The man who took Pele to New York
I have already written some articles about New York CosmosThe team that wanted to become the catalyst leap From the Football Association in the United States through stars such as Pele or Beckenbur. This Sunday, I will tell you about the businessman who was an engineer to take the Brazilian star to Rosacieos: Steve Ross.
Stephen Jay Rickensz He was born on April 5, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York, within a Jewish family. His father, American Ross, had better views at work. After serving in the army, Steve Ross married Edward Rosental’s daughter, who took out the largest funeral of a house in the United States, and who started working in it.
Ross persuaded his father -that the limousines used in the funeral lines can be used at night to meet other needs. He started renting them and with money he took, he founded his car rental company, Car rental monastery.
The money invites the money and the work was varied. Ross established a car park company, one of the offices cleaning and bought a wooden flooring company. It was in 1966 when Steve Ross bought the famous talent agency Ashley, and after three years he paid $ 400 million to study films and Warner Bruce TV. Warner Etisalat.
In 1971, Warner expanded to the works of the Kebille by obtaining many small cable companies. Ross competed directly with the three large TV networks that dominated the broadcast, believing in the possibility of restricted spread, and developing cable channels for specific masses with more specific interests, imitating the radio stations model. This was the model The birth of chains like MTV and NickelodeonAnd later sold with great benefits to Warner.
In 1971, Ross, beside Irtigon brothersNew York found the universe. Steve Ross was a man who thought he was great, so the team had to have the largest football stars. Ross wanted Pele’s signature already in 1971, but he had to wait a few years. The Brazilian player retired technically, but Ross sent Brazil to a delegation to persuade the football player, by the way, He had offers from Real Madrid and Juventus. But the possibility of making her way in the United States, and above all, Warner’s money, did the rest.
In addition to the money that Warner placed on the table, Ross had also had a diplomatic practice, because Brazilian president called for another year in his country “Good from his people.”
Ross resorted to his political prayers in an attempt to alleviate the position of the Brazilian government and finally managed to speak with the great foreign minister in the United States, Henry Kissinger, Who personally contacted his Brazilian counterpart to tell him that the transfer of Pele to New York would be a great step forward in relations between the United States and Brazil.
Thus, on June 10, 1975, at York 21, Pele signed his contract with the universe, with Steve Ross next to him and With the media from all over the world. After five days, he first appeared in broadcasting the match live by CBS for the entire country. Pele did not play eight months, but in his first appearance he scored a goal and attended another.
The masses and assistance are multiplied, Which allowed other privileges to sign European stars (in retreat, yes) like George Bast or Bobby Moore.
Ross continued to strengthen the team and in 1976 he merged the Italian controversy Giorgio CenageliaAnd that will become a great friend of the currency. Ross took the European round team, and for the 1977 season, he decided to add news like Fans heads Or it appears during the break. In the middle of the season, Ross Vico Franz Beckenbauer31 years old, and searching for more public flow, they recruited celebrities related to Warner to go to Cosmos matches. Thus, celebrities such as Barbra Streisand, Mick Jagger, Phil Collins, Robert Redford, MUAMMAD Ali, Quincy Jones, Andy Warhol, Henry Kissiner or Steven Spielberg, an intimate friend of Russians (whom the director hated by the way Shendler menu). At the end of that year, the universe achieved its last major signature, Brazilian Carlos Alberto. At the end of the season, Pele retired.
Steve Ross was about to be the architect who was transporting the World Cup to the United States in 1986. The edition of that year would host Colombia, but the government of that country resigned from the inability to face the required investment the event. Ross wanted to take the tournament to the United States He met with Joao Hufflang, but it was finally Mexico that took the competition. The World Cup will not reach the United States until 1994.
As for work, Steve Ross continued the promise. In 1989, Warner merged with Time Inc. , construction Time Warner, It was the largest entertainment and telecommunications company in the world, so Ross was the head of magazines, film and television producers, and recording and publishing homes.
At that time, Ross was diagnosed with prostate cancer that ended his life in Los Angeles December 20, 1992. He was 65 years old. A few months later, Clint Eastwood won an Oscar for Best Film Without forgiveness In his speech, he devoted the statue to the memory of Steve Ross.
I hope you liked the article. Until next week.
