I know Deuce already posted the terrific Steve Pastorino interview with Jeremy Horton on aylsoccer.com. But after reading it I think it deserves its own thread - surely it is the kind of thing we could disect for weeks. So here it is again - Steve Pastorino speaks to aylsoccer. Mods, feel free to merge if you think it better kept in the other thread.
How about a follow-up interview where we all pitch in the questions we would like answered?… My first question(s): Why was he responsible for the on-field performance more so than Ellinger? Why should Ellinger stay and Pasto go? Isn’t the coach the one directly responsible for the on-field performance? It just doesn’t add up. It seems like there is more there that he isn’t mentioning…
Right or wrong I think DC needed a fall guy and SP gets canned. One thing interesting from SP... "From an outside perspective I see the communication gaps that seem to be unique to Utah. A lot gone done in back rooms in Chicago. It’s the nature of business and politics." Translation: "There is no one in Utah who is so powerful politically that someone would not think twice of crossing him/her, therefore, politicians are looking to screw you for gain everyday of the week."
I think that DC decided that someone had to go and it was JE and/or SP. Then he looked at what each of them had to offer the team going forward and how easy it would be to replace those skills. Of course, "everyone knows" that JE is great with youth and he has contacts all over the universe, so he has much to offer on that end. SP's strengths are in sales, marketing, sponsorships, etc. and DC feels that he can pay money and get someone else to do the same. I think he seriously underestimated SP's past/future value to the franchise and he overestimated JE's value going forward. The wrong person ended up on the outside.
Well, what - besides being the best communicator with us any fan has the right to expect, and being a fan himself - did Pastorino do especially well as a General Manager? My query isn't intended to say that I believe Ellinger should have stayed, by the way. The indication is that Checketts is looking to hire a big name for the GM job. That's an interesting thought, one which I believe will push Ellinger further into the realm of youth program guru.
Steve did a really good job selling tickets. But sales types as was said can be found in a lot of places. Steve P was a great guy, but his skills are replaceable while Ellinger's skills (which I think are a bit ove ) are not something you can just find anywhere.
It wasn't JE who planted butts in seats and kept them there despite the W-L-T record. Jersey sponsor. Hispanic outreach (he lived in South America and is a fluent Spanish speaker. He had experience in Chicago with a new stadium. I think he was a driving force in trying to improve the fans' experience during the games. His practice of sitting with and chatting with the fans during the games was a great way to take the pulse of the crowd.