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Category Archives: English Football

Why Always Me?: The Biography of Mario Balotelli (Review)

Why Always Me?: The Biography of Mario Balotelli by Frank Worrall is the story of an enigma.  Balotelli is as controversial as he is talented, which makes him world-class in both category.

Worrall knows how to get the job done, bringing in dozens of sources to tell the whole story.  I have to say I have never seen anything about Balotelli’s childhood before and that is thoroughly dissected here.  It helps you understand why Balotelli is so complex and so complicated on and off the pitch.

Delving into his psychology is important to understanding such a player, someone so talented and unpredictable at the same time.  You hear about his time with Inter Milan, the Italian National Team, and Manchester City.  You hear about his love of AC Milan and the reasons why he eventually ended up there even though the book was finished before his move back to Italy.

We hear a lot about people that surrounded and influenced him.  His teammates were all over the place; some supported and some condemned him.  But no one doubted his potential.  Roberto Mancini was arguably the most influential person in Mario’s life, someone who was a both father figure and a mentor. No one believed in or pushed “Super Mario” more than Mancini. It is unclear whether he even got all he could out of  Balotelli.

Potential is a dangerous thing, something you will never shake.  The chance to be the best in the world is something that Mario has to live with, but it is his opportunity and responsibility alone.

The book was stellar, which is expected when you see something from a journalist with experience like Worrall. It was world-class in every way.

The Didi Man: My Love Affair with Liverpool (Review)

The Didi Man: My Love Affair with Liverpool by Dietmar Hamann is a candid look into the game of English football and more importantly, the greatness of the Liverpool experience.

Hamann is a great storyteller, someone that recalls the greatest moments and players of the  Modern Era.  It is truly a LFC love affair with an unlikely main character, a German National Teamer that helped bring hardware home to one of England’s most storied teams.

You get an insider’s look into everything Liverpool from players, managers, coaches, staff, and the city itself.  It is an absolute masterpiece, one where you learn something while cracking a smile.

It must have been quite a ride playing with Hamann, who by all accounts is quite a character in his own right.  He was a quality footballer that surrounded himself with the stars of the beautiful game.  Yes, we are talking about players like Steven Gerrard and  Jamie Carragher and managers like Rafa Benitez and Gerald Houllier.

Hamann is a player that has seen it all: the World Cup, the Champions League, derbies in the EPL, the Euros.  You name it and he has been there.  He was a fan favorite everywhere he went; his personality was simply contagious.

This book represents the best of biography, sports writing, and comedy.  It is nice to see an author that doesn’t take himself too seriously, someone willing to have a laugh right there with the reader.

It feels like Hamann actually enjoyed writing this book and actually enjoyed sharing his legendary stories.

It is a no-brainer for any EPL fan and an absolute must-have for any who has fallen in love with Liverpool. There are so many people that fall into the latter category thanks to Liverpool’s massive North American tour and the Being: Liverpool series from FOX.

This title is just another piece of the puzzle in a fan’s love affair with the Reds.

2013 IMG World Congress of Sports Recap – April 3-4

Thank you to J.P. Terrasi for contributing to this report.

The 2013 IMG World Congress of Sports presented by SportsBusiness Daily/Global/Journal saw the leaders in the world of sports come together in Naples, Florida to share their expertise and experiences with attendees.  Some of the biggest names and brands in sports were at the event. Obviously soccer is always on our mind and apparently that was also the case for the organizers as the beautiful game was widely represented.

“Examining the New Wave of Sports and Entertainment Marketing” saw leaders from across the spectrum, including JP Morgan Chase and Coca-Cola.

But talking about FIFA 13 and the FIFA brand was right up our alley.  EA Sports Executive Vice President Andrew Wilson talked about “thinking bigger than just video games.” This included tying the game into social networks and engaging fans in the ad campaign. It just makes sense to pair the world’s largest football fans with the world’s largest clubs.

“The Globalization of the Beautiful Game: Building Brands Beyond Borders” brought ESPN, Liverpool FC, and AS Roma to the forefront along with MLS and the New York Cosmos.  It was a diverse and impressive panel that showcased the diversity and the truly global reach of the game we all cherish.

Cosmos Chairman Seamus O’Brien talked about rebuilding and growing a famous brand.

“This is a business for us. We intend to build the Cosmos as a viable business.”

Growing a brand globally is also on the mind of Liverpool FC, a team that has benefited from overseas tours, the Being: Liverpool series on FOX, and massive popularity in emerging markets like Asia.

