I nearly uh... never mind. Let's just say I was very surprised to see this: http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2003/11/14/nicols_worth_is_truly_priceless/ Bob Ryan not saying soccer sucks? Talking positive about the Revs? Has hell frozen over? Or is this punishment for some remarks on talk sports radio?
No kidding. Cover up the byline, and it looks like a good, honest, knowledgeable assessment of the Revs' season to date, entering the do-or-die game against Chicago tonight. Even if you don't cover up the byline, it still does. Would have never guessed that was a Bob Ryan piece, given his past reputation. I'm saying this as a neutral supporter, but perhaps we need to give props to old curmudgeons like Bob Ryan. Perhaps he knows more about the Revs and the sport of soccer then he's been letting on.
Unexpectedly good article. Hopefully he'll forward a copy of it to FDA. Being something of a journalist, Ryan managed to make my "Nicol for Coach of the Year" argument better than I have: "The key to everything that's happening now, say the players, was Nicol's refusal to abandon his tactical principals when things went south earlier in the season. When the team wasn't winning, no one suggested it was because the right players weren't playing or the right system wasn't being imposed. The Revolution are trying to do the same things they were doing in July. It's all coming out a lot better now; that's all. "The biggest thing is the decisions the players are making on the field," Nicol maintains. "The guys have made better decisions." "We've maintained the same formations," says Heaps. "The most important thing is that he stuck with his plan. As a player, you don't want a coach coming in after a tough loss and rearranging the furniture. That's the last thing you need, a coach losing confidence in you or what he believes in." "
Pretty good. Next we'll hope to see him discuss the Revs' win on "The Sports Reporters" this weekend. Maybe send along a note to encourage his coverage ryan@globe.com
Ambiguous, I suppose, but it works either way, actually. More likely an over-reliance on computer spell-checkers, though. Durn machines. Nice article in the classic "sport profile" form, though -- I agree that FDA could learn a thing or two from it. Funny how it stands out from the canned profiles we've been getting the last couple weeks...not that I'm bitching about the increased coverage, mind you.
Bob Ryan wrote a stirring defense of soccer during the last World Cup essentially calling out soccer bashers and making the point that soccer is a sport, and that as such, it should be loved by sports fans, not ridiculed. This doesn't seem at all out of character to me.
"I nearly uh... never mind." I think the phrase is, "*#*#*#*#*# yourself?" Same here. Write Ryan, thank him. The Magpie
I don't want to be unnecessarily critical of a very good article from an unlikely source, but there was a bit too much of other sports in it for my liking. Although I suppose that is actually a very good thing for the average fan who doesn't follow soccer. I have to say I found this sentence very amusing: Actually, no, I hadn't heard. Seriously, not only did I not know that the Pats were home this week, but I had no idea who they were playing or why it would be important...until I heard the intro to Bill Littlefield's piece on the Revs on WBUR moments ago. The "Tuna Bowl" was mentioned in the setup with the same intention, i.e. pointing out that there is another important game tonight. BTW, Littlefield's piece was well done. He commented on Cancela's tendency to pop up after a foul with a smile on his face. Nicol agreed that Cancela has a good attitude and knows how to get hit without getting hurting. Specifically, he said that this is not "crash test dummy stuff." Adin Brown praised Cancela for increasing his defending "tenfold." I assume that the piece will be on the WBUR site later today.
Here's the link http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbur/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=569070
Wow. That's pretty cool, a quick e-mail reply from a major columnist on a national scope. Out of curiousity, what did he say?
Exactly. He basically said that if you weren't getting into the US World Cup run that you really weren't a sports fan. He likes a good game.
Sent him an email. Considering the circumstances, this is a great article written by a popular and respected sports journalist. People listen to him, and people will believe him.
Let them eat cake Come on, Magpie. A self-described soccer hating journalist (he can understand why people like the World Cup, but ignores it the rest of the time unless it becomes unavaoidable) throws us a crumb with one good column and you get all weak in the knees. I can just picture Ryan sitting back, laughing, and saying, "Let them eat cake." ----- The Ryans and Shaughnessys and Callahans all hate soccer. So is there any reason why we should be oh soooo greatful when they write something that isn't negative. Are we still there in Year 8 of MLS? Are we going to thank the bully for not kicking sand in our face? I think that we should be beyond that by now, but perhaps sadly we are not. With the Revos playing in the Eastern Conference final, I would think it was a no-brainer for one of the columnists to finally write something about the Olde Towne soccer team. Not be bowled over because they finally did. If they weren't writing about this team now we should scream to the editors. But thanking them for doing their jobs and covering what should be so obvious?
You know, I have always liked Ryan. I remember him talking about the World Cup and his comment was basically, 'While I don't get the game, no one can doubt the athleticism that is being displayed. On that level it is quite remarkable.' You know what, soccer isn't going to appeal to everyone, but at least he didn't denigrate it and he could appreciate the spectacle of it. He stopped where other people tend to go - 'Because I don't get it, it is stupid or dumb, or will never catch on.' Anyway, glad to see the article, a LOT of people read Ryan and for that I am glad for the nice words and the positive words....I like his closing by the way...'They didn't start this Fire, but they know how to finish it.'
here is my responce, which was nice... Thank you for the excellent,straight forward piece. I know you are not a huge soccer fan so I appreciate your non-biased approach. 2 questions; can you replace FDA as the Revs beat writer and can this approach be used on the editorial page? Have a nice weekend! 'm afraid you'll have to deal with Frank's discerning, highly-trained critical eye for a long time to come.. Thanks for the thought. Bob Ryan
Not exactly sure I get your Cough...meaning...Cough. If you mean that DH complained about the system not being right or the wrong players in the lineup (mainly not him),the quote is about what was going on with the team during their 9 game winless streak, which I think DH missed.
I saw Bob in the press box at Foxboro Stadium during the first Founders Cup. - for whatever that's worth.
I remember, after Ryan had been suspended from his newspaper for some comments about Joumana Kidd, he appeared on the Tony Kornheiser show. He had apparently taken a trip to England during his time off, and spent a good five minutes talking, positively, about soccer, Beckham, and "putting one in the old onion bag." I don't understand why everyone is acting so shocked that he would write an article like this.