The New York Cosmos party: MLS was there, Cantona wasn't

Thursday night, in an event space on Mulberry Street in New York City, the group in possession of the legendary Cosmos crest had a party. Their Umbro merchandise was on display along with their old NASL trophies under the words "Welcome to Cosmos Country." There were hipsters, there were fashiony fashion people, there was a guy who looked like Rob Zombie (but wasn't), and there were even a few people interested in football. All of which were mostly dudes.

Among the first of the odd collection of guests to appear in the room, as DJ Soul pumped the jams in front of a wall of classic Cosmos photos and video clips, was MLS president Mark Abbott, scoping the scene put on by the group hoping to join his outfit in two years. Unfortunately, he didn't breakdance. He just kind of stood there. Honorary president Pele wasn't there. Eric Cantona -- the man with the title of "director of soccer" for a group working towards getting an actual team and whose image loomed over Times Square just last month to proclaim the Cosmos' return -- was not there. Not even associate director of soccer Cobi Jones was there. But former Cosmos Shep Messing and Vladislav "Bogey" Bogievi were! As was a subdued Giorgio Chinaglia, who looked like a tired father milling around his kids' party after coming home from work.

At one point, chairman of the new Cosmos, Paul Kemsley, got on stage to thank a few people, announce that this was only the beginning of many things to come and declare that the Cosmos are back! Even if the most notable members of their organization weren't in the room.

There were drink! s, there was food, there were people acting cool. In the end, it was a nice party -- and that's exactly what it was. A party.

Bottom photo via Umbro_USA