Hello All
Eddie Kennedy here, one half of the presenting dream team - think Randy Moss and Tom Brady - Valley Free Radio has to keep the "soccer show" alive on community radio here in the Pioneer Valley in Massachusetts, USA, every Monday morning on 103.3FM from 7am to 8am ( or stupid o'clock to sane o'clock as I like to think of it )
As always, it was a packed show yesterday. We kick-started our show with what has become a bit of a cult classic. It was our Monday motivational moment. It is the last 4 minutes of the commentary from BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage of the 1999 Champions League Final, when, 1-0 down, my beloved Manchester United came back in injury time to win 2-1. Happy days indeed! It has amazed me the reaction I have received since we first played the piece of commentary. Naturally, as an exiled Red, it still gets me excited now, over 8 years since the game was played. The look on Tim's face as he intently sat listening to it, coupled with what I have heard from mine and Tim's wife, well, all I can say is that the old saying about painting pictures with words was never more true.
New England Revolution's sad demise in the MLS Cup Final was the next topic. To go 1-0 up courtesy of an excellent Taylor Twellman goal and lose from two momentary lapses of concentration, well, it only sickens you. The lads did very well trying to salvage something, but, you do wonder if the current crop of players needs freshening up, and that they need the "designated" player the MLS allows, to take them to the next level. It's times like this, in my opinion, that the players have to ask themselves have I done my manager, my team, the fans and myself justice? Having said all that, the Revs have won one piece of silverware this season and have gone to the MLS Final for the 3rd successive season. A good season, but they have to go to the next level if they are to be truly remembered as a great side in MLS history. All great teams like United ask themselves that.
The subject of Football Club ownership was the next big topic. News from England that http://www.myfootballclub.co.uk/ has bought a majority shareholding in a semi-professional team caught our eye. Ebbsfleet United, from Kent, are now owned by more than 20,000 people! It's a great idea in principle. The concept of a community owning a team appeals to the socialist in all of us, the idea of stopping one person using it as a toy to make money for him or herself is great. It will be interesting to see how the idea maps out. Tim and I tried to sign up online, but, computers being the fickle, tempermental buggers that they are, wouldn't let us do it for some reason. Never beaten until it's over, I'll find a way for us to become part of the scheme!
I used to haves shares in Manchester United. It made me feel part of the club on a level I had not felt before in all the years of supporting the Reds. It was a shame in one way when "Uncle Malcolm" came riding into town and bought the club in the manner that he did, saddling the club with the debt it has now after years of being debt free.
It has been discussed many times before, that from the day United became a company quoted on the London Stock Exchange, the time for a takeover was an accident waiting to happen. The money raised by Martin Edwards and the board was needed - the development of the ground wouldn't have happened in the accelerated manner in which it did - without the move to being a PLC ( Public Limited Company ). Only time will tell how the situation with the Glazers will develop, but with rising ticket prices being imposed on the club's core supporters, it is sunny with the chance of heavy showers right now at M16!
To round the show off, we chatted about a few news items that had caught my eye over the past week. The unfairness of the money received by the England women's football team for their efforts in China during the World Cup ( $80 a day ) to compensate for lost revenue from their day-jobs ( there is a league in the UK but not to the standard over here ) , a study about telling a defender from a forward or a goalkeeper purely on looks and personality were covered and how some junior coaches in the Pioneer Valley put "professionalism" for want of a better expression before fair play and skill development. Dear me, what is the world coming to? Have we learnt nothing?
Tim described the mood of the morning as "grumpy". He was right after the footballing weekend's actions, despite the USA beating South Africa and Israel doing England a favour by beating Russia. I think we went some way to rectifying the problem. It is our intention to try and put a smile on people's faces as they start the working week. I like to think we do. Tim and I are very proud of our show. When people who are not sporty-minded say, on air, that they look forward to hearing it, then I know we are doing a good job.
As a final thought, football mirrors life. We all, at some stage in our life have to work in a team environment. Watch a game of fotball at some time folks, you might like it and more importantly, learn something. You never know, you might become like Tim and me! ( By the way,that's Tim with boys from his football team in the picture - they are Connor Edwards, Freddie Stokes and Alex Zimbalist )
Till the next time,
Adios and enjoy your football
Eddie Kennedy
