The PAW issue of January 2025 was the first in my memory to dedicate the cover and issue to Princeton’s Greatest Athletes, with the story entitled “Top Tigers” by Mark Bernstein ’83. I think it was an article long overdue and beautifully constructed and artfully presented. I have no quarrel with the choices, the photographs or the narrative.
My problem is this: By total exclusion, the article implies that no one who attended Princeton and played men’s soccer was among its greatest athletes. I believe that’s blasphemous. Could it be? No. I don’t think so.
Let me clear out a potential conflict of interest. I played soccer at Princeton — freshman in 1951, after playing at high school, and varsity in 1954, before graduating in 1955. Under no construct of history might I be considered one of Princeton’s greatest athletes.
But there were soccer players at Princeton who would belong in a list of the greatest. I’ll name one: Nick Cordero ’55. Nick was a fantastic soccer player. He hailed from Ecuador. He was captain of our team in 1954. And he deserved to be the captain of our team. Nick was a great — repeat great — team player and leader. Beloved, respected, he led us with heart, soul, dedication and talent. He clearly was one of Princeton’s greatest athletes and soccer players.
Maybe PAW should add a 26th greatest athlete: Nick. Neither he, nor I, nor any of our teammates would complain of the ranking, even if he deserved a much lower number.
Both he and the sport deserve the belated recognition.
The PAW issue of January 2025 was the first in my memory to dedicate the cover and issue to Princeton’s Greatest Athletes, with the story entitled “Top Tigers” by Mark Bernstein ’83. I think it was an article long overdue and beautifully constructed and artfully presented. I have no quarrel with the choices, the photographs or the narrative.
My problem is this: By total exclusion, the article implies that no one who attended Princeton and played men’s soccer was among its greatest athletes. I believe that’s blasphemous. Could it be? No. I don’t think so.
Let me clear out a potential conflict of interest. I played soccer at Princeton — freshman in 1951, after playing at high school, and varsity in 1954, before graduating in 1955. Under no construct of history might I be considered one of Princeton’s greatest athletes.
But there were soccer players at Princeton who would belong in a list of the greatest. I’ll name one: Nick Cordero ’55. Nick was a fantastic soccer player. He hailed from Ecuador. He was captain of our team in 1954. And he deserved to be the captain of our team. Nick was a great — repeat great — team player and leader. Beloved, respected, he led us with heart, soul, dedication and talent. He clearly was one of Princeton’s greatest athletes and soccer players.
Maybe PAW should add a 26th greatest athlete: Nick. Neither he, nor I, nor any of our teammates would complain of the ranking, even if he deserved a much lower number.
Both he and the sport deserve the belated recognition.