Chris ‘Mad Skillz’ Mahaffey
Mad Skillz earned his stripes as a professional for the Atlanta Silverbacks. As the Director of Training and Development for AFC Lightning Soccer Club, he’s lacing his boots up one more time to help Soccer in the Streets, a cause that brings kids the opportunity to play soccer and learn life lessons. We’ll see if he still has those crazy-licious moves.
Brian P. Stoddart aka Mystery
Legend has it that Mystery played his football for Santos FC in Jamaica. Now the Director of Coaching for Atlanta Youth Soccer Association, he’s taking part to support an organization that improves the lives of youth in Atlanta. Markers must be mindful: Mystery is an accomplished trickster and trash talker.
Ramiro ‘El Mascota’ Canovas
El Mascota, the Mascot, is known and feared around the world – particularly when there is a contest to be won. During a high school basketball game, Ramiro snuck away to dress up in a bear costume and returned at half time to win a half court shooting contest. El Mascota is playing because he loves soccer and it instills values regardless of money, status or race. Let’s see if he’s as clever in a tuxedo as in a bear costume.
Jason Thomas aka The Bionic Man
With 11 surgeries already performed on his reconstructed body, Jason Thomas is the Bionic Man. But don’t mistake the steel plates and staples for invincibility: He can be bullied if you speak to him in an English accent. Who is the Bionic Man? He’s the one dressed like a Chippendale’s dancer with shin guards and a bow tie.
Tim ‘Forgetting is a Habit’ Abbott
Abbot, who won the Blue Peter badge at age nine, forgot that he also won the Pink Sally badge at age 23 – but that’s probably because he’d downed six pints of chumbawumba in one night. But don’t mistake him for anything but a good friend. After all, he convinced the hotel manager to let Phil Hill return to his own bachelor party even though Phil was dressed as Catwoman. Tim has since forgotten why he signed up for the Black-Tie Soccer Game, figuring he was probably drunk at the time and slightly deluded: He also thinks he looks like Daniel Craig when wearing a tux.
Andre ‘Sexy Legs’ de Winter
A veteran of all World Cups since 1974, as a television-viewer, of course, Sexy Legs will strut his stuff for all to see. Nicknamed by his wife, we’re told that Andre can drink a beer and score a goal at the same time. October 4 is Sexy Legs’ birthday, and he has chosen to use his special day to give back to the people he cares about. Ice Cream’s on Sexy Legs’ for all the kids afterwards!
Josh Zimmer aka Pele’s Godson
Some say that Josh is from outer space or, at least, the (New York) Cosmos. Supposedly the godson of Pele, Zimmer is famed for performing the Pineapple Kick, the juicier version of the Banana Kick, in a game’s most crucial moments. Pele’s Godson is looking forward to donning his tuxedo and putting on his Brazilian accent.
Michael ‘The Convincer’ Valverde
The Convincer’s claim to fame is that he persuaded Alexa Adamo to marry him. ‘Nuff said.
Toby ‘Graeme to Crackers’ Hawkes
Toby once injured former Liverpool FC and Scotland National Team hardman Graeme Souness badly enough to earn the nickname ‘Graeme to Crackers. Hawkes was 15 at the time and hasn’t had a friend since. He’s new to Atlanta, still has no friends, no one to kick a ball around with, and nowhere to go for dinner. A gentleman sportsman beneath it all, Toby’s here for the kids.
Jill Robbins aka Coach
For the past 25 years, Coach has introduced the sport of soccer to thousands of kids. The ultimate ‘soccer mom’, Jill has adopted participants of Soccer in the Streets as her own. Even though she never played as a kid, she’s participating because girls can play with the boys and, well, the Black-Tie Soccer Game was her idea and she’s not about the miss the fun! Look for her in her 30 20 10-year old prom dress kicking the other players up and down the pitch.
Brian ‘Scoring Goals’ Koles
After being banned from the Bahamas in 2005 following a Spring Break incident that involved a stuffed animal in a bikini, a water balloon and sunscreen oil, Brian took to the sport of soccer and since then, well, the nickname says it all. He’s playing because no one ever invites him to nice parties, but – after the Bahamas – it’s no wonder. Considered a great catch by his grandmother, Brian’s fans will be on the sidelines with fishing poles trying to reel him in.
Travis ‘Top Striker’ Riker
Known more for his singing prowess than his scoring, the Top Striker is the lead singer in Grammy nominated rock band. A college soccer player, Travis believes that the Black-Tie Soccer Game represents the perfect balance between the sport he loves and helping kids in need. Bring your video cameras and put him on YouTube – he dares you!
Ivan ‘Ginger Balls’ Wademan
Ginger Balls taught Phil Hill everything he knows about football, errr soccer. He’s playing because everybody loves a redhead in a dress and he wants to be on television. (And something about doing good for kids, too.)
Phil ‘The Thrill’ Hill
A notoriously rough player back in the day, Phil is Chairman of the Board of Soccer in the Streets. The Southampton native, sadly no longer a season ticket holder, bides his time being an Internet entrepreneur and showing the world how he became The Thrill.
Elizabeth Griffith aka The Coke Zero Hero
An expert on all things FIFA who works for Coca-Cola in the Football Events division, The Coke Zero Hero earned her nickname for scoring goals without expending any calories. Elizabeth is an avid footy player, throwing on her boots whenever she can. She's also a newlywed. Awww.
Chris ‘The Gecko’ Goeckel
The Gecko brings freakish speed to the game, slithering in and out of opponents’ penalty boxes. He also owns a technology company and is a long time fixture of the Atlanta soccer scene. The Gecko hails from the "Datagraphic" era – anyone around Atlanta knows that name from the men's club soccer heyday.
Jordy ‘Cruyff’ Broder
Although not the son of the famed Dutchman, Jordy is a rep for PUMA and is a former Atlanta Silverbacks player. He’ll bring his southeastern interpretation of Total Football to the Black-Tie Soccer Game.
Heather ‘So So Def’ Alhadeff
Heather is a local do-gooder and a friend of a friend of a friend of a – you get the idea. So So Def will bring hip-hop style to the soccer pitch, so watch out!
Ricardo ‘Redcard-o’ Montoya
Celebrity referee Redcard-o Montoya is no stranger to the game. For the day, he’ll be the whistle-blower – even if he earned his nickname for showing a ref the red card during a match in which he was playing.
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