Leaving New England is a carefully made decision for GM Todd Smith Life, it seems, may be bigger than soccer by Emlyn Lewis, CyberSoccerNews Nicol feels Burn as playoffs approach Revolution Notebook/by Gus Martins, Boston Herald Harris, Revs in late-season form by Gus Martins, Boston Herald Also, Bill Littlefield on WBUR had interviews with SN and TT this AM. It broadcasts at 50 minutes past the hour. I don't know if there will be a link to it later, but you can check at www.wbur.org.
John Emlyn Lewis--That is by far the best bit of soccer writing I've read in years. You have the touch and when you are at the top of the business, we Rev Fans will be able to say we knew you when. GREAT reporting.
Indeed! Thanks for devoting your time and energy to providing these behind-the-scenes glimpses, Mr. Lewis! As you say, being a "relatively small fish even in the tiny pond of American soccer journalism" is definitely a great opportunity to develop personal relationships with the people involved, be they management or players - or other reporters. This is by far the best fringe benefit derived from the thankless (and payless) pursuit of trying to fill the information void due to the major media providing only marginal coverage of the sport we love. We are lucky that the vast majority of these people are down to earth, humble and hard working individuals who appreciate what we do. It certainly changes our perspective and feelings towards the "game as a business" when these relationships come to an end, as I have found out since FC and several players have left the Revs scene. But, the show must go on... To Todd: best wishes in your future endeavors, and many thanks for all your efforts to improve the team and fan/supporter relations. And of course, good health to you as well - hope we can laugh together someday as the Revs hoist an MLS Cup Championship trophy AND a Supporter's Shield. (Now, any chance you could do something about Security having the highest priority in the Kraft regime's chain of command before you leave?) To John: I am proud to have worked with you and hope we can continue to collaborate in some way for many years. You have natural literary/journalistic instincts to go along with your passion, keep up the great work!
Sobering, thought-provoking, and touching, John. Thank you. I had a chance to visit Todd in the hospital too, and felt much the same way you did. His strength was so very comforting. Again, thanks John.
Thanks everyone for your kind words. Here is another fantastic piece from Marcus O'Mard which addresses another side of the same subject. Great work, Marcus. Revolution: Notes from the Front by Marcus Kwesi O'Mard for CyberSoccerNews.com
... and Revolution supporters need to check out the MLS Cup Final edition of the Emerald City Gazette fanzine for this author's editorial mussings on the front office restructuring. That'll be out at MLS Cup of course, but if you want to guarantee yourself a copy feel free to subscribe here: http://www.mindspring.com/~andymead/ecg/ Think Pictures of Chairman Mao on Prozac. The Magpie
I think Gus Martins has more or less taken over as the Rev's primary reporter in the print medium. Nice work once again. Unfortunately, today's headline ("Nicol feels Burn as playoffs approach") makes it sound like Nicols has a personal problem...
John - that was wonderful. There's more to a person than a job. I thank you for offering us a glimpse of Todd the human being. I wish Todd good health and the best of luck in his future endeavors. I appreciate all he's done for the Revs and I hope we get to meet when the Revs win an MLS Cup. Nice article from Marcus as well. Makes you wonder what the future holds.
are you trying to say that you don't enjoy Frank Dell'Apa's stories about how the Revs have failed to establish a clear soccer style and identity FOR THE THOUSANDTH TIME?
Shooting one's own foot... I know someone that last year bought for Company and for friends more than 200 tickets for Revolution games. She used to get calls from her sales agent almost weekly. This year she had no call at all.
Both the Lewis and O'Mard articles are absolutely terrific examples of what we should be getting from the mainstream print types but just never do. I congratuale and deeply thank both writers and hope their efforts on our (the fans) behalf continue. As I have said before, I wish the very, very best of luck to Todd Smith in whatever he does and wherever he goes. I also want to say that John Murphy is a wise man to have said what he did to Wmlyn Lewis. It was sage counsel and such a perspective can help anyone understand why things so often seem strained and strange in profession sports, or professional anything, for that matter. As is said in the piece, it isn't cynical, it is just true. Finally, I have to say that I am beginning to resent that the local representative of the sport we all love is being held hostage by people who really don't understand it. Lou Imbriano may be a terrific manager, I have no idea but can he measure up to Peter Wilt in terms of real football understanding? I shudder to think what a Patriots executive's idea of a soccer fan is, or might be in the future. When I watched news clips of thousands of bozos porking it down in the various "hospitality tents" prior to sitting in the stadium for THREE AND A HALF HOURS to watch a game that had about TWENTY MINUTES of actual activity I have to seriously question if people who think that is great stuff can ever understand what we, footy-fans, value. I'm not saying we are better people than Patriots supporters (although I would have to say that every person in the Fort is, by definition, a better person than any of the blood-sucking, corporate fatties up at the "club" level) we certainly have different interests and aspirations for our "stadium experience." At this point in the season, with the way the team has been going of late I'm inclined to put my trust in Nicol, et al as far as the playing side goes. I have to say, I have very serious reservations about Mr. Imbriano. I hope to be proven wrong, very wrong. JIM DOW