LITTLE BY LITTLE

HELLO ALL

SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING THE BLOG FOR A WHILE, ITS JUST BEEN SO BUSY! I’VE HAD TO HOST 2 TV SHOWS A WEBSTREAM AND A RADIO SHOW IN 1 WEEK AS WELL AS HELP THE TEAM PREPARE FOR THE TRIPS TO SEATTLE AND COLORADO

ITS BEEN AN INTERESTING FEW WEEKS FOR SPORTING KC, WHO’VE IMPROVED FANTASTICALLY AND LOOK A LOT MORE CONFIDENT.

LET ME TAKE YOU BACK TO LAST WEEK, WE HAD THE USUAL RESEARCH OF THE OPPONENTS, PRESS CONFERENCES, TV PACKAGES AND INTERVIEWS TO PREPARE, WHICH WAS FINE, AS WELL AS OUR INDOOR PLAY OFF GAME WHICH WE WON TO FINISH 3^RD IN OUR LEAGUE!  SO AFTER A BUSY WEEK WE SPREAD OUR WINGS ONCE AGAIN AND FLEW TO SEATTLE. ONCE AGAIN, A CITY THAT I KNEW VERY LITTLE ABOUT. INFACT THE ONLY THING I KNEW ABOUT IT, WAS THE TV SHOW ‘FRAISER’ WAS BASED THERE. I SPENT MANY DAYS WATCHING THAT SHOW IN THE UK WITH MY MOTHER WATCHING NILES AND FRAISER DRINKING CHERRY. ANYWAY, I WAS PARTICULARLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEATTLE, FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS REALLY. NUMBER ONE, IT WAS ANOTHER CITY I’D NEVER BEEN TO, TWO, I’D HEARD MUCH OF ABOUT THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE CROWD AT QWEST FIELD AND PROBABLY MORE BECAUSE I WOULD FINALLY GET TO MEET THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS ANNOUNCER, FORMER BBC MAN ARLO WHITE. I WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN MEETING ARLO, BECAUSE HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I SPOKE TO WHEN IT FIRST BECAME APARANT THAT I COULD BE MOVING TO MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER. HE SPOKE VERY HIGHLY OF THE LEAGUE AND RECOMMENDED THAT I GET OVER TO THE STATES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO EVENTUALLY I DID MEET HIM, WE SPOKE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL THE GAME HAD IN THE USA, THE RAPID FROWTH OF MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER, WORKING FOR THE BBC AND OF COURSE, BEING A BRIT AND MOVING ACROSS THE POND. HE WAS A TOP LAD, ASKING ME HOW THE GIRLFRIEND WAS, MY CAREER PATH, ETC AND I’M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A BEER WITH HIM IN KANSAS CITY.

THE GAME ITSELF WAS DESPREATELY DISSAPOINTING IN TERMS OF THE RESULT. SPORTING MATCH THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS THROUGHOUT THE GAME AND DESERVED A POINT AND TO BE DENIED AT THE LAST MINUTE WAS BOTH PAINFUL AND DEPRESSING. WORKING WITH CLIFF MCGRATH WAS ENJOYABLE AND INTERESTING, WHAT A LOVELY MAN, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HIM AT LIVESTRONG SPORTING PARK IN THE REVERSE FIXTURE.  AFTER THE GAME, CRAIG (ONE OF THE ASSISTANT PRODUCERS ON THE SHOW) LEAD THE BROADCASTING TEAM AND I TO A LITTLE IRISH BAR ON THE DOCKS IN SEATTLE, WHERE WE ENJOYED THE DELIGHTS IT HAD TO OFFER.

