Under swirling lights and amidst screaming fans, soccer legend Pele and Ironmen goalie Tony Meola shook hands prior to the December 1 inaugural home game for the fledgling NJ club. It was a moment Newark Mayor Cory Booker had been looking forward to for months. "(This event) really puts us on the map," Booker said as he looked on at the Prudential Center Saturday night. "Soccer is global sport and we're the soccer capital of the state of New Jersey. We have great soccer countries represented." Well received by the New Jersey fans, Pele promised to come back later in the season and called Newark "his new home." Certainly Pele is no stranger to New Jersey, having played with the Cosmos in the 1970's. He visits the area frequently (a friend has a restaurant there) in between his continued globetrotting, making personal appearances representing the game he loves. "This is my game," he said. "Before this, I was all over the world. I was in Dubai, then I went to Abu Dhabi, then to France, then to England, Switzerland and Mexico." Pele also was enthusiastic in his endorsement of indoor soccer, both in developing skills and being a positive influence on the youth involved in the sport. "Everybody who starts with indoor soccer has much more skill than outdoor soccer," he said. "You are quicker with the dribble and it makes you much more skilled. Also, when we talk about sports, it's not only wins and losses; it's to take the kids from the streets, to take the kids from the bad scene, from the drugs. This is all part of sports." The evening ended perfectly for the Ironmen, with the home team prevailing on the scoreboard 8-6, thanks to a Meola save in the final seconds. The Ironmen will follow up Pele's appearance with former U.S. national team midfielder Tab Ramos serving as another honorary captain. Ramos will perform the ceremonious first kick at the 4:00 p.m. Sunday kickoff at Prudential Center when the Ironmen host the Milwaukee Wave (4-2).
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