Protagonist Podcasts Presents: America’s Greatest is a podcast series co-hosted by Joshua Duder and several of Protagonist’s other writers, podcasters, and guests. We want to explore and share the rich narrative and pedigree of the sport in the United States - to tell the stories about our greatest games, moments, and iconic soccer characters.

In episode six we discuss the 2017 Final between the upstart San Francisco Deltas and the internationally renown New York Cosmos with author, historian, and professor Dr David Kilpatrick as well as Mr. Douglass Zimmerman, photo editor for SF Gate, NY Times.com, and Fortune.com also photog for publications like Bild Magazine, ESPN the Magazine, and Reuters.

In their first season in the league, the San Francisco Deltas overcame numerous obstacles, some self-wrought, to earn their way to the NASL Final. Historically known as the Soccer Bowl, we go over the nuts and bolts of the league and how both the Deltas and the multiple-time champions (8 titles, split between the old NASL and the reborn NASL) NY Cosmos got past the regular season league behemoths, Miami FC to clash in the Final of all Finals for the NASL.

We review the stadium situation in San Francisco, as it was, and how Kezar was the only place large enough, and met the league standards, to host the Deltas in the NASL. While it would be the Deltas debut season, it would end up being their only as well as the league’s final season.

David and Douglas discuss the highlights of the game from 2017, which are still up on the NASL YouTube Channel - and walk through the rosters which include some very familiar names to anyone who’s been watching US Club Soccer at any level for at least the last 5 years. Kyle Becker, Nana Attakora, and big Tom Heinemann lined up as part of a fantastic starting eleven led by coach Marc Dos Santos and faced off against the likes of Andres Flores, Emmanuel Ledesma, and Javi Marquez coached by the brilliant Gio Savarese.

Join us here for the sixth episode of America’s Greatest where Protagonist Soccer’s assistant editor, Josh Duder gets stuck into the 2017 NASL Final, then calms everyone’s nerves by looking at the music scene in San Francisco and talking tunes with Dr. David Kilpatrick and Mr. Douglas Zimmerman.

We have a few more episodes already recorded and look forward to releasing them every second week. If there is a player, game, or moment you think we should consider, don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know!

by Joshua Duder