just as Ralph Parker yearned for an official Red Ryder carbine action 200 shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time, I longed for a Sears Roebuck catalog Washington Diplomats official replica NASL game jersey, which Santa brought in 1979. It was impressive looking, with the only alteration being the removal of the third stripe across the chest not to infringe on the Adidas logo. Happy Holidays.

Collecting Johan Cruyff

Rod Sangala was kind enough to send along this beautiful signed Johan Cruyff cover of Soccer Digest. Check out his blog at http://myvintageautographs.blogspot.com/. This photo provides a beautiful close up of what I think were the most unique jerseys in the NASL. Below are front and rear views of a Cruyff gamer that came straight from the team.

A Rare Find-1978 Promo Film

Dave Wasser, who has done an outstanding job locating NASL games for posterity, was kind enough to share this gem. In 1978, the Dips released a promotional piece produced by NFL films. This 6 odd minute work was only shown during the previews of movies screened at Roth Theatres, a DC area chain of yesteryear. The jingle included in the film, "Get your kicks with the Dips," is a delicious, if obscure, part of Diplomania. If anyone has any Dips photos, games, or highlight films to share, please contact me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eREuccWQz_M

Open Tryouts, Spring 1980

After acquiring world class players like Johan Cruyff, Wim Janse, and Juan Jose Lozano, management realized they had not sufficiently scoured DC and it's suburbs.