THE NEXT WEEK LEADING UP TO THE COLORADO GAME WAS HYPED UP TO BE OUR BUSIEST YET, IT CERTAINLY LIVED UP TO EXPECTATIONS! MONDAY SAW ME HOST MY FIRST RADIO SHOW ON ‘610 SPORTS RADIO’  WHICH FROM MY POINT OF VIEW DIDN’T GO EXACTLY HOW I WANTED DUE TO THE LACK OF PHONE CALLS WE HAD. THANKS GOODNESS FOR THE PRE ARRANGED INTERVIEWS! TUESDAY WE HAD ANOTHER ALL STAFF MEETING AT 8AM AND SOON AFTER THAT’D FINISHED, JAKE AND I LEFT FOR TRAINING TO GET SOME FOOTAGE FOR THE TV SHOW. WEDNESDAY WAS POSSIBLY ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING DAYS I’D HAD SINCE MY ARRIVAL OVER 2 MONTHS AGO (CAN’T BELIEVE ITS BEEN THAT LONG). I HAD MY FIRST TORNADO EXPERIENCE IN THE MID WEST. I REMEMBER ROB HENIEHMAN TELLING EVERYONE TO GET TO THE BASEMENT AS THE SIRENS WERE GOING OFF. AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME I HAD MY EARPHONES IN AND WAS EDITING SOME AUDIO SO I ACTUALLY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON. I STAYED UPSTAIRS WITH A COUPLE OF THE SALES GUYS. I SOON REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING WHEN I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW WHAT KCTV 5 WHERE REPORTING, BUT TO BE HONEST, I HAD SO MUCH WORK TO DO IN PREPERATION FOR OUR WEBCAST IN THE EVENING, I JUST STAYED UP STAIRS. SO ANYWAY, WE EVENTUALLY GOT TO THE LIVESTREAM OF OUR US OPEN CUP GAME (SIMILAR TO THE FA CUP IF YOU ARE READING FROM THE UK). I HAVE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WELL DONE TO THE GUYS IN THE BACKROOM. THEY DID EXTREMELY WELL, BATTLING WITH ALL SORTS OF WEATHER AND WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A BROADCAST AT ALL. I ENJOYED WORKING WITH THE NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION PLAY BY PLAY ANNOUNCER, BRAD AND I SEEMED TO CLASH A FEW TIMES IN TERMS OF LEADING THE BROADCAST, BUT I EXPECTED THAT, HE’S USED TO LEADING BECAUSE HE’S AN ANNOUNCER. ANYWAY, IT WAS WONDERFUL TO FINALLY COMMENTATE ON A SPORTING KC WIN, A 5-0 THRASHING OF THE NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION AT BLUE VALLEY SPORTS COMPLEX. IT WAS ALSO VERY GOOD TO HERE A HOME CROWD CHEER!

THURSDAY SAW ME GIVE AN INTERVIEW FOR ONE OF THE LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS HERE IN KANSAS CITY ‘THE PITCH’ AND I HAVE SEVERAL MORE PEOPLE ASKING FOR MY THOUGHTS ON MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER AND SPORTING KC, WHICH I BELIEVE THEY WILL HERE NEXT WEEK AT SOME STAGE.

FRIDAY, WE FLEW TO COLORADO FOR THE SHORTEST FLIGHT OF THE SEASON, JUST 1 HOUR AND 20 IT TOOK. I HAVE TO SAY DENVER WAS REALLY NICE. THE ROCKY’S LOOKED SUPERB AND DOWNTOWN WAS VERY LIVELY AND SEEMED LIKE A FRIENDLY PLACE.

AS FOR THE GAME ITSELF, I THINK WE MAY HAVE USED THE WORD ‘PROGRESSION’ MORE THEN ANY OTHER TOWARDS THE END OF THE GAME. GREAT GOAL FROM SMITHY WHO’S NOT LET ANY OF US FORGET ABOUT IT AND I NOW REALLY BELIEVE WE CAN END THE ROAD TRIP WITH AN AWAY WIN AT TORONTO. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ROAD TRIP DOESN’T BECOME A DISASTER DOES IT? WE HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF AWAY POINTS AS NEW YORK WHO LIE 2^ND IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE, THE DIFFERENCE IS, THEY’VE PLAYED HOME GAMES, SO LITTLE BY LITTLE, SPORTING SEEM TO BE GATHERING MOMENTUM AND SEEM TO HAVE FOUND THAT CONFIDENCE THEY’VE DESPERATELY LACKED IN RECENT WEEKS.

DAY OFF FOR ME ON MONDAY, I THINK VIEWING AN APARTMENT OR 2 SHALL BE THE DEED OF THE DAY.

CHEERS

CAL 

Don't look back in anger

Good afternoon

Hope everyone is Ok....

Well, well, well, what a few weeks its been since I last wrote here. Its been as busy as ever as per usual. I obviously got my hair cut (finally) and it seems as thought I may have finally found myself an apartment! During the week after the New York game, we prepped for our recording of 'Off the Pitch' with the stallion that is Josh Whisenhunt. I must say, I do enjoy working with Josh on the odd occasions we do, its obvious that soccer is his passion and i'm sure we could talk for hours if the directors/producers let us!

So, our 2nd weekend off was really good. After my very first 'first friday' and sharing a few beers with a couple of fans and finally meeting the guy who sorted out my visa, Leon, I called it an early night due to not feeling very well. Saturday was a beautiful day in Kansas City and Spence and I went down to 'the plaza' (my first real time down there) to take a look around. Instantly I fell in love with the place and after a bit of shopping we felt it only right that we should man up. So, we picked up Dan (who was struggling from the night before) and proceeded to drink 'a bit' of beer. Firstly going down to Cameron's house (one of our colleagues at Sporting KC and the place I was staying for a few days) and met up with a few people from the front office and quite a few random people that we didn't know. Then we took to the plaza and once again had 'a bit' of beer and enjoyed the evening. Sunday I helped Cameron move out of his house, it hurt.

