Thanks to everyone who watched the first episode of Soccer Rewind (and if you haven’t, check it out!). This week, we look at the short-lived New Jersey Ironmen with a long-time goalie and a long-time broadcaster who happen to have been best friends since junior high school:
- Tony Meola played pro indoor soccer early (the 1994-95 Buffalo Blizzard) and late (the 2007-08 Ironmen) in his career. Returning to his home state to finish up wasn’t a no-brainer, but it was an interesting circumstance, as you’ll hear him describe it.
- Sal Rosamilia was an All-American goalkeeper at Columbia University and my broadcast partner for the game of Dec. 1, 2007 when the Ironmen faced the Detroit Ignition.
The home opener for the Ironmen took place at the then-new Prudential Center in Newark, just a few miles from where Sal and Tony grew up, in Kearny, NJ. You’ll hear them talk about their days at Kearny High, what the experience of playing and broadcasting in the historic home opener was like, and why the Ironmen ultimately failed after two seasons. Enjoy the video below, and the show notes below that.
SHOW NOTES
- More on the Ironmen from the fabulous (and not-long-for-this-world, unfortunately) FunWhileItLasted.net.
- Also from FWIL, the story of the Detroit Ignition.
- Follow Tony Meola on X here, and catch his radio show, Counter Attack, on SiriusXM.
- Watch Tony’s 2012 Hall of Fame induction speech here.
- Sal’s also a financial advisor, so get in touch with him here if you’re in need of a strategy to reach your long-term goals.
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