Pele

A 1970s soccer star talks of the time he posed nude for a magazine, which helped the team gain publicity. It was 1977 and one of New York\'s most tumultuous and decadent summers. Then, in the midst of blackouts, riots, the Son of Sam serial killer scare and the dawn of Studio 54, came an entirely unexpected moment of inspiration: the rise of the New York Cosmos, America\'s first great soccer team, and its larger-than-life superstar, Pele. Suddenly embraced by a city obsessed with celebrity and flamboyance, the Cosmos kicked off America\'s first passionate love affair with the world\'s most popular sport. But swept up in a careening path of glory, glamour, debauchery and controversy, the Cosmos themselves imploded.

It was 1977 and one of New York\'s most tumultuous and decadent summers. Then, in the midst of blackouts, riots, the Son of Sam serial killer scare and the dawn of Studio 54, came an entirely unexpected moment of inspiration: the rise of the New York Cosmos, America\'s first great soccer team, and its larger-than-life superstar, Pele. Suddenly embraced by a city obsessed with celebrity and flamboyance, the Cosmos kicked off America\'s first passionate love affair with the world\'s most popular sport. But swept up in a careening path of glory, glamour, debauchery and controversy, the Cosmos themselves imploded.

On today's episode of TriCenter from Kona we're keeping you in the know with the latest news from the Big Island, getting Matt Dixon's insight on the race, and providing an inside look at the Curse of Pele with Ironman legend Mark Allen.

Brazil soccer legend Pele says people are becoming more sensitive towards racism in soccer. Speaking in London, Pele said the media was to blame for exaggerating the issue. 'In my time, we didn't have this kind of preoccupation, we didn't have this because a lot of time when I play, I see (players saying) 'Pele, you're black, don't score a goal on me'.