The World Cup was last held in Santa Clara County 32 years ago. I remember walking into the Fairmont lobby and seeing Pelé hanging out, chatting and signing cards. Yes, Pelé.
At Original Joe’s, artist Peter Max, who created the official poster image, held court with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
Columbian center-back Andrés Escobar played at Stanford, less than a week before he was murdered in Medellin for an “autogoal” at a follow-up game in Pasadena. Cartel leader Santiago Gallón, believed to have ordered the hit, was assassinated this past February. Justice is patient.
Then, thousands of drum beating, dancing, bikini- and feather-wearing Brazilians nearly destroyed Los Gatos, after their country’s victory over the US. Since the statute of limitations is past, I can now admit indirect responsibility. I’d encouraged Randy Attaway to pursue a political future after he was trounced in his first run for Los Gatos Town Council 12 years earlier. He took that consolation much more seriously than I’d intended, became mayor, flew to Brazil and convinced the soccer team to make the Town of the Cats its home base.
Those 1994 events are now credited with bringing an underappreciated game into the American mainstream. I loved soccer because it was an underground alternative to baseball and American football. I played defense in an interscholastic league for a season (my closest claim to ever being an athlete). Even now that soccer is A-list, it has managed to remain cool.
As I meandered around Downtown San Jose and Santana Row this week, colorful installations took shape as a valley decorated to welcome expected guests.
Sure, it wasn’t like the blue and white streamers and flags on every balcony and roadway for kilometers around Naples after SSC Napoli won the Copa Italia. We are doing a really great job here, though. Mayor Matt Mahan did way better prepping San Jose as a host city than he did for his run for governor, so props are due—Especially to San Jose Sports Authority’s John Poch.
The experiences about to unfold here will be talked about in 2058. Get ready for history, and enjoy the moments. —Dan Pulcrano
