Phoenix Pride
The Phoenix Pride, based in Phoenix, Arizona, played one season of indoor soccer, 1983-84, in the top indoor soccer league in the US. The club had spent the three previous seasons as the Phoenix Inferno. Bruce Merrill, a cable television executive, bought a controlling stake out of bankruptcy in January 1983 for $175,000. Home games stayed at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Merrill hired Ted Podleski, a former pro basketball executive in San Diego, as general manager. Podleski objected to the word Inferno, so the name changed in July 1983. The old red, yellow and black colors went with it.
Antonio Simoes, a former Portugal international who had coached the team the year before, started the season and went 13-17. On March 3, 1984, Podleski fired him and named himself coach, though he had never played or coached soccer. He went 5-13. Mark Kerlin led the team with 32 goals and 51 points. The Pride finished 18-30, last in the Western Division, and drew about 5,900 a game.
Merrill lost about $2.2 million running the club. In June 1984 he put it up for sale. No buyer came forward, and he folded it in July 1984.
