<p>Jimmy Banks, a former USMNT defender who played at the World Cup in 1990, passed away in 2019, but his legacy lives on. A native of Milwaukee, WI, Banks spent most of his life in the Midwest. His playing days stuck around indoor soccer with the Milwaukee Wave. The Wave is still in action today, and it is the oldest continually operational soccer team in the United States. Banks played for the Wave while he made a total of 36 appearances with the United States.</p>



<p>The indoor soccer star broke barriers upon his selection for the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/usa-world-cup-video-victory-from-1990-captures-the-mood-20231115-WST-470169.html">1990 World Cup</a> by head coach Bob Gansler. Banks, as well as teammate Desmond Armstrong, became the first two African-American players named to a World Cup squad by the United States. Granted, that was the first time the United States qualified at all since 1950. Regardless, it was a historic moment for the team, despite the United States losing each of its three games.</p>



<p>As stated, Banks passed away in 2019 after a battle with cancer. However, the trend of pushing the boundaries on expectations is something the <em>Friends of Jimmy Banks</em> is continuing to work toward. This group of community volunteers in the Milwaukee area recently renamed the stadium at Obama High School the <a href="https://www.jimmybanksstadium.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jimmy Banks Memorial Stadium</a>. Yet, the work does not stop there.</p>



<h2>Legacy of USMNT player Jimmy Banks lives on in Milwaukee</h2>



<p>To further commemorate the life of Jimmy Banks, the group is looking to raise $40,000 to paint a mural at the stadium. The raised money will then go to scholarships for local kids. Banks was revered as a supporter of the community and someone who wanted to help out the children. For example, one of his quotes stands out.</p>



<p>“When I leave this world, I want to be able to say that I’ve done something for someone. I think by helping these kids, teaching them good values, not only teaching but motivating — if I can do that, I’ve done my job.”</p>



<p>Even though Banks is no longer around, those that he impacted are carrying on that legacy of giving back to the Milwaukee community. </p>



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<p>Tying Banks’ roots back to Wisconsin is something he did even after his playing career ended. Banks spent 20 years as the head coach of the Milwaukee School of Engineering. In the meantime, he also served as the director of coaching for the Milwaukee Kickers. That passion to be involved with Milwaukee was clear, and it is something that his friends and family recognized. </p>



<p>For reference, his son, Dee Banks, said his upbringing came from a poorer area of Milwaukee. That is actually how he found out about soccer when the Salvation Army had it as one of their activities. He echoed that motion by founding a soccer club for underserved communities in the eastern Wisconsin area. That is known as the Milwaukee Simbas.</p>



<p>“Soccer has been so good to me, I just want to put something back into the sport as far as working with inner-city kids, disadvantaged kids and things like that,” Banks once said.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO</em></p>

Legacy of USMNT defender Jimmy Banks carries on after passing

Jimmy Banks, a former USMNT defender who played at the World Cup in 1990, passed away in 2019, but his legacy lives on.


<p>When the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/usmnt-tv-schedule/">US Men’s National Team</a> roster was announced for the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">2022 World Cup</a>, the club names of the players were dazzling: Arsenal, Barcelona, Juventus, among others. </p>



<p>The “kids” playing in Qatar in the red, white, and blue are part of a new generation of soccer players. Top clubs covet these names with contributions pouring in for both club and country.</p>



<p>As the US looks ahead in four years to hosting a second World Cup, it can be easy to forget that the US is still a relatively young soccer power. Certain things fell in the correct order, both good and bad, for the USMNT to get to this current spot. More bad breaks could have further delayed the outbreak of the US. </p>



<p>Adam Elder’s new book,&nbsp;<a href="https:\/\/amzn.to/3tJ3lI8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Kids in the World Cup: The Totally Late ’80s and Early&nbsp;90s Tale of the Team That Changed American&nbsp;Soccer Forever</a>, looks at this formative period. Many older soccer fans remember Paul Caligiuri’s goal at Trinidad &amp; Tobago. Or, they recall the USMNT’s impressive performance to hold Italy at Rome in 1990 to just one goal. The story of how fraught this period was for US Soccer needs retelling. Elder’s writing style and in-depth knowledge gives this story the attention and attitude needed to do it justice.&nbsp;</p>



<h2><em>New Kids in the World Cup</em> book by Adam Elder</h2>



<p>The story begins in 1988. The US advanced past Jamaica to make the round-robin phase for the 1990 World Cup. This US team is not like the totally professional one today. Instead, the roster had a mix of indoor soccer players, part-timers, a few pros in Europe and others known by the Federation. The coach was a part-time coach, full-time maître&nbsp;d’. But the stakes could not be higher. </p>



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<p>The US failing to qualify&nbsp;could mean losing hosting rights to the 1994 World Cup and the millions of dollars that came with it.</p>



<p>The book&nbsp;takes the reader through qualification and the subsequent World Cup. Elder looks at not just the performance on the field, but how the Federation evolved and built the roster to reflect the goals of a more modern, more professional system. Of course like any good story there were numerous times the US could have tripped up and fallen short, but they dramatically reached their goal.</p>



<h5>Narrative of the story</h5>



<p>The difference between this book and other ‘this is where they came from’ type books is the narrative style. The book reads like a novel. The scenes are full of emotionally-loaded descriptive words and the chapters include cliff-hangers and dramatic narrative pauses. Considering the personalities on the team and the late ’80s and early ’90s timeframe, the stylistic choice is a good one.</p>



<p>Even if you know how the story ends, and acknowledge there may be some overdramatization at times, this is a very good read. Elder did his homework either through superior memory or re-watching these games and interviewing the participants. I recommend this book as some enjoyable reading between stressful US <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/">Group B matches</a> as a way to recognize just how good we have it as US soccer fans.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / WEREK</em></p>



<div style="background:#f9e4ea;padding:10px;">
<h3>Guide to World Cup 2022</h3>
<div style="padding:10px;">
Here are some resources to help you get the most out of the biggest event in soccer!
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/"><strong>TV Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/"><strong>The Groups:</strong></a> We <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/">breakdown each group</a> and all the teams
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/"><strong>The Kits:</strong></a> Check out <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/">what every team will be wearing</a> on the field this fall
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/"><strong>Predictor:</strong></a> Play out every scenario with our <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/">World Cup Predictor</a>
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/"><strong>World Cup Bracket:</strong></a> Map out the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/">entire tournament</a>, from the groups to the final
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/"><strong>World Cup Hub:</strong></a> Your one stop for <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">everything Qatar 2022</a>
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Adam Elder wrote the book 'New Kids in the World Cup,' a retelling of the less prosperous, but equally important, times for US Soccer.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "world cup 1990"

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Legacy of USMNT defender Jimmy Banks carries on after passing

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New Kids in the World Cup book tells early USMNT growth in 90s