Originally Posted by dboyd001

..... And the Europeans are more than what you could call enthusiastic. When I was in Sicily in 1988-89 if there was an important match on television all life seemed to come to a standstill in Catania anyway. You get in a taxi or a bus, the match is on the radio. Anywhere that couldn't just conveniently close, the match was being listened to on radio or watched on TV. They were getting all worked up as Italy was hosting in 1990 a football championship or maybe the World Cup, I forget which.
..... Elsewhere, my brothers-in-law in Indonesia are rabid fans, no favorite teams, they just love to watch any match.
..... As I wrote, Pele had a gigantic impact on soccer/football in the U.S. Pele also had a love of the game that went beyond a fat paycheque and a floozie, bimbo has-been rocker wife. I recall he did many things that fostered and interest in soccer off the pitch which made the game as popular as it is today in the U.S. Add to that Pele was just a nice and humble guy.
Dave