Monday, I had a meeting with a few people about expanding Sporting's coverage within the sports media world, can't say anything at the moment, but will let you know very soon. Tuesday was another scorcher, a beautiful day and a perfect day to head down to Swope Park training facility and watch the players train as well as grab a few interviews with Jake ahead of the game in LA. The rest of the week was spent researching LA Galaxy and providing voice overs for the broadcast as well as attending the press conference before flying on the friday.

So, we got to LA and were in the same hotel we'd stopped at for our previous visit when we played Chivas USA. Really nice hotel, just a shame there isn't a lot around other then a few restaurants. So came the day of the broadcast. During the day I spoke with Lauren and my Mom and Dad via Skype. It was really good to speak to them all again. Lauren comes out in a little over 2 weeks to live here with me and I can't wait to get her over here. Mom and Dad are coming over in August and should get to see the Wednesday night game against Portland Timbers, which I know they are both looking forward to. I'm one of these guys who loves what I do, but the 1 thing I want to do more then anything is make my Mom and Dad proud, so i'm extremely excited about them coming over and watching me host the TV show. Also, my Dad is a big EPL fan and despite me taking him to a few games outside the EPL during my time with the BBC, he still remains firmly stubborn about the EPL and i'm looking forward to showing him the MLS. I must admit, everyone at home seems to be paying attention to the MLS since I got here, so hopefully Mom and Dad will enjoy their break here and embrace soccer in the USA.

Anyway, i've gone thoroughly off subject there. To the broadcast we go. I have to say I think it was probably the best broadcast we've done so far. I really enjoyed working with Warren Barton. It has nothing to do with the fact that he's english, I just felt a lot more comfortable knowing that he knows the game inside out and knowing that he's comfortable in front of the camera due to his work with FOX Soccer. He was a top lad to be fair. He told me many stories of his time in the EPL and several stories of ex players whilst we were off camera. The one thing which made me smile as well was the fact that he actually took an interest in me and how I ended up in the USA and more importantly, he took a real interest in the broadcast and I know he enjoyed his experience.

Now, as I mentioned on twitter yesterday, i'm now going to break the rules of my blog. When I first started this blog I made it clear to myself and you lot that I wouldn't talk about my feeling and thoughts on the team and this would be a blog about my personal feelings and adapting to life in the USA. However, I think there are a few things I need to say. I just need to stress, these are not the views of Sporting Kansas City or anyone else associated with the club.

Here it goes -

I think its obvious that its not been the start to the season that everyone wanted, in fact, it couldn't have started any worse really could it. However, I think people need to remember this is a long road trip and having so many games on the road on a consistent basis is going to take its tole. Its obvious there have been a few problems at the back, maybe its fair enough to say individual errors have cost us more then anything. I think the one thing that i've noticed and I may have pointed out on the broadcast before; there is a massive gap in midfield between the holding role and the back line which is being exposed SO much this year already. A prime example, though it didn't lead to a goal on Saturday was Beckham playing a ball over to Donavan from the center of midfield. Beckham had so much time on the ball it was ridiculous and I really do think another player is needed in that department. As for people calling for Pete Vermes to be sacked, I understand that people are annoyed that we've only won once this season, but we've been on the road for a very very long time. I think Pete knows he's got some tactical decisions wrong this season and he'd be the first to admit it, but as a coach there is only so much you can do until you have to look at the players. Even if you were to sack Pete, who could you possibly bring in at this stage of the season that knows the players and club as well as he does, especially now the transfer market is closed. The only reason I would get rid of the current coaching staff is if you know for a fact you have someone lined up to replace them who is a much better coach. I don't think that coach is out there right now. You can tell in training that these players are desperate for a win and I think we are only 1 win away from regaining confidence and climbing up the table.


Patience is needed i'm afraid guys

Let me know your thoughts either on here or via twitter. See you in Seattle!

Cheers

Cal

Hey Now

Morning/Afternoon

Hope all is well

What a mad few days its been. Once again I was having trouble finding an apartment and having two viewings were cancelled because apparently I earn just over the limit you are allowed to, to live in these places. I was gutted, these places were right in the 'Power and Light district' as well, right where I want to be. It looks as if i'll have to find somewhere else outside the city now. Gutted.

