Why The MISL Deserves Its Place In American Soccer History

There is a significant chapter in American soccer history that deserves far more recognition than it has received. It happened not on the outdoor fields of the North American Soccer League or years later in Major League Soccer.

The games took place inside packed arenas. It was the era of the Major Indoor Soccer League, and particularly throughout the 1980s, when indoor soccer became one of the most visible and entertaining forms of pro soccer in the United States.

Although purists hated this version of the sport, the MISL served a purpose in those post-NASL years. Indeed, the MISL was more than a winter diversion. It was a professional league that attracted international stars, developed American players, introduced thousands of fans to the game and helped sustain the pro game in this country during a period when the outdoor game was struggling to find its footing.

When the NASL collapsed in 1984, American soccer faced an enormous challenge. The MISL became the primary destination for many of the players left without a home. It provided employment, competition and a platform for players who might otherwise have disappeared. For a decade it was arguably the most prominent pro soccer league in the country.

Some teams drew big crowds. The San Diego Sockers, Baltimore Blast, Cleveland Force, St. Louis Steamers, Kansas City Comets and Dallas Sidekicks developed passionate fanbases. Arenas regularly attracted thousands. In 1985, league attendance averaged nearly 8,600 per game.

The atmosphere was unlike anything American soccer (or any other sport for that matter) had previously witnessed. Music, elaborate player introductions (with piped-in fog and laser shows) and constant action. Together, it created an entertaining sporting event. The MISL understood that it needed to sell more than the game itself. It needed to create an experience. In doing so, it helped establish a model of sports entertainment that became familiar throughout North American professional sports in the years to come.

But the entertainment was only part of the story. The quality of soccer was exceptional.

Steve Zungul became the defining superstar of the indoor era. Known as the “Lord of All Indoors,” he established standards of excellence that seemed almost impossible to match. Juli Veee, Branko Segota and Kai Haaskivi were among the other outstanding international performers who helped make the league special.

As the decade progressed, a new generation of stars emerged. Preki, Tatu, Dale Mitchell and Kevin Crow all became synonymous with the MISL. Goalkeepers such as Slobo Ilijevski demonstrated that indoor soccer demanded extraordinary reflexes and athleticism.

These were not simply players adapting to a smaller field. These were specialists in a demanding version of the sport. The walls, boards, smaller playing surface and rapid transitions required creativity, anticipation, ball control and decision-making at extraordinary speed.

The Brazilian, born Antonio Carlos Pecorari, became famous for throwing his jersey into the crowd after scoring a goal. He is an especially fitting example of why MISL players deserve recognition tday. He Played eight MISL seasons with the Dallas Sidekicks, helping deliver the 1987 MISL championship. Across all pro indoor leagues, Tatu ranks second all-time in career goals (857) and career points (1,585).

“Fans still stop me these days and say they remember when their dads would take them to games,” Tatu said in a 2012 interview with USSoccerPlayers. “I love that. It really shows that we made a difference in peoples’ lives.”

Tatu’s accomplishments were not incidental achievements in an obscure competition. He was one of the defining players of an important era in American soccer. Tatu was never forgotten and elected on Nov. 12 as part of the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027, alongside former U.S. striker Jozy Altidore and two-time Women’s World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe.

The importance of the MISL extended beyond the imported international stars. It provided American players with the chance to develop and compete. It also helped maintain a professional infrastructure and an audience for soccer during a period of uncertainty. Its players, coaches and fans were part of the foundation upon which subsequent generations of American soccer would build.

The Hall of Fame has already recognized some players whose careers included the MISL. That legacy deserves to be recognized by the National Soccer Hall of Fame. There have been others recognized with inductions in recent years, including Zungul and Preki. Crow was inducted just this year.

The recognition should not stop there. The contributions of players like Tatu and others should be evaluated within the context of the league in which they played, rather than diminished because their achievements happened indoors.

“The American people embraced me as one of their own,” the 64-year-old Tatu said after being told of his induction. “I will always feel welcome in this country. I feel a part of this country. This is a surprise. This is a thing that happens after you die.”

There is something important about preserving the memories of the MISL generation. Many younger soccer fans know the history of MLS, the U.S.’s World Cup appearances and the development of the modern American game. Far fewer understand what happened in the arenas during the 1980s. The MISL, which collapsed in 1992 after 14 years, was not a footnote in American soccer history. It was a chapter of its own.

“I don’t think the NASL and MISL guys get enough appreciation,” Tatu said in 2012. “We planted the seeds. All these guys planted the seeds. We all helped soccer in this country grow. Without us there would be no MLS. We kept the ball rolling. We didn’t always get paid a lot.”

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/why-misl-deserves-place-american-203013086.html