soccer nba

St. Louis' national soccer prominence has a rich history that reaches as far back as the U.S. upset of England in the 1950 World Cup, where nearly half of the U.S. National Team was recruited out of St. Louis. The movie, "The Game of Their Lives" is a documentary of this historical moment. Despite an unlikely finish in the 1950 World Cup with a roster chock-full of St. Louis players, the United States would not reach the World Cup again until 1990.Al Trost became the 21st St. Louis soccer personality to be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame on August 28, 2006. St. Louis is home to more Hall of Fame inductees than any other city in the nation, with the exception of New York. The Raiders, part of the original North American Soccer League, were the first St. Louis semi-professional soccer team in 1947. Four members of the Raiders represented the United States in the 1948 Olympics; five played on the 1950 World Cup team. The semi-professional NASL folded in 1953 due to lack of fields. Kutis emerged as the prominent amateur soccer team during the 1950s. In 1958, the entire Kutis team was selected to represent the United States National Team. Bob Kehoe is perhaps Kutis' most legendary player, acting as captain of the U.S. National Team in 1965 and as coach of Kutis in 1972. The team still exists today. Bob Hermann, St. Louis native, pioneered the first American professional soccer league, the North American Soccer League (NASL). He also inaugurated the Hermann Award (college soccer's equivalent of the Heismann trophy for men and women). He was also President and Owner of the St. Louis Stars (NASL). Saint Louis University's soccer-specific Hermann Stadium is named after him. The St. Louis Stars immediately drew attention from many mainstream sports fans who previously would have never been distracted from MLB Cardinals baseball, NFL Cardinals football, or NBA Hawks basketball. Using known St. Louis-based players, the Stars led the league in attendance in its first year, averaging over 7,000 fans per game. The inception of Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and the St. Louis Steamers say the revival of professional soccer in the St. Louis area in 1979, drawing over 18,000 in its first game and averaging over 14,000 per game for the season. In 1982, average attendance reached over 17,000 per game, a franchise record. In 1983, team management and ownership changed hands, resulting in progressively lower attendance figures over ensuing seasons. With poor performances (below .500) in the 1986 and 1987 seasons, fan attendance dropped dramatically. The MISL franchise folded in 1988. The team returned in 1989 as the St. Louis Storm with new ownership and management, achieving similar success as it had early on. The MISL changed its name to Major Soccer League (MSL) in 1990. In 1992 when MSL folded, the National Professional Soccer League franchise (NPSL) St. Louis Ambush came to town. That season average attendance returned to 10,000 per game with a season high of 16,000. In 1995, the Ambush drew a season high attendance of 17,603 and over 182,000 fans attended Ambush games throughout the season. With the re-forming of the Steamers in St. Charles and World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) in 2000, the Ambush folded as several of its key people moved to the Steamers. Two years later, the Steamers left the WISL for the revived Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). The club sat out of the 2002-03 season to identify potential investors and returned in 2003. In 2004, the Steamers moved back to the downtown St. Louis area, playing in the Savvis Center. A season-high 13,798 fans attended a Steamers game in 2005. In the same year, the MISL season finals were broadcast live on ESPN2. The Steamers, winners of the 2006 MISL regular season title, advanced to the Championship game in St. Louis, playing in front of 16,061 fans. Saint Louis University men's and women's teams rank nationally in the top ten and twenty respectively, in attendance. Saint Louis University Men's Soccer holds the NCAA record with 10 National Championships; Saint Louis University Women's Soccer celebrated its 10th season of existence in 2005 with an NCAA tournament berth and 1st round upset over Stanford University. Saint Louis University Men's Soccer is considered the first true soccer dynasty, having won 5 National titles between 1959-1965 and 10 titles in its storied history.