Anyway, on a brighter note, we traveled to New York on the Friday. As a Brit, we see NYC on the TV all the time and i've always wanted to go (having never been the NYC) and when we flew over New Jersey with Manhattan on our left, it was like a sea of lights, it was beautiful. We landed at Newark airport and Dan, Jake and I set off in our car to find the hotel, which took us a while to find due to being diverted around the Holland Tunnel due to a shooting; Dan said 'welcome to New York!' We arrived at the hotel (The W, which was lovely) and I was hoping for a nice view and my goodness I got it. Pulling back those curtains to see an almost perfect view of the city, bright lights and commercials as far as the eye could see; perfect. I'll never ever forget that moment. I've seen a lot of cities in my life but i've never seen anything so majestic as that city.

During the evening we went out in the town we were staying in (Hoboken), which to my surprise was quite a cool place. I was always lead to believe that the area outside and on the outskirts of NYC wasn't that great. Anyway we grabbed a bite to eat at 'Johny Rockets', a stereotypical old style burger place. Then we went on to 'The Dubliner' which was a cracking place in the middle of the town. Jake (director of photography) and his girlfriend Whitney, Dan (assistant producer), John (our merchandise guy who joined us for the trip to gather ideas), Mike (the kit man and honorary mad man), Andy (Mike's assistant) and I all had a great night sharing stories, laughs and of course alcohol.

I got up the next morning bright and early to meet up with John and head down to New York City. Eventually we got there after figuring out how to use 'the path' and get tickets. Its not to dissimilar to 'the tube' in London, so we found our way around eventually. So there I was, local lad from Great Barr walking around New York City. I couldn't quite believe I was there and even though I was only there for a few hours I urge anyone to go if you have a chance; it blew me away. We met up with one of John's old friends and had a bite to eat in an irish pub, which was great because I got to see the last ten minutes of Villa loosing to West Brom (so not so great) and then Chelsea - Spurs and THAT goal from Sandro. After that I got to see the madness of Times Square which was just mind blowing. I had spotted similarities to London in New York but once I saw Times Square, I was stunned. Commercials, bright lights, thousands of people, Hard Rock Cafe, all the sights i'd heard so much about and this was only mid day! I had the opportunity to get my haircut before we left for the hotel but I chose not to, I chose to go to NYC for the first time in my life instead; hence why no haircut yet. I think the funniest moment of that afternoon was when we were walking under a huge building. I glared up at it and said to John, 'man alive, thats a tall building' to which he responded 'thats because its the Empire State', I then said 'oh ye' and felt like a proper tourist.

So after the glamour of NYC we headed back and got ready for the broadcast. I did some more work on my reads before John and I headed over to the stadium using the 'the path' which we were much more familiar with this time.

I met my color commentator about two hours before the broadcast, FOX News' Brian Kilmeade joined me this week. I thought we worked well together. He's obviously done TV so he knows about timings and didn't seem nervous (why would he). On the call, again, he seemed fine, he's a soccer coach in his spare time and he used to do play by play on the Red Bulls when they were the MetroStars so he knows the game well. Despite the odd slip up from myself I think it was a good broadcast and once we got back to Kansas City it seemed the broadcast went down very well and by all means, let me know you're thoughts.

Anyway, my thoughts on the game - I thought the first half was awful and once again we were exploited in the middle of the park. The goal, despite protests IS onside. I think I said on the broadcast, i'm surprised at how well Luke Rodgers has adapted to Major League Soccer. I thought Aurelien Collin marked Thiery Henry superbly well. We improved in the second half but didn't test Coundoul nearly as much as we should have. Another disappointing end to a game, loosing 1-0. 

We got back to the hotel after saying our goodbyes to the guys that helped out on the broadcast and Dan, Craig (one of our assistant producers) and Eric (another camera man/assistant). They both travel with us on every broadcast and have become good friends. We left the hotel and headed for 'The Dubliner' again. The night was going rather smoothly, we had a few bottles of beer and it was a nice relaxing evening, until, (and I take full responsibility for this) I uttered the sentence 'f***k it lets get jaegerbombs' and thats when it went downhill from then on. We went down to the second floor (the dance floor) and proceeded in having a lot more to drink. We regretted it the next day.

We eventually got home after the two flights back home. Sunday, I did nothing, I was hungover. It hurt. Very much.

Monday, I felt great but must admit it was the first day I thought 'going home would be quite nice'. I guess that makes me home sick. After we'd finished for the day Adam (one of my housemates) and I went to the golf range. Having not played for two months its safe to say i've lost it, well, in fact, I don't think I ever had it but smashing balls up to Ohio certainly helped put my mind off things. We were gutted we'd just ran out of golf balls when 4/5 dears decided to run across the driving range. Inevitably, everyone tried to hit them, but failed.

So today, i've obviously been working on this, but i'm off to Swope Park soon as our reserves take on Real Salt Lake reserves. Looking forward to it. Before I go, i've not long tweeted this and i'd like to get people's thoughts. I certainly don't think this is the case anymore but do people and players in Europe see the MLS as a 'retirement' league....... Lets talk.


Cheers

Cal