–Football Fuckeries Luminaries…
Boss News!
It was great to recently read – in The Telegraph – that my old boss [Rick Parry] had taken a job sitting on the board of the American soccer/football team the New York Cosmos.
Parry, one of the UK's leading sport-related executives, will work alongside sporting luminaries such as Pelé and Eric Cantona in trying to revive the iconic brand’s fortunes. The team currently has no players, or indeed, a stadium. The news was especially pleasing to me seeing as there have been a spate of rather dubious/embarrassing transatlantic exports of late. – Piers Morgan and Cheryl Cole to name but two. I have a soft spot for New York City (and Americans), so I have to confess I found the appointment utterly heartening.
Rick gave me my first writing job when he let me create, and fill, the role of official Poet-in-Residence at Liverpool Football Club. The role immediately exposed my compositions to one of the largest football/soccer fan bases in the world, via their website. I have to credit the man for giving me my first big break in writing and moreover, for supporting the arts.
Big business and the arts may make for awkward bedfellows. But for every struggling musician, writer, filmmaker, artist and theatre group out there, there’s also the potential support and opportunity that visionaries such as Rick Parry can offer. These business moguls must be credited alongside the artistic maestros that inspire us. After all, these powerhouses of the corporate world have the capacity to become an integral part of our own creative journey, and thus, influence the art we create. With that in mind, it’s really important for me to laud Rick for having the vision to support poetry – an art form outside his métier. And on a personal level, he was a decent chap, a good boss…someone to look up to. The last time I wrote to Rick was about two years ago (I required a reference). And even then I recall him mentioning, in his reply, that he was sponsoring an artist in the Florence Biennale. It was uplifting to know he was still nurturing raw talent.
Bearing in mind Rick Parry has held posts such as Chief Executive of Liverpool Football Club (one the most successful football clubs in Europe) and headed the FA Premier League. I fervently believe the advancement of “soccer” in North America is the richer for securing his acute expertise and professionalism.
I really hope things work out well for Rick, stateside. I know New York is one of his favourite cities. If my own experience is anything to go by he will be a great asset to the Cosmos in their aspiration to become a leading “lifestyle brand” of Major League Soccer.I don’t know whether they sell pies (as is the tradition in the UK) or hotdogs at American matches, but I know I am thoroughly looking forward to attending the Cosmos’ first home game.
Go Parry! Go Cosmos!
–Cheyelle Omar
COPYRIGHT ©2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: CHEYELLE OMAR
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I'm glad you have a soft spot for Americans, my sweet friend. :-)
ReplyDeleteMs. Walker is keeping her blog attached directly to her website http://www.alicewalkersgarden.com in case you lost her for a minute like I did. lol! I swear, Cheyelle I've had a dream that one day I'm going to walk up to her and say "Hi, I'm Eccentricity." and...she will tell me I'm an annoying and bad young person. I'd totally do it too, for the very reason I feel intimidated by her and I refuse to cater to that emotion. lol! Only 3 more days until seeing The Color Purple. Yay! :-)
@eccentricity: Hehehe. Of course, there are some Americans I like better than others ;o)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads-up on AW. She was one of the "artistic maestros" I was alluding to in the post. But then, true to form, you would have known that, wouldn't ya?
That dream you have about AW is so silly (and more than a little funny). I reckon Alice Walker would love you, for no other reason other than you're a good woman (and an inspiring writer).
Have an amazing time at the show, my dear. "Sistah, you've been on my mind. Sistah, we're two of a kind. So, sistah, I'm keeping my eyes on you-ooooooooo…"
you my love, are just excellent.
ReplyDelete^^^^
ReplyDeleteIt takes one to know one. (((♥)))
I've been to Chicago Fire games before but I really can't bring myself to follow the MLS. I do enjoy the sport but it just seems like such an inferior product to what the Premier League offers. I'd rather just browse through the million cable channels I have until I find a Chelsea game.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I hope he finds success, seems like a good guy.
^^^^
ReplyDeleteIt’s really interesting to get your take on the MLS, Christopher. I get the impression the Cosmos are definitely relying heavily on their branding and legacy. Personally, I think what the Cosmos need – and the MLS for that matter – is some real top-drawer, homegrown “soccer” prodigies to invigorate the game, stateside. North America’s usually pretty good at producing prodigies, so here’s hoping. I’d love to see the US team do well in next World Cup.
Incidentally, I never had you down as a Chelsea supporter (hehehe).