“Our owners want to grow and build a sustainable business,” LFC Managing Director Ian Ayre added. ”Our overall revenues have gone up.”

MLS Commissioner Don Garber and ESPN analyst Julie Foudy talked even more about the game here in the States.

“We must protect the integrity of the game or we’ll all be out of business,” Garber exclaimed.

He also listed priorities for MLS as a New York team as the 20th franchise, getting better TV deals, and growing the fan base in local markets.

Foudy had a lot to say about the women’s game, particularly the previous two attempts at a professional league.

“There were good intentions, but the original management just didn’t know how to run a business.”

But she remains hopeful for the women’s game in America.  Hopefully the NWSL will have much better luck with the helf of the USSF.

It is easy to see that this event was first-class in every sense.

Pepe: My Autobiography (Review)

Fox Soccer’s highly acclaimed BEING: LIVERPOOL has made the Reds America’s team.  All it took was a North American tour, a friendly trip to Fenway Park, and a little time on network TV.

Many characters shined in this one-of-a-kind series, but none brighter than keeper Pepe Reina. He was a leader in the locker room, on the pitch, and in training. But most importantly he was a skillful player deserving of the title “world’s best.”

If you liked BEING: LIVERPOOL, you will absolutely love Pepe: My Autobiography.  It is a personal journey through Reina’s star-studded career. It covers a celebrated youth career at Barca, making a name for himself at Villarreal, and becoming the world’s best at Liverpool.

Awards come early an often and so do championships. Yes, big championships like the Euros and the World Cup.  We get a rare honest glimpse into the life of a Premier League footballer and a star of the international game.  Reina doesn’t make the book a selfish record of his achievements, but rather a blueprint of his successes. In other words, he explains how he got to the pinnacle of the beautiful game, giving credit to those that are due: teammates, family, coaches, and friends.

We see what Reina was thinking at the highest and lowest points of his career.  We’re talking about winning the first World Cup for Spain and having second thoughts about life at Anfield.  There is never a dull moment.

I can’t think of a better storyteller, a great goalkeeper with a great view.  No one sees the game better than the man between the posts and no one is under more pressure.  Taking a PK is one thing, but trying to stop five is another.

This is a great read, up there with the books written by Sunderland’s Louis Saha and Swansea’s Ashley Williams.  You don’t have to love Liverpool or the Spanish team to enjoy this book, but it will certainly make it that much better.

If I was publishing this book I would call it BEING: PEPE.  That certainly is a fitting title for such a brilliant man and footballer.  And it is certainly great being Pepe Reina.

Wings of a Sparrow (Review)

People throw around the term “supporter” a lot. But I am not sure that people really understand what that word means.

I think Liverpool legend Bill Shankly got it right when he said,”Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

In other words, the game of football gives supporters a purpose and it is a commitment that lasts a lifetime. It is more than a game, it is life that has taken on many forms.

One thing is for certain and that it the fact that a supporter is more than a fan.  A supporter is more than a season ticket holder.  They live, breathe, and fight for their club.  Their family is the club; their fellow supporters are their brothers and sisters.

Wings of a Sparrow by Dougie Brimson is a great read.  Brimson’s style is conversational and engaging.  And it gives us a glimpse into the life of real supporters in a fictional setting.

To be honest the book is a bit difficult to describe.  It is a comedy; it is also a creative work of fiction.  But it is a footballing story, one that brings out a lot of powerful issues.

It is the story of characters, the most demanding is that of protagonist Rob Cooper.  He is the ultimate supporter, a man who rises each day to follow his beloved United and goes to bed each night with United dreams of glory.  Out of nowhere, a long lost relative literally leaves him with a fortune.  A life-changing fortune with a “catch.” This “catch” will test him and his family to the core, pushing his own beliefs to the brink.

Does he do what is right in the eyes of his friends and fellow United supporters? Or does he do what will get him the most money? Does he remain loyal to United or start a new life with the hated City?

In the end, Rob learns a lot about the beautiful game, but even more about himself.  Consider the story one big life lesson for an obsessed football addict. Or a journey for an utlimate supporter, a chance to see what he is really made of.  Simply put, it is a test of conscience amongst a comedy of epic proportions.

The story itself is unique, especially among all of the football non-fiction that is out there.  My guess is that you can count all the football fiction on one hand.

It is certainly worth a read at less than 2 British pounds or $3.25 U.S.